Broadway is coming to Harker! The school will host the west coast auditions for the Broadway revival of “Annie.” Harker alumna Lisa Schwebke ’04 connected the school with New York’s Telsey + Co. casting agency. As part of the visit, casting agent Rachel Hoffman, CSA, will work with candidates of The Harker Conservatory’s Certificate Program to build an educational experience on this opportune event on Harker’s campus.
On Fri., Oct. 21, from 7-9 p.m., Hoffman, who has helped cast many name productions including “Wicked”, “Rent,” “Hairspray,” “Legally Blonde” and “The Color Purple,” will
lead a workshop on effective techniques for auditioning on Broadway. Then, on Sun., Oct. 23, certificate candidates will serve as interns for the casting process as Harker hosts auditions for “Annie” at the middle school campus from 8-4 p.m..
This partnership is a new development the Harker Conservatory, which, this summer, toured its steam punk version of Stephen Schwartz’s “Pippin” to the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Harker was one of only 45 American high schools accepted to perform its work overseas as part of the festival, where “Pippin” was reviewed as an “excellent production,” created by “an enthusiastic and well-drilled cast.”
The Harker School’s Global Empowerment Organization (GEO) begins its annual awareness and fundraising week on Oct. 17, with a kickoff assembly on Oct. 14. This year, all efforts are geared toward helping the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) save the lives of children in developing countries.
Each year, GEO tackles a Millennium Development Goal (or MDG)—this is a world problem that has been identified by the United Nations as an international concern. Usually, GEO lets its members chose one MDG to focus on, and then narrows it down to specific causes and organizations. However, because GEO Week got moved forward this year, the officers of the club had to make the choice as to which foundation they would support before the school year began.
Katie Siegel, grade 12, the GEO president, had the initial idea to support GAVI. “I came up with the idea of working with a nonprofit that distributes vaccines to impoverished nations through a two week summer intensive on foreign policy. Our group’s topic was vaccine distribution. My research there made me realize the importance of the cause, so I thought it would be great if GEO worked with GAVI, the main nonprofit that controls international vaccine distribution.” Siegel says.
The club’s Public Relations Officer, Cherry Xie, grade 12, agreed it would be an eye-opening experience. “We often hear about raising the standards of life to alleviate poverty around the globe, but we don’t usually think about the possibility of preventative measures, like giving vaccinations as a way to better someone’s life. It is much less costly than having to treat someone for a certain disease, and it can prevent families from becoming trapped in the poverty cycle—children live, and therefore can work to bring in income for the family,” Xie said.
On Oct. 14, Tim Nielander, who initially served as General Counsel for GAVI and later as Managing Director of Corporate Services, will speak to students about the GAVI Alliance, what the organization does, and why the cause is so important.
Then the week’s fundraising and awareness officially starts Oct. 17. Throughout the week, students will take vows of silence. Students who take the vow will get pledges from friends and family in exchange for maintaining complete silence for 24-hours. One raffle ticket will be given for every 20 dollars raised, which will be entered to win microbe plushies. The students will represent the children of the world who have no voice because they were not immunized and succumbed to disease.
In addition to the pledges, GEO will be selling wristbands and sport bags at lunch and after school. Candy grams (or as they’ll be called, GAVI grams) will also be available to send to friends on Halloween.
Finally, on Thursday, Oct. 20th, there will be a school-wide simulation game in which students are given lists of people they are supposed “infect.” As Xie explains, “Five GEO members in each grade will start as initial infectors. The idea is to see how many students become ‘infected’ by the end of the day. This is designed to educate students about what could happen if they were not given immunizations in childhood and understand more personally the cause we are supporting.”
“Are we ready to get some jumping jacks done?” Chrissy Chang asked the 590 middle school students and staff who had gathered at the Blackford quad. A rousing cheer went up as the middle school prepared to join National Geographic Kids and United States First Lady Michelle Obama in Let’s Jump!, an attempt to break the world record for the most people doing jumping jacks at the same time.
