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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

The Black History Month board in Main hallway is decorated with short biographies and pictures of various influential Black people from around the world in celebration of Black History Month. Notable Black people which the Black Student Union (BSU) included in the Student Diversity Coalition board range from athletes to actors to politicans.

Upper school Black Student Union holds fundraiser celebrating Black History Month

by Ananya Sriram and Ariana Goetting March 10, 2022

Members of Harker’s Black Student Union (BSU) celebrated Black History Month in February by selling desserts from local Black-owned businesses during long lunches outside of Manzanita to promote mental...

Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group based in Afghanistan, on Aug. 15, 2021 after the Afghan government collapsed as then-president Ashraf Ghani fled the country. To understand the complexity of the current situation means to trace the ridges of Afghanistan, means to be aware of the country where we stand and to see what America has done to the history of a nation across the world from ours.

‘It almost felt like a funeral for my country’

by Sarah Mohammed, Lucy Ge, Olivia Xu, and Isha Moorjani March 7, 2022

As Bay Area students, news about Afghanistan and other nations can seem distant from our lives. Through writing this piece, we explore the human crisis resulting from the Afghanistan war. We brought...

Upper school biology teacher Eric Johnson shares an anecdote on when they gave up shiny red shoes they saw at the store under family pressure that the shoes were too "girly." Teacher Johnson, who goes by they/them and he/him pronouns, explained that part of his journey was forgiving his past self during a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) meeting in Main room 21 on Feb. 10.

Upper school biology teacher shares insights on gender and sexual identity at club meeting

by Emma Gao, Co-Copy Editor March 2, 2022

Upper school biology teacher Eric Johnson presented on how biology supports the existence of diverse and nuanced gender and sexual identities at a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) meeting in Main room...

An illustration of the character Chiron in the 2016 film "Moonlight." Oscar-winning movie “Moonlight” tells the breathtaking child-to-adulthood story of a Black man in Miami.

Recommended films in honor of February’s Black History Month

by Sydney Ling, Reporter February 23, 2022

The dichotomy between Black trauma and joy has arisen as a discussion of forms of resistance within Black representation. Stories of slavery, segregation and struggle sometimes overshadow the nuanced aspects...

Upper school biology teacher Jeff Sutton's advisory watch the school meeting via Zoom this Tuesday. After the meeting, students underwent the first iteration of weekly COVID-19 testing.

School meeting recap 1/25/22: Culture Week, Valentine’s Grams and Chinese New Year festivities

by Julie Shi, Reporter January 28, 2022

Associated Student Body (ASB) president Dawson Chen (12) started the school meeting this Tuesday. The Student Diversity Coalition (SDC) announced Culture Week would be held from Feb. 21 to Feb. 25 and...

Sophomores Selina Xu, Meishin Yen and Claire Miao work on cards at a table outside of Manzanita with chapter president Ishani Sood (10) and vice president of outreach Trisha Iyer (10) during the upper school Women for Women International's holiday card writing event on Dec. 7.

Women for Women International hosts holiday card event

by Desiree Luo, Asst. Sports Editor December 15, 2021

The upper school's newly founded Women for Women International (WFWi) chapter set up a table outside of Manzanita Hall during lunch on Dec. 7 for students and faculty to create holiday cards for women...

Upper School Division Head Butch Keller joins in on student council's dance skit, performed to to Lil Nas X’s “HOLIDAY." Last Thursday's school meeting marked the last school meeting of 2021.

School meeting recap 12/9/21: Culture Day, Kicks Against Cancer and 1,500 donut holes

by Lucy Ge, Co-Managing Editor December 14, 2021

Associated Student Body (ASB) President Dawson Chen (12) welcomed everyone to the last school meeting before winter break last Thursday.  Upper school English teacher Jennifer Siraganian announced...

An illustration of a photo album, reminiscent of those of families that were forced to give up personal belongings such as family photos due to being forced to enter concentration camps.

Pulse of the People: ‘Never forget, never again’

by Alysa Suleiman and Emily Tan December 3, 2021

Harker Aquila spoke with upper school faculty and students, local Jewish synagogue members and Holocaust research experts on the lasting impacts of the Holocaust and the value and necessity of integrating...

High school curricula reveal startlingly low levels of Holocaust education

December 3, 2021

International Holocaust Remembrance Day occurs every year on Jan. 27 and marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising as a memorialization of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Despite...

From left to right, upper school science department chair Anita Chetty, upper school chemistry teacher Dr. Mala Raghavan, computer science teacher Anu Datar, attendance coordinator Ritu Raj, upper school mathematics teacher Dr. Anu Aiyer and upper school computer science teacher Marina Peregrino dress in traditional garments to celebrate Diwali. This year, the holiday occurred on Nov. 5.

Triumph of light over darkness: Students, faculty celebrate Diwali

by Emma Gao and Isha Moorjani November 30, 2021

Upper school math teacher Dr. Anu Aiyer wears a sari of wrapped deep purple cloth with a strip of golden embroidery, a piece of the fabric falling behind her shoulder. With her hands lightly pressed together...

Native American tribes such as the Muwekma Ohlone used bundles of tule, a wetland bulrush plant, to construct boats for transportation. The month of November, officially recognized as Native American Heritage Month by President George H. W. Bush in 1990, commemorates the history and culture of Native American peoples.

‘We are still here’: Native American Heritage Month pays tribute to rich tribal history and traditions

by Michelle Liu and Selina Xu November 29, 2021

When Aneesha Asthana (11) attended the Women for the Rivers Gathering in Minnesota this summer, she knew little about the cause behind the movement. They had originally attended for their sister, who does...

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