August 2026 Issue

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

NAVIGATING DIFFERENCES

Editors-in-chief Hannah Hendifar ’27 and Riya Iyer ’27 share their goals for Vol. 36.

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MOVIE REVIEW: “THE ODYSSEY”

The school community discusses the impact of political beliefs on forming relationships.

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Grace Choen ’28 offers her take on Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster film.

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THE HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026

Studio City

Volume 36, Issue 1

hwchronicle.com

AI policy remains undecided

Elections set, alums on ballot

Administration is currently focusing on their philosophy regarding AI instead.

By Bi(di) R)y,0ld1

By Emm& Bi,For the 2026-2027 school year, the administration has no o.cial policy on artificial intelligence (AI) use, but will instead implement a philosophy emphasizing AI as a tool to enhance human connection, according to the administration. Associate Director of Teaching and Learning Maggie Thompson said the school currently has no o.cial policy, but will adhere to its beliefs when shaping an attitude towards AI. “There is not a magic policy,” Thompson said. “We are exploring and taking into account our values as a school.” Head of School Laura Ross said instead of creating policies, the school needs to focus on how to redesign learning to accommodate AI usage as it is a part of the future. “Frankly, policies aren’t the way we need to go,” Ross said. “We are now living in a world where anything you’re not doing with a pen and paper in a classroom is AI enabled or an AI opportunity. So, the question is, ‘How do we redesign what learning looks like to allow students to understand?’ You’re going to have to go into a world where you need to understand how to use [AI], so we cannot have policies that don’t use AI. I think that ship has sailed.” President Rick Commons said due to how heavily the school’s departments differ, the administration is instead aiming to create a philosophy towards AI, and thus does not need to rush into specific policies. “The way a computer science class approaches the use of artificial intelligence is different from the way an English class approaches artificial intelligence,” Commons said. “We hope that they will have the same overarching philosophy, but a different practice and policy, and those [practices] are being developed over time, and we don’t have a specific timeline.” • Continued on A2

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF PETER FOWKES

TAKING SHAPE: Images of River Park facilities, including a gym and tennis courts, taken on May 19, 2026.

River Park opening pushed, pending further city approval By Cl&i() L))

River Park’s opening has been postponed from fall 2026 to early 2027. While the construction is nearing completion, the facility’s certificate of occupancy and its final inspections are pending city approval. Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said the holdup is out of the school’s hands. “Other than the permitting process, which isn’t something we can control, things are on track,” Slattery said. “The city decides when it gives approval for certain things, so River Park’s opening will probably be sometime towards the end of this calendar year or the beginning of next.” Varsity boys tennis Eric Kim ’28 said the postponement is reasonable given all the compromises the school has to make with neighbors. “The delays are justified because the school has to make a lot of agreements to please all the residents around, since a lot of people are upset about Weddington Golf and Tennis closing,” Kim said. “It makes sense since it’s such a big project.” The delay is the latest step in a permitting process that has spanned years. The Los Angeles City Council approved River Park’s conditional use permit and site plan in November 2023,

beginning the construction in the following April. Part of that approval process involved years of negotiation with Studio City residents who had opposed the project. Formerly Weddington Golf & Tennis, River Park preserves many of its property’s original common spaces, including the community’s clubhouse, cafe and putting green, rather than converting that space for student use. River Park will also be open to the surrounding residents and general public. President Rick Commons said the school’s decision to share the River Park campus required compromises but reflected the school’s goal of creating a more open campus. “We have made a lot of compromises, and that’s part of what was hard about it and what we’re proud of, because we want River Park to be the campus that we share,” Commons said. “We don’t share [the Upper School campus] with our neighbors. Commons said they are creating a safe, private area for students that the public will not have access to. “River Park is constructed so that there is an interior area,” Commons said. “There are tasteful, not-too-dramatic fences and walls that enable us to have student activities on the

inside that are not accessible to the general public. The security plan will make sure the students are completely safe when doing student activities.” Varsity swimmer Christian Indelicato ’27 said although he will not get a lot of time at River Park as a senior, the facility will help out the next generation of athletes at the school. “Given that River Park was delayed to February, I don’t see it being that useful for me,” Indelicato said. “However, it will be useful for classes after mine. Now that water polo and swim are spread out over two campuses, we’ll get more pool space at our practices which will help our practices and quality of training.” Boys Tennis Program Head Bo Hardt said the delay hasn’t dulled his team’s excitement to the opening. “River Park will help get more eyes on the tennis program and the tennis team,” Hardt said. “I’m excited, the boys are excited and the parents, at all levels, are excited to have our own home courts for the first time ever. We now have home court advantages, our own locker rooms and feel the oncampus vibes while being offcampus, which is important especially since we’re ranked third nationally.”

With an open governor’s race, a competitive Los Angeles mayoral contest and congressional seats in play, the Nov. 2026 elections offer a broader look at how Californians are responding to the political climate two years into President Donald Trump’s administration. California Bureau Chief for POLITICO Melanie Mason ’03 said the midterms are an important indicator for the 2028 elections. “This is our first real opportunity to gauge how these first two years are being received by the public,” Mason said. “Oftentimes, midterms are a referendum on how people are viewing the person that’s running the White House.” Mason said affordability, particularly the cost of housing, healthcare and gas, is likely to be a major concern for voters. “The cost of living and affordability is probably going to be number one for voters, especially with gas prices being where they are,” Mason said. “That’s obviously both a longterm and a short-term issue with the war in Iran, but also California is expensive, so the cost of housing and healthcare will be the driving issue for voters.” Emma Gonzalez ’29 said she believes the economy is the biggest issue for the greater Los Angeles community. “I think affordability is the number one issue for voters right now ,” Gonzalez said. “It’s inescapable and therefore a major issue for voters.” The current political landscape includes two Harvard-Westlake alumni. Brian Goldsmith ’00 (D) advanced to the November general election for California State Senate District 24, while Nick Melvoin ’04 won reelection to the LAUSD Board District 4. Goldsmith has emphasized affordability, public safety, homelessness and government services, according to his campaign. Gonzalez said having alumni on the ballot makes her excited for the election. “It’s great having former students on the ballot.” Gonzalez said. “It makes me more interested in following the midterms this year knowing we have alumni represented.”

A2 News

Aug. 25, 2026

The Chronic,e

inbrief Discussions continue COMMUNITY EDITION

Senior Class gathers for sunrise The class of ’27 gathered at Will Rogers State Beach on Sunday, Aug. 23 for Senior Sunrise. Students arrived as early as 6 a.m., bringing blankets, games and other activities to enjoy on the beach. The seniors enjoyed school-provided donuts and drinks while playing volleyball, hacky sack and other games. This annual tradition, started last year by the Prefect Council with the help of social media, provided an opportunity for the senior class to bond with each other as they prepare to enter their final year of high school. Across the country, the hashtag #seniorsunrise has been used over 85,000 times by seniors as a ways to commence their senior year of high school. The trend has brought seniors together both on campus and online as they celebrate the start of their last year. - Meya Lei Sophmore Orientation at Upper School The sophomore class gathered on the upper school campus for Sophomore Orientation on Aug. 20-21. Throughout the two-day program, students met with faculty and staff who will support their transition into the Upper School, including their assigned dean and sophomore advisor. Student leaders spoke about important topics and gave advice for a successful start of the school year. The students also toured the campus to familiarize themselves with key spaces and resources. - Bella Cho

over new AI policy • Continued from A1

1ompson said AI use has added skepticism to how students and teachers view each other’s work. “I’ve noticed a gap in empathy,” 1ompson said. “Some teachers think students are trying to outsource their work and don’t care about learning anymore. 1at is not true. Students should also give grace to their teachers because [teachers] are having to rethink how they evaluate student thinking and their responses.” Commons said the school will embrace AI usage to eliminate the time-consuming parts of teaching and therefore give more time to student-teacher relationships. “We will use [AI] to create more opportunities for things that are human: the relationships between teachers and students, the critical thinking, the collaboration, the exploration in learning and the ethical reasoning,” Commons said. “We believe we can have more opportunities for students if we embrace AI for some of the things that we have long

done in classrooms that take enormous amounts of time and can be made more e/cient.” Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said AI usage should always come before and after human thought, and when used properly can be a time saving tool for teachers. “Everything has to start with the human, then [teachers] can use AI and then [they] have to review it again,” Slattery said. “Teacher comments take a very long time to write, and sometimes they are not well-written because [teachers] are rushing and having to write them for about 70 students in a short period of time. [Teachers can] write some general comments about students and then have AI enhance them so the comments are more robust.” To improve AI usage in teaching, the school held two sessions for teachers to learn about how to use AI from a former teacher and AI expert Eric Hudson during the week of Aug. 17-21.

EVA CHANG AND BELLA CHO/CHRONICLE

WEEK OF MEETINGS: Teachers discuss new curriculum and policies.

Faculty carries out latest feedback system By A,e2-n.er Ahn 1e Upper School is making its faculty and staff feedback process more consistent by organizing student feedback, administrator observations and department chair evaluations into a two-year cycle. Department chairs will play a larger role in faculty evaluations. Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said that the school is now formalizing practices that became less consistent after the COVID-19 pandemic. “1ere was a long time here, particularly after COVID, where we weren’t [giving feedback] in a systematic way,” Slattery said. “Everybody should want feedback. It’s how you get better at things. It’s also how you celebrate the things people are good at.” Slattery said the new structure

creates a concrete schedule for faculty evaluations. “What we’re doing is creating a clearer cycle,” Slattery said. “It’s a two-year cycle. You have a year where you’re being observed, and then you get some feedback. 1e following year is when you meet with your department chair. It’s systematizing some things that we’ve been doing, but putting the department chair in a more significant role in terms of doing evaluations.” Upper School History Department Chair Celia Goedde said the process gives teachers opportunities to develop their curriculum. “History teachers will be able to participate in a useful and personalized process whereby they identify areas of growth, such as new styles of teaching they would like to explore or new materials

they would like to introduce to the curriculum,” Goedde said. “1ese ideas would be supported by the administration as they develop and implement a plan of action.” Upper School English Department Head Larry Weber said the process involves conversations about teachers’ work and goals. “1e goal is to create dialogue between me and the other English teachers about their work, on a day-to-day basis and a longer-term basis,” Weber said. “My role is to dialogue with them about that so they can get feedback on their goals and help them, however I can, in realizing that vision.” Slattery said department chairs can highlight strong work while addressing areas in need of improvement. “A department chair is in such close proximity that they can

have the chance to really celebrate [faculty members’ work],” Slattery said. “In some cases, [department chairs can] correct something that’s going on that needs to be better. Everybody has room to improve. We’re such a big school that there was too much distance between [teacher’s and] their supervisor, which in most cases is me, and the work that they were doing every day.” Head of School Laura Ross said the process applies to all of the employees in the school. “It’s also important to note that we built this for all of our employees, not just teaching employees,” Ross said. “If you work in an office, you deserve the chance to get feedback every year to understand how you can grow and improve.”

Upper School cafeteria expansion aims to alleviate overcrowding By M-.ison Shen

HANNAH HENDIFAR/CHRONICLE

CAFETERIA UNVEILED: Newly remodeled cafeteria opens for students.

The school completed a roughly 400-square-foot expansion of the cafeteria over the summer. The project will redirect student traffic f low through the newly renovated space, which cut into Chalmers Lounge and deans’ offices. The remodel aims to ease overcrowding and speed up lunch lines during the school year, an issue the school has dealt with for years. Cafeteria staff member Donna Eustace said the renovation was designed to improve the f low of lunch lines. “The goal was to make it easier for the kids to come in and out of the cafeteria,” Eustace said. “It will be less crowded so they can see options for food and work through lunchtime faster. Usually, it takes so long because kids can’t come inside.” Hannah Tabesh ’28 said the Upper School cafeteria often feels crowded, especial-

ly compared to the Middle School cafeteria. “[The cafeteria at the Upper School] was definitely smaller than the middle school cafeteria, so there’s always less stuff,” Tabesh said. “It’s always crowded in the cafeteria. It can be pretty annoying when I go in there sometimes.” Eustace said the cafeteria’s tra/c 0ow will be reversed, with students entering through the former exit and following a U-shaped path through the hot food line to the newly built check-out space. “Students now have a new entrance so they can go to the hot food and exit into the new room,” Eustace said. “The new room expands into the lounge and will have two cashiers and snacks. There will be increased f low, so there is more space to walk.” Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said the expansion also ties into several further changes to the cafeteria the school is considering.

“We didn’t have any major projects on this campus during the summer this year, so operations felt they had the bandwidth to expand the cafeteria,” Slattery said. “Operations are also in conversation about trying to move away from single-use plates so it would be less wasteful and better for the environment. They’re thinking about putting in a whole new dishwasher system at that door that we’re no longer going to be using.” Eustace said the cafeteria works to make meals more enjoyable for students by offering new dishes. “As long as the consumer is happy, we are happy to provide,” Eustace said. “We try to make new dishes to make it more fun and have more variety because [after] six years coming from the Middle School to [the Upper School], eating the same thing might be too boring. We just try to make it fun.”

A,-. 25, 2026

hwchronicle.com/news

News A3

inbrief GLOBAL EDITION

U.S. stocks break records during August. U.S. stocks continued their upward trajectory in August. The S&P 500 hit a record high, while the Nasdaq also rose. Strong corporate earnings and enthusiasm surrounding technology and artificial intelligence supported gains. Defense technology companies Palantir and Kratos performed well following strong Quarter 2 earnings reports. - Kasra Maghami

ANGEL SONG/CHRONICLE PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SIMREN BINDRA

PREFECT BONDING: Sophomore, junior and senior prefects pose for a photo after riding a roller coaster during their annual prefect retreat.

Prefects prepare for new school year by visiting Big Bear Lake on annual retreat By Ale./n0er /hn

about. 1at time creates lasting bonds 2lled with inside jokes, Prefect Council traveled to Big meaningful conversations and Bear Lake for their annual retreat shared memories that make us a from Aug. 13-15. 1e retreat fol- stronger council.” Junior Prefect Beckham Willowed a week of orientation on campus. During the three-day liams ’28 said the trip helped him trip, the Prefects participated in become more familiar with stugroup activities and prepared for dents outside his grade. “Starting the retreat, the upcoming 2026I knew most of the pre2027 school year. fects pretty well due Head Prefect Simto the [three] days of ren Bindra ’27 said intensive work that we spending several days had prior that week,” away from campus let Williams said. “1e recouncil members untreat was an incredible derstand one another bonding experience, beyond their elected and I enjoyed getting to duties and jobs. L. Woo0 know the other Prefects. “1e retreat allows Simren By the end of the trip, I us to learn about one Bindra ’27 felt more connected to another in ways that all of them, and I am regular meetings simply cannot,” Bindra said. “We get to excited for the year ahead.” Sophomore Prefect Mila Goor spend several days together and see who people are beyond their ’29 said an obstacle during the roles as prefects. We learn how trip showed her how council everyone interacts, what makes members can respond when their them laugh and what they care original plans do not work.

“One activity we did on retreat was a baking competition, [which] we sophomores lost brutally,” Goor said. “Being a prefect is about using creativity to 2nd solutions collaboratively, like when our blondies wouldn’t bake even after being in the oven for an hour, and we had to pivot on the 3y.” Senior Prefect Ben Sandman ’27 said the retreat made him more willing to speak openly during council discussions, even when members have different opinions from each other. “I feel comfortable now sharing any ideas and especially more comfortable [with] disagreement,” Sandman said. “It is super important that everyone on the council feels comfortable sharing ideas and disagreeing with ideas, and this trip accomplished that.” Sandman said he hopes to bring energy to different parts of campus life this year. “I am looking forward to all parts of Prefect Council, but spe-

ci2cally contributing lots of spirit to the school, whether that means on the Quad, in athletics or at planned events,” Sandman said. Goor said she hopes Prefect Council can create more opportunities for students to take breaks from academic pressure. “During the intensive, we discussed ways to lower the amount of stress on the student body by incorporating more fun activities and competitions on the Quad,” Goor said. “I’m excited to help bring some of those ideas to campus this year.” Bindra said Prefect Council plans to prioritize student involvement and connections across campus this year. “Our biggest focus is strengthening relationships and building a greater sense of community across the school,” Bindra said. “We are excited about the events that make school fun, like Homecoming, Fanatic Fest, Activities Fair, Fun Fridays, music on the Quad and food trucks.”

Primary results in Wisconsin and Michigan. In Wisconsin, Democratic Socialist (DSA) candidate Francesca Hong lost to David Crowley for governor by less than 1 percentage point in a race where she was predicted to win. In Michigan, Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed edged out Rep. Haley Stevens for senate by 1 percent, despite polls placing him ahead. - Gabrielle Lehrer Israeli military investigates Palestinian deaths in Gaza War. The Israel Defense Force announced plans to open a criminal investigation into the killings of Hind Rajab, a 5-year old Palestinian girl, and the medical workers dispatched to rescue her during the war in Gaza. The decision follows sustained pressure from human rights groups and international scrutiny over allegations that the killings may have constituted war crimes, according to The New York Times.

- Holden Kim

Staff forms integrity committee By So5hi/ Jeon For the 2026-27 school year, the school has decided to implement an integrity committee to focus on academic and behavioral integrity, according to Head of Upper School Beth Slattery. 1e committee will use research, observations from the school and data from student focus groups they conduct to compile a report and make recommendations to the administration. 1e committee is chaired by Associate Head of School for Community and Belonging Janine Jones and Director of Teaching and Learning Daniel Gutierrez. It includes Slattery, Head of Middle School Jon Wimbish, Dean of Students Jordan Church, Director of Wellness Marci Reichert, Director of Athletics Terry Barnum and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist and Athletic Director Chelsea Hayward and other faculty. Jones and Gutierrez said the Integrity Committee aims to encourage students to act with honor both in and out of the classroom. “We aspire to be a communi-

ty that is not only committed to educational excellence but also one that lives and learns with integrity,” Jones and Gutierrez said. “It’s worth periodically stepping back and asking whether our practices are helping us live up to that commitment.” Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said the committee will strive to address student integrity to improve the school culture and create an environment where students naturally act with integrity. “We want to create a culture where people, in terms of the work that they do in the classroom and also how they treat one another, value living and learning with integrity,” Slattery said. Upper School Science Teacher and Integrity Committee Member Chelsea Stewart said the committee works to understand the existing systems that address cheating and will assess what needs to be done beyond that. “1e committee is not meant to hear cases or enforce punishments,” Stewart said. “[It] is meant to research how the Honor Board functions within the school and

whether there are things that we can do to promote living and learning with integrity.” Jones and Gutierrez said the committee will take various strategies to discover how to strengthen and grow the school’s integrity. “Over the course of the review, we’ll examine our current practices and experiences, look at relevant academic research, learn from how other schools approach these issues and consider what we can learn from our own community,” Jones and Gutierrez said. “We’ll use that work to identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth. Ultimately, we will make recommendations about how Harvard-Westlake can continue to evolve its approach to integrity.” Slattery said the committee prepares for the school year by outlining its goals during their 2rst meeting. “We will look at what research says about why kids cheat or why kids are unkind to each other,” Slattery said. “We will also look for what kinds of things schools can do and how we can work to change a culture.”

