Harker Aquila

Upper school implements bell schedule changes and Zoom guidelines for remote learning

The first semester of the 2020-2021 school will utilize a modified two-day rotation block schedule. This is in response to limitations from the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting Governor Gavin Newson to issue a directive to all schools to begin the year exclusively through remote learning.

September 2, 2020

The upper school has adopted a modified bell schedule for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. All instruction will be taking place online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the administration to release new Zoom guidelines for remote learning last week, helping students balance screen...

Tags: bell schedule, COVID-19, kelly horan, remote learning, upper school, zoom

All 4 campuses likely to close through spring break after parent of non-teaching staff member tests positive for COVID-19

The quad after school today. The upper school will be closed to all students beginning tomorrow following a reported case of COVID-19 in the family of a non-teaching staff member.

by Sara Yen, Anna Vazhaeparambil, Varsha Rammohan, Alysa Suleiman, Kathy Fang, Arushi Saxena, Aditya Singhvi, Esha Gohil, and Eric Fang

March 12, 2020

All four of Harker’s campuses will be closed for students after classes today after a parent of a non-teaching staff member in the upper school, with whom that staff member lives, tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19. At the moment, it is not clear who the staff member is. Classes ...

Tags: Brian Yager, butch keller, coronavirus, COVID-19, health, kelly horan, online schooling, outbreak, pandemic, public health, remote learning, safety, school closure, upper school, zoom

School meeting recap 1/13/2020: Eagle Update, new semester electives, and a Night of Nostalgia

Head of Upper School Butch Keller delivers a talk at school meeting about recent incidents of students using disrespectful language and racial slur. Keller presented an initiative called Challenge Day that aims to encourage diversity of perspective and break down barriers between students and faculty.

by Lucy Ge, Asst. News Editor

January 14, 2020

Avi Gulati (12) started off yesterday’s school meeting by welcoming everyone. On behalf of ASB, he announced that students should submit slides through the form instead of email. On behalf of upper school security, he urged students to limit their use of Doordash, especially during school hours. Followi...

Tags: angela ma, butch keller, challenge day, competitions, doordash, eagle update, ge wang, kelly horan, kicks against cancer, kindness, national economics challenge, night of nostalgia, research club, school meeting recap, summer recommendation

School meeting recap 9/3/19: Self-study APs, Spirit Kickoff and upcoming auditions

Diversity Committee faculty members Dr. Lola Muldrew, Pilar Aguero-Esparza and Tyeshia Brown speak to the upper school community about an upcoming assembly featuring Jay Smooth, a cultural commentator. To introduce Smooth, Diversity Committee played his YouTube video about race at school meeting yesterday.

by Kathy Fang, Editor-in-Chief

September 4, 2019

The second school meeting of the year kicked off yesterday with an announcement from National Honors Society (NHS) by NHS president Jai Bahri (12). NHS is now taking new applicants and will send an application form later in the week for sophomores, juniors and seniors who are interested. Students involved...

Tags: 9/11, 9/3/19, anna miner, AP exams, auditions, avi gulati, devin keller, diversity committee, hslt, jai bahri, jay smooth, katy rees, kelly horan, NHS, school meeting recap, Spirit Kickoff, winged post

Harker heats up for spirit week

Kelsey Wu (12) waves the senior class flag while Karen Krause (12), Sahana Narayan (12) and Shania Wang (12) cheer to her left. The seniors earned the most spirit points this year.

by Emily Tan, Reporter

April 14, 2019

For members of the upper school community, the five days after spring break ended weren’t just any few days: it was spirit week, which meant over-the-top costumes, class competitions nearly every day, and an uplifting mood that spread throughout the whole campus. On Monday during lunch, students...

Tags: ashley jazbec, belly flop, class spirit, drag race, dress up, freshmen, hannah lak, juniors, kelly horan, kelsey wu, Matthew Hajjar, name that tune, rally, Ray Wang, regatta, ROAR, seniors, sophomores, Spirit, Spirit Week, yejin song