Talk of Broadway and the big screen took on a new reality for upper school Conservatory students following a recent “Life in the Arts” workshop with guest speaker Gary King ‘87.
This past spring King, an award-winning filmmaker and director, returned to Harker to discuss his unique road to show business with the aspiring performing arts students. He also gave a behind-the-scenes look at his new hit indie film, “How Do You Write a Joe Schermann Song?”
Accompanying him was Broadway and film actress Christina Rose, who plays the lead role in his movie, which was released earlier this year and has received awards at venues such as the Raindance and Phoenix film festivals. King and Rose showed a trailer of the movie and spoke candidly about their experiences working in today’s rapidly changing entertainment industry.
Many of the students found it hard to believe that King, who serves as the director, writer and producer of his films, never studied acting at Harker … or anywhere.
“I didn’t study performing arts at Harker, nor did I go to film school in college. I received a master’s in psychology way back in the day. I’m self-taught when it comes to filmmaking,” said King, who was reached for comment following his Harker visit.
Although he had loved cinema from a young age, King never thought to make a career out of it until after spending a few unfulfilling years working in the field of human resources. He was thus very impressed to see how driven and focused Harker’s performing arts students are already.
“Talking with the students was exciting as it was amazing, to see how talented and eager they are to learn and grow within their areas of interest. They surely are taking advantage of the wonderful opportunities Harker offers to them,” he said.
He recalled how Harker gave him a well-rounded education, taught him responsibility and prepared him for the future by giving him the tools to succeed. “It definitely made a difference in my life,” affirmed King, whose work is best known for delivering powerful performances with an emphasis on a strong, visual style.
Despite a late start to filmmaking, King has written, directed and produced several critically-acclaimed feature films, and Rose, who has acted on Broadway as well as in television and movies, has worked with King on previous projects.
Because King and Rose are professionals in the current entertainment industry they were able to answer many questions that Harker students had about making it in the business. The duo advised workshop attendees to expect setbacks, but not become defeated by them.
At the conclusion of the event, the performing arts students were happily surprised when DVDs and soundtracks of King’s film were handed out, along with two tickets to watch the movie at a local theater.
“Coming back to Harker was a complete shock,” mused King, who couldn’t believe how much everything had changed. “The one thing I’m glad that has remained the same is seeing the faculty’s passion for the school and their students,” he said.
Harker’s eighth annual Research Symposium drew more than 400 attendees, who marveled at the many exhibits, student presentations, breakout sessions and guest speakers that have made the symposium into one of the school’s signature events, unique for being organized largely by the student-run WiSTEM, chemistry, research and Sci Fy clubs.
The upper school campus was abuzz with activity as early as 8 a.m., when the symposium officially began. One of the busiest areas for the entire day was the Nichols Hall atrium and rotunda, where exhibitors such as Google, Ericsson and Symmetricom offered demonstrations of their products and talked with attendees, in addition to providing a mere glimpse at the wealth of career opportunities available to students of the sciences.
One of the more impressive pieces of technology on display was Anatomage’s “virtual cadaver,” a 3-D rendering of a human body that could be examined in amazing detail via a large touch screen, enabling classrooms without access to a real cadaver to study the human body up close.
Elsewhere in the atrium, SeaLife Aquarium Maintenance presented various sea creatures for visitors to view and handle. East Bay Cardiovascular and Thoracic Associates, represented by Harker parent Murali Duran (Rohan, grade 9; Lea, grade 11; Roshan, grade 12), had a heart station set up where visitors could learn how to perform sutures using store-bought pig hearts.
A large portion of the event was devoted to formal talks, also known as breakout sessions, delivered by Harker students. In these talks, students gave presentations on scientific research projects that they had done, many of which earned the students finalist or semifinalist placings in the Siemens Competition and the Intel Science Talent Search. In addition to demonstrating the high level of research being conducted by the students, these sessions also offered students the chance to show their research to (and take questions from) members of the greater scientific community.
