Mother’s Day came a little early for the moms of 22 first graders in teacher Larissa Weaver’s class.
On April 29 the students hosted a late-afternoon spa day celebration for their mothers in their classroom, which they had decorated with beautiful handmade paper flowers. During the special event, the children made their moms feel like queens for a day.
They delighted in pampering them and serving delicious treats as well as presenting them with gorgeous thumbprint necklaces they had earlier created. The students also were trained by a massage therapist on how to give simple back and arm massages. After giving their mothers massages, they then showed them heartwarming video messages they had previously filmed in their honor.
“The whole concept was for kids to learn to celebrate their moms by taking care of them. Over the last couple of weeks, the students had been preparing excitedly for the event!” said Weaver.
Rithvik Panchapakesan, grade 9, was named an H&R Block Budget Challenge scholarship winner! Panchapakesan won the award for proving himself a personal finance master in the game of “life.” Students who participated in the challenge were given a virtual job, complete with a 401(k), credit card bills and student loans. They then had to successfully manage their paychecks for 10 weeks. Panchapakesan was in competition with thousands of students nationwide and was one of only 22 to receive the $20,000 scholarship.
“The most challenging part of the budget challenge was managing my credit card utilization rate,” said Panchapakesan. “The game deducted points from your score if you used more than 50 percent of your available credit. In the simulation, I had to overdraft multiple times, increasing my credit card balance. Therefore, I brainstormed different ways to decrease my balance and near the end of the simulation, purposely paid a deductible late in order to lose fewer points because I would lose more points if I over drafted from my credit card.”
“I think this challenge will help me manage my money in life because it brought the different issues of money management to my attention and allowed me to formulate and try out solutions to these problems, therefore increasing my knowledge about finance,” Panchapakesan finished. Great strategy, great appreciation of the value and a great win!
Last week, the kindergarten classes of teachers Katherine Lo, Grace Wallace, Kimberly Sandoval and Michelle Anderson each held their annual kindergarten show. Titled “Wing It” and directed by lower school music teacher Carena Montany, the shows followed the story of several baby birds who are hesitant to leave the nest but are convinced by their feathered friends to learn to fly so they can see the world beyond home. Gail Palmer provided the choreography, while and the costumes by Marilyn Watts and scenery by Whitney Pintello brought the aviary theme to life. With the help of her grade 5 technical theater students, Danny Dunn kept all four shows running smoothly.
Last month, lower, middle and upper school dance groups got together for Just Dance, an annual performance for the Harker community. Groups who performed at the show were the grades 4-6 girls and boys group Dance Fusion, grades 7-8 girls group Showstoppers, grades 7-8 boys group High Voltage, the JV Dance Troupe, the grades 9-12 boys group Kinetic Krew and the Varsity Dance Troupe.
“Just Dance not only serves as another performance opportunity for our dancers,” said Kimberley Teodoro, K-8 dance teacher, “it’s a wonderful bonding experience for all of our dance teams from the lower school, middle school and high school that provides them with a sense of community and family.”
Nearly 50 middle school speech and debate students pitched in to help earn Harker the first place sweepstakes award at the Glendale Community College Tournament. The award is given to the top performing school at the tournament. In addition to the team award, Harker students had great success in each event as detailed below, making history as they won seven first place titles and numerous top five awards, said Karina Momary, director of middle school speech and debate.
“I wish you could have seen the parents when we landed. They had balloons, signs and flowers and were all waiting at baggage claim cheering,” she said. “The cooperation and teamwork displayed by our students was the true key to success. I have never seen them work as a team as well as they did this weekend. Special shout out to [performing arts teacher] Monica Colletti for giving up her weekend to attend as a chaperone/coach!”
Debate
In Lincoln-Douglas, the students discussed democracy promotion in the Middle East. The tournament advanced the top eight teams to the quarterfinals. Harker provided six of those eight teams. The students who advanced were Akhilesh Chegu, grade 6, Cat Zhao, grade 8, Akshay Manglik, grade 7, Annie Ma, grade 8, Montek Kalsi, grade 8, and Sachin Shah, grade 8. Kalsi and Shah each faced non-Harker students in the quarterfinals. They both won their rounds, making them co-champions of the tournament.
