Following the Gr. 3 orientation on the Bucknall campus on Aug. 26, new students, along with their “buddies” (returning students paired with new students of the same gender), participated in a special welcome party. In groups of eight, buddies went on a scavenger hunt to locate various buildings and offices around campus, where each pair retrieved a special ticket. These tickets were then entered into a raffle for prizes, with each prize containing items for both the student and his or her buddy. At the end of the party the students snacked on fruit bars. What a sweet way to be welcomed to Harker!
Simultaneously, new parents met with Sarah Leonard, primary division head, Kathy Clark, LS librarian, Joe Connolly, K-Gr. 5 dean of students and Joe Rosenthal, executive director of advancement, for an informational meeting in the library.
Aneesh Samineni, who enters Gr. 5 this fall, achieved a placing in the top two percentile nationally at the Math Olympiad for Elementary Middle Schools (MOEMS) held by Mathedge, an educational program that focuses on real-world problem solving skills. According to MOEMS, 150,000 students from 6,000 teams worldwide participated in the Olympiads last year. Samineni received a trophy, certificate and gold pin for his achievements. In the competition, he scored a 24 out of a possible 25. The Olympiad was created in 1977 by Dr. George Lenchner, an internationally known math educator.
Morning and afternoon on the Bucknall campus, Harker’s youngest summer campers are energetically enjoying toys, climbing on play equipment and getting to know each other. Little do they know that this playground interaction is also helping to prepare them for their first year of school –Harker or other– this fall.
Kindercamp is part of the Harker K-Gr. 8 summer program. All children have morning academic classes and afternoon activity groups; however, the youngest children do things a little differently than older campers. They have their own play area and they spend time practicing school routines like following directions, sitting in a chair, walking in a line and raising one’s hand before speaking.
The youngest campers participate in the same afternoon activities as the older ones, but some, like the “color clash,” the all-camp opening event of the afternoon program, are attended by Kindercampers just once a week. Harker Kindercampers participate in afternoon art, swimming, field games, circus arts, dance and archery.
One recent afternoon, the campers overwhelmingly voted swimming as their favorite activity; Andrei Yang also likes “playing archery,” and “I always like to do reading. And I like math and subtraction, addition, and writing and all those things.” He added, “Most of all my favorite thing is swimming!” Kaden Kapadia also enjoys camp, and says the best thing he’s done is “playing games in the gym.”
Teachers, aides and coaches in Harker’s Kindercamp are specially selected for this group for their understanding of this young group of campers. Harker kindergarten teachers Gerry-louise Robinson and Grace Wallace both taught in the morning academic session this summer; Matt Heinlein, one of Harker’s afternoon coaches, is back for his second year with the kindergartners.
Heinlein’s understanding of the needs of this group of children was demonstrated when he pointed out that, with the physical differences between first graders and kindergartners, “they don’t yet have the coordination or balance of older kids, or the ability to take in all the rules and follow them at one time. So if we were to do a relay race we would have to do just one thing at a time.” He takes this into consideration as he plans each afternoon activity. He really enjoys getting to know the kids. “They’re such sweethearts, and say the most adorable things ever.”
Clearly, Harker’s Kindercampers are in good hands!
Joe Connolly, LS dean of students, is a sought-after speaker of family topics and widely known for his expertise and powerful speaking on parenting teens and young children. This summer, he brought his expertise to Harker in a special class. Connolly, author and creator of “3 STEPS to Parenting Teens” and the “One Minute Rule,” is one of the founders of Good Parents, Inc.. In his class this summer, he shared his knowledge with Harker and non-Harker families in two week-long evening workshops titled “Tools for Effective Parenting in the 21st Century” – one for Gr. 1-4 parents and one for Gr. 5-8 parents.
Parents enjoyed the class and were thankful for the tips. Tricia Swanson, parent of Megan, Gr. 4, and Stephanie, Gr. 3, reported, “(Husband) Michael and I very much enjoyed the parenting class this summer. We took away some good ideas. Joe has a lot of great information.”
Nina Smith, parent of Grant, K, said, “I am always interested in parenting classes and the psychology of kids. This class was very interesting and gave me some new ideas and helpful tips that I have been able to practice; and they work!”
Smith added, “Mr. Connolly kept the class interesting and funny. I think a good sense of humor in dealing with kids is a must!” Connolly included information on how to understand one’s children better, to communicate based on your child’s developmental level, and provided tools and skills to help with everyday parenting. This is the first year Connolly has offered his classes at Harker, and by all accounts, they were a success. Harker may offer similar classes in the fall, so watch for more news!
