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The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Tasks forces deploy a search and rescue team in Palm Island. Currently, FEMA has provided more than $420 million to assist survivors.

Hurricane Ian strikes coast of Florida, wrecking homes and ravaging communities

by Vika Gautham and Victor Gong November 3, 2022

Harker Aquila · Aquila Audible of "Hurricane Ian strikes coast of Florida, wrecking homes and ravaging communities"   Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, hit Florida on Sept. 28 and destroyed...

JNHS co-Vice President Maryam Zehra (11) hands a membership certificate to Bella Chen (10) at the induction ceremony on Oct. 17. Each new member of the organization received a certificate after taking an oath to serve the community through JNHS.

Greetings, games and goodies: JNHS welcomes new members at induction ceremony

by Shareen Chahal, Asst. News Editor October 30, 2022

Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS) greeted new members at their annual induction ceremony on Oct. 17 during long lunch in Room 30 of the Dance Building with heartfelt speeches from the club officers,...

The upper school celebrates its 25th anniversary this year after its founding in 1998. It began with 90 students who comprised the first graduating class of 2002 and a small-sized faculty of 12 to 15 members.

Happy birthday, Eagles: Commemorating 25 years of upper school history

by Ananya Sriram, Co-Features Editor October 30, 2022

Baggy sweatshirts and pants with large pockets. Frosh playing at a pool table. A volleyball team posing with cones of ice cream. A class of 90 students posing for a photo with bright smiles on their faces....

Seniors Pranav Mullappalli, Rigo Gonzales, Zain Vakath, BB Ajlouny and Nikhil Devireddy pose for a picture at the photo booth in the Nichols Rotunda. The upper school hosted its annual Homecoming Dance in Nichols Hall on Oct. 14 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Shimmering and shimmying: Homecoming dance lights up the night

by Kevin Zhang and Isha Moorjani October 27, 2022

The upper school hosted its annual Homecoming Dance in Nichols Hall on Oct. 14 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., featuring music, dancing, food and a variety of recreational activities. All students attending...

Students play wall ball on the lower school campus during the sophomore eagle buddies event. “I think it benefits both sides tremendously,” Lower school Dean of Students Walid Fahmy said. “The third graders get to see what they're going to look like, and what things are going to be like as they get older. When you're a kid, everybody always wishes they were older. And then when you get to that point with the tenth graders, they come back and they're like, ‘Oh my god, I miss this.’”

A day of festivities and engagement: seniors, sophomores meet eagle buddies, juniors, frosh participate in LIFE assembly

by Anwen Hao and Vika Gautham October 7, 2022

Smiles bloom on sophomore and seniors’ faces as they meet their Eagle Buddies for the first time. Their relationships would only strengthen as they proceed to engage in outdoor activities in the lower...

A Blue Tang fish swims in the fish tank in Nichols Hall. The tank’s current fish residents also include African Blue Spotted Rabbitfish, Flame Angels, Atlantic Blue Tangs and Yellow Damsels among many other living creatures such as sea urchins and a red and green brittle starfish.

Fishing into the depths of Nichols: Decade-old fish tank brings vitality to building

by Yifan Li and Alison Yang October 4, 2022

They are watching. Students might spare them a glance on the way to class or tap on the glass to watch them scatter or stare at them during a class break. Maybe they start to wonder about their names,...

An illustration of some of our community's favorite fall foods. Read the article and following recipes to see what fall foods three community members love to cook.

Pick of the patch: Community members share their favorite fall foods and recipes

by Young Min and Sabrina Zhu September 28, 2022

A slice of apple pie with a crispy, golden crust and a gooey, cinnamon-y filling. A perfectly tart and rich huckleberry sauce, spread atop a piece of pumpkin bread. A juicy chicken roast, surrounded by...

Fern Biswas (10) admires the Diego Rivera bulletin board in Main Hall, which features over 150 paintings about Rivera’s dream of what North America would be like. Hispanic Heritage Month began on Sept. 15 and honors different types of Hispanic culture in the world.

‘We want to show that we are proud’

by Vika Gautham and Sarah Mohammed September 27, 2022

When she hears the words Hispanic Heritage Month, upper school mathematics teacher Jeanette Fernandez thinks of bringing awareness to others who aren’t as knowledgeable of the Hispanic culture in America....

The Pearl Post adviser Adriana Chavira speaks to student journalists at the Journalism Education Association (JEA) NorCal Media Day at Palo Alto High School today. “There’s a section of the Ed Code 48907 that protects advisers from retaliation,” Chavira said. “That was added about 15 years ago. The Ed Code 48907 was actually added back in the late 70s, and [it’s] the first such law for student journalists in the country. We're lucky we have this: it’s giving you First Amendment protections.”

‘This is so much bigger than just our publication’

by Isha Moorjani and Olivia Xu September 24, 2022

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Hundreds of students rise to their feet in applause, all facing the three journalists on stage. The speakers, from the journalism staff of Daniel Pearl Magnet School in Los Angeles,...

The Harker upper school welcomes new faculty members this year. Among them are the new head of school, the new Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, an athletics trainer and nine new teachers.

Upper school welcomes new faculty faces on campus

by Sabrina Zhu and Olivia Xu September 1, 2022

From bacon lovers to avid Beyoncé dancers, the new teachers and staff members joining the Harker Upper School for the 2022-2023 school year have so much to offer. With nine new teachers and a new athletics...

Seniors Zubin Khera, Arin Jain and Rohan Gorti hold up a check of $20,000 written to TuffToy after winning the National Pitch Competition in Chicago in July. The three founded TuffToy in their junior year to sell customizable and durable dog toys.

Want to start a business? It’s pawsible.

by Desiree Luo and Ananya Sriram August 30, 2022

How do high school students start their own businesses? This question echoes inside the minds of many budding teenage entrepreneurs with ambitious dreams and diligent spirits. Age, limited resources and...

Butch Keller and upper school math teacher Ms. Jane Keller. "The cancer diagnosis was pretty life changing for Mr. Keller and I, and it kind of helped us realize that life is a little short, and we really need to spend time with our family," Ms. Keller said.

Greatest goodbyes: Departing upper school faculty bid farewells

Mr. Samuel “Butch” Keller, Jr., Head of School We say K through life, and Mrs. Keller and I are going to embrace that for life. I do a quote of the day every day, and I have forever. There...

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