Deven Parikh, grade 11, joined his mother, Dev Parikh, ACS vice president of Go to Market for Oracle, at a communication debate workshop at Oracle in late July to help sixth grade girls learn the basics of speech and debate. Parikh has been in the Harker speech and debate program for five years, and expressed a desire to teach others the skills he has gained in the program.
At the workshop, Deven Parikh presented a 20-minute lecture on public speaking. “Prior to the actual workshop, I spent ample time communicating with a representative from Apple to obtain donated Apple iPads,” he said. “Many of the children we would be working with did not have electronics at home, so by providing them with iPads, they were able to research a topic to debate. At the end of the workshop, they were able to keep the iPads.”
Parikh helped both sides prepare their arguments for a debate on the U.S. policy on immigration. “During the actual debate, I was the moderator and provided tips at the end to help them improve their public speaking and research skills,” he added.
“It was great helping out the other children who are not as lucky as we are. Going to Harker, everyone has an iPhone, AirPods and an updated MacBook, yet others are not as lucky as we are. It felt great to help the community,” he finished.
Eighth grader Sriram Bhimaraju appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night to showcase an apparatus he created that can help archers improve their accuracy using a smartphone app and a series of sensors. During the “Fallonventions” segment of the show, Sriram demonstrated how well his invention works by shooting an arrow at a target while blindfolded. Sriram was named a finalist in the 2018 3M Young Scientist Challenge for creating the tool, which also has benefits for the visually impaired.
The boys water polo team opened its season with two big league wins last week. The Eagles took care of Milpitas 18-6 and Fremont 19-4. This week the boys travel to Santa Clara on Tuesday before hosting Monta Vista on Thursday.
Girls Water Polo
The girls water polo team kicked off its season with two league wins as they shut out Milpitas 20-0 and Fremont 7-0. The Eagles travel to Santa Clara on Tuesday and host Monta Vista on Thursday.
Girls Volleyball
It was another good week for the girls varsity volleyball team as it defeated Mercy SF 3-0 before traveling to Carmel and taking a grueling five set win from the Padres. The Eagles are on a six game winning streak and look to keep up the momentum as they travel to Sacred Heart Prep on Thursday.
Football
The Eagle football team played to a 15-15 tie with Lowell on Friday. The 1-1-1 Eagles host St. Francis Watsonville on Friday at Davis Field.
Cross Country
The cross country team will race again on Oct. 5 at the Artichoke Invitational in Half Moon Bay.
Girls Golf
The girls golf team had the week off and resumes play this Wednesday at Palo Alto Hills Country Club as it takes on Castilleja.
Girls Tennis
Girls tennis is back in action on Sept. 23 when the team hosts Homestead High at the Blackford courts.
Yesterday, representatives from 65 upper school student clubs and organizations gathered at the Rothschild Performing Arts Center for the annual Club Fair. Students perused the tables set up by the clubs, whose members and officers provided information and answered questions. The wide range of interests on offer included languages, community service, robotics, activism and academic disciplines, such as math and science.
In addition to offering students a huge variety of club options, it also gave newer and smaller clubs the opportunity to grow their membership. The Harker Esports Club, in its first year, is working on raising funds and recruiting players to participate in competitions for games such as “Overwatch” and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”
“We participate in the High School Esports League,” said Anish Pai, grade 10. “This is our first year, but we’re trying to play league matches.”
Other clubs catered more specific interests, such as the Friendship Bracelet Club. “We’re going to teach people how to make friendship bracelets and then give them to children in need,” said club member Emily Cheng, grade 12, who added that the club also will provide students a space to relax and be creative by devising new designs.
Amid the growing number of music-oriented clubs is the Contemporary Hip Hop Club, which is geared toward fans of up-and-coming innovators as well as aspiring hip-hop artists. “We’re interested in the new wave of hip-hop and discussing, listening to and making our own music, and just having a space to hang out, eat snacks and have some fun,” said club member Nathaniel Melisso, grade 12.
Yesterday, representatives from 65 upper school student clubs and organizations gathered at the Rothschild Performing Arts Center for the annual Club Fair. Students perused the tables set up by the clubs, whose members and officers provided information and answered questions. The wide range of interests on offer included languages, community service, robotics, activism and academic disciplines, such as math and science.
In addition to offering students a huge variety of club options, it also gave newer and smaller clubs the opportunity to grow their membership. The Harker Esports Club, in its first year, is working on raising funds and recruiting players to participate in competitions for games such as “Overwatch” and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”
“We participate in the High School Esports League,” said Anish Pai, grade 10. “This is our first year, but we’re trying to play league matches.”