ILLUSTRATION BY NICOLE UM

ACTION PLAN: Integrity Committee creates a plan for upcoming year.

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Matthew Silberman: Jewish Life and Community Engagement Coordinator By J()k Hon,

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MATTHEW SILBERMAN

Matthew Silberman joined the school’s faculty as the new Jewish Life and Community Engagement Coordinator for the 2026-27 school year. Silberman has been an educator for over 20 years, having worked in New York City and Los Angeles. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music from The New School, Silberman went on to teach Hebrew, Judaic studies, general studies and music in both classroom and private settings. Silberman then went on to teach at various community schools, including Temple Beth Am, Shorashim Hebrew Academy, Carroll Gardens School for

Innovation and the Bronx Charter School for Excellence. Over the last several years, his passion for Jewish education has grown, and he has recently worked within the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and other communities. Silberman said that, in his new role, he will aim to support Jewish students while connecting diverse groups from across campus. “I want to make sure Jewish students feel heard and seen, and be someone they can talk to about their identity and how it interacts with them being a student at school,” Silberman said. “I was initially attracted to this position precisely because it’s exactly the kind of work I want to be doing, which is

supporting Jewish students, but also being able to help the Jewish community interface with the larger community.” Silberman said that he is looking forward to the opportunity of connecting with the students and faculty. “I am very excited to get to know my students, teachers and the whole community in general,” Silberman said. “I want to facilitate a sense of community, belonging and conversation in order to ensure that people are engaging with each other.” Silberman said that he is also thrilled for the upcoming events that are planned for this school year. “I am excited to continue on the traditions that have already

been established at school,” Silberman said. “This would include the Sukkot celebration, Yom HaShoah [Holocaust Remembrance Day] and the October 7th Memorial.” Looking ahead, Silberman said he hopes to create more collaborative spaces and further increase engagement among the school community. “Throughout the course of the year, I want to hold crosscultural events that foster support and dialogue between di-erent groups,” Silberman said. “I want to further understand what’s been working well in the school community for both the students and faculty and address some areas that are currently missing or could be improved upon.”

students,” Robles said. “I come from a big family of teachers. I did teach brie0y as well, and I loved being in the classroom.” Robles said her approach as a learning specialist is focused on supporting students and building upon their already existing strengths. “I know this is a big athletic school,” Robles said. “If I were to compare [the school] in athlete terms, your teachers are like your coaches. Learning specialists would be the strength and conditioning coaches. We’re here to strengthen those skills that you already have and make it a little bit easier for you.” Robles said that working with di-erent students requires

unique approaches. “I would say [my approach] is very individualized,” Robles said. “This work is not a onesize-/ts-all. So [my job] is /nding out and tailoring speci/c skills, support and resources to the needs of the student.” Robles said that she hopes to help students develop a sense of belonging and con/dence in their identities outside of academic improvement. “What I want [students] to take beyond just improving their grades is knowing that it’s okay to be their authentic self and to feel like they belong,” Robles said. “And that goes beyond high school.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JESSICA ROBLES

Jessica Robles: Learning Specialist By Me.( Lei Jessica Robles joined the Upper School Learning Center for the 2026-27 school year as a new learning specialist. Prior to joining the school, Robles worked as a Learning Specialist and Theology Teacher at Notre Dame High School, where she provided individualized academic support and led faculty professional development on inclusive practices and neurodiversity. She also spent /ve years as an educator at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center, supporting students with diverse learning styles, giftedness and mental health needs. She has a decade

of experience providing private tutoring in study skills and academic intervention. Robles studied at California State University, Northridge, where she earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Religious Studies and Psychology, as well as a Master of Arts in Educational Therapy. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education, focusing on Cognitive Diversity, at Bridges Graduate School. Robles said it was her own family background that inspired her strong passion for helping students succeed. “I’m very passionate about making education more accessible, and I love supporting

Mason Vancil-Palomino: Assistant Technical Director By Trevor Ki&

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MASON VANCIL-PALOMINO

Mason Vancil-Palomino joined the school’s Performing Arts Department for the 2026-27 school year as an Upper School Assistant Technical Director. Vancil-Palomino most recently served as the East Campus Production Manager at Brentwood School, where he taught technical theater and served as Technical Director. His background in educational theater spans roles as a production electrician, sound mentor and faculty member at institutions including Wildwood School and Pepperdine University. Outside of the educational setting, Vancil-Palomino worked

as a production electrician, sound designer, audio engineer and stage manager for organizations such as the Los Angeles Ballet and Oregon Children’s Theatre. He has also done technical work in television. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre at Southern Oregon University with an emphasis on sound design and stage management. Furthermore, as an undergraduate at Southern Oregon University, he received two Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival regional awards. Vancil-Palomino said he accredits his teachers, particularly his high school technical director, for inspiring him to teach.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today or who I am today without the teachers that I have had throughout my life,” Vancil-Palomino said. “To this day, I still talk to my high school technical director, as she impacted me greatly. She was a large part of my choice to pursue this career path. There is also so much joy and discovery in educational theatre and schools in general. I hope to continue positively impacting as many people as I can.” Vancil-Palomino said he believes the school’s culture of excellence provides the opportunity for a seasoned professional to continue growing, as well as one in which his experience can offer

students a valuable resource. “Harvard-Westlake is a school known for excellence, which is always something I strive for in my work,” VancilPalomino said. “Having worked in similar roles previously, I feel I can bring my expertise to the community while also continuing to learn and refine my skill.” Vancil-Palomino said he is eager to enhance productions and build strong partnerships. “I am excited and eager to find ways to elevate any event or performance I assist with,” Vancil-Palomino said. “I also cannot wait to collaborate with students and colleagues alike to bring their endeavors and ambitions to fruition.”

5, 2026

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Dan Schnelle: Performing Arts Teacher By G(7rie44e Le3rer

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF DAN SCHNELLE

Daniel Schnelle will join the Upper School Performing Arts Department for the 202627 school year in a part-time faculty role after previously working as a jazz coach. He will be teaching Jazz Rhythm Section, directing small combos and coaching drum students. Schnelle earned his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California and began teaching at di-erent high schools shortly

after. He has received certi/cates of appreciation from the National YoungArts Foundation. Schnelle has also spent nearly two decades mentoring young musicians nationwide through private instruction and working with multiple distinguished jazz programs, including the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Outreach Program. Schnelle said the dynamic of a jazz band heavily in0uences how they perform; their progress relies on each member and how they balance each other out on

the team. “We have to function as a team and learn how we /t together,” Schnelle said. “Neither you do your thing, and I do my thing, nor do we do the same thing at the same time. We have to learn how our parts work as a team.” As a teacher, Schnelle said his passion for jazz is a substantial part of his life. “I get to do what I love every day,” Schnelle said. “As they say, ‘It’s not work when you love what you do.’”

Schnelle said instructing a band is not about maximizing advancement, but rather the students’ improvement by /nding 0aws and correcting them through trial and error. “There’s a constant back and forth of building skills and then putting them to use,” Schnelle said. “When you put them to use, you realize what steps you skipped or what weaknesses you still have, and then you end up taking two steps forward to take another step backwards to rebuild a portion of the skill.”

style relies on understanding her students’ di-erent interests and incorporating them into her lessons to maximize engagement. “I taught Honors English IV: Dystopias and Utopias last year, and that was really fun because you get into these debates and conversations about climate change, economics and education,” Romano- said. “I am always looking for what people are interested in. I always look to connect to what people’s interests are and try to guide

them back to my own teaching.” Romano- said she understands the pressures and challenges that students face every day from her own school experience. “I see students sometimes struggling with either my class or other classes, and I viscerally remember what it was like to be here and how scared I was that I wasn’t going to measure up,” Romano- said. “I hope that I can speak to kids with a little bit more authenticity because I have literally been where [they] are.”

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Zan Romanoff: English Teacher By So83i( Jeon Zan Romano- ’05 joined the Upper School English Department for the 2026-27 school year. She will be teaching English II and Honors English III: Imagining America. Romano- previously worked as a freelance writer for 10 years and taught an adult creative writing class. Last January, Romano- became a substitute teacher for Upper School English Teacher Sara Cohen’s

English class. Romano- said her goal for the upcoming school year is to help her students connect to class material without aid from arti/cial intelligence. “If I had a number one goal, it’s to get my students to want to read and write without having a digital interface,” Romano- said. “It’s important for them to understand the pleasure of that kind of unmediated connection and that level of sustained attention.” Romano- said her teaching

Amber Lynn Justmann: Speech Teacher and US Speech Coach By D(vi6 C35n,

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF AMBER JUSTMANN

Amber Lynn Justmann joined the school as head coach of the speech program this year. She will oversee all speech team operations across both campuses. Justmann has been active in public speech competitions for 20 years, progressing from student to coach. She won as a high school student competitor at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in 2008. Then, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona and a certi/cate in

the Shakespeare and Museum Curation from the University of Westminster. Justmann worked for TED Conferences from 2021 to 2023, and recently she was Executive Director & Performance Coach at The Academy of Spoken Arts. Justmann said that she was attracted to the school because of the students’ curiosity and high level of engagement. “What drew me to HarvardWestlake was that all the curiosity here seems to have somewhere to go,” Justmann said. “Students are not just encouraged to be

interested in an idea, but to follow it, complicate it, test it and see what they can make of it. I am excited to join a school where those questions were already part of the conversation.” Justmann said her passion for speech motivated her to pursue a career in that line of work. “What I love about public speaking is that, at its core, it’s the art of communication,” Justmann said. “Communication is one of the most fundamentally human things we do, and getting better at it changes what we are able to share with one another. To

me, there’s nothing in the world more important than that.” Justmann said she hopes the speech team will discover innovation through the season. “By the end of next season, my goal is for my students to have taken something they genuinely think, feel, wonder or care about, and have pushed it somewhere new,” Justmann said. “Maybe they understand an idea more deeply, /nd language for something they have struggled to express or discover that something personal to them can become meaningful to someone else.”

We discussed whether the United States should be convicted of war crimes for the /rebombing of cities in Germany and Japan, and whether President Roosevelt and President Truman should be convicted of war crimes for what they did,” Katcher said. “What stood out was how engaged all the students were, even the students who hadn’t been as interested or as successful at history. It felt like everybody came together and got something out of it.” Katcher said his interest in history derives from its

intellectual appeal and how he believes studying history helps people think more deeply about the way they live their lives every day. “Studying history can help me to understand [and] live a more ethical and interesting and re0ective life,” Katcher said. Katcher said he looks forward to joining the HarvardWestlake community, and he has high hopes for the 20262027 school year. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here and I don’t take it for granted,” Katcher said.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BEN KATCHER

to my independent session for writing-speci/c instructions. I enjoyed it, [but] what I missed was the discussion of literature, so I learned a lot about teaching writing when I was at the University of Chicago.” Banga said she was already aware of the school and its reputation prior to the job application process and was drawn even more to the school after seeing it in person. “Harvard-Westlake is a great institution. It speaks for itself,” Banga said. “I was already excited about getting to see the institution when I was invited for my interview. I got to teach

a class, meet the students and [I] received a tour of campus. It’s an institution that is so clearly dedicated to not only the education of its students, but also their well-roundedness.” Banga said she is looking forward to the the academic year and her inaugural year at the school. “I’m so excited to join the community,” Banga said. “I’m eager to bring my knowledge here, but I’m also ready to learn. I can see that there’s so much that I’m going to pick up, not only from my colleagues but also from my students.”

Ben Katcher: History Teacher By Eva C3(n, Ben Katcher will join the Upper School History Department for the 2026–27 school year, bringing over a decade of teaching experience and a background in foreign policy research. After college, Katcher worked at New America, a Washington, D.C. policy research organization, where he specialized in foreign policy. Before coming to the school, Katcher spent 12 years teaching at Valor Academy, a charter school in North Hills. He

said the experience shaped his development as an educator, particularly through the relationships he formed. “I was working in a community that was di-erent from the community where I grew up,” Katcher said. “I made great relationships with people from di-erent backgrounds, which I valued, and it had a big impact on me.” Katcher said something that stands out in his teaching experience was a moment during his second year at Valor Academy, where he led a mock trial about World War II.

Manisha Banga: English Teacher By K(2r( M(,3(&i

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MANISHA BANGA

Manisha Banga joined the Upper School English Department this year to teach English II and English III: Living America. Banga previously taught at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley for seven years, serving as a subject advisor for Honors English. Banga earned a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Georgia and received her Master of Arts in Humanities from the University of Chicago. After graduating, Banga began her teaching journey as a

Mentor and Writing Instructor at the University of Chicago’s Division of the Humanities. In the past, Banga has served roles in her school community, such as advising the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the Mental Wellbeing and Activism Club. Banga said she has always had a passion for teaching, and it came to fruition when she started her /rst teaching position after completing her master’s degree at the University of Chicago. “I was the teaching assistant of a course and taught the writing portion of it,” Banga said. “The students would come

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Jojo Beckerman: Finnish Mythology in Finland By Bir(i) R)ynol(,

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JOJO BECKERMAN

Jojo Beckerman ’27 traveled across Finland researching Finnish mythology for her Kutler Center Junior Summer Fellowship. She created ceramic plates inspired by the “Kalevala,” a compilation of the country’s national poems and stories. The “Kalevala” is a 19th century Finnish epic compiled by Elias Lönnrot from traditional oral folk poems and mythology, according to the European Union cultural and heritage initiative.

Beckerman said this project was an opportunity to explore a part of her heritage. “It was really nice to learn about this thing that was important to my ancestors.” Beckerman said. “These stories are such an important part of Finnish culture, and I didn’t know anything about them.” Beckerman and her mother drove through Finland photographing artwork and artifacts. Beckerman also visited museums dedicated to the poems and to Lönnrot.

Keira Dhaliwal: Meditation and Mindfulness in Thailand By Anny Du

For her Kutler Center Junior Summer Fellowship, Keira Dhaliwal ’27 traveled to Wat Pa Tam Wua, a Buddhist monastery in northern Thailand, to study the relationship between meditation, mindfulness and athletics. She explored how meditation could help athletes manage pressure, improve focus and become more aware of their thoughts. As a basketball player herself, Dhaliwal said she became interested in the topic because of the cognitive demands athletes face. “Sports are physical, but so

much is mental,” Dhaliwal said. “Learning about that philosophy, learning how to meditate, how to focus yourself and how to clear your mind from distractions is what I wanted to explore.” Dhaliwal researched monasteries in Thailand that accepted beginners and selected Wat Pa Tam Wua because it offered a structured introduction to meditation. During her stay, she followed a schedule that began at 5 a.m. and included six hours of meditation, Buddhist lessons, chores and evening chanting. Participants practiced meditation in different ways, such as walk-

ing, sitting and lying down. Dhaliwal said adjusting to the monastery’s lifestyle was challenging for her. “It was very much like a detox,” Dhaliwal said. “Just forcing yourself to sit and be with your thoughts. It was very mentally taxing to be focused in your mind for that long every day.” Dhaliwal said the fellowship changed her understanding of and appreciation for meditation. “You can acknowledge that something happened and maybe it didn’t make you feel great in the moment,” Dhaliwal said. “However, you can acknowledge

Beckerman said Finnish culture has been a constant facet of her life. “My grandma used to speak Finnish to me when I was a kid,” Beckerman said. “Every year, we have Finnish food for Christmas, so it’s always been a thing that’s very present in my life.” After returning to Los Angeles, Beckerman created her own plates in the school ceramics rooms, drawing from the stories she encountered during her trip. Beckerman said crafting the plates made her trip a full circle

that and you can let it go. Once you get a better hold on your thoughts and what’s going on in your head, you have a lot more power over yourself and your own life.” Following her experience, Dhaliwal said she wishes others may also learn how to better manage their mind. “I hope people take away the lesson that you can cultivate your mind and your thoughts and what goes on in there,” said Dhaliwal. “While you can still strive for things, don’t let it consume you or control the way that you think in general.”

Evan Kim: Elephant Welfare and Captivity in Thailand By B)ll- C.o

Evan Kim ’27 traveled to Thailand this summer to study elephant welfare and the ethics of captivity for her Kutler Center Junior Summer Fellowship. She visited elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, where she compared observations there with those she conducted at the San Diego Safari Park. To guide her research, Kim developed a welfare scorecard to track behaviors associated with stress, social interaction and overall well-being. Applying this PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF EVAN KIM

framework in both San Diego and Chiang Mai allowed her to challenge common assumptions about captivity. She speci/cally focused on how individual animals are treated, how much agency they have and what behavior reveals about well-being. Kim said her observations in Chiang Mai highlighted how culture can in0uence care practices as much as environment. “In Thailand, elephants are embedded in the country’s history, religion, tourism and local identity,” Kim said. “I began to understand welfare not only as a

scienti/c question, but also as a cultural and ethical one. At the same time, I learned that reverence for an animal does not automatically guarantee welfare. Kim said her inspiration for her project came from her childhood interest in elephants. “I grew up loving ‘Babar,’ collecting small elephant /gures and being drawn to the species in a way I could not really explain at the time,” Kim said. “As I got older, that fascination became much more scienti/c. I wrote a research paper examining post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and neu-

and memorable experience. “I’m not recreating the original plates that were on my grandma’s wall,” Beckerman said. “I’m making plates with similar stories featuring my take on them and plates drawing inspiration from what I learned on my trip.” Beckerman said the experience made her feel much closer to her grandmother. “Even though she spoke Finnish with me a little bit, she never really told us much about what it was like for her living in Finland,” Beckerman said.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KEIRA DHALIWAL

robiology in African and Asian elephants, and my experience working in a veterinary setting strengthened my interest in animal health and welfare.” Kim said the rainy season of Chiang Mai was a consistent obstacle for her, changing the elephants’ behavior and making observations more di1cult. “I learned to adapt to the conditions and recognize them as part of /eldwork,” Kim said. “It made the experience feel more authentic and taught me that observational research is rarely perfectly controlled.”

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Sam Krieger: Nazi Architecture in Germany By Jack Hong

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SAM KREIGER

For his Kutler Center Junior Fellowship, Sam Krieger ’27 traveled to Germany to investigate how the Nazi regime used architecture to project power and shape public perception during the Third Reich. Titling his project “Monuments of Power: Architecture and Propaganda in the Rise of the Third Reich,” Krieger analyzed Nazi architecture, propaganda and political symbolism, exploring historical sites in Berlin, Nuremberg and Munich.