Chang, the K-8 physical education department chair, said that in addition to Let’s Jump! being a great physical activity for everyone to participate in, the White House’s sponsorship influenced her decision to get the middle school involved. “I think it’s great that the First Lady is promoting the importance of physical activity and healthy eating with her Let’s Move campaign. At Harker, we are fortunate to have a phenomenal physical education program. By participating in Let’s Jump!, our students can say that they played a role in setting the record, and can help increase health awareness,” Chang said.
The students were enthusiastic, as well. “It’s really cool!” said Alexandra Michael, grade 6, about the First Lady’s world-record breaking idea.
To set a new record, more than 20,425 people across the globe will need to perform jumping jacks for one minute during the 24-hour time period between 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 11 and 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 12.
Chang led the students and staff in the minute of jumping jacks on the morning of Oct. 12, playing music to get everyone pumped up and excited, and leading a countdown during the last 10 seconds.
Jerrica Liao, grade 6, said it was “really exciting” to be part of the record-breaking attempt. She, Chang and all the other students and staff at the middle school will be waiting anxiously to hear if the record was broken.
Let’s Jump! is part of National Geographic Kids’ movement to get kids outdoors and living active, healthy lives.
For everything to be official, Harker recruited friends of parents and neighbors who were all needed as neutral observers of the jump to verify it to the Guinness Book of World Records. Special thanks to those individuals: Nancy Morgan, Mack Johansen, Helen Azbill, Michael Canziani (Prestige Potraits), Nahla Nijmeh (Diamond Quality Printing), April Medina (Diamond Quality Printing), Judy Crow, Laura Parker (Jostens), Jayson Rocha, Kay Rooney, Steve Malik (California Sport Design), Bella Mahoney (Our Lady of Fatima Villa, Saratoga), Denis Hoye, Jeanette Murphy, Armando DeGraca, Andrea Taylor and Steve Tedesco (former SJ Chamber director, and Campbell Union School District board member).
“It was awesome. Unbelievable. It’s great to be able to see our entire school participate,” Chang said after the event.
Wajahat Ali ’94, an attorney, essayist and playwright, was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) in September to talk about the Muslim-American experience in a post-9/11 world. Mina Kim interviewed Ali, asking him about his personal experience on 9/11, his thoughts and feelings on the decade following and how he wrote his play, “The Domestic Crusaders,” which is about a Muslim family’s post-9/11 experience. Ali recently helped write a report on Islamophobia in America (a topic he focuses on at Center for American Progress), and was also interviewed on NPR in May 2011 following the death of Osama Bin Laden.
During the long lunch period on Sept. 28, Chris Nikoloff, head of school, gave the first of a series of lectures inspired by Alan Watts’ “The Book.” The lecture focused on human concepts of the self, and what people mean when they use the word “I.” A central focus of the discussion was how to begin answering questions about the persons that people believe themselves to be. The topic elicited many insightful questions and comments from the audience of students and faculty.
In early October, The Harker School had 18 middle school students and three upper school students attend the Jack Howe Memorial Speech and Debate Tournament at California State University, Long Beach. The tournament has been running for 16 years, and attracts students from all over California and Nevada. This year’s tournament included a student congress, all 11 California High School Speech Association individual events and three styles of debate. The students competed in policy debate, congressional debate and original oratory.
In JV policy debate, four middle school students competed on two teams: Panny Shan, grade 8, and Steven Cao, grade 7, along with Ananya Krishnaswamy, grade 8, and Shivani Gohil, grade 8. Not only did Shan and Cao advance to the quarterfinals in this category, but the students were also recognized individually for their exceptional speaking skills. Shan received the second place speaker award, Cao received the eighth and Gohil received the 17th.
In congressional debate, Misha Tseitlin, Emaad Raghib and Aditya Dhar, all grade 7, competed in the varsity division, with Dhar advancing to the finals. In the novice division, Arjun Mehta and Arjun Goyal, both grade 10 students who were competing for the first time, advanced to the finals.