In public forum, the students discussed the prioritization of public infrastructure over means tested welfare. The tournament advanced the top 16 teams to the octofinals. Harker was third out of 16. Anshul Reddy, grade 6, and Krishay Mukhija, grade 7, were octofinalists. Amanda Cheung with Jason Pan, and Kenneth Liou with Jeremy Ding, all grade 8, were quarterfinalists. In addition, Liou was named fifth speaker and Pan was named seventh speaker.
In congressional debate, the students discussed Uber regulations, violent video games and mandatory paid family leave. Three Harker students were among the top 10 finishers. Nakul Bajaj, grade 8, earned second place; Reiya Das, grade 8, received third; and Andrew Sun, grade 7, received sixth place.
In policy debate, the students discussed domestic surveillance. The tournament advanced the top four teams. All three of our teams advanced. Deven Shah, grade 6, with Quentin Clark, grade 8, and Deven Parikh, grade 7, with Jai Bahri, grade 8, were named semifinalists. Jason Lin, grade 7, with Andy Lee, grade 7, were tournament champions. In addition Lee was third speaker, Bahri was fourth speaker and Clark was fifth speaker.
Speech
In impromptu, Shyl Lamba, grade 8, Anna Vazhaeparambil, grade 7, and Avi Gulati, grade 8, were among the six students who advanced to the final round. They were given three quotes and had to prepare a five-minute speech in two minutes. Gulati took first, Vazhaeparambil took fourth and Lamba took fifth.
In oratory, the students created their own 10-minute speech calling the audience to action. Harker took first and second places, with Arusha Patil, grade 7, in first and Gulati in second.
In declamation, Nikki Solanki, grade 8, advanced to the finals with her interpretation of a commencement speech and took second.
In dramatic interpretation, the tournament advanced six teams, including three from Harker. Harker also swept the top slots with Solanki in first, Bryan Wang, grade 8, in second and Katelyn Chen, grade 8, in third.
In storytelling, Gulati took first with his interpretation of a Berenstain Bears book.
In humorous interpretation, Aaditya Gulati, grade 6, advanced to the final round and received sixth place with his interpretation of toys escaping from the toy chest.
In prose, Solanki advanced to the finals and took first.
Earlier this month, sophomore Liana Wang was named one of 30 winners of an essay contest held by the New York City-based Joffrey Ballet School. As one of the winners (chosen from 1,200 entrants), and as a award-winning, accomplished dancer, Wang received a full scholarship to a two-week intensive jazz and contemporary dance program that will take place this summer.
“Liana is an incredibly talented dancer and performer,” noted Karl Kuehn, dance teacher, “and we are very fortunate to have her on the Varsity Dance Team, and as a Performing Arts Conservatory dance certificate candidate. Her strong work ethic, advanced technique, and exceptional performance skills identify her as an ideal candidate for this summer intensive program.”
The boys golf team took ninth place at the Aptos Tournament last week, with Scout McNealy, grade 9, leading the way with a 2-over-par 73 to place second individually. Colt McNealy, grade 11, had a good day as well, finishing tied for fifth. Later in the week, the Eagles defeated Crystal Springs Uplands with Ryan Vaughan, grade 11, shooting a team low 1-over-par 37. On Monday, the Eagles took down Sacred Heart Prep to stay unbeaten in league. Scout once again led the way, this time shooting a 1-over-par 37. The boys golf team takes on Pinewood on Tuesday.
Boys Volleyball
The boys volleyball team continues to roll in league play as it defeated Wilcox and Fremont last week, both in three games. The team is still undefeated and in first place in league. This week, the Eagles are at Eastside College Prep on Wednesday, home against Santa Clara on Friday and at the Habor Tournament on Saturday.
Girls Lacrosse
The girls lacrosse team fell to Woodside 13-2 last week. It’s a busy week for the Eagles as they travel to Mercy Burlingame on Tuesday, host Christian Brothers of Sacramento on Wednesday and then travel to Carlmont on Friday.
Baseball
The varsity baseball team dropped two high scoring games to Jefferson High last week. In a 12-8 loss, Trenton Thomas, grade 12, drove in two runs. Later in the week, Miles DeWitt, grade 12, had two hits and three RBIs in a 9-7 loss. This week the Eagles will play at Westmoor on Tuesday and host Westmoor on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Softball
The Eagles fell 6-2 to Castilleja last week, but Kristin LeBlanc, grade 10, had three hits and an RBI in the loss. This week the softball team is at Castilleja on Tuesday, followed by homes games on Wednesday versus Yerba Buena and Friday versus Pinewood.