Gr. 4 students got an up-close look at California history on the annual trip to Coloma in April. The area is most famous for being the starting point of the California Gold Rush. When they arrived, students were divided into different groups called “towns.”
The trip started with a visit to the Coloma Outdoor Discovery School. “We pretended to be gold miners living along the American River,” said Kristin Giammona, elementary division head. As would-be miners, they fashioned their own shelters, made cornbread and gave themselves nicknames. The group ate dinner, and then enjoyed a hoedown to the sounds of the musical group Slim Pickin’s. The day ended with a campfire by the river, complete with sing-a-longs and skits.
Day two began with a hike along the Monroe Ridge, “which culminated with a spectacular view of the Coloma Valley,” Giammona said. “Along the way we learned about the Native Americans who once lived in the area, the uses of various plants along the trail and the mining history of the area. We played games along the way to break up the hike.” The group gathered around the campfire again that night, where they were joined by Kimberly Shining Star, a Native American woman who told stories and shared a number of songs.
On their final day at Coloma, each town devised ways to save energy and reduce waste. The groups then reconvened during the final meeting of the trip to share their ideas. To cap off the trip, all members of the group dipped their leather pouches (received at the beginning of the trip) into the American River, thus becoming “sourdoughs,” the nickname for prospectors during the California Gold Rush.
Students greatly savored the trip. “I liked the free time before and after breakfast and dinner because my best friends weren’t in my town,” said student Nicolas Bean. “I was able to play with them during free time, and it was like being on vacation with them.” Others, such as Sanju Navar, enjoyed playing prospector: “I liked gold panning because it was fun and interesting. I didn’t find any gold, but it was still interesting.”
The Bucknall Orchestra & Choir Concert in May was a special occasion for all involved. Talented musicians from K-Gr. 5 performed in the program, which featured works by Beethoven, Mozart and Handel.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when LS history teacher Howard Saltzman, who retires this year after 30 years of service, acted as guest conductor for The Harker School’s theme song, which was performed by the entire roster of Bucknall instrumentalists and singers.
Later on, LS instrumental studies director Louis Hoffman led the Bucknall Orchestra in their rendition of the theme from “Star Wars,” which he conducted using a plastic replica of a light saber while wearing a Darth Vader helmet.
The show concluded with the Bucknall Orchestra and Bucknall Choir (directed by LS music teacher Jennifer Cowgill) collaborating on the famous “Hallelujah Chorus” by George Frederic Handel.
At the WBAL track meet, Gr. 4-8 boys and girls represented Harker well.
Boys
For the Gr. 4 boys, Evan Dorrian took second in the 100 and sixth in the 200 meters; Arben Gutierrez-Bujari was fourth in the 200 meters, sixth in the 400, and sixth in the 800. Eric Pei also took second in the 800, and the Gr. 4 relay team took third place in the 4 x 100.
These Gr. 5 boys also did well. Johnathon Keller was third in the 50 meters, fourth in the 100 and sixth in the 400. Noko Stearns placed sixth in the 50 and fifth in the 100 meters. Jonathan Yiu took sixth in the 100 meters, Calvin Kocienda was second in both the 200 and 400 meters, Nick LaBruna took fourth in both the 200 and 800 meters, Trevor Lee was sixth in the 800 meters, and the 4 x 100 relay team placed third.
Gr. 6 students continued the success with Corey Gonzales placing fourth in the 400 and winning the 800 meters. Avik Wadhwa was fifth in the 400 meters, Vedant Thyagaraj placed third in the 800 meters and Nikhil Kishore took sixth in the 800 meters. Arjun Ashok took fourth place in the softball throw and Jeremiah Anderson was third in the long jump. The sixth graders also showed their teamwork in the 4 x 100 with the A team taking third and the B team taking fifth.
Adarsh Battu, Gr. 7, placed fifth in the 50 meters, fourth in the 100, third in the 200 and fourth in the softball throw. Classmate Ravi Bhandia was fifth in the 200 meters, and the Gr. 7 relay team took third place in the 4 x 100 relay.
Eighth graders were also well represented. Michael Chen took third place in the 50 meters and second place in the long jump; David Lindars was sixth in both the 200 and 800 meters. Sumit Minocha placed sixth in the 50 meters, second in the 100, and third in the 200, 400, and 800 meters. Ramakrishnan Menon was fourth in the 400 and fifth in the 800 meters, and J.P. Doherty placed fourth in the softball throw. Displaying strong teamwork, the A relay team took second and the B team took sixth in the 4 x 100.