For original oratory, Carissa Chen, grade 7, competed in the novice division. She wrote and memorized a 10-minute speech for which she received second place. Finally, in varsity original oratory, sophomore Zina Jawadi advanced to the semifinals, placing her in the top 12 contestants.
Hats off to the 61st annual Harker Family & Alumni Picnic! The epic adventure began at 10 a.m. and the last picnic-goers reluctantly departed at 4 p.m.; in between, many strange and interesting hats bobbed between the games, stage, chocolate fountain, dunk tank and silent auction, to mention just a few of the destinations at the event.
Organizers Kelly Espinosa and Lynette Stapleton, on behalf of all Harker, send their thanks to all who attended. “We hope you had a hat-tastic day at the family picnic; we sure did,” Espinosa said. “Thanks to everyone who supported the day through donations, volunteer hours, time away from home, ticket selling, ticket buying, bidding, ring tossing, sandwich eating, etc. This truly is an event that couldn’t happen without the support of our whole community!”
Head of School Chris Nikoloff added his thanks. “The Family & Alumni Picnic is a special day and a cherished tradition at Harker,” he noted. “After 61 years, the picnic still delivers old-fashioned, homemade fun, straight from the heart! A special thanks to the picnic committee, all of our parent volunteers, picnic sponsors, and the Harker staff and faculty who combine their efforts to create a magical day for the children and families. Last but not least, a big Harker thank you goes to our picnic chairs, Kelly Espinosa and Lynette Stapleton, whose creativity, heart and vision take the picnic to new heights every year. Hats off to Harker!
Thu Ka had a very special day as the lucky winner of first prize, $10,000, in the grand prize drawing She was sold her winning ticket by daughter Kendall Ka. “Ticket sales were up this year, so, ‘yeah’ to everyone who sold and bought tickets!” said Espinosa.
Harker’s performers again dazzled attendees with a variety of acts, with the performing arts department’s annual extravaganza opening the show on the Sunbonnet Stage at 11 a.m. That show included the not-to-be-missed repartee between assistant heads Jennifer Gargano and Greg Lawson, this year as hat-friendly Lady Gaga and a policeman.
They gave way to students – members of the middle school show choir Harmonics – who, using the picnic’s hat theme and a box of hats, joked their way into introducing the JV Dance Troupe. Chris Nikoloff, head of school, then took the stage under the mistaken impression the theme was rats, not hats, but was quickly put to rights by the student hosts. It was a tough act to follow, but the vocal efforts of the Grade 6 Choir carried the audience with their energetic and subtle style.
Next up was the ShowStoppers dance troupe performing to “Country Girl.” The Grade 4 Choir then took the stage for a baseball medley, followed by Downbeat, the upper school’s show choir, singing the Fats Waller classic “The Joint is Jumpin’.” The Bucknall Choir followed and were then joined in song by Bel Canto, another upper school choir, doing a pair of south-of-the-border tunes before giving way to the grade 7 High Voltage dancers.
Next up was Harmonics, a grade 7-8 group, singing “One” from “A Chorus Line,” followed by Dance Fusion, grade 4-6 dancers, working hard to the tune “Working for the Weekend,” by Loverboy.
Jazz took the stage following the extravaganza, leading with the upper school Jazz Band playing with their usual energy and style. Next Mr. Horsefeathers, a magician, wowed the credulous in the audience with the incredible, followed by the lower school Jazz Band with a trio of tunes including “St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins.
Then, for the first time, the lower and middle school jazz bands combined, playing Miles Davis’ “Blues By Five.” The middle school then continued with their set, performing a Duke Ellington transcription of “Big Shoe,” and concluded their concert with the Beatles tune “Day Tripper,” arranged by the students in the band, said Dave Hart, their director.