Victoria Wu: Timber Framing in Maine By A,16and17 A5n

Victoria Wu ’28 traveled to Maine over the summer to study traditional timber framing with hand-cut joinery for her Kutler Center Sophomore Fellowship. Wu completed her project at the Wabi Sabi School for Japanese Craft, where she helped construct a small Japanese-inspired timber frame structure using traditional woodworking techniques. Wu said her long-standing concern for the environment motivated her to pursue a project that would let her work outside of a

traditional academic setting. “I’ve been interested in sustainability from a young age and always wanted to )nd ways to use my skills and resources to make a positive environmental impact,” Wu said. “I chose timber framing because I wanted to explore sustainability in a way that was very hands-on and different from what I could learn in a classroom. I was interested in working directly with natural materials and learning a traditional craft that emphasizes longevity and respect for the materials used in the process.” During the fellowship, Wu ac-

Krieger said that his most memorable experience came from an interview while conducting his study. “Meeting with a historian who studies Holocaust remembrance was my most interesting experience from my trip,” Krieger said. “I discovered that the history of the event was often neglected and not openly discussed, with German history being celebrated without any acknowledgement of the Holocaust.” Krieger said his interest in corporate headquarters and the

in(uence of their messaging strategies inspired him to pursue the project. “At my internship last summer, I studied the psychology of how people are in(uenced, speci)cally how companies project their values onto their own individuals [to] maintain a strong corporate resolution,” Krieger said. “I’ve always been fascinated by how authoritarian and totalitarian regimes get their own people to believe such strong messaging and propaganda.” Krieger said that this experi-

quired a set of traditional Japanese woodworking tools, including a hammer; a “sashigane,” a traditional Japanese square ruler; chisels and a “ryoba” hand saw. She learned how to measure and lay out joinery, cut different timber joints and assemble the )nal frame. Each day included meditation, stretches, “When it was time to assemble, I climbed onto the scaffolding with the rest of the team, and together, we all hammered the beams into place,” Wu said. “The joints we had spent days carefully cutting started sliding together perfectly. It was so satisfying to )nally see all of

that precision and work turn into a real 3D structure right in front of me.” Wu said joining a group of unfamiliar people with a range of experiences broadened her takeaways from the program. “Spending ten days working toward one shared structure made the experience feel very collaborative, and I got to learn from people with completely different backgrounds and levels of experience,” Wu said. “It showed me how much you can gain from being fully open to learning and immersing yourself in the experience.”

Alice Lee: Women’s Health in Nepal

By Ha,-n K./

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ALICE LEE

For her Kutler Center Junior Fellowship, Alice Lee ’27 traveled to Nepal to study menstrual health and gender equality. Working with women and children in local villages, Lee sought to better understand the cultural stigma surrounding menstruation and ways to address it. Lee originally planned to study women’s education in Uganda, but the Ebola outbreak prevented her from traveling there. Lee said she instead turned her attention to Nepal and the practice

of chhaupadi there. “I was researching and found that Nepal has this cultural practice called chhaupadi, where women are forced to live in huts or separate homes from their families for 21 days when they begin menstruating,” Lee said. “When I found an opportunity to work in local Nepali villages and fight against the stigma, I decided to go all in.” Lee said her experiences in Nepal gave her a perspective outside of the environment she is accustomed to in Los Angeles (L.A.), and highlighted the differences

Summer Park: Afro-Cuban Dance in New York

By Ma001o Ra2.3ad15

For her Kulter Center Junior Summer Fellowship, Summer Park ’27 visited New York and Miami to investigate the Afro-Cuban style of dancing. Her project was titled, “Movement of Cultural Memory: Investigating the Preservation and Adaptation of Afro-Cuban Dance in the U.S. Diaspora.” Afro-Cuban dancing is a genre that blends African styles with Cuban and European dance, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. As a member of the school’s dance team, Park said she was drawn to the idea

of investigating Afro-Cuban dance when she went to Vancouver with the team. “In February, I went with the Harvard-Westlake Upper School Dance Program to the National High School Dance Festival in Vancouver for the )rst time in our school history,” Park said. “I took a variety of classes there, but one Afro-Cuban modern dance class completely changed the way I thought about dance. I became curious about the history, culture and meaning behind the movements. I left wanting to understand where these traditions came from and how they

were being preserved today, which eventually came to be the focus of my fellowship.” While on her fellowship, Park said she learned about how an art form, such as dance, gets preserved through generations. “It was eye-opening because I realized that preservation doesn’t necessarily mean keeping a dance exactly the same,” Park said. “Through my research and training, I saw how teachers preserved history and the cultural meaning behind movements while also adapting how they teach them to new generations and communities. It also made me re-

Sacha Wiley: African Art in Senegal By So85.a J1on

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SACHA WILEY

For her Kutler Center Junior Fellowship, Sacha Wiley ’27 traveled to Dakar, Senegal for 10 days to visit galleries, art studios and textile makers to study and learn about contemporary African art. She then visited Paris, France for five days and toured various museums, galleries and studios where she learned about African identity and French colonial history. Wiley said she studied how Senegalese artists combine their ethnic identity and spiritual and religious beliefs in their art. “A lot of the art I saw was centered on blending Muslim religious identity with their own

traditional values,” Wiley said. “There has been a big impact in fashion where you can see people wearing traditional clothes and also contemporary clothes, like Adidas and Hurley.” Wiley said that one of her visits taught her more about how contemporary artists express their own identities in a post-colonial modern era. “There was one exhibition by Alioune Dion which explored the relationship between the colonizer and the colonies that was similar to the relationship between product and consumer,” Wiley said. “He talked about the exploitation of Senegalese people for labor and goods.”

in how menstruation is understood in different communities. “Living in L.A., we’re fortunate to have access to menstrual education through education systems or family conversation,” Lee said. “However, in Nepal, young girls do not get the same opportunity and are even punished for it. The cultural difference was incredibly shocking to me and pushed me to explore more deeply on what I can do to help.” Through her workshops, Lee said she sought to make a difference that extended beyond her time in Nepal.

alize how important it is to understand where movement comes from instead of just learning the steps.” Park said she learned different dance forms can be more difficult to learn depending on background. “We were learning a step called the ‘gallina,’ and I couldn’t get my hips to move the way they were supposed to,” Park said. “I come from a contemporary and ballet background, so my body was trained to move differently. But it was an interesting reminder that learning a new form means retraining your body and letting go of habits you’ve built over years.”

Wiley said she decided on her fellowship because of her motivation to learn more about her personal identity through culture, history and art. “I chose this fellowship to understand my own identity, as a French-African and African-American person,” Wiley said. “I also wanted to understand how people can express themselves through art and to learn more about the different cultures and histories behind my personal identity.” Wiley said that she valued this opportunity to learn about African culture beyond the limited teachings the school offers. “I feel like there’s not enough

ence shifted the focus of his research towards how society manages difficult past history. “From meeting different historians to conducting onsite research, I believe that this trip inspired me to study more about memorial architecture and the importance of speaking openly about emotional history,” Krieger said. “The easiest way to ensure events in history don’t happen again is to reopen and look at our past, otherwise we fail to understand why it is so dangerous.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF VICTORIA WU

“I hope to not only have impacted individual lives through the workshops that I conducted, but also show our community that women’s rights have not been achieved yet,” Lee said. “It takes a longer fight to get there, and we are nowhere near it, no matter how close it seems in the U.S.” Despite facing a language barrier with the local Nepali-speaking women and children, Lee communicated with the help of translators. She said she hopes her project will demonstrate that women’s rights still require further advocacy.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SUMMER PARK

in the curriculum beyond the lens of Africa viewed in terms of slavery,” Wiley said. “We don’t really get to see how they express themselves through art, people finding their identities and designing things for the future.” Wiley said her exhibition on Aug. 21 showcased the knowledge she gleaned from her travels and displayed her own curated works for others to see. “I came to L.A. and made an exhibition of works based on what I’ve learned,” Wiley said. “Learning how to plan and curate the works I want and putting everything together has been a really big journey of mine, and I’m very excited about it.”

A8 News

Aug. 25, 2026

The Chr()ic,e

Art of the Ages

Felicia Duan ’27 has crafted up The Chronicle’s crossword puzzle for this issue. See if you can find all the words down and across! DOWN:

1. Rerecording audio for a 0lm 2. Word before “ring” or “swings” 3. “My treat” 4. How a Type A person might arrange 5. Feline’s favorite herb 6. Leave out 7. -ey might make you scratch your head 8. Demonic creature in Japanese folklore 9. “Shamless” Emmy 10. Australian rock band with electric name 11. An artist’s inspiration 12. Christmas tree for a partridge 17. Birth name signifying word 18. What powers 24 across 22. One who writes programs 24. A party of three: “Ménage ______” 25. Houston college 26. A fragrant essential oil 28. Presidential assassin 29. Encouragement for a shy child 30. Netflix’s Holmes 31. Pine’s oozey product 32. Have to have 33. Responses to a funny text 37. Cooking garmet 36. Heart chart, for short 41. Terminate, as ties 45. Marksmen, at times

ACROSS:

1. God famously worshipped at -ebes 5. What letters in ROY G. BIV stand for 10. Musician’s speaker 13. Easier said than ____ 14. Biological type of acid 15. Prompt, on stage 16. Delacroix movement 19.AOC’s a.liation, abbr. 20. Cold War period of eased relations

21. Sport for this summer’s World Cup

38. Least populous U.S. State, for short

54. Craftily attaches one thing to another

46. Mickey and Minnie’s dessert, perhaps

23. Traditional floral necklace from Hawaii

39. What 26 down might be made from

58. AI automatically generates text

50. Filmmaker Anderson

24. A couple of small sedans, perhaps

40. Jumps, like a frog

59. Michelangelo famous artistic movement

51. “Hunger Games” star, to fans

43. Cover for a plot

62. Sum found through basic arithmetic

53. A 0lm site

44. Dalí movement

63. Clown0sh habits

47. Forbid o.cally

64. Cappuccino topping

48. Famous “Metamorphoses” author

65. Can be surfed or spun

25. A drop of golden sun 27. Warhol movement 33. Ignited as a fuse 34. Search and Rescue team initals 35. Actress Rapp of “Mean Girls” (2024) 36. Pre0x meaning eight

42. Poké bowl protein

49. Need to pay back

66. Word before “of mind” or “of emergency”

51. If you can’t beat ‘em, _

67. Issac’s son • Answers on C4

N C H T D

E E

Y

A M C K

I

S A

V S I

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Y E

T M O L C S U S

I

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47. Concerned addendum on a goodbye

52. Adjective for a shoppe 54. Greek personi0cation of Earth 55. YK elevator 56. Yoko’s relatives 57. Majoy university sports organizing group, abbr. 60. Synoym for 65 across, in two ways 61. Avian target of infamous failed Australian operation

Strands

Charlotte Fowkes ’27 designed this issue’s Strands. Find the theme words hidden in the letter grid by connecting adjacent letters in any direction. Every letter is used exactly once, and one special spangram spans the board to reveal the puzzle’s overall theme. Try 0nding all the theme words to complete this issue’s puzzle.

Theme:

Senior Year

• Answers on C4

Opinion The Chronicle • Aug. 25, 2026

Aug. 25, 2026 • Studio City • Volume 36, Issue 1 • hwchronicle.com

Editors-in-Chief: Hannah Hendifar, Riya Iyer Print Managing Editors: Donna Enayati, Tali Gurule, Holden Kim, Angel Song

EDITORIAL

Digital Directors: Donna Enayati, Tali Gurule Presentation Managing Editors: Emmeline Chan, Jackson Hubbard, Jean Park, Nicole Um Executive Editors: Emmeline Chan, Jack Fener, Charlotte Fowkes, Kara Jazaeri, Chloe Kim News Editors: Kara Jazaeri, Abby Ryan News Reporters: Alexander Ahn,Sophia Jeon, Halyn Kim, Claire Lee, Birdie Reynolds Opinion Editor: Hailey Kramar Opinion Reporters: Katelyn Kim, Lauren Kvamme Features Editors: Mila Detmer, Rebecca Vitti Features Reporters: Ila Bakaya, Maddy Wynholds, Grace Choen A&E Editors: Audrey Herrera, Sophie Lee A&E Reporters: Emma Bing, Celeste Comolli, Phoebe Sun Sports Editors: Jackson Hubbard, Jake Kim Sports Reporters: Lucas Lee, Jihan Park, Gyan Zinn Satire Editor: Jack Fener Director of Marketing: Claire Lee Senior Reporters: Zumi Chin, Jack Turetzky Multimedia Editors: Katelyn Kim, Lauren Kvamme Art Director: Audrey Herrera Photography Director: Gyan Zinn Illustrators: Emma Bing, Audrey Herrera, Elliot Murphy, Angel Song, Phoebe Sun, Alice Torosyan Layout Assistants and Staff Writers: Tara Anand, Hunter Chang, Amelia Choi, David Chung, Elle Davis, Jolie Ding, Anny Du, Cooper Eisen, Max Friedman, Adrian Fu, Saskia Hill, Evan Ho, Jack Hong, Mason Kim, Trevor Kim, Alice Lee, Jessica Lee, Gabby Lehrer, Meya Lei, Kasra Maghami, Jack Manuel, Ellie Oh, Ayla Rahmani, Milan Ramesh, Charlie Sherwood, Melody Wang CEO of HW Media: Holden Kim Director of HW Media: Jen Bladen Chronicle Adviser: Billy Montgomery HWTV and Broadcast Adviser: Max Tash Assistant Adviser: James Lane Publication Information: Founded in 1990, The Chronicle is the Harvard-Westlake Upper School’s student-led newspaper. Now in its 36th year, The Chronicle strives to report stories accurately and to uphold journalistic integrity. The newspaper is published seven times per yearand distributed to students, parents, faculty and staff. The Chronicle also publishes online and regularly features editorials, student contributions and alumni input. We are members of the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Private School Journalism Association. Be sure to check out the HWMedia+ app. publications.

ILLUSTRATION BY PHOEBE SUN

Senior Year: A Brand-New Beginning We often think of senior year as the “year of lasts:” last time stuck in Coldwater Canyon traffic, last chicken-andrice bowl from the cafeteria and last hike up the Seaver stairs. In a way, this title is fitting. It is bittersweet knowing that this time of our lives will never come again, and this feeling motivates many of us to intentionally map out our senior year to extract as much joy and as many positive memories from it. Honestly, it is ironic how this idea of creating maximum joy ultimately stems from the sadness we experience from realizing we are now one step closer to graduation. Spending time mourning our last experiences prevents us from living our lives to the fullest. It introduces an impossible pressure to make the next senior event impeccable, even when perfection doesn’t necessitate happiness. It almost feels as if every event is less of a genuine celebration because of this consistent pressure to perform. While this year marks the end of our secondary school journeys, constantly fixating on perfection ultimately makes it impossible for us to relish these special first moments in our own ways. In part, this pressure stems from the media we consume. Teenage social media influencers frequently pump out content romanticizing senior year, simultaneously emphasizing how it is a year of lasts. Every fall, it is easy to spot hundreds of posts from influencers documenting their “lasts” through the first day of school, Homecoming or sports games. As a result, having these kinds of reminders all over our so-

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cial media feeds as impressionable teenagers often brings us to do the same, completely ignoring the beauty of celebrating our senior year in different ways. This culture of depression surrounding our final year of high school actually starts with us; we must first break out of this cycle ourselves. Ultimately, it is entirely up to us seniors to decide what our last year of high school is going to look and feel like. Senior year should not be defined as a last. If we can avoid falling into this mindset of dreading our “lasts,” we can spend our last year with more optimism, looking forward to the abundance of new opportunities it has in store for us and truly savoring those moments. It is important to note that recognizing that something is ending is not inherently bad; however, this awareness often prevents us from enjoying the present. We should all take a moment to remember that the end of this journey is just the beginning of another. Instead of heading into senior year heavy-hearted, we should be entering this year hopeful, excited to experience our new set of “firsts.” Throughout the year, seniors will be submitting college applications for the first time, enjoying off-campus lunch privileges for the first time and jumping into the Copses Family Pool with the rest of our class for the first time. It’s clear: our year is not solely filled with lasts. After all, Commencement, the end-of-year event every single senior is eagerly anticipating, actually means “a beginning or a start.” There are so many life milestones happening in a single year, so why not spend time looking forward to all of them? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Letters may be submitted to chronicle@ hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited to conform to Chronicle style, space and format. We are committed to uplifting the voices of marginalized or underrepresented individuals and groups in accordance with our efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

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T3$ C3r2%i4-$

Au0. 25, 2026

Reinforcing Biases: The “Girl” Label By K!,$-.% Kim

M

y little cousin’s sneakers squeak gratingly along the floor as I drag her by the wrist, desperate to return my horrendous online order. After receiving the return receipt for the $80 dress that looked Sky Zone orange rather than a subdued coral, disappointment washes over me. Seeing my expression, my cousin reassuringly grabs my shoulder and says, “It’s okay! You basically just made $80. Girl math!” To her, she was participating in an online trend. To me, she was unintentionally following the internet’s demeaning definition of what it means to be a girl. Phrases like “girl math” and “girl dinner” may seem like harmless jokes celebrating femininity, but they reduce girlhood to a set of stereotypes that define women as irrational and inept. “Girl math” is portrayed as an idiotic mindset that goes beyond the traditional logical ways of thinking. Returning a $20 item is seen as gaining $20, and anything bought with cash is free. Oh, and obviously, anything under $10 basically doesn’t count as a real purchase. It essentially justifies spending with nonsense rationalization rather than anything related to actual math. Known as “girl math,” this title suggests that nonsensical math is a feminine characteristic. From a young age, girls are already discouraged from prioritizing math. This isn’t due to a difference in intellectual ability, but rather the persistence of gender stereotypes and fundamental differences in learning. This leads to unequal outcomes in educational

achievement: 81% of surveyed educational institutions found significant gender gaps favoring boys in fourth grade math achievement, a 42% increase in the amount of institutions finding this from 2015, according to UNESCO. The concept of girl math only reinforces biases; if this cycle of unfair education for girls continues, it will only harm efforts to achieve gender equality. Similarly, “girl dinner” is a label for an assortment of snacks quickly assembled with minimal effort to satisfy hunger. It normally includes foods items such as chips, a piece of toast

Choosing to view behaviors attached to “girl math” and “girl dinner” through a gendered lens only reinforces biases. and a few slices of cucumbers— all of low nutritional value. The title associates these unhealthy food combinations with femininity, reinforcing sexism. For decades, portion size has been used to divide genders , with smaller meals associated with femininity and larger meals with masculinity, according to PubMed. Furthermore, societal expectations of the ideal female body introduce pressures with body and femininity, leading to women internalizing these standards, according to the National Library of Medicine. Thus, the phrase “girl dinner” only reinforces body image insecurity by pushing women to achieve the ideal body expected of them through eating less.