Girls
Gr. 4 girls results were as follows. Sarah Baz won the 400 meters, placed sixth in the 50, third in the 100 and fourth in the 800. Joelle Anderson took fourth place in the 100 meters, second in the 200 and third in the 800 meters, while Meilan Steimle was fifth in the 400 and second in the 800. The relay team finished fifth place in the 4 X 100.
The Gr. 5 girls spread the wins around more than some of the other grades, with Nadia Palte taking fourth place, Panny Shan placing fifth and Shannon Richardson coming in fifth in the 50 meters. Lauren Speckman was sixth in the 100, Regan Heslop won the softball throw and Valerie Wang placed second in the softball throw. The relay team took fourth place in the 4 x 100.
Sixth grade girls also demonstrated a large group of contenders, as Michelle Stack took fifth place in both the 100 and the softball throw; Diba Massihpour placed fourth in both the 200 and 800 and second in the 400 meters, and Alyssa Amick placed fourth in the 400 and third in the 800. Julia Wang was fifth in the 400 meters, Katie Sanchez took fifth in the 800, Safia Khouja took fourth place and Gillian Wallin tied for fifth in the softball throw. The A and B relay teams took fourth and fifth places, respectively, in the 4 x 100.
Our Gr. 7 girls didn’t place in any events, but Roshmi Bhattacharya, Gr. 8, won the 800 and 1200, and placed fourth in the 400. Jacqueline Jordan, Gr. 8, came in second in both the softball throw and the long jump, and placed sixth in the 800 meters. The Gr. 8 relay team placed sixth in the 4 x 100.
With all these impressive results, Harker’s future in track and field looks bright indeed!
Excitement was in the air in the Bucknall gym in late May, as the Gr. 1-5 dancers took the stage at the LS dance show. The show, titled “Road Trip,” featured a wide array of styles and themes based on exploring different parts of the United States. One rollicking number was set to the Elvis Presley classic “Viva Las Vegas,” while another displayed the Hawaiian art of hula dancing. Many faculty and staff members were in the spotlight as well, including Gr. 4 English teacher Katie Molin, who did the splits during one routine to a highly impressed audience.
Coach Jim McGovern reports, “The Gr. 4 baseball team has been steadily adding to their experience and knowledge. Fielding, hitting and running the bases have all improved due to the dedication and determination of this group of players.” Game situations, stealing bases and pitching were the focus over the final few weeks of the season. Standout performances have included the power hitting of Alex Youn, Edward Tischler, Alex Mo and Brandon Stoll as well as the stellar fielding and catching of Alexander Lam, Brandon Chow, Aashish Jain and Varun Baldwa. McGovern added, “They have relished the chance to put their skills to the test and play games with and against the fifth graders.” The enthusiasm and overall excitement of the fourth graders this year can be summed up by the cheer written by Nikhil Manglik and Alexander Lam: “Our pitcher, he is great with a ball, when he throws, he never hits the wall. Our batters are the very best, they put the defense to the test! Our base runners go with lightning speed, you’ll never know when they’ll take a lead! Harker, Harker, yes we rule! The other teams – they simply drool.”
The Gr. 5 baseball team has showed great determination in staying focused throughout the season. The Eagles only had one game this year, but have been preparing with intrasquad exhibition games as well as challenging our fourth graders to some games. The team is led by Trevor Lee, who has shown a tremendous amount of talent at any position. Coach Walid Fahmy was looking forward to the big bat of Kevin Wang and the speed of Jonathan Yiu and Suraj Jagadeesh helping the boys to be competitive. Fahmy was extremely happy with the outlook of the team and was looking forward to finishing up with a strong season.
JV A baseball started the season with a close game (2-3) against Priory, and faced a tough schedule this season. They had an 0-3 record at press time, and were continuing to develop their skills.
The varsity A baseball team, coached by Joe Mentillo and Manny Martinez, is out to gain the respect of the league and is playing some fundamentally sound and competitive baseball. The squad is led by eighth graders Kevin Cali (shortstop/pitcher), Drew Goldstein (catcher/shortstop), J.P. Doherty (center field) and Oliver Chen (pitcher). Matt Harris (catcher) is off to a sizzling start leading the team in hits and playing solidly at catcher.