Laura Lang-Ree, performing arts department chair K-12, summed up the day’s performances. “We had over 300 kids, ensembles from every division in the show. Highlights were the Bucknall, grade 4 and grade 6 choirs and other groups singing and dancing alongside the upper school acts. As guest artists, Chris, Jennifer and Greg really bring the show to the audience. This is one of our most prized events of the year as students from all three divisions bond wonderfully during the all-day rehearsal the Friday previous as we put the show together; and, of course, the big performance Sunday is a thrill for all participating!”
Harker alumni gathered in a shady glade for a barbecue from 12-1 p.m.. Diana Nichols, board chair and lifetime trustee, spoke about several of the new initiatives for alumni with regard to admissions. Joe Rosenthal, executive director of advancement, and Jeremy Pomer ’91 tended the grill. “We had lots of young families, and many alumni had an opportunity to see each others’ children,” said Christina Yan ’93, director of alumni relations. A number of administrators and faculty stopped by or hung out to see former students and enjoy the ambiance, including Nikoloff, Butch and Jane Keller, upper school head and math teacher, respectively; Cindy Ellis middle school head; Pat Walsh, grade 5 math teacher; Evan Barth, dean of studies; Andrew Irvine, upper school chemistry teacher; Dan Hudkins, director of instructional technology K-12; Eric Nelson, computer science department chair; and many, many more.
About 3 p.m. tables began closing at the silent auctions, with bidders standing by to collect their winnings by the armload, or calendar them, as some of the most popular items, the Bucknall Pajama Party and middle school All-Night Party, drew hordes signing up for those popular events.
There were some stellar silent auction items this year, including a pair of Hawaiian vacations, architectural design services, a stay at the Silverado Country Club and a pair of Dell laptops. Items included an extravaganza of sports tickets and memorabilia and, as in the past, parents could bid on premier seating for a limited number of seats at their child’s promotion or graduation ceremony, or at any of the top-flight plays, concerts and other performances put on by the performing arts department throughout the year.
One of the biggest innovations this year was the addition of gourmet catering trucks. A trio of trucks and one bicycle brought delicious meals from Thai to Cajun to those for whom tasty hamburgers, classic pizza and the other picnic delicacies were not enough. The trucks were stationed hard by the dunk tank, and a new eating area with umbrella-shaded picnic tables was laid out, so entertainment, food and a place to relax were all in one convenient package.
Speaking of the dunk tank, it continued to be a favorite, with those bravely dangling over the water being announced on the public address system so students could come by for a little harmless revenge. Lunchtime dunkee Jared Ramsey, grade 5 social studies teacher, was seen taking the drop at least a couple of times during his half hour, attesting to his popularity around the lower school campus.
Another innovation was the meeting of Eagle Buddies at the picnic. The Eagle Buddies program started last year with grade 3 and 10 students meeting at various events, and this year those buddies are still getting together, while the new tenth and third graders have paired up with their own buddies. These yearlong pals had identifying shirts and all met up at the Eagle Buddies booth staffed by the 2012 and 2013 class deans Jeff Draper and Victor Adler. The pairs were given carnival tickets and went off to some of the game booths together. Some of the pairs ate together and hung out for a while, enjoying the picnic. “Our older buddies were so generous, sometimes buying extra tickets for their little buddies. What great students we have!” said Draper.
Espinosa and Stapleton will soon be hard at work planning next year’s picnic, but the memories from this one will surely last a long, long time!
Over the summer, nearly 30 Harker students participated in internships at a number of different universities and businesses, including Stanford University, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (also known as CERN) and the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Students worked in a wide variety of disciplines. Paulomi Bhattacharya, grade 11, and Jay Reddy, grade 12, worked on nanochemistry projects during their stint at UC Santa Cruz, while senior Shival Dasu, another Santa Cruz intern, helped restore a telescope at the James Lick Observatory. Aranshi Kumar, grade 12, analyzed occurrences of diabetes in Santa Clara County teenagers during his internship at Hunter Labs, and Akshay Ramachandran, grade 12, worked on the development of electroactive polymer materials at Artificial Muscle.