The breakout sessions covered a wide variety of topics. Ashvin Swaminathan, grade 12, presented an analysis of surreal numbers, for which he was named an Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist and a Siemens Competition regional finalist. At another session, senior Rohan Chandra, another Siemens regional finalist, discussed the brain’s reaction to various features of Beethoven’s famous fifth symphony. Meanwhile, Siemens semifinalists Anika Gupta and Saachi Jain, both grade 11, presented their research on how an uncharacterized gene may have a hand in lowering the risk of ulcers and gastric cancer.
Middle school students also had their chance to shine, showing the results of their work with the many impressive poster presentations set up in the gym. The enthusiasm of these students was evident as they explained their projects and their implications to the fascinated passersby.
As always, the lunchtime chemistry magic show was a treat for the midday audience, who oohed and aahed at brilliant flames, exploding eggs, liquid-carbon-frozen bananas and other wonders of chemistry, as they enjoyed food freshly prepared by Harker’s kitchen staff.
Also during lunch was a special talk by Nikita Sinha ’09, currently in her senior year at the California Institute of Technology, who discussed the research she was conducting for her senior thesis, as well as the life experiences that led her to choose medical research as a career.
The first of the keynote speakers at the symposium was Dr. Kristian Hargadon, assistant professor of biology at Hampden-Sydney College. Hargadon took the morning audience on a journey through his progression from a young student athlete with dreams of being an NBA star to becoming a decorated cancer researcher, in addition to discussing some of his current work.
Surbhi Sarna ’03, this year’s alumni speaker, shared her story with the early afternoon audience. After suffering from an ovarian cyst in her early teens, Sarna became determined to create better conditions in the field of female health. Toward this end, she founded the venture-backed nVision Medical in 2009 to develop technology that will help gynecologists more quickly detect ovarian cancer.
This year’s featured speaker was Nobel Prize-winning biologist Dr. David Baltimore, whose work at the California Institute at Technology has recently yielded a method for preventing the spread of HIV. Baltimore provided an overview of how his process of injecting a harmless virus containing antibodies into the muscles of mice prevented HIV infection. Baltimore and his team are currently preparing to test this process in humans.
Another highlight of the event was a special panel of notable women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), which included such inspirational figures as Barbara Jones, project manager at the IBM Almaden Research Center; Monica Kumar, senior director of product marketing at Oracle; Tian Zhang, senior software engineer at IBM; and alumna Sinha.
The panel discussed the increasingly important role of women in the sciences, offering their insights into their respective fields as well as advice to the audience of young attendees on how to transform their love of science into successful careers.
The symposium closed with a panel of students and teachers providing students and parents with information on Harker’s research program and the various opportunities available, such as the Siemens and Intel contests, internships and research classes.
On Sunday, April 28, Harker will host Congressman Mike Honda’s Student Advisory Council Conference, organized by Honda’s Student Advisory Council (SAC), a group of high school students that identifies and researches issues of critical importance to young people. The event will be on the upper school campus.
Health and wellness will be the topics of this year’s conference, titled “Eat, Sleep, Move,” which takes place from 1-4 p.m. at the Nichols Hall atrium. Congressman Honda will be there himself to open the conference, which will feature two guest speakers, psychologist Marilee Ruebsamen and nutritionist Suellen Haggerty.
In addition to the speakers, attendees will be able to see the results of a survey of Bay Area high school students conducted by the SAC. “We surveyed hundreds of high school students from around the Bay Area, asking them about their dietary, exercise and sleeping habits,” said SAC member Felix Wu, grade 10. “We will be revealing the results of this survey at the conference and briefly analyzing the outcomes.”
Attendees will also learn about the nutritional value of common foods in a presentation based on the book “Eat This, Not That!” by David Zinczenko.
Admission to this event is free, and attendees will receive a goodie bag.
Harker community members were devastated when told Monday afternoon that longtime employee Sandy Padgett, co-director and founder of the upper school’s college counseling department, was killed in an incident in her Redwood City home late Sunday night.
School counselors, as well as grief counselors from The Centre for Living with Dying, assisted the administration in breaking the news to the faculty and students. Grief counselors were on campus through Wednesday and remain on call to assist the community in dealing with this tragic loss.
Testimonials began appearing on alumni Facebook pages as soon as the news became public, with many, many former students thanking “Ms. Padgett” for inspiring them to pursue their dreams and helping them choose what many called their “dream college.”
