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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

Regardless of what type of election or level of politics they engage with, students have a civic duty to advocate for their local communities.

Editorial: Lack of civic engagement dampens student voices

by Editorial Board October 11, 2024

The intricacies of politics go ignored too often, especially among the youth. Take, for instance, a decision by your local city council to scrap a plan to build barriers for bike lanes you frequently use....

Physical slips serve little purpose once they leave the front desk. More often than not, they end up straight in the recycling bin.

Harker should abolish paper late slips

by Victor Gong, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief October 9, 2024

It’s 7:58. Slinging my backpack around my shoulder, I bolt into campus as fast as my legs can carry me, my heart pounding in sync with every step. 7:59. I count down from 60. Rounding a corner, I spot...

This I Believe: Furbies, family and forging connections

This I Believe: Furbies, family and forging connections

by Lindsay Li, Reporter October 8, 2024

I have exactly 33 stuffed animals in my room, including a terrifyingly long Furby. Thirty-three may be more than enough for one person, and there’s no particular reason for needing a long Furby,...

The bottom line is this: students need to like the books they read to nurture their love of reading and procure the best results learning-wise. Administrators who decide each class’ reading list should focus on choosing books that will be popular with students.

School kills love of reading

by Mendy Mao, Co-Features Editor August 29, 2024

I step into my room, glancing at the piles of books littering the floor. Most are assigned reading for English class. A few are books that I’ve selected for myself, untouched and collecting dust. I sit...

Fifty-nine percent of student respondents spent upwards of $150 on textbooks for the upcoming year and 29% of students spent over $300. The lack of value that students find in some textbooks, however, invalidates their price. 

Editorial: Textbook underutilization reveals flaws in course materials planning

by Editorial Board August 28, 2024

Scanning the MBS online bookstore for the school year’s course materials, one word jumps off the screen: REQUIRED. The bright red font and all-caps letters precede each title. You check the box labeled:...

Success equals how many people remember you after you die multiplied by how long they remember you for. But only if you’re doing what you love.

This I Believe: Appendix to equation of life

by Kairui Sun, Photo Editor August 20, 2024

I joined Harker in fifth grade. One of my first memories of that frankly overwhelming year was a math lecture with my classmates: one not held in school by Harker faculty, but in a dingy room just outside...

Volunteering impact also does not need to be confined to a set amount of time or awards. If we encourage students to approach their nonprofit work with longevity in mind, they are more likely to carry on their work, furthering acts of volunteerism in their community.

Editorial: Resume-building diminishes commitment to community service

by Editorial Board May 16, 2024

Scrolling through Instagram, numerous abandoned nonprofit accounts emerge. Initiatives that were once active during a student’s time in high school now lie dormant. These accounts cast doubt on the extent...

Friday Five: Childhood cartoons

Friday Five: Childhood cartoons

by Mendy Mao, Co-Features Editor May 11, 2024

A little girl sits on the sofa, eyes glued to the screen. The hero, clad in bright orange clothes, jumps up and defeats the scowling villain. The girl roars with laughter as the villain falls off his...

This I Believe: Measured in moments

This I Believe: Measured in moments

by Katerina Matta, Winged Post Co-Editor-in-Chief May 4, 2024

Beads of sweat dot our brows as my grandmother and I labor over a pot of tabikh, a classic Egyptian stew made primarily from meat, tomatoes and a vegetable called bamia. I insisted on learning to make...

With fun celebrations like National Houseplant Appreciation Day and Lipid Day, these days can offer a unique break from everyday life, turning any normal day into a special one. In this list, I present my five favorite national days.

Friday 5: National Days

by Isabella Lo, Aquila Co-Managing Editor May 3, 2024

In 2023 alone, over 10,000 research papers were withdrawn, setting a new global record. Journals subject papers to stringent review processes facilitated by expert peer reviewers, but many procedural and factual errors still manage to slip past inattentive editors, threatening to damage the reputation of legitimate scientific research.

Science has an integrity problem

by Mihir Kotbagi, Assistant STEM Editor April 8, 2024

Science, long held as the epitome of truth and objectivity, is facing an integrity crisis, with a growing number of retractions calling into question the reliability of published research and shaking...

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