It is important to acknowledge, though, that the people participating in these trends are often girls themselves, making “girl math” and “girl dinner” seem more harmless than it is. They create inside jokes, shared experiences and a sense of community around behaviors many girls recognize in themselves. Not every single post using the terms claims that women are horrible at math or should only eat tiny meals, but the jokes are inseparable from the biased stereotypes that they rely on. “Girl math” is funny because the reasoning is intentionally illogical, while “girl dinner” is funny because the meal is unusually small or thrown together with low effort. Repeating those ideas under the label of “girl” can normalize the harmful connection between femininity, irrationality and incompetence, especially for younger girls who grow up hearing these phrases constantly. The behaviors attached to “girl math” and “girl dinner” are not inherently bad, but by choosing to view these actions through a gendered lens, it reinforces biases. Justifying treating yourself in an irrationally joking way and eating snacks for dinner every now and then is not harmful. But what is presented as playful empowerment can ultimately provide the opposite effect by connecting girls to foolish behaviors. Going forward, we should be more mindful of how we label everyday actions. Adding “girl” does not automatically make something inspiring or cute, especially when the joke depends on portraying girls in a negative light.

ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA BING

The Algorithm Overlord Controls Discovery By L!ur$% Kv!mm$

A

ILLUSTRATION BY ALICE TOROSYAN

t 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday, the sun and I are both half up. I set my water bottle in the cup holder, start the car and glance at the Global Positioning System. The first entry in the suggested destinations log reads [solidcore]. I did not type it or even say it aloud, but the screen knew where I planned to go. An algorithm buried somewhere in the car’s system had tracked enough Saturday mornings to conclude that this one would look like all the others—it was right. Isn’t technology convenient? While we are able to consume massive amounts of content at lightning speed today, our grandparents meandered their way through libraries, encyclopedias and periodicals to garner information and, in the process, stumbled upon ideas they never previously considered. Now, through a small futuristic screen in hand, our generation has access to all kinds of information. Ironically, though, the explosion of information availability is actually limiting the amount of knowledge we have access to and recieve, according to researchers at Brown University. Accidental discovery has been replaced by purposeful algorithms. With each click, the algorithm observes, decides

and curates what information is relevant for viewers. It replaced the act of discovering something new that was never considered, according to Penn State psychologist Andrew Meristil. It is logical to assume that a platform reflecting a person’s interest back at them would be useful, but people are not onedimensional, and neither are their curiosities. I watch tennis videos, but tennis is not my only interest. Yet every time I open Instagram or TikTok, the feed has already decided who I am, suggesting different types of tennis content served in a loop with things I already know I like. YouTube’s recommendation engine curates videos that gradually become more extreme: Videos about vegetarianism led to videos about veganism, and videos about jogging led to videos about running ultramarathons, according to Sociologist Zeynep Tufekci. The algorithm concluded that people are drawn to more radical content than what they initially searched for. The pattern offers more of oneself rather than other aspects of the larger world. It was a friend who introduced me to skiing, not a recommendation engine whose interest is to keep me

scrolling. Once a new interest drives someone to search for skiing videos, the algorithm will extensively promote it. It finds ways to pull users back to what they know and closes doors on potential discoveries. The personalized information we receive not only affects our interests but also influences our own opinions. We have created an echo chamber in which the information we receive reinforces our opinions, limits variety and provides us with an incomplete picture of the world. In 2011, Facebook filtered a user’s conservative friends’ views based on past clicks, creating a personalized information environment known as a “filter bubble.” It is designed to essentially feel like the whole world, but it prevents exposure to information that could challenge or broaden the user’s worldview. That was 15 years ago, and the systems have only gotten better at identifying behavioral patterns, according to Online Democracy advocate Eli Pariser. The creators of the algorithm argue that too much information overloads a user, according to Michigan State researcher , Emilee Rader. An algorithm is necessary to catalog information and filter what matters to an individual. It

adds convenience to people’s lives by weeding out unnecessary and unwanted content. However, the health of civilization depends on its willingness to continuously remain open to ideas that challenge its assumptions, according to philosopher Karl Popper. The same spirit of free and critical questioning that drives science must also shape how people engage with the world around them. Popper was writing about democracies and governments, but the principle holds true for all content. The greatest cost of outsourcing our curiosity to a formula is that the losses are imperceptible. There is no notification telling anyone what they missed and certainly no record of the perspective that never reached them. Taking that agency back requires deliberate steps, such as deleting search history and clearing cookies. Our grandparents stumbled upon ideas by accident because the systems around them had no way of possibly predicting what they may have wanted. A world that only reflects you back at yourself is not a window; instead, it is a mirror. People who spend all of their time looking into mirrors eventually stop trying to look beyond themselves— and that it is something worth worrying about.

A,-. 25, 2026

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OPEN OR CLOSED GRADEBOOK? Grading Transparency Builds Stress

Transparency Improves Performance

By Jack Fener

By Ch3rl%77e F%w8e9

T

he prospect of an open

grade book is indeed compelling, but lacks feasibility and will cause undue anxiety for students. In order to be useful, allowing students to see their grade in every class at all times requires such a figure to be constantly updated. If it is not, the system risks creating more confusion for students and teachers than it was ever intended to clear up. Keeping an open grade book accurate would require a tremendous amount of effort from teachers, who often need several cycles to ensure longer assignments or previous work is graded to their careful standards. Pressure to enter grades quickly would compromise accuracy and lead to unnecessary errors. Regardless, students already have the ability to email teachers for a snapshot of their grade at any time, something that they are often happy to provide. Even if an open grade book policy was implemented, teachers would likely be bombarded with an even higher amount of score-related inquiries, defeating any convenience the system could provide to either party. Given the high standard of academic performance many hold themselves to, it is not difficult to imagine that some already nervous students would turn to obsessively checking grades given access to an open grade book system. In a survey of 21,000 high school students with access to grade portals, 54% checked their grades once per day or more, according to Challenge Success Stanford. Setting aside students themselves, parents who are concerned with their child's academic performance could demand regular grade updates or even reach out to teachers directly with constant inquiries and requests. Of institutions that allow parents to view the PowerSchools grade portal, over 80% of parents and students viewed grades at least

FACTS AND FIGURES once per week, according to The Atlantic. One of the key purported benefits of constantly available scores is the distribution of grade related pressure over an entire year rather than being concentrated at four high-pressure intervals. However, the nature of the system means that in practice, this pressure would only be increased and rendered constant. For this reason,

Students and parents would obsess over grades to an even more problematic degree. the current problematic culture of score-related tension and comparison would only be exacerbated by an open grade book system. Though current grading can cause some stress due to its lack of clarity, mandating an open grade book would be completely unviable for both students and teachers. Rather than eliminating stress and improving clarity, forced implementation of this system would make the already problematic process of grading even more fraught with issues. Contention over turnaround times for assignments and assessments would compromise the accuracy of grade figures, and teachers would face tremendous strain over rushing to complete them. At the same time, students and parents would obsess over grades to an even more problematic degree. There is a reason that open grade books are not a current policy of the school and have never been seriously considered. Any benefits they could provide are rendered irrelevant by feasibility concerns that render the entire framework impractical.

Do you support an open gradebook? Yes: 90.0% No: 10.0%

Would it cause you more stress to always see your grades? Yes: 14.4% No: 85.6%

Do your parents constantly check your grades? Yes: 80.0% No: 20.0%

*160 students polled.

A

t my middle school, every time a test or assignment was returned, the score would appear right under my overall grade. I would immediately know how well I was doing in that class and how much a single assignment impacted my total grade. Joining this school in ninth grade, I had anticipated increased rigor and di6culty, but I did not expect to become less aware of my performance in various classes. Open grade books should be available to students, as they foster academic transparency, allowing students to recognize class-specific struggles more easily and better conceptualize the impact of di0erent assignments and assessments on their grade. Being conscious of academic struggles can encourage students to address those challenges, ultimately leading to improved academic success, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, this awareness is completely dependent on whether students are aware of their struggles. Getting individual grades back without an aggregate can create an unclear picture of overall performance. For example, if a student consistently performs well on exams but regularly does not turn in homework, they may overestimate their grade. So while someone in a closed grade book system might understand their struggle only after quarter grades are released, for example, someone in an open grade book system could see their progression and work to improve daily. How students de.ne their own academic struggles can vary greatly, and therefore teachers can not always know when a student is performing below their ability – especially at the beginning of the year. /erefore, having an open grade book system can let students

recognize how their e0orts are translating in a class and see if it mirrors the results. An open grade book also allows students to better understand the factors that impact their grade. A more granular breakdown of how students are being graded gives students a more detailed view on how they are performing, according to Science Direct. With an open gradebook, students can clearly see their grade breakdown in di0erent categories and then identify the type of coursework they are struggling with the most and therefore direct their attention to that. While simply asking a teacher for their grade could help this, 82% students do not take advantage of this often, and 64% of students found their teachers to be hesitant or unclear about what their grade was when asked, according to a Chronicle poll. To mitigate this, open grade books could create grade transparency that the student body currently lacks. Some might argue closed grade book systems are bene.cial, as they reduce hyper.xation on grades and decrease work for teachers. /is isn’t necessarily true: a Chronicle poll found that 91% of students whose previous schools had an open grade said they found it less stressful than the closed grade book system the school currently employs. Additionally, since teachers are already obtaining and updating grade books throughout the year, the only change is that they are now public to the students. Open grade books could even be bene.cial to teachers: since students would be able to see all their grades at once, mistakes could be brought to their attention sooner, improving accuracy.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS:

Broadening Our Perspective B2 H3nn3h Hen4'53r 3n4 R'23 I2er

I

n the days leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, The New York Times published a series of prominent stories detailing evidence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. In 2004, the paper published a letter from the editors, attempting to reconcile its problematic coverage – the reporting had relied heavily on testimony from defectors and those in exile, and placed undue weight on individual pieces of evidence rather than critically examining the larger picture. At this school, it’s easy to get caught up in a similar myopia – though not nearly to the same scale. Endless tests, essays and homework seem to subsume our existence, yet the world goes on. In other words, we become so consumed looking inwards – scrutinizing, .xating on and judging the insigni.cant – that we forget to look beyond ourselves. As a practice, journalism

necessitates objectivity, something that can only be achieved through a well-rounded understanding and consideration of the broader context. /us, this year, The Chronicle is embracing new ways of thinking and reporting to broaden our perspective. /at means looking deeper, expanding our scope and even drawing from the past to inspire future work. We will prioritize impactful journalism by introducing a new section, “Longform Coverage,” dedicated to one in-depth, investigative piece of work compiled by our sta0. /is section will replace “Community News” in issues where we believe there is an opportunity to highlight an issue of interest to the wider community. We will also invite artists and writers from our school community to be spotlighted in each issue. Readers can look to C1 for our .rst ones: painter Carina Wu ’27, utilizing her art to

showcase the passage of time, and creative writer Camille Ahart ’27, using slushies as metaphors for relationship issues. We believe there is value to be found in engaging with and absorbing di0erent art forms. As a sta0, our own craft has the potential to be transformed by the inspiration we draw from others – much like George Harrison’s famous 1966 trip to InGYAN ZINN/CHRONICLE dia, where he studied sitar under Ravi Shankar, introducing NEW LEADERS: Editors-in-Chief Hannah Hendifar ’27, Riya Iyer ’27. a new musical in1uence that shaped the Beatles’ later work. chives in Weiler 104, we found and A3. /eir short, factual forWe hope to approach journalism decades of hard-hitting jour- mat allows us to expand our covwith the same openness: looking nalism covering issues that still erage of both community and beyond our own tendencies to consume our community. Look- global events without sacri.cing .nd new ways to see and create. ing back allows us to understand the breadth of stories we can tell. /ough the leadership of Finally, expanding our hori- where we came from – and, zon extends to the past as well. perhaps, to recognize what we The Chronicle changes every The Chronicle has existed for as might otherwise overlook today. year, our purpose does not. /is year, we revived the tradi- We will continue to deliver long as the school itself, and its predecessors, The Westlake Pi tion of editorial leadership visu- meaningful stories to the comand The Harvard Sentinel, pub- ally redesigning elements of our munity, encourage our readlished for 59 and 89 years prior, print editions. We also brought ers to look past the familiar respectively. Searching through back “InBrief ” columns, origi- and remain curious about the the decades of dust-coated ar- nally introduced in 1999 to A2 world outside of our campus.

Commu$i&y The Chronicle • Aug. 25, 2026

MILA DETMER/CHRONICLE

MILA DETMER/CHRONICLE

Crowds come together and convene outside in anticipation for the Palisades Village public ribbon cutting ceremony.

Executive Chairman and Caruso Founder Rick Caruso, Caruso CEO Corinne Verdery and local fashion designer Elyse Walker cut the ribbon in the ceremony.

Palisades Village with stores and restaurants open By C,0ire Lee

Palisades Village held its Grand Reopening Celebration on Aug. 15 after closing for 19 months and undergoing a $100 million rebuild. The Palisades Fire destroyed numerous neighborhoods, including Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu, in January 2025, impacting not only the land but also the community that thrived there, according to National Broadcast Company. More than 40 shops and restaurants have returned or opened, including Erewhon, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Buck Mason, Anine Bing, K Bakery and Loomey’s Toys. The fire caused

severe smoke and water damage that forced the Palisades Village to temporarily close. The reopening featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live performances by the Hollywood Film Orchestra, guest speakers, an evening concert and a 1ying drone show. Calia Tractenberg ’27, who worked at an interior design business in the Village during the Palisades reopening, said she hopes that more storefronts will open. “I would like to see more surrounding shops open and more people being able to move back into their homes,” Tractenberg said. “More people will come to the Palisades now that there are

places for them to go. I’ve felt alone in the Palisades without my friends or stores to go into, so having the Village open feels like a big step in the correct direction for the community.” Max Lee ’27 said although the Palisades Village opening reminded him of good memories, he was concerned about whether the reopened storefronts would have enough customers to sustain business. “When I first walked into the Village, I tried to piece together old memories of what used to be there,” Lee said. “I remembered the Palisades, the two frozen yogurt shops and all the other places I grew up going to. Seeing the new Vil-

lage coming back made me feel both happy and a little worried. I wonder how many of these businesses would be able to get the foot tra2c they need and, more importantly, when people would actually be able to move back and enjoy these facilities. Overall, though, it was great to see so many familiar places return to Pacific Palisades.” Jack Ryan ’25 said he noticed the liveliness and connection of the Palisades community during the reopening. “The first thing that struck me about the Village was how alive and full of people it was,” Ryan said. “It really seemed like people had come back to try to reconnect and rebuild the com-

munal bond that was such a big part of the Palisades. It was great to see the Village, with stores having lines out the door, restaurants full and families filling the lawns.” Ryan said the Pacific Palisades Village creates a sense of community for the neighbors and could encourage more neighbors to rebuild. “Seeing fellow members of the community is always a great way to lay the groundwork of a neighborhood,” Ryan said. “The Village gave people a place to reconnect with old neighbors, and it could influence the Palisades’ residents still on the fence regarding rebuilding versus selling.”

New stores open in Studio City By Birdie Rey$o,d-

Blank Street Co.ee opened near the upper school campus, at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Fulton Avenue, on Aug. 11. Additionally, construction continues on a nearby Joe & The Juice store that is scheduled to open within the next few months. Since opening their Studio City location, Blank Street, a chain co.ee shop started in New York in 2020, has consistently attracted customers, with lines stretching around the block daily. Eleanor Levy ’30 is a frequent visitor of the new coffee store and said she uses the Blank street app for points and money back. “Since it opened, I’ve already been back six times and my favorite order is an iced shaken vanilla bean matcha with skim milk,” Levy said. “I’ve also been using the app, and every time I am able to get money o.

of my drinks.” Studio City residents Jimmy and Abby who were visiting Blank Street for the first time, said they waited in line for nearly 45 minutes before trying the co.ee. “Based o. of my first sip, I really like it, the wait was totally worth it,” Jimmy said. “I think that the line’s going to be like this for a while, and then I can see it dying down. We will definitely return in the future.” Levy said she is excited to continue visiting the new store. “There is always a long line, but it goes by super fast,” Levy said. “I’ve had such a good experience there, and I can’t wait to be able to walk down after school and get my matcha.” Even with lines stretching out the door, Levy said that she hasn’t had a bad experience. “My longest wait has only been about 15 minutes,” Levy said. “Even when there are lines out the door.”

While Levy hopes the initial excitement surrounding Blank Street continues, she would not mind if some of the buzz faded. “I hope the hype will stay just because it’s so good, and I want them to do well,” Levy said. “But I wouldn’t mind if it dies down a little bit just to help with the line.” With Blank Street already open and Joe & the Juice continuing construction, students will soon have even more options for co.ee, drinks and quick meals near campus. Isabel Panageas ’28 said she is looking forward to Joe & The Juice’s opening. “I’m extremely excited for the opening of Joe & The Juice because it is one of my favorites, and having it near school makes my life so convenient,” Panageas said. “I love getting sandwiches, and I feel that it is a great addition to the Studio City community.”

JEAN PARK/CHRONICLE

Joe and the Juice, a coffee and juice bar, has been under construction at 12915 Ventura Blvd. since early March 2026.