The college counseling department is working with Padgett’s current junior students to ensure college counseling sessions will continue as scheduled.
Padgett had an illustrious career guiding students. Before joining Harker in 1998, she taught AP English at San Carlos High School; was a counselor at Palo Alto High School; was a career placement counselor at Occidental College; and was a college counselor at the American School in London, the Westridge School in Pasadena and the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks.
Padgett held two lifetime credentials from the state of California: high school teaching and high school counseling. She was a member of the National Association of College Admission Counselors, Western Association of College Admission Counselors and Bay Area Association of Independent School College Counselors.
Condolences can be sent to nicoleh@harker.org and cards can be mailed to The Harker School, 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, CA, 95129; the school will forward to the family. Memorial service plans are pending.
Hat-happy kindergartners donned unique and colorful headwear during this year’s annual Spring Hat Parade and egg hunt. Wearing hats they decorated at home themselves, Harker’s youngest lower school students participated in a fun parade which wound its way through the Bucknall campus, stopping off in various classrooms to model the students’ fabulous attire.
Parents with incoming kindergartners recently met other new families while learning key information to best prepare for their first year at Harker during AnswerQuest, the school’s annual orientation event.
The special, informal evening was held in mid-April at the lower school. The information-packed event included a light supper, giving parents the opportunity to get to know one another.
After dinner, participants traveled from table to table in the gym at the Bucknall campus to chat with Harker staff during a program called “The Inside Scoop,” which afforded a helpful one-on-one “ask the experts” session.
An official administrative presentation, a demo of Web portals, and an additional chance for questions and answers followed. A booklet handed out during the program was also made available in a special section of the parent portal on Harker’s website the day after the event.
Sponsored by the Harker admission team as separate sessions for all grade levels, AnswerQuest is an especially important first step for parents of kindergartners who are new to the Harker community and may not have other children already attending the school.
By the end of the evening these new parents went home feeling warmly welcomed, connected to other newcomers, and better informed about all that kindergarten at Harker has to offer.
Harker’s WiSTEM club (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) held this year’s STEM week in late January, as students in Harker’s various science-based clubs and organizations held special on-campus events to celebrate a range of scientific fields. Activities included a gaming event held by the Harker chapter of the Interscholastic Gaming League and a quiz bowl in which the upper school grade levels tested their knowledge in friendly competition.
During the week, STEM clubs also raised money by selling sweatshirts and treats. Prior to STEM week, each grade chose an organization that they wanted to support. Proceeds to each organization were split according to the number of participation points each class earned. Grade 12, with 275 points, gave $550 to Operation Smile. The juniors scored 175 points and donated $350 to charity: water. Grades 9 and 10 tied with 150 points and respectively sent $300 to Heal the Bay and Doctors Without Borders.
Life just got a little easier for animals at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, thanks to the efforts of the lower school’s grade 1 community service project.
The students showed their love for the shelter’s displaced rabbits, dogs and cats by collecting monetary donations, buying needed supplies and making toys for distribution to the shelter.
“We raised about $900 (a new record) and collected more than 80 bags of toys, supplies and food for the animals,” reported the students’ homeroom teacher, Cindy Proctor, who oversaw the project.
Before beginning their donation drive on behalf of the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, the children visited the 80-year-old independent, nonprofit animal shelter. They toured the facility and learned what the organization does as well as how best to care for their own pets.
In computer class, the youngsters made posters about the project, and in other classes, they made pet blankets and toys for donation. Parents also got involved in the drive, as students were encouraged to earn money for the humane society at home by doing small jobs.
In addition to monetary donations of any amount, items for collection included animal treats, collars, litter, toys, clean blankets, sheets, towels and comforters.
“We would like to express our thanks for the tremendous support and generosity of our Harker families for participating in this project. The donations continue to come in and we are extremely grateful,” said Proctor.
Middle school history teacher Andrea Milius loves spending her days speaking about events from the past. Last month, however, the inspiring instructor made a little history of her own after being selected as the first Harker faculty member to travel to Turkey on an impressive two-week historic and culturally-based teacher training trip.
