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

COVID-19 continues to mutate into new variants like the most recent JN.1 strain and remains especially active during the respiratory virus season from fall to winter. Updated vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax that came out in fall 2023 are effective against newer variants, and CDC safety precautions have largely stayed the same since last year.

Keeping up with COVID-19

by Mendy Mao and Jeremy Peng February 9, 2024

As we slog through another respiratory virus season, COVID-19 is no longer the main topic of discussion. Instead, the nation seems to have collectively moved on, despite the dangers the virus still poses....

Upper school nurse Jennifer Olson processes a COVID-19 test in her office on Friday. We do recommend daily testing for two to three days as it can take some time for the test to convert to positive once symptoms have started, Olson said.

Upper school COVID-19 cases rise after Winter Ball

by Aryana Bharali and Ella Yee February 14, 2023

34 upper school students tested positive for COVID-19 last week in a surge likely associated with Winter Ball, a dance that took place in the Athletic Center on Feb. 4. In an email sent to parents on...

We should not seek a “new normal,” as expansive and ambiguous that term may be, and rather focus on the small freedoms allowing connections that are again available to us. That can look like passing goggles to a lab partner in chemistry class, stealing half a cookie off of an unsuspecting friend’s tray or focusing all your affection for a person into the magical world in the space of a tight hug.

Magic in a post-lockdown hug: Staying grounded in small joys

by Trisha Iyer, Copy Editor June 6, 2022

I wanted to be Belle when I was little. Here was a Disney princess that gave me the representation on the silver screen that I needed: she would actively avoid social interaction to read books all day,...

This article tells the stories of students personal experiences relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impacts in sports, music and health. Solitude became our reality from March of 2020 to June of 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic continued on, and more social connection has emerged out of the return to in-person learning this school year.

‘A reality check’: Students share their personal stories with COVID-19

by Sarah Mohammed and Isha Moorjani March 31, 2022

Small rectangular boxes fill the computer screen, each one carrying a familiar face, a friend or a teacher. The Zoom page serves as the only window to “normal” life. A day at the upper school, once...

A technician from Inspire Diagnostics gives directions to students before taking their COVID-19 tests. Testing will take place weekly on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Nichols rotunda.

Upper school implements weekly COVID-19 testing for all students

by Isha Moorjani, News Editor February 9, 2022

All upper school students underwent COVID-19 testing on Feb. 4 in the Nichols rotunda with Inspire Diagnostics as a new weekly testing procedure. Upper school nurse Jennifer Olson announced in an email...

A pharmacist prepares a Pfizer booster shot on January 15 at the Los Gatos Safeway Pharmacy. The FDA approved of administration of the booster to children aged 12 to 15 on January 3.

FDA authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot for individuals aged 12 to 15

by Lavanya Subramanian and Tiffany Chang January 15, 2022

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the availability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster vaccine to children between ages 12 and 15 on Jan. 3.  This authorization followed after the...

With speculation and rumors spreading faster than the omicron variant itself, tension permeates the campus atmosphere, as empty seats dot classrooms and lunchtime conversations detail the friends who are quarantining in their rooms. In total, 48 students and 16 staff members have tested positive since the start of the school year. 

Editorial: We need answers

by Editorial Board January 15, 2022

In a survey sent out to members of the Harker Journalism news staff, 96.9% of the 32 responders indicated that they agreed with the stance of this editorial. With speculation and rumors spreading faster...

According to the Harker COVID-19 Data Dashboard, 19 students tested positive for COVID-19 from Jan. 2 to Jan. 8. As of yesterday, the upper school is not planning on implementing remote learning for any groups or grades on campus.

Upper school COVID-19 FAQ: Learning format, case numbers and contact tracing

by Lucy Ge, Co-Managing Editor January 12, 2022

This article has been updated on Jan. 16, 2022, to reflect current COVID-19 case numbers from the Harker COVID-19 Data Dashboard. 1. How many students and faculty have tested positive for COVID-19 at...

The vaccination site at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds administers COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots on Tuesday. The omicron variant is spreading at a rapid rate across the U.S. as Santa Clara County reported its first case last Thursday, with the variant estimated to constitute three percent of all COVID-19 cases nationwide as of yesterday.

Omicron spreads at rate ‘not seen with any previous variant’ as Santa Clara County detects first case

by Isha Moorjani and Sabrina Zhu December 16, 2021

This article has been updated on Dec. 17, 2021, to reflect COVID-19 updates sent by Head of School Brian Yager.  The omicron variant is spreading at a rapid rate across the U.S. as Santa Clara County...

Kris Estrada (11) poses with a cutout of Dr. Anthony Fauci after receiving his Pfizer booster dose on Friday, Dec. 10, at the Valley Specialty Center in the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Pfizer authorized a single booster dose for 16 and 17-year olds on Thursday, Dec. 9.

Pfizer authorizes booster dose for 16, 17-year-olds

by Sabrina Zhu and Alysa Suleiman December 14, 2021

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster vaccine for administration to 16 and 17-year-olds on Thursday, Dec. 9.  “We know that COVID-19 vaccines are...

STEM Scene showcases briefs to update our community on the STEM world.

STEM Scene: Dec. 1

by Sriya Batchu and Julie Shi December 1, 2021

Space X launches Crew-3 flight SpaceX’s manufactured spacecraft Crew Dragon successfully launched flight SpaceX Crew-3 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space...

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