Features The Chronicle • Aug. 25, 2026

DRAWING THE LINE ILLUSTR ATION BY PHOEBE SUN

• Continued on B2

B2 F,a-u.,s

T0, C0.o234l,

Aug. 25, 2026

Student and faculty artists re(ect on the moral and creative repercussions of using artificial intelligence in works of art. By Ila Bakaya

“To be honest, I took the class because my friend was taking video art Zayra Alvarado ’28 stares at the glossy and I needed an art credit, but I fell in characters moving awkwardly across the love with it from the first day,” Alvarado screen. %eir faces barely shift as they said. “Originality is very important to stumble through a brightly lit, artificially me. I don’t use AI in my art because it generated world that seems to have five feels inauthentic.” different light sources. Alvarado is judgUpper School Head of Visual Arts ing West(ix submissions alongside her Gustavo Godoy said his approach to classmates, watching the blatantly ma- art is rooted in working by hand and chine-generated film. She thinks back to choosing an art form based on an idea her film that she had spent 36 he wants to explore. weeks painstakingly writing, “I come from a Mexican editing and reshooting. family where we never hired a Alvarado said seeing the arplumber or a gardener to fix tificially generated film made things,” Godoy said. “We did her question the student’s everything hands-on. Initially, investment in the work and art was a way of being hands-on the difference between using and creating things like archiartificial intelligence (AI) as a tecture and urban planning. To L. Woo5 tool and using it to generate be an artist is to have an idea. Zayra the work itself. For me, the idea is my history, Alvarado ’28 “It felt as though the stuand then I find the medium dent who submitted this AI-generated that matches that.” film was forced to do something they Performing Arts Teacher Neli Nididn’t actually care about,” Alvardo said. kolaeva said AI could expand access to “It made me question why they would music instruction and offer endless poseven submit anything in the first place. sibilities for expression. It’s di)cult to draw the line for the mo“While it has its positives and negrality of AI use because you might use it atives, AI may create increased access for something small like idea generation, for student musicians to be tutored, but it can easily snowball into something or even just checked in on,” Nikolaebigger. A concern of mine is that when we va said. “It might increase creativity for train these AI programs, these programs some people, because it also makes the are basically stealing other people’s art creative process easier and more accesand using it for someone else’s personal sible. Eventually, the endless possibiliprofit and enrichment.” ty of the human mind is what I want By early 2026, more than 80% of high to treasure and focus on, because our school and college students were using mind has the potential to be creative in AI for school-related tasks, according to a different way.” Stanford University. AI systems depend Godoy said that he personally doesn’t on physical data centers that require use AI in his craft, as he finds that it is large amounts of energy to run servers not useful for artists. and cooling systems. Global data center “[Using AI is] not part of my proelectricity consumption reached about cess at this point,” Godoy said. “Art 485 terawatt-hours in 2025 and it is should get at something essential that projected that it could nearly double to people don’t know. We, as humans, can about 950 terawatt-hours by 2030, with dig deeper into things that a computAI serving as a major driver for growth er doesn’t know and make connections and innovation, according to the Inter- between things that a computer is not national Energy Agency. going to make.” Alvarado said she enjoys creating video 52% of Gen Z and millennial conart, and she views the use of AI in art as sumers either feel negatively or are una shortcut for artistic effort. decided on brands using generative AI

to create advertisements, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Elliot Murphy ’27 said that as an ac- es she uses to make her art are hutress, she believes people are beginning man-made and produced. to move away from using AI for televi“I’ve been drawing my whole life,” Cox sion and video advertisements. said. “I usually start with a prompt and “The Coca-Cola holiday ad caused a then go to Pinterest to generate ideas. I significant amount of hate for being AI, was drawing a duck recently until I found so I think people are beginning to drift out from a friend of mine that it was artfiaway from it,” Elliot said. “I thankfully cially generated, so I’ve been trying to get have not seen any AI-generated scripts better at picking up what’s AI-modified. in advertisements I’ve been in. While I’m pretty anti-AI in my own art, but I AI can be used for writing scripts, es- don’t think it’s necessarily wrong for othpecially by students, I don’t think AI ers to use AI as a reference.” scripts can ever be Nikolaeva said she considered original. believes AI may further I saw this analogy: if human connection and you come over with No matter how emotional development in all the ingredients to specific our prompts addition to creativity. make a pizza, and I “Looking to the fufor AI are, we still are ture, the environmental just order a pizza, I not the ones making and moral issues assocididn’t actually make a pizza. No matthe art.” ated with AI are one side ter how specific our of things,” Nikolaeva said. —Elliot Murphy ’27 “On the flip side, if we prompts for AI are, we are still not the accept it like we accepted ones making the art.” Google search over time, Almost 40% of artificially generated and it becomes a part of our lives, it images depicting detailed objects were could be positive. Instead of memorizperceived as human-made, while nearly ing endless information, it will be at the 46% of AI-generated human portraits tips of our fingers. If we continue thrivwere classified as human-made, accord- ing to find ways to develop and enhance ing to a study conducted by the Nation- emotions, AI could be an opportunity al Institutes of Health. for more of the human aspect to flourFalyn Cox ’28 said AI-generated ish. For that to happen, we need to conimages have made it harder for her to tinue redefining what the human aspect determine whether the reference imag- actually is.”

“

ILLUSTRATIONS BY PHOEBE SUN

A56. 25, 2026

h./h0oni/le./o2/3eat50es

Feat50es B3

SPLITTING IMAGE Students on campus navigate the balance between closeness, competition and individuality while growing up together. By Madison Shen

“Even family members [and teachers] will confuse us. I don’t think we look The gymnasium lights hum overhead that similar, but everyone else does.” as Dylan Williams ’28 steps away from Georgia Graines ’29, who is a fraternal the podium, finishing his Junior Prefect twin with Theodore Graines ’29, said the candidate speech. He takes a seat in size of the school has made finding her the front row of bleachers, nerves still own identity much easier than when she lingering as he waits to hear was younger. the next speaker. Then he “[Before], we went to a really hears a familiar voice: his twin small school of 30 people,” brother, Beckham Williams Graines said. “We were always ’28. Dylan knows the speech by thrown together, so it was heart, having heard Beckham annoying because there was rehearse it at the dinner table, a lot of overlap in classes. but watching his brother take Since we’ve come to Harvardthe podium makes the nerves of Westlake, we’ve found more L. Wood the election feel more personal. Dylan Williams ’28 [individuality] because the When his brother finishes, school’s so big and we can do Dylan can’t help but clap a little different things.” louder than everyone else. The next day, The Ebrahemi twins’ struggle with Beckham’s name appears at the top of individuality is not unique to them. Dethe runoff list. Dylan’s is nowhere to be identification, the process of breaking found. For a moment, the results sting, emotional and cognitive attachment but Dylan still feels proud of his brother. to a specific role, is thought to be more Dylan and his twin brother are one common among siblings who share the of several sets of twins on campus who same age and gender because they may feel share a grade and classes throughout a stronger need to distinguish themselves high school. Each pair navigates that from one another. This is particularly closeness differently. Dylan said he was relevant for identical twins who want to happy when Beckham won the Prefect develop individual identities, according Council election, viewing his brother’s to Sage Journals. Not all twins describes success as his own rather than as a loss. that same struggle, though. Brianna said “I was super happy for Beckham because constantly being mistaken for her sister as long as one of us wins, that’s all that I has affected her sense of individuality. care about,” Dylan said. “[Running for “[Being an identical twin] definitely Prefect Council together] was the biggest has been hard with the individuality sense of competition we’ve felt, but we’re part,” Brianna said. “Sometimes, you feel at the point where we can appreciate the like you don’t have your own identity, other twin winning without feeling bad.” especially when people group you Amanda Shu ’27 said having a twin has become a source of support because she always has someone who can relate to the experiences and challenges she faces as she grows up. “The best part about being a twin is having a person in your life that is going through the same things as you at the same time.” Shu said. “It’s a good support system, and it’s different from a friend because you’re living with them across the hall.” Talya Ebrahemi ’27 and her identical twin sister, Brianna Ebrahemi ’27, teach two financial literacy classes together, co-lead school clubs and run a student hedge fund they started as a pair. Talya said she and her sister support each other while working together. “We do a lot together,” Talya said. “I would prefer doing things separately, but we both add-on to each other. It’s nice having someone to work with, especially in the financial sense.” Despite their closeness, Brianna said being an identical twin can sometimes make it di,cult to distinguish herself from her sister, as she and Talya are still regularly mistaken for one another, even by teachers who have taught them both for years. “Being an identical twin, I thought it was very di,cult to have a different personality because people confuse us a lot,” Brianna said.

together. I still have a lot of people come from the other.” up to me and say, ‘Oh my God, Talya.’ Genetics may in-uence the extent to Sometimes I go along with it, or I’ll just which fraternal twins develop separate tell them [I’m not Talya].” interests. A study with over 800 sets of Fraternal twin Amelie Bennett ’28 twins found identical twins were twice said attending a different school from as likely to have shared personality traits her sister has allowed her and her sister as fraternal twins. Researchers attributed to maintain their individuality while still this difference to both genetics and their having a close relationship. environment, according to the University “My sister and I have a really good of Cumberlands. relationship,” Bennett said. “Some people Graines said she and her brother find associate twins with being super close to it beneficial to share teachersbecause they one another, but that’s never really been can lean on each other when necessary. the case with me and my sister. We’re “We have never had any classes independent and not best friends. I get together, but we have had the same told a lot that [my sister teacher,” Graines said. and I] come off more “[Sharing teachers] as sisters than twins. can be helpful but Even family For example, my sister also annoying. We was a really big tomboy members [and teachers] can study together or growing up, and I was a give each other the will confuse us. I don’t girly girl.” homework, which is think we look that Being a fraternal a good bonus. But, similar, but everyone brother, Dylan has sometimes it is also else does.” also had a different a little competitive experience as a twin —Brianna because he is my than what the Ebrahemi Ebrahemi ‘27 brother and I want to sisters described. Unlike do better than him.” identical twins, Dylan While Graines said said he and Beckham sharing teachers can have rarely dealt with people mixing sometimes create competition, Dylan them up entirely. said he and his brother are still often “Identical twins have more similarities, viewed as a pair despite being placed in so there’s probably more confusion,” different classes. Dylan said. “Whereas with fraternal “In all of our classes growing up and twins, no one’s really confused on who also at Harvard-Westlake, [teachers is who. This helps also in individuality and deans] definitely try to keep us in because as we’ve gotten older, people different classes,” Dylan said. “That tries have gotten to know each of us apart to foster differences, but I do think that we were still often seen as a pair by friends and other people. We hang out a lot with each other, plus, I’m just always with him because we live together. I spend most of the time with him, so I would say that we hang out with a very similar group at school.” Unlike Dylan, who spends most of his time with the same friend group as his brother, Shu said she and her twin mostly separate their social lives at school. “Most people at school think of [me and my brother] as separate people,” Shu said. “A lot of the times, even my close friends say they forget I have a twin brother. I would say we are pretty different people.” Dylan said one of the hardest parts about being a twin is being compared to his brother, especially when their differences are measured by their academic performance. “When [other people] put you against your twin, that’s not good,” Dylan said. “Whenever you take a test and you do worse, people will say, ‘Oh, you’re so much worse than your brother’ or ‘Oh, you’re so much smarter than your brother.’ That’s not how it should be. [Being a twin] should be more about driving each other to succeed rather than a competition or beating the other one down.”

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ILLUSTRATION BY PHOEBE SUN

FoRgOtTeN The Chronic,e

B4 Features

By Maddy Wyn%old( and Ila Ba)aya

As the voices of her family in Lebanon drift from the phone to her ear, Lulu Aridi ’27 feels dread settle in the pit of her stomach. She hears a bomb crash across the line, and the whirring of the planes in the background intensifies. Her family’s voices continue detailing their most recent visit to the nightclub down the street. Aridi said her family doesn’t even notice scenes like the crash during their call, simply dismissing the background noise as a part of their life. “It’s part of their day-to-day life to hear those noises and see rubble in the streets,” Aridi said. “It was a little bit jarring to realize my family can be impacted by these conflicts. ,at definitely drove me to try to be more involved in advocacy. I’m lucky to live in the United States. In Lebanon, they’re trying to live normal lives because there’s not much they can do, and there’s not much information they have.” Aridi, a youth activist at Amnesty International, said it is di-cult for her to see the e.ects of the war in Lebanon on

her family, and her inability to directly help them is challenging. “,e most di-cult thing to see [in the world] from the United States is the war [in Lebanon], because I have family there,” Aridi said. “,e electricity isn’t constant, the government’s bankrupt, and we can’t talk to them that frequently. So it’s hard because there’s not much we can do from the sidelines.” Makenna Topp ’28 similarly said her communication with international family members is sparse. “I have family in Mexico, who I used to call periodically,” Topp said. “But I’ve actually never met most of them, because they all live down there, and it’s dangerous for my sister and I to visit. I never got to meet my grandmother, who immigrated to the United States in the 1950s. I want to learn more about her story. Because I never got to meet her, I never really learned her story as an immigrant.” By November 2024, Lebanon’s fiscal and political crisis due to decades of systemic corruption and a sectarian power struggle left 3.7 million people without access to necessities such as water, electricity, and healthcare, according to the United Nations (UN). However, Lebanon only received 25% of the funding required to provide for those in need. Aridi said the media may overlook crises like the one in Lebanon, even though people living there

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continue to experience its e.ects. zones can struggle to influence the “,ese days, there’s a lack of awareness government, which is a big issue.” in our generation,” Aridi said. “Media In addition to Lebanon, Goedde attention is not said the longproportional to running conflicts human su.ering in Ukraine and It starts with advocacy around the Syria showcased on the lowest levels. What most world. Some the media’s rapidly issues will shifting focus. people don’t understand is that go viral and “Recently, the strength comes with numbers.” dominate social war in Ukraine media, while — Nico Velamoor ’29 has gotten more others remain attention because in the shadows. the battle strategy But, in reality, has changed, there’s no one but, for the most issue or people who deserve more part, people just don’t pay that much attention than others. When people are attention to it anymore,” Goedde said. su.ering, people are su.ering.” “,e civil war in Syria was the same. It Nico Velamoor ’29, a member of the had a huge amount of attention when it Human Rights Watch club, said the was new, but then it just became the same decline in the popularity of physical old story.” newspapers has exacerbated the cycles Criminal Law Teacher and former of the media. lawyer Alan Croll said social media “,e way that news works these days can make information harder for is very convenient,” Velamoor said. “No governments to control, especially in one’s reading the full newspaper. Social countries where traditional media and media reels are specified to exactly what public dissent you want to look at. Once something are restricted. that’s happening in the world kind of “Social media goes out of style, it also goes out of the is nuanced,” Croll general public’s focus.” said. “It will Upper School have ups and History Department Head Celia Goedde said the attention to crises created by social and traditional media can fade quickly, even as conflicts remain unresolved. “An event will happen in some country, and it will get so much attention that you can’t escape it for a week or so,” Goedde said. “,en, the media wants something new and di.erent. ,ey don’t want the same old story about place X or place Y. Rather, they look for something novel that will get people’s attention.” downs, but “Southern Lebanon and locations ultimately, it will make the world freer, in the Middle East, which are in especially in places with oppressive active wars, are extremely vulnerable,” totalitarian governments. In China, for Velamoor said. “It’s hard to exhibit example, the government can control these humanitarian crises to the newspapers and big public dissent, but public because there’s an active war not this quiet social media flood that is going on. It’s hard to classify what’s a sweeping the world.” violation versus what’s simply just war Aridi said in addition to social media, going on. While organizations like the students should seek information International Criminal Court or the UN through more reliable channels. can classify these events as apartheid or “It shouldn’t take a viral TikTok to a criminal worldwide make people actually care,” Aridi said. violation, people “Obviously, social media is a popular and in war e.ective way of bringing international events to light, but people should try to do their own research and find their own information rather than just watching a one-minute clip of something.” Human Rights Watch is an organization that conducts active research and advocacy in more than 100 countries, including e.orts in Lebanon to protect Lebanese people from human rights abuses due to Hezbollah and the

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Students and faculty reflect on human rights conflicts around the world and discuss how social media has impacted those affected by these crises.

Israeli military. Velamoor said the organization’s fieldwork can help document violations and bring international attention to them. “Human Rights Watch does a really good job of going into the places where the conflicts are happening and exposing violations,” Velamoor said. “They go on the front lines, gather information and evidence and then bring that to the International Criminal Court or the UN. It’s an incredibly strong way to shine light on the atrocities and the violations that are happening throughout the world, which is why I so strongly support the organization.” Over 27.6 million men, women and children are currently working in forced labor, according to the International Labor Organization, a UN agency that promotes worker rights. Velamoor said social media can bring attention to human rights violations that may not receive as much attention from traditional news outlets, such as conditions for factory workers. “It’s hard to shed light and exposure on [these human rights issues] because big corporations are largely able to keep the terrible conditions that workers are in out of public light,” Velamoor said. “However, social media can do a good job of exposing these conflicts that are kind of forgotten. It gives people a chance to see these issues that may go out of mainstream news.” Croll said international law provides a framework for addressing human rights abuses, though its enforcement depends on government cooperation. “International law is an avenue to control human rights abuses, but it is for now only something to aspire to,” Croll said. “The UN is powerless in many respects. So the only way that international law can be a real, vibrant and enforceable thing is if countries agree on it. Right now, we’re too splintered in the world for that to happen.” Many individuals believe international law is outdated; however, it is the lack of commitment by countries, not the ineffectiveness of the laws themselves, that renders it less useful than it could potentially be, according to OxFam International, a group of independent organizations dedicated to combating global inequity. Velamoor said the bottom line is that real change in these situations comes from sanctions and international or domestic pressures. “Palpable change comes from gathering

evidence and directly pressuring the companies or governments who are committing these violations,” Velamoor said. “Economically or socially. That’s the only way to ultimately make a real difference.” Croll said countries can differ in the weight they place on individual rights, economic security and social stability. “A lot of countries value elimination of poverty and state security over individual rights from a cultural point of view,” Croll said. “For example, China tends to value social harmony, family duties and cohesiveness more than individual rights, but in America, we tend to prioritize individual rights. They might do away with poverty and whatnot, but the cost is political dissent. And in America, we

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still have political dissent.” Velamoor said students in the United States have access to forms of political expression that are restricted in other countries, allowing them to advocate for people outside their own communities. “In the United States, we often take for granted the freedom that our government provides us,” Velamoor said. “A lot of other countries are under authoritarian leaders who do not give people a chance to advocate for

themselves. In Iran, people are killed for expressing their views. In Afghanistan, women don’t get the opportunity for education. But in the United States, we have an amazing system of freedom of speech that we can use to advocate for ourselves and others. We cannot take our freedom of speech for granted.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY AUDREY HERRERA AND EMMA BING

