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

Upper school vocal group Cantilena performs at Big Assembly Day (BAD). All performing groups also visited the lower and middle school campuses for BAD.

Students perform in annual holiday concert

by Nina Gee, Reporter December 8, 2017

Upper, middle and lower school performing arts groups toured the three campuses today for their annual Holiday Concert, also known as Big Assembly Day (BAD). The show began with performances from the...

Katrina Ipser (11) and biology teacher Dr. Gary Blickenstaff rest on tables as they prepare to have their blood drawn by American Red Cross volunteers. Red Cross Club partnered with Harker UNICEF for a joint club week this week.

Red Cross Club and Harker UNICEF hold joint club week

by Zoe Sanders, Reporter December 8, 2017

Red Cross Club and Harker UNICEF promoted different causes by organizing fundraisers throughout their joint club week this week. Red Cross Club collaborated with the American Red Cross organization...

Joanna Lin (12) works on a problem during a practice round for last years online math competition Math Madness on Sept. 27. Competitors worked on math problems online in 20 minute sessions.

Upcoming math competitions in 2018

by Jessie Wang, Reporter December 7, 2017

As 2017 winds to a close, many math and science competitions approach, the two closest ones being the TEAMS competition and the AMC 10/12. The AMC 10 and the AMC 12 are both 25-question tests that last...

“I think it was the moment when I stopped saying what I wanted to be or what I was, when I stopped identifying with things that I did or who I was, that I was able to be a lot more than that, Selin Sayiner (12) said. How I define my family, or how I define my culture, or how I choose to define myself as a basketball player — rather than stuff like that, it became my choice. It was those moments where I decided that I could be what I wanted and do what I wanted, and it wasnt based on any other definition of myself, that I could be the person I am now.”

Humans of Harker: Selin Sayiner takes charge of her identity

by Jin Tuan, Reporter December 7, 2017

Nike duffel bag slung over one shoulder, Selin Sayiner (12) navigates the hallways of Shah, starting conversations with just about anyone. Ask most seniors about Selin, and “basketball” is the first...

“We went up to San Francisco at 4 a.m. in the morning,” Yannick Bohbot-Dridi (12) said. “We got off a boat that dropped us off under the Golden Gate Bridge with some 300 other people who are cancer survivors and families of people who have faced cancer, and we swam in honor of everyone who had battled cancer. When we got into the water, we could barely breathe because it was so cold. Its like that feeling when your lungs feel like they cant expand. And you cant see anything. You cant even see a couple feet in front of you — I couldnt even see the swimmers in front of me, nothing. Every ten or so strokes, you have to lift yourself out the water and tread water a bit to see where youre at. I knew that doing this, on paper, had very little benefit towards me. I was swimming in the bay in the freezing cold bay on a Sunday morning. At the beginning, I thought, Yeah, Im just going to help people, but I did not expect to feel so happy after. I just felt grateful.”

Humans of Harker: Yannick Bohbot-Dridi finds purpose in the water

by Srinath Somasundaram, Reporter December 6, 2017

A series of splashes sends ripples of waves through the water as Yannick Bohbot-Dridi (12) speeds across the pool. His body is a well-oiled machine, refined and optimized through extensive practice. “You...

A tinsel-and-ornaments-adorned Christmas Tree brings a festive feeling into a classroom. Many students in these few weeks will be participating in Secret Santa gift-giving.

Secret Santa or Santa Claus?

by Varsha Rammohan, Reporter December 6, 2017

Bright lights adorn the ceiling in Main, teachers put up trees in their classrooms and students flock to Manzanita for a cup of hot cocoa. Students bring out their fuzzy jackets and boots, Christmas music...

There are a lot of things that I do that are very questionable, but its not as questionable because Ive set this tone that Im just going to do random stuff, Kristin LeBlanc (12) said. I just do me, and I think people have learned to accept that.”

Humans of Harker: Kristin LeBlanc becomes comfortable with the uncomfortable

by Zoe Sanders, Reporter December 5, 2017

From spontaneously singing “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber to wearing white Crocs with socks to school, Kristin LeBlanc (12) is notorious for her off-the-wall antics. As a Harker student since middle...

Theater teacher Jeffrey Draper in his classroom.

Meet your teacher: Theater teacher reflects on his performing arts career

by Kathy Fang, Photo Editor December 5, 2017

Beyond his work as a theater teacher and a director at the upper school, Jeffrey Draper also performs as four vastly different characters in Center REPertory Company’s annual production of Charles Dickens’...

The moon at 9 p.m. PST, as viewed from California. The supermoon will be most visible during the early morning hours of Dec. 4.

Supermoon lights up sky on Sunday

by Irina Malyugina, Reporter December 4, 2017

This year’s brightest supermoon occurred from the night of Dec. 3 to the night of Dec. 4. On Sunday night, the moon will be almost as close as possible to the Earth. It will appear 16 percent brighter...

Memoir Monday: The Pack of Cards

Memoir Monday: The Pack of Cards

by Srinath Somasundaram, Reporter December 4, 2017

Srinath Somasundaram The precisely cut pack of standard bicycle cards rests on the wooden table awaiting its grand opening. Its manufactured, cheap plastic cover balances its clean and untouched edges....

“I never go to bed angry, Ashna Chandra (12) said. If I’m fighting with someone like a friend or my mom or someone, I always try to solve a problem before I go to bed. I just don’t like to go to bed with a bad state of mind. That’s just how I try to keep myself positive.”

Humans of Harker Ashna Chandra maintains a positive mindset

by Devanshi Mehta, Seniors Editor December 4, 2017

Ashna doesn’t confine herself to one activity — DECA business conferences, nature hikes with family friends, rounds of golf and even kickboxing sessions all manage to fit into her schedule. One...

Mathematics department chair Anthony Silk announces signups for the AMC 10, 12 and the annual Tests of Engineering, Aptitude, Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) competition. Students can view the flyers posted around Dobbins for more information about these events.

School meeting recap 12/4

by Anvi Banga, Aquila Asst. News Editor December 4, 2017

Computer science department chair Dr. Eric Nelson announced the AP CS A screening exam on Jan. 4. This exam is for students who have not taken either Programming or Advanced Programming at Harker and wish...

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