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THE UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE HARKER SCHOOL
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news ................ 02
opinions ...... 10
features ........... 04
stem ............. 12
a&e/lifestyle .... 06
sports .......... 14
VOL. 27 NO. 1
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2025
Embark on a year of reflection
Upper school welcomes frosh at matriculation
04 features
Meet your new staff joining for the 2025-26 school year
06 a&e/lifestyle
Labubu lunacy: Pop Mart fuels consumerism through trends
11 opinions
Editorial: Phone culture calls for shared effort
15 sports
Catch a glimpse of coaching preparations for fall athletes
Choir students unite at annual retreat Downbeat, Capriccio and Festival Chorus members came together for the annual Choral Retreat hosted by vocal music teacher Jennifer Sandusky on Aug. 23 in Rothschild Performing Arts Center. Students practiced pieces like “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “The Harker School Song” and “Baba Yetu.” The retreat allowed upperclassmen to guide the younger singers and know them better through activities.
Orchestra mini-camp sets stage for concert season ashley mo Students gathered for a one-day orchestra workshop to welcome new members and prepare for the upcoming concert season on Aug. 23 in instrumental music teacher Jaco Wong’s room. They played through Josef Strauss’ “Music of the Spheres Waltz, Op. 235” and later collaborated with the jazz band to rehearse George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and Justin Hurwitz’s music from “La La Land.” Students previewed repertoire, which included Missy Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres).”
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OATH IN INK (TOP) Vivienne Zapata (9) signs the Harker Matriculation book. ORCHESTRATING EXCELLENCE (LEFT) Savitha Satish (12) conducts the orchestra in “Toreador March.” HIGH HOPES (MIDDLE) ASB President Luke Wu (12) delivers a speech detailing his goals. WARM WELCOME (RIGHT) Learning, Innovation and Design Director Diane Main applauds as frosh make their entrance. jonathan szeto & cynthia xie
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atriculation Day marked the return of students and staff to the upper school and the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year in the Zhang Gymnasium on Friday. The ceremony, where student and administrative leaders welcome ninth graders to the upper school with speeches and video skits, began with frosh and their advisers processing. Head of School Brian Yager delivered opening remarks. He emphasized that the uniqueness of each student contributes to the student body as a whole, called on seniors to embrace their roles as mentors to younger students and thanked teachers for their efforts to
make students’ educational experiences meaningful. “Each of you is unique, special and a work in progress,” Yager said. “Each of you shines your own light and emits your own color. Together, we create a palette of vibrant hues, like a magical mosaic of interconnected and shimmering tiles.” Following Yager’s speech, Head of Upper School Paul Barsky urged students to embrace new opportunities and take risks while also resting and reflecting in his Matriculation Address. ASB President Luke Wu (12) then welcomed the Class of 2029, encouraging them to form connections and grow together as a class. Honor Council member Linda Zeng (12), Student Diversity Coalition officer Elie
Ahluwalia (12) and ASB Vice President Amishi Gupta (12) each gave speeches highlighting integrity, kindness and personal accountability. Amishi then led students in the recitation of the Matriculation Oath.
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Together, we create a palette of vibrant hues, like a magical mosaic.
BRIAN YAGER HEAD OF SCHOOL
“Matriculation is important to the frosh because it gives them their first impression of our school,” Luke said. “They need to hear from our student leaders
about our school values, which are important ideals for them to carry into the school year.” Capriccio, led by vocal music teacher Jennifer Sandusky, and the Harker Chamber Orchestra, directed by instrumental music teacher Jaco Wong, performed between remarks. The classes’ leadership played videos they created to introduce ninth graders to their new campus. Frosh Sarah Thiru appreciated the videos’ wellrounded picture of the school. “Watching the videos, I could really visualize what I wanted to see myself doing in high school,” Sarah said. “It was a great way to embrace the new students, and I’m excited because now it feels like a new chapter, like I can start fresh and choose who I want to be.”
DESIGN BY ASHLEY MO AND TIFFANY ZHU
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY MO, JONATHAN SZETO AND CYNTHIA XIE
ashley mo