Skip to Main Content
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 stand in the lunch line trailing into the quad on Aug. 23. Due to Harker’s COVID-19 practices in trying to limit student numbers indoors, faculty have been trying to keep the line inside as short as possible, leading to longer lines outside.

Campus crowding: Did longer lines lead to seating shortage?

by Sally Zhu, A&E and Lifestyle Editor September 10, 2021

During the first weeks of school, students have crowded in lunch lines stretching from Manzanita all the way to the Quad, and the traffic has been worse, with students showing up late to class. The crowding...

Students and faculty fall fashion bring new shopping and styles to this school year. Some have explored thrifting and trends from social media.

Fall fashion: Rise in the realm of thrifting

by Sally Zhu, A&E and Lifestyle Editor September 7, 2021

Fashion, by definition ever-changing and transitory, inevitably continues to evolve in the form of trends or individual styles. After more than a year of shelter-in-place, thrifting and secondhand shopping,...

Dean of Students Kevin  Williamson addresses the student body on the Community Expectations on dress during the school meeting on Monday.

Dean of Students reminds upper school campus of community dress guidelines

by Alysa Suleiman, Co-Editor-In-Chief September 2, 2021

Dean of Students Kevin Williamson gave an announcement on Monday during school meeting to remind students of proper school attire. Williamson’s announcement covered the history of the current Community...

Upperclassmen have not yet experienced the true weight of being role models for the younger students. Take comfort in the fact that you can make a difference in their high school journeys simply by reaching out. Let underclassmen know that you are here for them.

Editorial: Together we rise

by Editorial Board August 29, 2021

The last time we were here together, we were sitting in our classrooms during the last period of the day, anxiously waiting for the school bell to ring.  The last time we were here together, we were...

The US Food and Drug Association gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for individuals older than sixteen years. Previously, the treatment was only administered under an emergency use authorization (EUA), which was granted in December 2020.

FDA approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

by Sabrina Zhu, STEM Editor August 27, 2021

The US Food and Drug Association gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for individuals older than sixteen years. Previously, the treatment was only administered under an...

The sun shines through wildfire smoke over Davis Field today. Air quality index (AQI) levels passed 150 on all four campuses today, according to the second of two emails sent at 12:44 p.m. by Director of Health Services Debra Nott, cancelling or moving all after school activities and sports practices inside.

BREAKING: Sudden decline in air quality from wildfires alters outdoor activity protocol

by Alysa Suleiman and Nicole Tian August 27, 2021

This is a developing story. Check Harker Aquila for future updates. Air quality index (AQI) levels passed 150 on all four campuses today, canceling or moving all after school activities and sports practices...

Students attended the 2021 Conservatory Kick-Off on Wednesday in the Patil Theater. Multiple teachers announced upcoming events such as the Fall Play and Dance Production and new classes.

Performing arts students attend the 2021 school year Conservatory Kick-Off

by Sally Zhu, A&E and Lifestyle Editor August 27, 2021

Students attended the Conservatory Kick-Off for the 2021-22 school year in the Patil Theater on Wednesday, a mandatory event for students interested or involved in any performing arts at Harker. The Kick-Off...

Former Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in today as the 57th governor of New York and the state’s first female governor. 

Kathy Hochul replaces former NY governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid 11 sexual harassment allegations

by Erica Cai and Isha Moorjani August 24, 2021

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Aug. 10, that he would resign as governor due to sexual harassment allegations made against him by 11 women. Former Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in today as the...

Talk around campus: Students react to the Tokyo Olympics

Talk around campus: Students react to the Tokyo Olympics

by Vishnu Kannan, Co-Managing Editor August 21, 2021

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics wrapped up on Aug. 8 after 16 days of fierce competition across 33 different sports. Students share their thoughts on the once-every-four-year event, ranging from their favorite...

On the final day of the Olympics, seven days after she last appeared in the arena, Simone Biles returned to compete on the beam, not expecting to receive an award and saying “I was just going out there doing this for me.” Just like Biles, you have the power of choice—the power to sacrifice immediate results to take care of your well-being and to pave the way for long-term fulfillment.

Power of choice: Olympians set example of strength in making healthy decisions

by Arely Sun, Co-Managing Editor August 15, 2021

“It doesn’t matter what vault she does—it’s a showstopper,” said a NBC Sports reporter in a live broadcast. Eyes focused ahead, Simone Biles set off in a sprint, jumped from the springboard and...

Olivia Rodrigo on her "SOUR" album cover. The album surpassed Spotify's record for the greatest number of streams for an album in 2021.

Brutal and beautiful: Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album shamelessly floods with feeling

by Sarah Mohammed, Features Editor August 14, 2021

“God, it's brutal out here,” 18-year-old Olivia Rodrigo exclaims in the opening track of her debut album “SOUR,” the snappy trill of her voice mingling with bass drumming and a pounding guitar...

Humans of Harker: Perseverance on par

Humans of Harker: Perseverance on par

by Irene Yuan, Co-Managing Editor August 2, 2021

This is the first installment of the Humans of Harker 2021 video series. Through this project, the Harker journalism program aims to tell the story of the senior class, one profile at a time.

Load More Stories