Other clubs catered more specific interests, such as the Friendship Bracelet Club. “We’re going to teach people how to make friendship bracelets and then give them to children in need,” said club member Emily Cheng, grade 12, who added that the club also will provide students a space to relax and be creative by devising new designs.
Amid the growing number of music-oriented clubs is the Contemporary Hip Hop Club, which is geared toward fans of up-and-coming innovators as well as aspiring hip-hop artists. “We’re interested in the new wave of hip-hop and discussing, listening to and making our own music, and just having a space to hang out, eat snacks and have some fun,” said club member Nathaniel Melisso, grade 12.
Yesterday, representatives from 65 upper school student clubs and organizations gathered at the Rothschild Performing Arts Center for the annual Club Fair. Students perused the tables set up by the clubs, whose members and officers provided information and answered questions. The wide range of interests on offer included languages, community service, robotics, activism and academic disciplines, such as math and science.
In addition to offering students a huge variety of club options, it also gave newer and smaller clubs the opportunity to grow their membership. The Harker Esports Club, in its first year, is working on raising funds and recruiting players to participate in competitions for games such as “Overwatch” and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”
“We participate in the High School Esports League,” said Anish Pai, grade 10. “This is our first year, but we’re trying to play league matches.”
Other clubs catered more specific interests, such as the Friendship Bracelet Club. “We’re going to teach people how to make friendship bracelets and then give them to children in need,” said club member Emily Cheng, grade 12, who added that the club also will provide students a space to relax and be creative by devising new designs.
Amid the growing number of music-oriented clubs is the Contemporary Hip Hop Club, which is geared toward fans of up-and-coming innovators as well as aspiring hip-hop artists. “We’re interested in the new wave of hip-hop and discussing, listening to and making our own music, and just having a space to hang out, eat snacks and have some fun,” said club member Nathaniel Melisso, grade 12.
Loren Powers, Harker’s new head football and strength and conditioning coach, introduced the Volt app to the Harker campus, bringing about a new way to get into and stay in shape. He wants all students at Harker to take health and fitness to the next level, and this technology will help.
“Volt will plan your workout and, using performance training AI, will adapt and evolve each workout in real time based on your feedback,” said Powers. The app effectively becomes each user’s personal trainer, keeping track of workout dates, what machines or lifts should be utilized at what weights, and so forth, thus taking the guesswork out of workouts.
“I always want to do workouts, but I don’t know what to do,” stated Leisha Devisetti, grade 9, “so Volt gives me the exercises that I should be doing.”
Research shows that workouts are more effective when part of a long-term, structured plan, the Volt website notes. Powers hopes the whole Harker community will benefit from the program, not just athletes.
“At the moment Volt is for Harker student athletes,” said Powers. “However, it could be utilized for physical education and health and wellness sessions.”
The Volt system is popular with students working hard to attain personal fitness goals or train for their sports. “I really like it,” said Jack Connors, grade 12. “It keeps you diligent with your work and on the same track over time, so you’re not skipping a workout or doing the wrong weight when lifting.” The popularity is evident as the weight room quickly fills up as school ends.
Although the app has only been in use at Harker for a few months, Powers said, “We have already seen huge strides in body control and strength gains in the individuals who have been the most consistent with their routine.” Only time will tell how effective this program will be for our student athletes, but the excitement around the app and Coach Powers has created quite a buzz in the weight room. “A lot of people are encouraged with Coach Powers’ motivation and confidence in us,” exclaimed Connors. “That energy is really important to the weight room.”
With over a million users across America, including big-time collegiate athletic programs, including Michigan State University, Clemson University and USC, Volt is the No. 1 AI workout app in the Apple App Store. By joining these powerhouses, the Eagles are showing WBAL and CCS teams – and beyond – that Harker is ready to compete with the best. Go Eagles!
On Monday morning, the upper school hosted a special assembly featuring cultural commentator Jay Smooth, who runs the popular video blog Ill Doctrine and also founded Underground Railroad, the longest-running hip-hop radio program in New York City.
Smooth referenced the history of hip-hop as an example of how communities can make each other better. Just as rappers, DJs, dancers and other members of New York’s hip-hop communities challenged one another to become better artists and people, so too should other communities make sure that its members are conscious of their own privileges of race, gender, class or ability, and show a willingness to receive criticism. “We need to change how we receive these critiques,” he said, “by fundamentally changing how we think about what being racist is, or sexist or ableist.”
Many people, Smooth said, have treated racism like having their tonsils removed, when it is “more like the plaque that builds up on your teeth every day,” something that must be addressed diligently throughout one’s life. “We are all naturally susceptible to implicit bias,” he said, “and we are all a part of systems we can contribute to, without being conscious of it.”
When being criticized by someone, Smooth advised to “listen with humility, and consider that they’re speaking from an experience we’ve never had.”