Track and Field
Last Friday the track team competed at the CCS Top 8 event at Los Gatos High School. Anthony Contreras, grade 10, took second in the frosh soph 100m; Demonte Aleem, grade 9, hit a personal best by three feet in the shot put to place fifth; and Niki Iyer, grade 11, was fifth in the varsity girls 1600m, with her season best time of 4:59.55. The track team was back at it on Saturday as it headed to Mountain View to compete in the Saint Francis Invitational against some of the top athletes in Northern California. Contreras placed fifth in the varsity 100m, setting a personal best and sophomore school record as well. Bill Liang, grade 11, took home a fourth place finish in the 300m hurdles. Next up for the Eagles is a WBAL meet at King’s Academy on Wednesday.
Boys Tennis
The boys tennis team split its two matches last week, losing to Sacred Heart Prep 5-2, but defeating Crystal Springs Uplands 4-3. The team will travel to Menlo on Tuesday and then begin the WBAL tournament on Thursday.
Swimming
The Harker swimmers host King’s Academy on Wednesday. It is also Senior Day, so come support our graduating Eagles. The festivities start at 3:40 p.m., and the meet starts at 4 p.m.
The 2016 Spring Orchestra Concert, featuring the middle and upper school orchestras, took place April 8 at De Anza College’s Visual & Performing Arts Center. The Grade 6 Orchestra, directed by Dave Hart, started the evening off with the iconic theme from “Star Wars” and a collection of favorites from the “Harry Potter” films.
Following a series of special performances by chamber groups, the Grades 7-8 Orchestra, also directed by Hart, performed pieces by Johannes Brahms and George Gershwin, as well as a medley of pieces from “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Director Chris Florio and The Harker School Orchestra delivered the final performances of the evening, with a set that included a series of dances from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” and a rousing rendition of the “William Tell Overture.”
Grade 6 student Callie Mayer and five of her classmates (Shivani Thaakur, Julie Broch, Gloria Zhu, Madeleine Hansen and Emma Gurleroglu) enjoyed a free-dress day and delicious luncheon on April 19, thanks to an Alumni Family Picnic teacher auction package that her parents won.
Chris Nikoloff, head of school, and Jennifer Gargano, assistant head of school for academic affairs, served as the stellar waitstaff for the ninth annual luncheon, which was held at the Blackford campus amphitheater.
“The parents of a middle school child bids on this, with the winner picking five classmates as their guests. They select the menu and theme, which this year was llamas. They had strawberry smoothies, homemade guacamole and chips, Caesar salad, rolls and butter, sushi, an ice cream trolley for make-your-own sundaes, cream puffs in the shapes of llamas and chocolate covered strawberries,” recalled middle school teacher Kate Murphy, the picnic package sponsor.
“Bye Bye Birdie” was recently nominated for Outstanding Overall Production and Outstanding Supporting Actress (for Zahra Budhwani, grade 11, in the role of Mae Peterson) in the 2016 Rita Moreno California High School Musical Honors. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on May 23 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. If she wins, Budhwani will perform in front of industry professionals at the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City, and audition for scholarships to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Congratulations!
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Weekend audiences took a fun-filled trip back to the late 1950s during the Harker Conservatory’s performances of “Bye Bye Birdie,” which ran April 15-17. Directed by Laura Lang-Ree, this rollicking period piece takes place primarily in the fictional town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, where love-struck teenager Kim MacAfee (Mia Giammona, grade 11) wins a contest to receive a kiss from rock ’n’ roll heartthrob Conrad Birdie (Emre Ezer, grade 11), who has just been drafted into the army. Conrad’s appearance in the town sets off a series of events involving jealous lovers, disapproving parents and plenty of fun-filled musical numbers!
Backed by the “Bye Bye Birdie” Band (led by musical director Catherine Snider), the cast did a wonderful job realizing Charles Strouse’s score, which was splendidly interpreted by Katie O’Bryon’s choreography. Scenic designer Paul Vallerga, costume designer Caela Fujii and Harker’s go-to lighting designer Natti Pierce-Thomson brought their great instincts for visuals to the production.