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

Students enjoy cookies during a previous celebration of Howard Nichols birthday. Harker celebrated what would have been Nichols’ 77th birthday this year yesterday.

Upper school celebrates Howard Nichols’s birthday

by Daniel Wang, Reporter October 11, 2017

The upper school celebrated former head of school Howard Nichols’ birthday today through a presentation about his life and legacy during school meeting, followed by cookies, Nichols’ favorite snack,...

“Piano is a medium for me to express myself. Ive been with it my whole life. Is it cheesy to say its a part of me? But it truly is. Just as people cry when theyre sad, or they laugh when theyre happy, I play music to express myself. Its a part of my personality. I wouldnt be here without piano. Just as how kindergarten has taught me the alphabet, how middle school has taught me algebra, piano has taught me about myself,” Emma Yu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Emma Yu keys in on musicality

by Sharon Yan, TALON Managing Editor and Business Manager October 11, 2017

A row of 52 white keys and 36 black keys lies before Emma Yu (12) as she adjusts her stool bench, positions her right foot on the pedal and rests her small, agile fingers on the keyboard of her grand piano....

Academic Dean Evan Barth delivers a short speech about former Head of School Howard Nichols life during todays school meeting. He was the Head of School that would stop and pick up a gum wrapper from the floor, Barth said.

School meeting recap 10/10

by Anvi Banga, Aquila Asst. News Editor October 10, 2017

Harker Journalism played a video featuring photos of students taken last week. The school community held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the recent Las Vegas shooting. GSA advocate Alissa...

Public forum team Amanda Cheung (10) and Annie Ma (10) pose with their varsity octofinalist award from the Presentation Invitational. Harker had 15 public forum teams competing in the tournament.

Upper school debaters compete at Presentation Invitational

by Nicole Chen, Aquila Features Editor October 10, 2017

The upper school debate team attended the Presentation Invitational from Oct. 6 to 8 at Presentation High School in San Jose. A total of 49 Harker debaters participated in this tournament, competing...

“I dont want to have to abandon anything. Im one of those kinds of people for whom choosing a major will be painful—not just difficult—painful. Cause, I really dont want to have to restrict myself to anything. I really just enjoy learning whatever as it is,” Derek Yen (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Derek Yen voraciously pursues knowledge

by Kaitlin Hsu, Winged Post and Wingspan Co-Editor-In-Chief October 10, 2017

On all counts, Derek Yen (12) is an enigma. On this particular Thursday, he is clothed in a blue shirt, an unbuttoned red and black plaid jacket, khakis and Vans. He forgets to drink the Earl Grey...

Professor Bill Anderson points to a spreadsheet during his presentation. Anderson discussed engineering and design for two fifth-period math classes.

University of Waterloo representatives visit fifth period math classes

by Rose Guan, Wingspan Senior Staff Writer and Designer October 10, 2017

Representatives from the engineering department at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, presented to two math classes today during fifth period in math department chair Anthony Silk’s...

“I don’t think I have any regrets. I think about it, and if I did change any of it then my life would be different, and I don’t want it to be. I like where it is right now,” Charley Huang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Charley Huang finds happiness in moments and memories

by Meena Gudapati, Aquila Editor-In-Chief October 9, 2017

Charley Huang (12) has deep roots in the Bay Area. Her father attended Mountain View High school, her uncle attended Blach Intermediate School in Los Altos and her grandparents still live in their old...

(From left to right) Emily Liu (10), Katherine Tian (11), Cynthia Chen (10), Gwyneth Chen (12), Joanna Lin (12), Grace Huang (10), Allison John (9) and Katherine Zhang (11) pose in front of the Stratton Student Center at MIT after the contest. Math Prize for Girls was held on Sept. 24 at MIT.

Math Club kicks off with early competitions

by Srinath Somasundaram, Reporter October 8, 2017

The upper school Math Club participated in some of the first competitions of the school year on Sept. 24, kicking off its many math contests. Eight girls, Joanna Lin (12), Gwyneth Chen (12), Katherine...

Sports Standards: A glimpse into sports entertainment

Sports Standards: A glimpse into sports entertainment

by Alex Wang, Opinion Editor October 7, 2017

Spectators see only what is shown to them. A baseball player hitting a home run to win a World Series. A football player charging through an entire defensive line for a touchdown. The news of another record-breaking...

Ten outrageous pumpkin spice products

Ten outrageous pumpkin spice products

by Nina Gee, Reporter October 6, 2017

Fall marks the return of all our favorite things: fuzzy jackets, warm scarves, the glowing, warm-toned ombre of the falling leaves and last but certainly not least, the return of an alarmingly broad array...

I felt like there were parts of my personality that I left behind in this pursuit of being a public figure, Jimmy Lin (12) said. One of the ways I tried to reconcile this was to intentionally do things that I was bad at, to force myself—at least during volleyball season—to spend three hours every day being that humble person, whether I liked it or not.

Humans of Harker: Jimmy Lin stays humble

by Melissa Kwan, Humans of Harker Managing Editor October 5, 2017

Standing behind the podium at school meeting, face to face with the entire Upper School student body, Jimmy Lin (12) looks like a caricature of himself: hair spikier, gestures wider. As he lowers the microphone,...

A small fire broke out in the robotics room supply closet last night, immediately contained by the upper school fire suppression system. Computer science department chair Dr. Eric Nelson’s academic classes today met in Nichols 309 (physics teacher Scott Pflaumer’s room) and in other locations in Nichols.

Small fire breaks out in robotics supply room, classes moved and robotics meeting cancelled

by Sahana Srinivasan, Nicole Chen, and Vijay Bharadwaj October 5, 2017

Due to a small fire that broke out in the robotics room supply closet last night, which was immediately contained by the upper school fire suppression system, computer science department chair Dr. Eric...

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