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A,.. 25, 2026

SUMMER SHIFTS PRINTED WITH PERMISSSION OF KARA HORACEK

Students re)ect on their summer internship experiences and what they learned while exploring various fields they are interested in. By Clair% l%%

tics and Space Administration (NASA). (e NASA high school internship is an Kara Horacek ’27 lunges for the eight-week summer program for juniors last roll of gauze, fingers barely closing and seniors to participate in hands-on around it before a voice cuts down the projects at the NASA field center. Binhallway, calling for the next patient in dra said she learned research skills while room three. Behind her, a tray of medi- facing challenges at the internship. “I learned that research is rarely cal instruments sits scattered across the counter, half-organized. It isn’t even straightforward,” Bindra said. “Our ininoon, and the waiting room has already tial results were much weaker than we filled back up, with a long list of names expected, but instead of viewing that yet to be called. It is Horacek’s first day as a failure, we investigated what was interning at a dermatology clinic. She causing the scatter and adjusted our apexpected to spend her first day watch- proach. (e experience taught me how to work through uncertainty, ing and learning, think critically, communibut the clinic is already moving at full Internships don’t cate openly and collaborate with people who brought difspeed. change students’ minds ferent strengths to the team.” Horacek said the Emma Calista Lee ’27 job turned out to be as much as they give traveled to the Republic of more overwhelming students evidence to Korea (ROK), Washington than she expected. base future decisions. D.C. and New York as part “For the first —Kwaisi France of a summer educational couple of days, I felt completely out Director of HW Works program focused on international relations. She had of my element,” the opportunity to visit the Horacek said. “I Pentagon, State Department, was there from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and I had no idea what Center for Strategic and International anything was or where anything was. Studies (CSIS) and the United Nations as I spent a solid eight minutes looking part of this experience. Lee said this summer expanded her knowledge about the around for a 15-gauge syringe.” Despite the rocky start, Horacek said U.S.-ROK alliance. “(is summer, I had the opportunishe took on responsibilities like assisting with procedures, checking inventory ty to learn about the U.S.-ROK alliance from both the Korean and American and working at the front desks. “I had in-clinic hours where I would perspectives,” Lee said. “(ese forums visit patients and assist the dermatol- and discussions made me realize how ogist with non-invasive procedures,” the alliance has evolved beyond its orHoracek said. “I organized and took in- igins as a military partnership to enventory of many supplies while doing compass economic security and broader my best to get everyone what they need- cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.” Lee said her internship reshaped how ed in whichever examination room. I also helped out at the front desk, provid- she thought about the history behind ing education on our products and the the U.S.-ROK alliance. “My Honors U.S. History class was effects of sun damage by recommending different types of sunscreen while especially valuable throughout this expatients waited for their appointments.” perience,” Lee said. “(is internship Simren Bindra ’27 spent her sum- made me realize that understanding hismer working at the National Aeronau- tory is essential to understanding how

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countries approach issues today, and that the same event can be viewed very differently from various perspectives. I’m especially grateful to my history teacher, Dr. Goedde, for really pushing me to have a stronger historical foundation. Growing up hearing about my grandparents’ experiences during the Korean War, I had always understood the war as part of my family’s history, but this summer helped me recognize how deeply its legacy continues to shape the U.S.-ROK alliance and the broader global landscape.” Director of HW Works Kwaisi France saw a trend of students starting the search for internships earlier. “I am seeing students start earlier in 9th and 10th grade as opposed to 11th and 12th,” France said. “I’m also seeing more substantive and therefore paid work. Startups are where a lot of students are headed. It’s tough to get finance and consulting internships in high school, let alone paid.” Kayla Kim ’28 spent four weeks interning at an interior design business. Kim visited different commercial and residential projects, learned how )oor plans and materials are chosen and saw different stages of the construction process. Kim said the internship reshaped her perspective on interior design. “One thing that changed how I think about the field was realizing how much goes into a space before it is finished,” Kim said. “I used to think of interior design as mostly a creative procedure, but I saw how much planning and communication are involved. Visiting spaces that were still under construction helped me understand how a design on paper eventually becomes a real space.” 75% of interns reported moderate to high levels of stress during training, and for 41%, it became a mental health concern, according to the Society for the Advancement of Psychology. Horacek said she is thankful for the doctors and dermatologists after witnessing first-

hand how chaotic the field can be. “My biggest takeaway was that I am far more grateful for the doctors in my life than I was before this,” Horacek said. “I did not realize how intense dermatology is. It is so overwhelming, with things going wrong constantly. People are late constantly, blood draws are unsuccessful, people are mad at the initial reactions of their chemical peels or their laser, it’s a lot. (is experience made me so much more grateful for all of the private clinics that keep my body running.” A survey of 500 adults who had interned in high school found that 87% felt their internship helped them understand what kind of career they wanted, while more than half said it helped them develop new skills, according to Brite bound. France said high school internship experience is crucial for making academic decisions that impact the future. “College is too late for a student’s first meaningful encounter with the world of work,” France said. “High school internships give students the freedom to explore before they are expected to specialize. It’s not about asking teenagers to choose careers earlier, but about giving them enough real-world experience so that they don’t have to make major educational decisions based primarily on imagination and speculation.” France said an internship doesn’t exactly change a student’s sense of what they want to study or do, but rather confirms it. “(ere’s an important distinction between changing direction and clarifying direction,” France said. “For highschool students, there is evidence that internships frequently confirm, refine or challenge what they thought they wanted. Internships don’t necessarily change students’ minds as much as they give students evidence on which to base their decisions for the future. I would argue that changing one’s mind and seeking direction for the future is the singular outcome of a high-school internship.”

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Students, faculty and families discuss how they navigate relationships with individuals who hold political views that oppose their own. By Maddy Wyn%old(

conversations, because there’s always room to )nd common space. It’s more As her camp roommate’s idle chatter bene)cial than arguing and looking for continues, Sophia Wong ’27 stops things that you’re going to disagree on.” Wong said her experience with midway through the conversation, mouth open in disbelief. During her Esther made her re,ect upon people week-long program hosted by the who have di+erent political opinions to American League Auxiliary Girls hers, which she has learned to be more State (ALA State), Wong )nds herself complex than she had presumed. “I don’t think politics should be shocked at a homophobic comment her roommate Esther casually made. In a a de)ning part of how much I value seemingly innocent conversation about someone,” Wong said. “There’s more dating, Esther had denounced same-sex nuance to it than that. I don’t think couples and the LGBTQ+ community anyone’s evil. We’re all just trying to as a whole, a group that Wong come at it from a di+erent way. People are more than their identi)es with. Wong political beliefs.” said she initially felt I don’t think that Research shows disrespected by Esther’s that a large proportion comments, but after a politics should be a of Americans are not respectful discussion, defining part of how willing to interact she was able to much I value someone. regularly with understand the values behind them. People are more than their individuals in a di+erent political “Initially, I judged political beliefs.” party than theirs. her,” Wong said. — Sophia Wong ’27 In 2020, 19% of “I’m queer, and she Americans reported was saying that she choosing to not was against LGBTQ people. But then we talked, and I was able have any friends who hold opposing to see that her beliefs came from similar views to theirs, and 49% of Americans values as mine. They just manifested say they would be unhappy living in a place where people hold very di+erent themselves in a really di+erent way.” Across the political spectrum, political opinions from them, according people generally share the same set of to YouGov. At the school, 25% of foundational morals, but di+er in how students feel that their political views much they emphasize each, which is how align with at least 80% of their friends, di+ering political opinions arise, according according to a poll by The Chronicle. Velamoor said politics is not the deciding to The National Library of Medicine. Wong said hearing about Esther’s life factor of whether or not his relationships and background made her understand will succeed. “I have quite a few friends that have her friend’s views and how they were not di+erent political views than I do whom actually that di+erent from her own. “I became really curious as to why we I’m still super close with,” Velamoor had such di+erent beliefs,” Wong said. said. “Sometimes, we might have petty “A lot of it came from her upbringing arguments about it, but the bottom line or her religion, and that fascinated me is that we have more things that we agree more than it made me mad. The more on than speci)c political issues that we I got to understand her, I began to see disagree on.” Some students, on the other hand, where she was coming from. It wasn’t from a place of harm. It was just from a draw the line when it comes to certain issues. Calia Tractenberg ’27 said her di+erent perspective.” The moral codes of liberals and support for the LGBTQ community has conservatives do di+er; however, the an in,uence on which relationships she groups have much more in common chooses to keep. “Anyone who is anti-LGBTQ, I can’t than not, according to The National Library of Medicine. Nico Velamoor be friends with,” Tractenberg said. “I ’29 said he tries to look for similarities )rmly hold these beliefs, and I will stick with others instead of explicit political to them.” Some students )nd the ability to di+erences, because it tends to create more hold both strong political beliefs and productive conversations. “In my experience with talking to relationships with individuals who people who have di+erent political views oppose them. Isabel Erlic ’27 said [than I do], a lot of their morals are she does not let her opinions prevent actually not that far o+ from mine,” dialogue about contentious topics. “I have strong beliefs about Palestine, Velamoor said. “So, that’s but I’m open to dialogue with people something that who hold opposing beliefs as well,” Erlic I look for said. “Granted, it has to be done with in these mutual respect. I’ve been close with my Jewish cousins since we were babies, so I understand the pain that has come as a result of decades of persecution. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot criticize the state of Israel, and there are a lot of people who are su+ering as a direct result of its actions. Refusing to hear out other people on their beliefs is not just a loss of knowledge, it’s also potentially a loss of deep and meaningful relationships as well.”

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35% of students at the school rated politics a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1-5 of how important of a factor politics are in a relationship. Junior Prefect Diya Desai ’28 said having friends with aligned political perspectives was not a deliberate choice, but a natural occurrence. “Subconsciously, I aligned my closest friends with my beliefs, so we match politically,” Desai said. “As a human, you tend to surround yourself with people that are very similar to you. I can still be friends with someone that I disagree with, but we might not be as close.” Jewish Family Alliance (JFA) CoChair Rochelle Glucksman ’97 (Henry ’32, Grace ’30, Sam ’28), said everyone has a sociopolitical topic that is most signi)cant to them, and that she expects those close to her to understand her stance on her prioritized topic. “There are so many di+erent issues, and everybody has an issue that’s the most important thing to them,” Glucksman said. “An issue that’s important to me is Israel. Ever since October 7th, that’s been front and center for me as a Jew in America. I don’t think we’d necessarily have to see everything the same way, but I would want them to understand why that issue matters so much to me.” Tractenberg said some issues are too important for her to not consider in her personal relationships. “Where I draw the line is [when others are] anti-Zionist,” Tractenberg said. “I cut those friendships loose, because if you believe that Israel does not have the right to exist, I cannot be friends with you.” For Americans, older age and higher levels of education correspond to greater levels of political engagement, according to The Pew Research Center. Velamoor said his interest in politics has intensi)ed with age. “Five years ago, I honestly didn’t think about politics as much,” Velamoor said. “But as I grow older, the political divide in our country has placed a greater emphasis on how I navigate friendships. [Since] people have strong beliefs that differ, it’s started to create a lot of strife.” Glucksman said her experience at the school from 1993-1997 differed staggeringly from what she sees today as both a parent and a part of the JLA. “When I was at Harvard-Westlake, there were always di+ering opinions within the school, but it was never an issue,” Glucksman said. “For instance, when Bill Clinton won the presidential election in

November of 1992, I don’t remember anything other than positivity. It seems harder nowadays. There’s less discussion about politics and more hatred.” Wong said there is a stigma around talking about political opinions, especially at school. “It’s hard to talk about politics without feeling you’re being confrontational or being canceled,” Wong said. “I wish that our school was a little bit more of an inviting place because I feel like if you say anything that’s against what the general population says, you basically get punished.” Only 13% of students said they felt completely comfortable sharing their political opinions at school, according to a poll by The Chronicle. Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said she wishes students at the school were more willing to have political conversations with each other. “I worry that kids at HarvardWestlake aren’t willing to speak up for things because they tend to be so compliant,” Slattery said. “I wish more people were willing to actually disagree with one another, and I don’t know if [the school has] done a good job of giving them opportunities to have those conversations in a moderated way.” Research has shown social media to fuel the exacerbating extremeness of polarization in the world, according to Brookings. Wong said she attributes a lot of the politicization in the world to social media and how it intentionally pits people with di+erent views against each other. “As a nation, we have gotten more polarized because people are afraid to share their true beliefs,” Wong said. “Social media is an echo chamber, and it has divided everyone by creating an us versus them mentality because it gains traction for influencers. It makes people afraid to speak up.” Velamoor said he ultimately values his relationships over political disputes, and he encourages others to do the same. “At the end of the day, you’re going to encounter people in life with different political opinions, and that’s the reality,” Velamoor said. “It’s your choice to pick which morals and values you want to prioritize instead of going against someone based on their political party.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA BING

B8 Features

T)e C)ron,-.e

Au(. 25, 2026

Dear Dance, Love Queala

Clancy dances to a piece choreographed by Donals McKayle called I’ve Known Rivers.

Clancy performs to a dance titled Traffic by Debbie Blunden-Diggs, with her partner Gary Harris.

Upper School Performing Arts Teacher Queala Clancy traces her journey from arts high school to Cirque du Soleil to the school. By Gra-e C)oen

it is now, how I’m in this space, and hearing musicians playing in the othFeeling the curved edge of the er room. I’m used to someone outside wooden stage, Upper School Perform- my window or classroom singing. I’m used to walking into a cafeteria ing Arts Teacher Queala and you see a handful of stuClancy sits on the same stage dents working on a monologue, she used to perform on more or someone’s dancing up and than a decade ago at her old down the hallways during passhigh school. She feels a rush ing [period time].” of nostalgia as she walks After high school, Clancy through the hallways and went on to earn her Bachelor of spots her old locker. Fine Arts. She danced in multiClancy has returned to ple dance companies and had the give a lecture and demonL. Wood opportunity to work with numerstration with her dance Queala ous choreographers, directors and company, the Dayton ConClancy musicians. A few years later, while temporary Dance Compaworking in Las Vegas, she was ny (DCDC). To express her gratitude, she thanks her former teach- invited to audition for Cirque du Soleil ers verbally during the lecture. Sud- and became a featured dancer for one of denly, as her eyes well up with tears of its shows. Cirque du Soleil is a world-reappreciation, she leaps off the stage and nowned Canadian entertainment comparuns into the arms of her former high ny that incorporates spectacular acrobatics, costumes and artistic school dance teacher. During this parstorytelling as a conticular visit back to her old campus, temporary circus. Clancy said she experienced a pivotal Now, as a teacher full-circle moment. at the school, “It [started] to hit Clancy said that I’m in debt she hopes to to them,” Clancreate a warm cy said. “‘How and loving comcan I give my munity with her gratitude and dance students. my respect and “0e Dayton appreciation back Company was the to [them]? What are ultimate group of ways to do that?’ [I love, understandfigured I] could do ing, respect, joy it through words.” and family,” ClanGrowing up, Clancy said. “I think cy was put into multiple about ‘How can I sports. However, she enrecreate that here joyed dance the most out of all. at Harvard-Westlake Thus, she attended a performing within the dance arts middle and high school, where program? How can I she became acclimated to an environrecreate this constant ment full of creative individuals. wheel of joy, love, apClancy said she remembers stresspreciation and respect ing the importance of continuing into for [ourselves] and each a performing arts school to her parents, other that goes beyond the diswho wanted her to enroll at a “regular” cipline of dance?’” high school. Clancy said that she hopes that her “I needed to be around creative individuals,” Clancy said. “Similar to how students will walk away with confi-

dence and courage. “What I want my students to take away from dance, and specifically the Harvard-Westlake Dance Program, is an understanding that they are equipped with everything they need to succeed, regardless of the art form or academic task that is thrown at them,” Clancy said. “I also want and need my students to have courage. I want them to find a place of peace, joy and celebration inside what they do and to value and honor it.” To help make sense of what dance is for both herself and her students, Clancy said that she organized what she believes to be the elements of dance into an acronym: BEATS (body, energy, action, time and space). “ ‘B’ is for body, so [I’m] thinking about where the body’s being placed or how it’s being shaped,” Clancy said. “‘S’ is space, so, ‘Where exactly am I placing my body and how does it determine my outcome for this piece?’ ‘E’ is the energy behind the action of the body inside the space while taking up X amount of time. This can get into the philosophy of how I’m approaching dance, how I’m reading dance and how I’m creating dance.” Back at the lecture and demonstration at her old high school, Clancy said that the moment she jumped off the stage to run to her former dance teacher became an unforgettable moment in her dance career. “All I could focus on was catching her before she disappeared, even though this was happening in real time,” Clancy said. “A part of me want-

ed to recapture my time with her and everyone. It was a moment that became a tattoo in my memory of love and support. And again, dance was the root of this experience. I’m appreciative to dance, and I’m appreciative to her and everyone and everything that has been a part of my forever journey and relationship with dance.” As a part of her constant effort to remind her students of the joy, gratefulness and happiness that dance can give them, she created a poster with her students. It is labeled, “Dear Dance.” Clancy said that she encouraged each student to write letters to dance, whether they were letters of love, anger or joy. “ [My students] asked, ‘Who’s gonna see my words?’ or ‘Can I write something negative on it?’” Clancy said. “I explained to them that your relationship with dance or with anything is gonna have hills and valleys, highs and lows. So it’s okay to say, ‘Dear Dance, I am upset, and I am ticked off.’ However, in the midst of that anger and frustration, you still need to remember what it means to you and where you are with it along your dance journey.” Clancy said that dance is her lifeline and a constant source of her spirituality and mindfulness, giving her an outlet for creativity and a deeper sense of purpose. “If I could wrap up what dance is, a part of me feels as if I can’t because there are so many pockets and pathways of what dance does and can be,” Clancy said. “It’s the lifeline. Through [dance], I discovered creativity in its purest form, and in [the] embrace [of dance], I found spirituality—something greater than myself.” ILLUSTRATION BY PHOEBE SUN

Art% &Entertainment The Chronicle • Aug. 25, 2026

Life through a creative lens Watermelon Slushies Carina Wu ’27 Growing up, I often heard that my art lacked a purpose

because I painted whatever I found beautiful. Over time, I realized that meaning does not always have to come before the final artwork. The idea of “art for art’s sake” resonates with me for this reason because it gives me the freedom to start with beauty or an instinct. I can begin with a moment and discover why it matters as I create. Making art has become a form of self-understanding: a way to slow down, preserve a moment and discover the emotions layered within.

Orange County Peace Camp (oil on canvas): “The familiar campsite I return to each summer, where I volunteer and continue to grow with its community.”

Threaded Silence (pencil and yarn on canvas): “My hand reaches into stretches of yarn, reflecting the complexity of adolescence and how much can remain unspoken.”

16 (acrylic on stretched canvas): “A snapshot of my 16th birthday, preserving the small details of a moment I wanted to remember.”