Opening the season at the 63rd annual Santa Catalina Tennis Invitational, the girls tennis team defeated Carmel, Sacred Heart Cathedral and Castilleja all 7-0 to advance to the finals, where the girls defeated Salinas 5-2 to take the tournament championship. The Eagles are back on the court on Sept. 23 as they host Homestead.
Girls Golf
The girls golf team opened its season with an impressive 192-255 win over Sacred Heart Prep with Natalie Vo, grade 11, earning medalist honors by shooting a 35. Over the weekend, the Eagles finished second at the prestigious Palm Desert Tournament where they faced off with 17 of the top programs in the country, and Claire Chen, grade 9, placed fourth overall. On Monday, the girls take on Notre Dame SJ and Notre Dame Belmont in a tri-match followed by a match with Castilleja on Wednesday.
Girls Volleyball
The girls volleyball team continued its hot start to the season with two more wins last week. The team defeated Mercy Burlingame 3-0 and Westmont 3-1. This week, the Eagles host Mercy SF on Tuesday before traveling to Carmel on Friday.
Football
Picking up its first win of the young season, the football team defeated Washington SF 20-6 last Friday. Devin Keller, grade 12, scored two rushing touchdowns, with Vijay Vyas, grade 11, connecting with Sid Dudyala, grade 12, for the final score. The Eagle D also played great all night. Harker hosts Lowell this Friday at Davis Field.
Cross Country
Last weekend the cross country team competed at the Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park with Dawson Chen, grade 10, and Anna Weirich, grade 11, leading the way for the varsity squad. This Saturday, the Eagles travel to North Monterey County High for the Jackie Henderson Memorial Invitational.
Boys Water Polo
Over the weekend, the boys water polo team went 1-2 at the Wilcox Tournament. This week, the Eagles host Milpitas on Tuesday and Fremont on Thursday.
Girls Water Polo
The girls water polo team opens its season this week as it hosts Milpitas on Tuesday and Fremont on Thursday.
The Common Ground Speaker Series has some great speakers lined up to help parents better understand their children’s challenges. On Sept. 17, a mental health panel titled “Navigating the Tides of Adolescence” will be held at Junipero Serra High School, in partnership with local nonprofit StarVista.
On Oct. 3, Paul Tough will speak at Menlo School in Atherton on the topic “The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us.”
On Oct. 15, Lynn Lyons will speak at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Saratoga and at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School in San Mateo on the subject of “Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: Interrupting the Worry Cycle.”
On Oct. 22, a screening of “The Like Movie” will be followed by a moderated teen panel at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose on “The Impact of Social Media on Our Lives.”
Nov. 4, Michael Robb, PhD, will speak at Woodside Elementary on “The New Normal: Parents, Teens, Screens and Sleep.”
“Late Bloomers: Patience for Alternative Paths” will be the topic of a talk by Rich Karlgaard at Menlo School in Atherton on Nov. 12.
Lisa Damour, PhD, will speak on the topic of “Under Pressure: Confronting Stress and Anxiety in Girls” at the Nueva School in San Mateo and Sacred Hearth Preparatory in Atherton on Dec. 10.
Starting off 2020, Jennifer Eberhardt, PhD, will be in conversation with Julie Lythcott-Haims on “Biased: How Unconscious Bias Shapes Behavior” at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton on Jan. 15.
“Changing the Game: Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids” is the title of John O’Sullivan’s talk, which will take place Jan. 27 at Crystal Springs Uplands middle school campus in Belmont, and on Jan. 28 at St. Andrew’s School in Saratoga and Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley.
On Feb. 12, there will be a Children’s Health Council panel discussion at Menlo School on the topic of “Is it LD/ADHD, Anxiety or Both?”
Wrapping up February, Jackson Katz will speak on “Modern Masculinity: Raising a Stand-Up Guy Not a Stand-By Guy” at Junipero Serra on Feb. 25 and St. Francis High School on Feb. 26.
On March 4, Michael Reichert, PhD, will speak on “How to Raise a Boy: Nurturing the Emotional Lives of Our Sons” at both Harker’s middle school campus and Trinity School in Menlo Park.
The season closes on March 24 with “We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations that Matter,” with Celeste Headlee at Nueva School’s Bay Meadows Campus and the Bowman School in Palo Alto.
Please note all Common Ground Speaker Series events are free of charge to all community members , including parents, of member schools. Since The Harker School is a member school,parents need only come to the event and identify themselves as Harker parents. No RSVP is necessary. Non-member guests are welcome to attend for $20 at the door. Light refreshments are available 30 minutes prior to each event. Speakers’ books, if applicable, are available for purchase in cooperation with Books Inc.