Milius heard about “this wonderful opportunity” through a resource she had been working with for professional development called ORIAS (The Office of Resources for International and Area Studies). Sponsored by the University of California, Berkeley, ORIAS provides scholarly resources and professional development for K-12 and community college educators.
Her application to be considered for the trip consisted of a series of essay questions focused on the incorporation of global education and international perspectives into her curriculum, especially with concern to the Middle East and Islam.
The unique travel program was offered through the Middle Eastern Studies Center at Ohio State University, which strives to peacefully bridge gaps dividing people along cultural, ethnic and religious lines.
Aided by a Turkish guide named Serkand, Milius and nine other lucky trip recipients (ranging from teachers, curriculum writers, librarians and even an international lawyer) gained firsthand knowledge of the Middle East, its past and current economic, social and political developments.
The goal of the trip was to enable participants to return to their work in the United States better equipped to promote teaching, learning, research and public awareness of the diverse array of Middle Eastern languages, cultures and peoples.
“The trip achieved its objectives. I feel honored to have participated, and I am so thankful that Harker supported me in this endeavor. I learned so much about Turkish daily life and culture as well as the many intricate details about the actual practice of Islam, even though this was one of my major areas of research in graduate school,” reported Milius.
“Major trip highlights were collaborating and interacting with other instructors, getting fresh and innovative teaching ideas and gaining an understanding of Turkey’s impact on current world affairs,” she added.
During the trip, she visited all of the major historical sites of Istanbul: Ankara and Konya, The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Sulaimaniya Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the tomb of the poet Rumi at Konya and a boat tour of the Bosphorus, complete with dolphin sightings. Milius and her fellow participants also veered off the tourist path, visiting public and private schools in the country and having informative meetings with Turkey’s ministers of education and finance.
“Andrea is shy to blow her own horn, but this program was extremely competitive. Having lived in Turkey for three years, I can assure you it was a dream trip that few people could do on their own, certainly not within two weeks! It’s nice to see the amazing things our teachers are doing,” enthused middle school Spanish instructor Susan Moling, who informed Harker News Online about Milius’ incredible experience.
Like many teens Urvi Gupta, grade 11, maintains a jam-packed schedule. An active student in Harker’s journalism program, she also plays as a starter on the school’s varsity volleyball team. After-school hours are spent practicing the violin, doing homework and hanging out with friends.
Yet Gupta also makes time to give back to her community by providing free math tutoring to K-3 kids at local libraries in San Jose using a unique program she created called OneInMath. The program teaches youngsters simple ways to add, subtract, multiply, divide and understand concepts quickly for math success.
“I designed the free volunteer-run program from the ground up, defining its purpose, goals and developing materials including 1,862 math problem sheets, teaching instructions, learning videos, program format, volunteer instructions, and the logistics of running it,” said Gupta, who teaches as well as independently manages the overall program.
She currently supervises more than 150 kids and 27 high school volunteers across three libraries using the program, which was implemented in November 2011. Now, the popular OneInMath classes – which utilize video instruction in addition to face-to-face volunteer tutoring – has both students and parents excited about learning mathematics.
Gupta said she was inspired to start tutoring math by her dad, who used to give her numerical problems every day when she was younger, which now helps her in high school math classes.
Consequently, she wished for other students to have the same opportunity she had to get a jump start on learning math. She also enjoys the good feeling that comes from volunteerism and tells teens thinking of starting or developing their own service project to “just go for it.”
“Whenever you have a new idea, there are lots of doubts and questions about whether or not it’s a good one. The best thing is to not overthink and just try it. It’s actually quite surprising how much interest people have in these types of projects. They truly appreciate your time and effort, and you feel really rewarded at the end,” she said.
Gupta was recently honored as Volunteer of the Year from the entire San Jose public library system for her dynamic math program and volunteer efforts. The top honor began with a nomination from local librarian Vidya Kilambi, who had been impressed with Gupta’s program for some time.
“Urvi’s amazing leadership and organizational skills are clearly demonstrated in the way she communicates with all the kids, teens, parents and staff at the different library locations,” said Kilambi, noting that in addition to her heavy school course load, Gupta juggles volunteer schedules, creates course content and tracks student progress.