Camille Ahart ’27 With this piece, I stepped back from my

usual tendency to write longer, more formal stories. I wanted to really experiment with a prose poetry or vignette style, focusing on packing in metaphors and choosing language mindfully to achieve the desired tragic and longing tone of a love story past. I enjoyed exploring convenience store slushie metaphors, where the watermelon slushie represents a disconnect in the lovers’ relationship and the blue raspberry one is the dull relationship they’re determined never to have. The man is dressed strangely in yellow, excavating the ground. A neon, tennis-ball color, 100% polyester. He quits his intense digging to look up at me. “A slushie,” I say weakly. “Watermelon, if it matters.” He gives me a strange look. Cash or credit? I hear him ask, except he doesn’t ask it. “What the hell?” he says instead. “A watermelon slushie,” I repeat stupidly. “Come on, I get it all the time.” Realization dawns on him, a soft color. Canary, at brightest. Unmetallic. “The convenience store is gone, man. Has been for a year.” “Okay.” I back away. “Okay.” Okay. “Places like this never last long,” I told you at the watermelon slushie machine. I said it because there was a Seven-Eleven on the corner, where we weren’t, and the slushies there would always cost less. You didn’t respond immediately. I thought maybe you just didn’t hear. “Marce?” “They don’t have watermelon, Avery,” you replied simply. “What’s the difference between that and say, cherry?” I asked. “What’s stopping you from combining whatever you wanted to make it, anyway?” “God, I can’t believe I like someone unable to distinguish one fruit flavor from another.” And then you looked at me in that specific way. Bunny-round eyes widening impossibly, creases ebbing, irises softer. It felt like love, but it wasn’t. It was pleading in the face of giving up. And I knew what you were going to say before you spoke. I knew you were going to grab my hand, trail it down your silky Julietsleeved top. Remind me you’d gotten the fabric of it on sale three years ago for less than ten dollars, that you hadn’t just made this blouse. You’d made that dress with it, too. And it was dreamy bright-blue everywhere, except for where the

pigment fell away in the wash. Where pale cerulean migrated to stain your white bralettes and crème flowy skirts. Being the girl in the sky-patterned gown was worth thousands, and you got it cheap. You would inhale the musicality of then, seize the notes between ice-pink lips. You’d mouth the words softly as they occurred to you, you’d be almost as uneven as my startled breaths. Stop. “I’m sure you remember the rest.” I know I do, your leporine eyes added unnecessarily. That marshmallow nose of yours freezing over with knowledge that though it’ll never happen again, it meant everything to us both. The knowledge that we’ll both be forty, lying next to people we might love, but who were never quite the firecracker of you. Bluebird daylight surrendering to rotten blueberry night. Your atmospheric gown lifting up, up, up. Bunny-like you were, but certainly not then. There was a sort of vulpine tenacity in your eyes. I’ll never see a fox again without thinking of you. The bite of rain sounded outside, droplets heavy and congealed like the blue-raspberry slushie everyone was always filling their cups with, then regretting. The watermelon one was never so oddly thickened. The shakiness of my reply certainly was. “Of course I remember.” A one-time thing. She knew we were ending — that it was written in the stars of the fading neon Open — and she needed to know I got that. Did you move on? I wonder. I didn’t. It’s been years. New developments come slowly in this town. They come slower for me. Because the sepia awning of the bakery reminds me endlessly of your flaky mascara, and when it floods in July, I hope you cry. I trace the veins of the once-convenience store and they follow me home. God, I feel like I might burst. Capillaries rupturing endlessly, filled so far past capacity with my watermelonred blood.

Led by a professional actor, this workshop will teach students audition essentials and comedy skill basics. Head to Rugby Auditorium at 3:15 p.m. to learn more.

CLUE AUDITIONS

Auditions for the play CLUE will be held in the Drama Lab from 3:156:00 p.m. Audition forms and additional information have been distributed by Ms. Washburn.

10/09

The Theatre Company will host an introduction meeting for all students interested in theater. Head to Rugby Auditorium at 3:15 p.m. to learn more.

AUDITION WORKSHOP

09/02

THEATRE COMPANY MEETING

09/01

08/31

UPCOMING EVENTS HW IMPROV

Interested in joining HW Improv club? Tune in for the general information meeting on Friday to learn more. All ability levels are welcomed. More information will be released shortly.

C2 Ar$% & En$er$ainmen$

Aug. 25, 2026

Upcoming theater productions

By Phe01e Sun

Flip-flops Flip--ops have o.cially made the jump from beach essential to everyday staple. Once saved for pool days and summer vacations, they are expected to be everywhere on campus as students head back, making them one of the summer’s biggest trends to carry.

Dark Denim After years of lightwash jeans, dark-wash denim is having a major fashion moment because it feels cleaner and more polished. It is also much easier to dress up, especially paired with a nicer top or boots.

Knee High Boots

ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA BING

B2 Ce3e%$e C0mm03i 4e theatre program decided to take on the playful motifs of students’ favorite childhood memories. 4ey will start o5 by performing the play “Clue” this fall. 4e auditions will take place on Sept. 2nd, and the performances will be from Nov. 5-7. Upper School Performing Arts Teacher and Director Sabrina Washburn said “Clue” will feature a murder-mystery style storyline based on the board game. “‘Clue’ is a comedy and a farce, which is a style of comedy based on entrances, exits and misinformation,” Washburn said. “It’s based on the popular board game Clue. 4ere’s also a movie version, so it’s something that is very familiar to many people in the community. When they see the name,

Ballet Flats Ballet -ats are predicted to be a go-to footwear choice this fall. 4ey o5er a simple, polished look that works well with jeans, skirts and dresses, adding a touch of classic style to any out,t.

Suede Suede bags and jackets are having a major moment, especially in brown and tan. Suede gives out,ts a warmer, more vintage feel and works well with denim, -annel and other fall basics.

Polka Dots Polka dots are one of those patterns that never really go out of style. As classic as black and white, they are appearing again this year on dresses, tops, skirts and accessories, giving out,ts a playful look while still feeling timeless.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA BING

production of the musical “Frozen”. Washburn said she believes many students will be excited for “Frozen” because of its prominence during their childhoods. “It was a popular movie that came out when many of the students were young kids,” Washburn said. “I do think there is a certain sense of nostalgia attached to it.” Auditions will take place in late January, with production occuring from May 6-8. Elliot Murphy ’27 said she is very happy with the selected productions and will be participating. “4e play and musical this year are amazing,” Murphy said. “I love ‘Frozen’. I grew up with it, so I’m very excited for [the play]. It’s very recognizable, a great show for all ages and it’s just fun and beautiful.”

Behind the trend B2 Be33a Pa%%eri

Tall boots are back in style, especially Hunter boots and tall UGGs. Cute with mini skirts, leggings or jeans tucked in, they give out,ts that late-2000s, back-to-school feel.

they’re going to have an association with it. 4ey’re going to know what they’re getting into and recognize some of the stock characters.” 4e New Play Festival will also be returning to campus this year. Writers will start receiving coaching from Washburn on Aug. 31, and auditions for these plays will take place in early December. Washburn said the New Play Festival gives students hands-on experience in producing a show from start to ,nish. “4e festival gives students the chance to run their own shows,” Washburn said. “Everything is written, directed and designed by students. 4is is a chance for young people to take the reins and make the work that they want to see onstage.” 4e year will end with the

4e general public seems to understand that fast fashion negatively impacts the environment, but there aren’t nearly as many people who choose to make an e5ort to combat it. Consumers should make more of an e5ort to avoid fast fashion due to the ecological harm it causes. Part of the damage is due to the presence of microtrends, which encourages consumers to constantly buy new clothing to keep up with ever-changing styles. 81-90% of people around the world buy fast fashion, and by the year 2027, the industry is predicted to have a market value of $184.96 billion, according to the Global Fast Fashion Market Report 2023. 4ese numbers reveal how deeply fast fashion has become embedded in everyday consumer habits. As demand for inexpensive, constantly changing clothing continues to grow, so does the waste produced by the industry. 4is growth is fueled by major companies, such as Shein, H&M, Zara and Uniqlo, that dominate the fast fashion industry, collectively producing 92 million metric tons of textile waste each year, according to UniformMarket. 4is amount of waste is equal to a garbage truck full of clothes being dumped into a land,ll every single second. However, the single, largest culprit of waste are microtrends. A

microtrend is de,ned as a specific fashion trend that rapidly gains popularity on social media platforms before disappearing in a few weeks, according to 4e Harvard Crimson. By allowing trends that only last weeks to in-uence their purchases, consumers contribute to the environmental damage caused by fast fashion. Unfortunately, as the public’s attention span shortens, the demand for fast fashion increases. Fast fashion may be built on trends that disappear overnight, but the waste it leaves behind lasts far longer. Choosing to shop consciously is crucial to making sure our clothes don’t cost us the planet in the future. 4is means being intentional when it comes to shopping, choosing quality over quantity and avoiding unnecessary purchases. 4e fast fashion sector is the second biggest consumer of water in the world and is responsible for 10% of global CO2 emissions, according to Earth.org. 4ese environmental costs become more alarming when considering the resources required to manufacture individual pieces of clothing. A single pair of jeans, for example, takes around 3,800 liters of water to produce, while the textile industry consumes an estimated 215 trillion liters of water every year, according to the UNEP. Despite the enormous amount of resources required to produce the clothes they buy, most con-

ILLUSTRATION BY AUDREY HERRERA

sumers are not aware of how much waste is generated after they purchase from fast fashion companies. It is impossible to enforce a complete boycott of fast fashion, but that does not mean individual action is insigni,cant. An e5ective way to apply mindful thinking to this issue is to recognize the in-uence of microtrends from a consumer standpoint. Before buying something that is trending, shoppers should consider whether they ,nd it genuinely appealing or simply feel pressure to keep up. Secondhand shopping, upcycling clothes and investing in pieces that are likely to be worn frequently are simple ways to resist microtrends and reduce waste. Whether it’s online or in person, recognizing these in-uences and choosing to reject them can make a lasting di5erence to the environment and to better style.

“Jane Eyre” book review B2 Ni603e Um

Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre” is a poignant novel that follows the journey of the titular protagonist as she searches for independence, love and equality. 4e reader ,rst encounters Eyre as a young, orphaned child who lives through a harsh and abusive childhood. Brontë then chronicles Eyre’s growth into a young adult as she becomes a governess at 4orn,eld Hall, a grand home to the formidable Mr. Edward Rochester. Eyre falls in love with him and her a5ections are reciprocated, but tragedy strikes when a betrayal comes

to light. 4ough she runs away, Eyre ultimately undergoes growth, and the novel ends on a happy note. “Jane Eyre” is, by no means, an easy narrative to digest. 4e blend of 19thcentury Standard Literary English and select Northern English dialect may a5ect comprehension for readers not used to such vernacular. Yet, with understanding comes the appreciation of Brontë’s skilled way with words, and readers are sure to get a chuckle out of her cheeky and relatable lines. 4is foray into the author’s writing style provides not only literary enrichment but also a window into how ,gures from the past share the

same feelings as those in the present. Simply, Brontë gives readers a chance to ,nd humanity in her characters and re-ect on their situations through another perspective. However, more than the empathy that is evoked from Eyre’s familiar character are the prominent themes that make this novel a must-read. Brontë urges readers to grapple with the points of autonomy over passionate emotions, integrity and equality. 4ese morals are necessary as they are ones that readers should ponder upon and attempt to incorporate into their daily lives to respect themselves and uphold values.

Aug. 25, 2026

hwchronicle.com/a&e

Bigger and Better: “The Odyssey” By Grace Choen Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” was released on July 17 and has accumulated more than $1.35 billion internationally at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of Nolan’s career and the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. The movie is an adaptation of the 2,800-year-old Homeric epic. It follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca and hero of the Trojan War, and his 20-year journey back home following the war. “The Odyssey” highlights the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) characteristic of the classic veteran-homecoming trope. It frames Odysseus’s inability to grapple with the mass destruction he had caused in Troy as the reason he purposefully prolonged his journey home. This echoes a common theme Nolan utilizes throughout most of his movies: the crushing burden of human responsibility and consequence. The various historical filming locations, lack of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and the ex-

perience of viewing it in IMAX are what make “The Odyssey” one of Nolan’s best creations. “The Odyssey” is the first movie to be filmed fully in IMAX 70 mm film. IMAX cameras are cameras capable of filming in the digital equivalent of 12K-18K resolution. A custom soundproof case was created for Nolan’s IMAX camera to cover the loud sound the camera makes when rolling, according to Nolan in an interview posted by Letterboxd. While not all IMAX film requires fully analog techniques to edit video, “The Odyssey” was edited by physically cutting the film strips and putting them together, according to an interview with Nolan on 60 Minutes Overtime. The controversy surrounding the movie, historical inaccuracies, makes it the crown jewel amongst all of Nolan’s movies. Nolan is famous for creating complex and imaginary worlds within his movies. He does this for both nonfiction and fiction storylines, sometimes to the point where the audience struggles to understand what the movie means as a whole.

For example, his acclaimed movie “Inception” is widely considered one of the most confusing movies by audiences due to the ambiguous ending, multi-layered dreaming and complex rules, according to The Guardian. It’s difficult to expect such a creative director to blindly stick to the historically accurate costumes and sets. Agamemnon, the Trojan leader, has drawn much attention online for the historical inaccuracy of his Batman-like costume. Instead of being portrayed as a tragic fool depicted in the the text, Agamemnon’s towering armor in the movie gives the impression that he is invincible. However, the costume’s shadows and bulk could not have conveyed the character’s untouchable power more clearly. The decision to reveal his face without shadows during the scene in the Underworld, where he describes his death by his wife Clytemnestra, establishes a stark contrast between the powerful general he once was and the bare soul he is now. This contrast is just one of the aspects of the movie that deepens its emotional impact.

Arts & Entertainment C3

ILLUSTRATION BY AUDREY HERRERA

However, the movie’s positive qualities are augmented because it was filmed on IMAX. The large screen drowns out many of the movie’s flaws. The movie’s incredible resolution and audial bandwidth did most of the heavy lifting for the emotional impact of the movie, rather than the storytelling and plot.

Ultimately, viewers who care deeply about historical accuracy in movies may not find “The Odyssey” appealing. However, most viewers will, at the very least, appreciate its visuals and production quality. Either way, the movie is worth watching for the immersive visual and auditory experience.

Swinging into a “Brand New Day” By Emma Bing “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” the highly anticipated addition to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man movies, surpassed $2 billion in global ticket sales, becoming the 8th highest grossing film of all time, according to Variety. Following “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the world has forgotten the identity of Spider-Man. Set in New York City, the film follows a lonely and almost despondent Peter Parker (Tom Holland) who has completely immersed himself in his job, interacting exclusively with the police chief and the same handful of villains. Simultaneously, he longingly watches his old friends live the life he once imagined for himself. Peter Parker’s monotonous lifestyle is only interrupted by a new antagonist who forces him to confront his trauma and reunite with his loved ones. The resulting picture is one imbued with hope that meets all expectations for a feel-good superhero film.

ILLUSTRATION BY AUDREY HERRERA

Feeling Obsessed with “Obsession” By Phoebe Sun Curry Barker made his blockbuster debut with “Obsession,” a horror movie that was released on May 15. The film grapples with the classic moral theme of “be careful what you wish for” and the concept of consent. The story follows rising stars Michael Johnston as Bear, and Inde Navarrette as Nikki, two longtime friends and coworkers whose relationship changes after Bear finds a mysterious object called the “One Wish Willow” and wishes for Nikki to love him more than anyone else. At its core, the movie posits that the desire to possess someone’s love can become a form of psychological imprisonment, where the very act of forcing affection erases the humanity of both the wisher and the wished-for. Bear’s decision to deprive Nikki of her autonomy makes him difficult to sympathize with. At first, Nikki seems like the obvious monster. She fol-

lows Bear, watches him constantly and eventually her physical appearance becomes genuinely terrifying. However, as the movie progresses, it gets harder to ignore that Bear was the person that created the monster. Nikki never consented to loving him. Before the wish, she had her own life and her own feelings toward him, and Bear rewrote them because he was afraid of being rejected. In attempting to forcibly gain Nikki’s affection, he removes her ability to choose anything at all. The conflict feels especially relevant in today’s world, where debates about what it means to give consent and respect another person’s boundaries have taken center stage. Inde Navarrette’s performance makes Nikki’s transformation especially unsettling because she does not suddenly become a completely different person. Instead, the change happens through small details. She looks at Bear for a little too long.

She stands a little too close. Her excitement when she sees him starts to feel less affectionate and more desperate. Instead of relying entirely on computer-generated imagery, the movie uses uncanny makeup and physical effects to slowly make Nikki look less like herself. Her appearance becomes exaggerated and unnatural, which makes her scary without turning her into an unrealistic monster. “Obsession” is even more impressive because Barker created such a successful film on a small budget. “Obsession” earned $224 million worldwide and was produced on a budget of around $750,000, according to Forbes. Barker relied on actors’ performance and the plot itself instead of expensive effects to create a truly disturbing film. Throughout the movie, Barker makes it clear that evil lies not in the “One Wish Willow” but in the wish itself. Bear’s wish is neither misunderstood nor twisted. He gets exactly what he

The movie is an homage to Spider-Man as a franchise. Its shots replicate several famous comic covers, and Tom Holland’s depiction of Peter Parker mimics the mannerisms of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s versions of the character. He acts almost cartoonishly throughout the film, using exaggerated body language and clever quips even during some high-stakes situations, amplifying the movie’s humor. The cinematography is a striking contrast to Marvel movies’ typical muted colors and flat compositions, featuring bold first-person angles of web-slinging, dramatic action sequences and a palette that feels exceptionally warm. Its song placements are electrifying under the booming theater speakers; specifically, Tame Impala’s “Loser,” which effortlessly fits with Peter’s situation. Furthermore, the editing is smooth, seamlessly weaving between shots of Peter Parker’s personal and superhero lives, illustrating their intersection.

One of the film’s highlights is Jon Bernthal’s performance as Frank Castle, the Punisher. He captures the essence of someone hardened by loss, but still depicts the human desire for friendship and connection. His blunt and grouchy performance contrasts Tom Holland’s awkwardness and optimism. Their resulting dynamic and constant banter is both hilarious and heartwarming. In a society where career-driven isolation has become normalized, Spider-Man stresses the value of human connection. It depicts how isolating grief can be, the desire to push people away and the importance of community. At its core, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is an incredibly uplifting movie that will leave audiences emotional and longing for more. It perfectly embodies what a Spider-Man movie should be: a comedic, feel-good story about the tension between the hero and his mask.

ILLUSTRATION BY PHOEBE SUN

asks for, and that is what makes the film so horrifying. Nikki’s obsession is something forced onto her, while Bear’s original wish comes from his own fear. “Obsession” is not about a woman who loves a man “too much.” Calling Nikki’s feelings

love completely misses the point. Through the actors’ unsettling performances, practical effects and a complicated take on consent, “Obsession” successfully turns a simple wish-gone-wrong story into a disturbing and memorable horror film.