In late August, science department chair Anita Chetty visited Santa Cruz to see several students present on the research they performed during their summer internships. “I was so proud of our students,” she said. “They were poised, eloquent and I felt as though I was listening to graduate students talking about work that had been done over a long period of time.”
On Sat., Oct. 15, several Harker students from grades 11 and 12 will accompany advancement director Joe Rosenthal to Santa Cruz’s Evolutionary Revolutionary event, which will feature several speakers from the university’s science faculty in addition to an audiovisual performance by Symphony Silicon Valley. The event will be held at Cupertino’s Flint Center.
In the spring, dozens of upper school foreign language students were recognized for their high achievements by being inducted to the national honor societies for the respective languages they studied.
Inductees to the French National Honor Society were: Jennifer Dai ’11; Josh Batra, Rohith Bhethanabotla, Shivani Chandrashekaran, Stephanie Chen, Katie Gu, Angela Ma, Patricia Allison Sun, Claudia Tischler and Justin Young, all grade 10; Drew Goldstein, Cecilia Lang-Ree, Victoria Lin, Rebecca Liu Huang, Dorsa Massihpour and Warren Zhang, all grade 11; and grade 12 students Rohit Sanbhadti and Angela Singh.
Japanese National Honor Society inductees were: Killian Burke, Jeffrey Hanke, Kimberly Ma, Vikram Naidu, Daniel Pak and Brandon Yang, grade 10; Crystal Chen and Shilpa Nataraj, grade 12; and Aileen Wen ’11.
Students inducted to the Spanish National Honor Society were: Kevin Moss and Vikram Sundar, grade 10; Neeraj Baid, Rohan Chandra, Madeleine Dawson, Molly Ellenberg, Amy Gendotti, Neel Jani, Nayeon Kim, Joy Li, Sumit Minocha, Payal Modi, Nikhil Panu, Shelby Rorabaugh, Alison Rugar, Nina Sabharwal, Maya Sathaye, Pooja Shah, Wendy Shwe and Sarina Vij, grade 11; Sanjana Baldwa, Kirsten Herr, Cole Manaster, Maverick McNealy, Max Quertermous, grade 12; and Nikunj Donde ’11.
Inductees to the National Latin Honor Society were: Sarika Bajaj, Nikhil Dilip, Kevin Duraiswamy, Urvi Gupta, Helena Huang, Saachi Jain, Zina Jawadi, Connie Li, Emily Lin, Mary Liu, Sreyas Misra, Suchita Nety, Brian Tuan, Andrew Wang and Sean Youn, grade 10; Erik Anderson, Nisha Bhikha, Jenny Chen, Jonathan Cho, Nik Datuashvili, Rahul Desirazu, Richard Fan, Akarsha Gulukota, Andrew Luo, Ramakrishnan Menon, Daphne Millard, Sean Nierat, Laura Pedrotti, Sahithya Prakash, Anuj Sharma, Pranav Sharma, Shannon Su, Ashvin Swaminathan, Ravi Tadinada and Molly Wolfe, grade 11; Eric Henshall, Alex Hsu, Vivian Li, Jessica Lin and Samantha Walker, grade 12; and Justine Liu ’11.
On Sat., Oct. 22, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Harker will host TEDx Harker School, an independently organized TED event on the theme of youth entrepreneurship, at Nichols Hall on the upper school campus, located at 500 Saratoga Ave. in San Jose. The event’s keynote speaker will be Guy Kawasaki, a venture capitalist, former chief evangelist at Apple and the author of 10 books. His current project is the “online magazine rack” Alltop.com.
Other speakers include Serious Energy CEO Kevin Surace, named one of the top 15 innovators of the decade by CNBC, Sramana Mitra, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur since 1994, Rahim Fazal, who sold his first online business during his senior year of high school, and Karl Mehta, Ernst & Young’s 2010 Northern California Entrepreneur of the Year.
TEDx Harker School, organized by students Neeraj Baid and Neel Bhoopalam, both grade 11, is open only to high school students. Those who wish to attend can register at the TEDx Harker School website. The registration price includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day.