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

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Cast list announced for 2017 Spring Musical

by Michael Sikand, Social Media Editor December 7, 2016

The cast list for the 2017 High School Musical was announced on Monday, with the decisions coming a week after students auditioned for their roles on Nov. 29 and 30. The list of cast members and their...

Manan Shah (12) wins $50,000 scholarship of Siemens Competition

Manan Shah (12) wins $50,000 scholarship of Siemens Competition

by Derek Yen, STEM Editor December 6, 2016

The Siemens Foundation announced senior Manan Shah as the winner of the $50,000 scholarship of the 17th Siemens Competition in a ceremony which was livestreamed at 11:00 a.m. ET today. Manan was named...

“[Playing piano] is more of a state of peace and frustration at the same time, but it’s a good feeling of frustration. It’s all about pressing the keys of my piano because I can express anything that I’m feeling into a song or piece that I’m playing, and then I get absorbed into it. This is the time when I don’t think about anything else. I’m just in the moment, Bill Liang said.

Humans of Harker: Bill Liang uses silent reflection to better himself

by Anjay Saklecha, Features Editor December 6, 2016

In a noisy world, Bill Liang (12) harnesses the power of silent reflection needed to focus, contemplate and recharge. After 9 years at Harker, Bill has learned that digesting different people’s views...

“When you’re creating something, it should be solely from yourself. There shouldn’t be any influence from society or even just copying. Everyone wants to copy each other, right? Be the same person, be that standard of beauty, but just be yourself. That’s all you need to do. Don’t take everything so seriously. All these rules that we have, they’re not rules, they’re just human things that we impose on each other, Shreya Neogi (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Shreya Neogi showcases her individuality through visual art

by Jin Tuan, Reporter December 5, 2016

Shreya Neogi (12) finds herself drawn to the unconventional. But instead of words, she uses visual art as a medium to convey her thoughts. “I like writing, but I’m not very good at expressing myself...

Ashley Jiang (11) peers into a box holding gifts from the journalism programs annual secret Santa gift exchange. As winter break approaches, upper school students and faculty organize exchanges like secret Santa and white elephant to celebrate the holidays.

Upper school celebrates holidays with gift exchange activities

by Rose Guan, Winged Post Copy Editor December 4, 2016

Garlanded trees, winter-themed ornaments and festive decorations have all appeared around campus, but as winter break approaches, many upper school students and teachers will also celebrate the holidays...

“[Living in Shanghai] is freedom. It just gives me a feeling that I have all the power, all the choices. It doesn’t really matter what I really do, but it’s this mindset—I am free; I am not restricted by transportation—I really enjoy. [I feel] desire, nostalgia. Wherever I am, I have this tendency of going to Shanghai because it’s my home, Matthew Hu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Matthew Hu reminisces about Shanghai

by Julia Huang, TALON Organizations Editor December 4, 2016

In Shanghai, the world lays out in front of him. Within a one kilometer diameter, he has access to everything—the food vendors, the stores, the skyscrapers. Matthew Hu (12) lived in Shanghai from ages...

70 students from all grade levels participated in the  musical auditions during the lunch breaks on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29 in Mrs. Lang Ree’s room.

Students audition for High School Musical

by Eric Fang, Reporter December 3, 2016

Seventy students from all grade levels auditioned for the Harker High School musical auditions at lunch on Nov. 28 and 29 in Ms. Lang Ree’s room. Students auditioned in groups of around 6 at a time,...

Facebook and other social media sites allow fake news to spread rapidly and reach a large target audience with little to no checks.

Facebook cannot stop fake news, but you can

by Derek Yen, STEM Editor December 3, 2016

Fake news wracked the recent presidential election – completely fabricated stories with the a sufficient amount of plausibility to be possibly believable. Prominent among the election’s fake news stories...

The benefits of being bilingual

The benefits of being bilingual

by Nina Gee, Reporter December 3, 2016

Speaking more than one language has its social benefits, including broader communication and better understanding of a country’s culture. Often times, people who speak a foreign language find it...

“In [competitions], there’s a winner, there’s a loser, and it’s just—can you be the winner?” Misha Ivkov (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Misha Ivkov practices a winning mentality

by Derek Yen, STEM Editor December 3, 2016

Misha Ivkov has been playing water polo since seventh grade, but his outlook on the game changed entirely with one improbable victory. “Tenth grade. We had a game against Willow Glen, who is two leagues...

“When we do dramatic exercises in acting, there are moments where all my friends and I literally just sit in a circle and cry together. Its absolutely amazing, the way we all have power and control over our emotions and how we can make ourselves feel a certain way. I think its absolutely beautiful, Tamlyn Doll said.

Humans of Harker: Tamlyn Doll uses acting to channel her emotions

by Heidi Zhang, TALON Asst. Photo Editor December 1, 2016

Around campus, Tamlyn Doll’s (12) name is usually mentioned in conjunction with dance. It's been seven years since she took her first dance class in fifth grade, and she has dedicated thousands of hours...

Juniors Shaya Zarkesh, Michael Kwan, Kat Tian and Rajiv Movva participate in HSMCiM as a team. The math contest took place for 36 hours on the Saratoga campus.

Students participate in 36-hour math competition

by Angele Yang, Reporter December 1, 2016

Two teams from the Upper School competed in the annual High School Math Contest in Modeling (HSMCiM) at the Saratoga campus from 8 a.m. on Nov. 19 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20 for 36 hours over Thanksgiving break. The...

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