Volleyball
The Gr. 4 volleyball girls have been learning the fundamentals, including the bump, set and spike. They have also practiced footwork and timing of hitting the ball. Coach Tomas Thompson reports, “They have shown enthusiasm, positive sportsmanship and are eager to learn more about the game. The team has demonstrated consistent improvement and team play this season.” Outstanding effort and attitudes have been shown by Chetana Kalidindi, LeAnn Nguyen, Lindsey Trinh and Ankita Uppugunduri.
The Gr. 5 JV B5 volleyball team was 4-0, despite playing against only Gr. 6 teams. Coach Michelle Hopkins commented, “The girls are all doing an excellent job. Lauren Speckman has an awesome serve and is a positive influence on the rest of the team. All the other girls are playing great. I think volleyball is the sport at Harker!”
The JV B6 volleyball girls improved tremendously over the course of the season and their game scores are getting closer and closer. Coach Loreen Talagtag states, “Leeza Kuo and Helen Wu are key players on the team as they have fantastic serves! Simran Singh has improved tremendously over the course of the season.”
The varsity B2 girls have won two games, which pleased Coach Talagtag because they have had some really tough teams in their division. All the games have been really close but the girls lost by a couple of points. Talagtag reports, “Christina Wong and Manini Desai are key players to look out for. Also Callie Ding has improved so much in the small period of time that we’ve had. These girls are so talented and I’m very proud of how far they’ve come.”
The junior varsity A girls team had a 2-1 record at press time; varsity B girls were 4-2.
The varsity A girls volleyball team is having another phenomenal season. Under the direction of coach Michael Leonard ’04 and assistant coach Christine Emery, Gr. 12, the girls had lost only one game this season at press time, with a 3-1 record. The team is undefeated in league play and is in pursuit of the league championship. The coaches have been getting outstanding contributions from everyone, most notably Amie Chien, Gr. 8, Mercedes Chien, Gr. 7 and Paulomi Bhattacharya, Gr. 8. Leonard states, “The team bonding activities we take part in throughout the season have really helped this team come together. The team is united in pursuit of our goal, which is the league title. I could not be more proud of what these girls have accomplished as a team!”
The varsity B boys team was undefeated at 4-0 for the season. Great job, boys! The varsity A boys volleyball team, coached by Pete Anderson, finished the season with a 9-5 record. The team was led by eighth graders Michael Chen, David Lindars, Bobby Kahlon and Josh Tien.
Tennis
The MS tennis team, comprising 18 players in Gr. 6-8 with USTA ranking, finished the season 17-2 overall. The team was led by eighth graders Jenny Chen and Niki Bedekar and sixth graders Vikram Chari and Deepa Dhore, who are all top-ranked in their respective age groups. Coach Ganesh Vaidya’s hope for continued success was achieved as the girls defeated Bret Harte 7-2 to win the MTP championship!
The Bucknall gym teemed with activity on June 3 as students and parents filed in for Fifth Grade Awards and Promotion Ceremony. Student Kristen Park led everyone in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before head of school Chris Nikoloff greeted the afternoon audience. The Gr. 5 dance group Dance Fusion then performed for the crowd.
Next, the annual awards were doled out. Allison Wang won for Academic Excellence, and the award for General Excellence went to Jonathan Ma and Ankita Sharma. Michael Moncton and Doreene Kang were recognized for Outstanding Academic Improvement. The Athletics and Sportsmanship awards were given to Nathaniel Stearns and Shannon Richardson. Kaushik Sankar and Gillian Chu received awards for Courtesy, while Madison Tomihiro and Jonathan Yiu were awarded for Personal Presentation. The Leadership awards went to Sadhika Malladi and Janet Lee, and the Spirit of Cooperation Award was given to Natalie Simonian and Vineet Kosaraju. Kurt Schwartz, Kristen Ko, Kristen Park, Alexander Guest, Nikhil Bopardikar, Shivali Minocha and Helena Dworak all received awards for Effort.
Awards for individual subjects were given to Allison Wang and Janet Lee for both English and Science, Janet Lee for Mathematics, Shalini Arimilli for Social Studies and Lauren Speckman and Johnathon Keller for Physical Education.
After the awards were handed out, the 120 students were called up one by one to receive their promotion certificates. After much applause, LS music teacher Jennifer Cowgill directed the Gr. 5 class’ vocal performance of “Children are the Future of the World” by Russell Robinson and, fittingly, “The Harker School Anthem.”
Elementary division head Kristin Giammona delivered the closing speech to officially bring another successful year to a close. Congratulations to all the Harker fifth graders taking the next step!