Satire The Chronicle • Aug. 25, 2026

Wellness Guide

ILLUSTRATION BY ALICE TOROSYAN

By Matteo Rabizadeh The world keeps getting more unpredictable. School keeps getting more difficult. ChatGPT keeps getting worse at writing history essays. Now more than ever, students are struggling with the pressure of school. But don’t worry! The school’s counselors have released a list of tips to help you stay sane this coming year: Buy $300 worth of squishies. The more expensive, the better. Make sock puppets to talk to. Your friends won’t think you’re weird at all. Watch “Shark Tale” and “The Bee Movie” at least five times a week. This decreases cortisol and will create a bond between you and your new sock puppets. Drink 12 gallons of water daily. Stay hydrated. A dehydrated brain creates stress. Learn how to string Odysseus’s

bow. This will reduce your inferiority complex and help you become King of Ithaca. Sing the national anthem twice a day. Repeating this will create a stronger, more patriotic brain. Work out only your upper body every day, and on leg day, skip it for a totally not fake reason. Skipping leg day is the only good way to live. Bake and eat an entire cake every day. Make sure you eat it alone so that you can retain all of the healthy benefits of cake, like enhanced energy for three hours. Run a half marathon over winter break. This keeps you active and makes you less prone to anger. Only eat chicken and rice for the rest of the year. This will help you develop your beast mentality. If you follow these simple rules, you will stay sane this school year. Please follow our advice. Or else.

Puzzle Solutions

ILLUSTRATON BY ANGEL SONG

Totally Real News Headlines

By Jack Fener

In preparation for the upcoming school year, The Chronicle news room has many a development to report. Too many developments, actually. Because of this, there is now a large pileup of completely accurate headlines that nobody will write articles for. We have decided to just ship them as-is in the form of a giant list. If you have any questions, feel free to do some journalism and write the articles yourself! God knows we won’t stop you. After years of dating rumors, University of Chicago and Harvard-Westlake confirm their romantic relationship For 2027-2028 school year, parking spots will be chosen based on grade-point average The Chronicle staff celebrates with high fives and pizza parties after a total of zero articles written about the water polo lawsuit Football coaches label key areas of difficulty as “offense, defense, special teams and cheerleading” River Park grand opening rescheduled to never School completely drains entire mental health budget to buy

“bougie" lunches for the basketball and football teams

Administration launches “Chopped Index”

Honor Board unveils flogging as new punishment

Do you have an early decision spreadsheet? Studies show you are likely completely insane

Opal deemed an “adorable try by naive administrators” Bluestone Lane coffee investigated for serving raw sewage School changes mascot to “Textbook Tommy” Opening convocation gets mistaken for a cult ritual for the 10th year in a row Administration announces “scuba dance” or “quiet on the creek” jokes now punishable by death Lost and found to be replaced with giant incinerator Cafeteria remodel faces criticism for removing “grungy vibe” Another teacher cries to class after rise in AI use How much are we being upcharged in the cafeteria? The Chronicle has no idea Baseball team literacy rate climbs to all-time high of 62%

new

Lunch period shortened by half to make room for “Community Time: The Sequel” Is our campus safe from earthquakes? Experts say “Hell nah” Counselor’s office replaced with torture chamber in new effort to promote student well-being Equestrian team continues to allegedly exist Janitorial staff discovered to be using the same dirty mop water since 1976 Following policy disagreement, Head Prefect boldy asserts "I am the law!" Due to lack of room availability, next Harvard-Westlake SAT scheduled to take place on roof of moving school bus Water fountains to high-protein option

feature

Administration to install flock cameras in bathrooms

Strands Solutions: How ugly are HW students?

Activity, Tours, Essay, Recommendations Spangram: Checklist

Sports The Chronicle • Aug. 25, 2026

GYAN ZINN/CHRONICLE

Building Something New: Flag Football Debuts

By Gyan Zinn

makes the experience different from the other sports she and her oppoHollen Vann ’27 stands on Ted nents had played before. Slavin Field beneath the scorching “Flag football is a very cordial Studio City sun, eyes locked on her sport,” Vang said. “Most of the peoopponent. Behind her, Head Coach ple who are playing it usually don’t Asha Prithviraj scribbles the next play play another sport or are looking for onto her clipboard as a slight breeze something new. You’re not competing rustles Vann’s pull flags. Across the against your teammates, you’re comfield, quarterback Hailey Vang ’29 peting with them.” readies the offense. “Set, hut!” She In 2026, The Entertainment loudly exclaims. and Sports Programming Network The rising popularity and oppur- (ESPN) announced that women’s tunities in flag football has been at- flag football is on track to receive oftributed to the established success ficial recognition from The National of other women’s sports Collegiate Athletic Associsuch as volleyball and ation (NCAA) before the basketball, according to sport debuts in the 2028 The National Federation Summer Olympics. This of State High School Aswill create championship sociations (NFHS). In opportunities across Divi1972, there were 294,000 sion I, II and III for female female high school athathletes in the sport, markletes in the U.S., and by ing a significant expan2022 the number had sion from the 65 NCAA L. Wood increased to 3.2 million. schools that currently have This growth has created club or varsity teams. ProHollen Vann more opportunities for gram Head Asha Prithviraj emerging sports such as said her college experience flag football. would have been drastically Varsity wide receiver Hollen different if NCAA divisions were in Vann ’27 said the program is largeplace, but she was pressured by family unrestricted in its development ly not to participate in any dangerous due to the lack of a previous women’s sports such as football. flag football program. “Football is always something that “What’s great is that there’s no I wanted to play,” Prithviraj said. blueprint,” Vann said. “So, although “I always thought I was born in the we don’t have a year to fall back on wrong generation with how quickly to see what we did wrong from the this sport is growing. But it’s also reprevious year, we get to have a clean ally cool to know that I am a trailblazer as a coach, and I get to use my stepping stone.” Varsity quarterback Hailey Vang experiences to let the girls experience ’29 said the novelty of flag football the same things.”

Assistant varsity Coach Lewis Dix said his 25 years of experience coaching flag football at a smaller level at Willows Community School has motivated him to take on a larger role at the school. “I’ve been involved with flag football, and the appealing thing for me here was to see if I could advance to the varsity level in high school,” Dix said. “The goal is to see if I could apply myself to be just as good a coach as I was in middle school.” Vann said she values the new opportunity that flag football presents for the school. “This sport is up and coming all around the world,” Vann said. “I think women’s sports have grown so much, so it’s exciting to see that process. With social media and NIL [Name, Image and Likeness] deals for athletes, flag football is taking off. It’s super exciting to be a part of the first of team at Harvard- Westlake.” The school announced the creation of its flag football program in spring 2026, adding a ninth fall sport for the 2026 season and a seventh sport that includes female athletes. Research suggests that the importance of female coaches extends beyond representation; female athletes feel more understood and a greater sense of belonging when a coach of the same gender is leading them, according to sources like The Women’s Sports Foundation. Prithviraj said the work she is doing as a female coach is extremely influential since she is coaching a pre-

dominately male sport. “Football is seen as such a male sport, and no one expects women to be able to do this,” Prithviraj said. “No one expects them to be good at this, but in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen every single girl grow in their confidence and in their love for the game. They really want to be here and they want to be stronger women. I know that starts with me, and that pushes me to be better.” After recruiting a new program head, assistant coaches and players, the team played its first game against Village Christian School, securing a 20-0 win on Aug. 18. Dix said he has felt the school’s support and excitement for flag football team throughout the Wolverine community. “[Head of Athletics] Terry Barnum and all the athletic directors were very enthusiastic,” Dix said. “Even after the first game, I received a bunch of texts from all of the basketball coaches. They were excited that we got our first win.” Vann said the stability of the program is due to the encouragement from Coach Prithviraj. “We have the assets on our team to build a program,” Vann said. “Coach has been instilling confidence in the entire team. So now, we are not just building a team but also a program that will last for years to come.” The team has just played their second game against Calabasas High School on Aug. 20, ending with 256. against Sierra Canyon on Wednesday Aug. 26.

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The Chronicle

Girls golf comes back to the course

Aug. 25, 2026

By Jihan Park

The girls golf team is entering the season with a focus on consistency and teamwork. With a mix of returning players and new additions to the team, the Wolverines are aiming to qualify and make a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoff run. Program Head Branden Augustus said although players have been practicing individually throughout the summer, the team has recently started practicing as a group. “The entire group is dedicated to golf beyond the team program, with many of the players having regimented tournaments and practice schedules all year,” Augustus said. “We begin team practices and training in early August, which gives everyone a chance to evaluate where they are at with some weeks to go before competitions begin. We have time to get prepared for the season where players benefit from getting back to traveling and playing in the team environment.” Chuyue Jia ’28 said the team has been practicing consistently throughout the summer, honing specific areas of their game. “Each individual player has been preparing in their own way over the summer,” Jia said. “A lot of us have been practicing consistently, playing rounds together and working on specific parts of our game that we want to improve.” Co-Captain Chloe Hsu ’27 said the team’s goal for this season is to qualify for CIF while also improving their game. “We expect to have a very strong and competitive season,” Hsu said. “Our main goal is not only to make it to the CIF playoffs, but also to improve and perform consistently in every match up to that point. With a strong team this year, we’re confident we will end this season on a strong note.”

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Singles player Fiona Tseng ’28 watches her opponent closely as she prepares to return the serve, maintaing a steady defensive stance with her hands on the racket. Tseng was playing against Marina High School at a home game on Aug. 29, where the team won 9-1.

Girls tennis focuses on development after a 17-4 season and an undefeated Mission League run By Jihan Park

Girls tennis enters this season looking to build off a successful 2025 season, where the team finished 17-4 and went undefeated in Mission League. The team enters the 2026 season with a mix of returning players and additions to the roster. Program Head Jelena Durisic said the team has done multiple activities on and off the court to boost team chemistry. “Team bonding activities are always done at the beginning of the season,” Durisic said.“[The team] gathers together for offcourt activities, such as bowling and beach days. We also like to mix and match returning players with new players in doubles formations and games.”

Varsity singles player Fiona Tseng ’28 said she believes the team will continue to be strong on the court through team support. “This year, we expect a really strong team,” Tseng said. “I know our team is a little bigger than the previous two years, but [a bigger team] can bring a lot more positive energy to the team, especially with cheering during matches.” Tseng said the returning players hope to make the transition to varsity easier for the new players. “The adjustment with the new players coming from junior varsity to varsity will hopefully be as smooth as it has been the past couple years,” Tseng said. “All the girls on the team are super nice and welcoming, so hopefully the new players feel

welcomed, especially since we’ll have team bonding early in the season. We hope the new girls feel more comfortable and that as a team we can grow stronger.” Pia Terroba Tron ’28 said the transition for the new members of the team has been smooth as they have been promoting group activities. “The varsity tennis team is such a welcoming environment, and we encourage team chemistry by doing a lot of team bonding,” Terroba Tron said. “Having a larger team makes it a lot easier to connect with everyone and enables us to do a lot of fun bonding activities.” Durisic said the current focus for this season is to qualify for California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), but she also wants to promote chemistry

and she encourages the group to engage within the team. “There are several goals we try to accomplish every year,” Durisic said. “Last season our goal and next step was to become the CIF champions, but we were a step short. Alongside that, we want to make sure we have fun, have a great team bond and improve our team.” Augustus said consistency remains the team’s primary objective as they apply it throughout practices and games. “Our number one goal is always consistency,” Augustus said. “Whether it is competitions, practices or other team activities, us consistently being present for each other is something we focus to control and use to our advantage.”

Field hockey concentrates as a group By Jihan Park

Varsity girls field hockey had their first game on Aug. 18 and now enters the 2026-2027 season defending their title of the Los Angeles Field Hockey Association (LAFHA) Tournament of Champions, after defeating Newport Harbor High School 4-0 in the finals. The team has set high expectations for this season, as they finished their 2025 season with an eight-game win streak. Forward Luci O’Neil ’27 said the team has encouraged bonding activities and focused on practicing with scrimmages during the preseason. “The team has done a few bonding exercises,” O’Neil said. “We play quite a few games as a team, are going on a retreat this weekend to Disneyland and are in practice games with teams in San Diego.” Program Head Sue Hodgkins said the goal for this season is to establish a clear team identity and win the Tournament of

Champions, while also growing as people. “We usually have all our goals set for our preseason road trip at the West Coast Classic Tournament, and that’s when the team really comes together, bonds and establishes our identity and our goal,” Hodgkins said. “Ultimately, every year, the goal of the girls has been to win the Tournament of Champions, but, for me, the goal is for everyone to improve and get better as players and grow as human beings.” O’Neil said the current state of the team is strong, but she believes the team will continue to improve even further. “From what I've seen I'd say the team dynamic is looking pretty strong,” O’Neil said. “I believe there’s always room for improvement, but we’re going to get stronger as we play more games and as we start to get our groove as a team. ” Riley Nam ’28 said during the summer, the team focused on bonding activities that brought

players from all different age groups together. “Over the summer, we had an hour of sports psych on Tuesdays before practice, so we would do team bonding activities which made everyone more comfortable,” Nam said. “There were activities where we had to pair up with different people in different grades, so we all talked and got to know each other.” Hodgkins said she noticed the team’s improvements in teamwork and defense during their first game. “One thing that I’ve seen in preseason that they did really well was communication,” Hodgkins said. “Our defensive pressure got better at the end of the game and reading the defense was pretty good as well. We were able to penetrate the defense multiple times and get [the ball] downfield and score.” The team now prepares for their next game in West Coast Classic on August 21.

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Captain and midfielder Margaux Schlumberger ’27 stands steady on the field, keeping a close eye on both her team and the opposition.

Aug. 25, 2026

hwchronicle.com/sports

D3 Sports

Girls Volleyball season underway By Lucas Lee

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Varsity Quaterback Aaryan Mehdi Williams ‘27 throws a deep pass across the field while running to his right away from two defensive linemen against Birmingham Highschool on the school’s annual Homecoming game, Sept. 27, 2025.

New football season brings new expectations

By Lucas Lee

After finishing last year with a 3-7 record, the school’s football program will enter the 2026 season with a new roster and coaching staff. Varsity cornerback Kurtis Walter ’27 said the team is focused on winning. “My goal for this season is to win,” Walter said. “Our team is able to do it. We’ve worked hard all summer and are overall a better team than last year.” Walter said he is prioritizing his health after facing issues in the previous season. “I had issues last year with cramping in the later parts of the game, so this year, I’ve start-

ed taking care of my body and my hydration.” Varsity kicker Gabriel Lopez ’28 said last season’s performance will influence how he plays this season. “Last year, we came very close” Lopez said. “A three and seven record left a sour taste in our mouth and this is motivating the team to work harder and try to push back our self-inflicted errors.” After previously coaching at Crespi Carmelite High School, Coach Dameon Porter is entering his second year as head of the school’s football program. During the offseason, the team has prepared through daily practices and conditioning. The team hasn’t reached the

playoffs in over three years, so none of the 48 players on the roster have played a postseason game. With 15 graduating seniors on the roster, nearly a third of the team is facing their last chance to make the playoffs. Running back Dylan McGinnis ’ 29 said he wants to get to the playoffs while increasing his rushing yards and touchdown count. “My goal this season is to help the team as much as I can to get to the playoffs,” McGinnis said. “I also want to have multiple touchdowns and a large amount of rushing yards at the running back position. I am excited for this season to show everyone the things we can do

the fall season. “The team and I have been getting closer in and out of practice,” Glucksman said. “To prepare for the season, the most important thing to do is see the trainers and spend time in the weight room. We want to feel prepared and ready for the games that come in the next couple of months.” Over the summer, the team attended the Newport Summer Invite where they placed second against the top eight ranked high schools in the Southern California pool. Utility player Jesus Jimenez ’28 said he wants to win his first CIF title after beating league rivals in the Futures Water Polo League Super Finals (FWPL). “Our main goal this year is winning a CIF title in the open division.” Jimenez said. “ This team is capable of accomplishing anything this year, and we have shown that in FWPL, defeating one of our biggest rivals, JSerra Catholic High School 14-13.” Several players contributed to last season’s success and the

team will look to them again this year. One key player is center Harry Siafaris ’27. Last year, Siafaris was the Mission League Most Valuable Player and named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 Team. He recently announced his college commitment to the University of Southern California. Siafaris said the team will need to change their mindset in order to compete at their highest potential during the season. “Last season we went into some games overlooking our opponents, which eventually led to us not being able to accomplish our goal,” Siafaris said. “This year, we will constantly bring energy and intensity to make sure that we do accomplish our championship goal. This is my last year on the team, and so I have been working as hard as I can to win a trophy this year.” The Wolverines are currently training for the season, which officially begins with a game against St. Francis High School on Aug. 25.

but also show them the work we put in during both spring and summer practices.” Program Head Dameon Porter said the he is focused on success through creating a culture for the team. “I want to put the final touches on establishing our culture, and letting the culture translate to on-field results.” As they approach the beginning of their season, the football team continues to practice daily along with team lifts to work towards an improved record. The team’s season opener will be the programs first ever matchup on the road against West Ranch High School in history of the Mission league on Aug. 21

As fall sports begin, the girls volleyball season is underway with a 3-3 record following their performance in the 41st Annual Ann Kang Invitational Volleyball Tournament in O’ahu, Hawaii. Libero Ashley Sakonju ’28 said the team has many different mindsets she can have going into this season. “Our team goal for this season is to level up,” Sakonju said. “Going into this season, there are two options: we can sit back and reflect on our past season and our team’s success, or we can strive to achieve even more. The phrase ‘level up’ is a constant reminder in our gym that there is always another level to reach. It means continuing to grow individually and as a program, even when we face challenges along the way.” Coming off a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Division I Championship, the volleyball team received their Max Preps preseason ratings. They received a CIF Southern Section rating of third and a national ranking of 34th after their 2-1 victory against San Juan Hills High School on Aug. 15. Libero Mattea Pisani ’27 said the team’s previous success motivates their preformance this season and their goal of winning another CIF State Division I Championship in her senior year. “Last season’s success can motivate us by reminding us of what we are capable of,” Pisani said. “We can look back at the work we put in and the progress we made and use that as motivation to keep pushing ourselves.” As thier season progresses they continue to work towards their goals to win a championship The Wolverines next game is at home against Marlborough School on Aug. 25.

Water Polo sets high goals ahead of the fall season

By Lucas Lee

After finishing last season with a 12-16 record and undefeated in league play, the boys water polo program has set high expectations for their season. Winning the Mission League with an undefeated 4-0 record and then losing to Mater Dei in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division 1 semifinals last year, the team is determined to surpass last season’s postseason performance. Varsity center defender Sam Glucksman ’28 said he wants the team to succeed at the highest level of play. “My goal is for us to win the CIF and become the best team in the country,” Glucksman said. “To do that, I can use what I learned from my performance last season to motivate myself and help bring as much energy as possible to my team. We’re focusing on building strength for the upcoming season.” Glucksman said he has been bonding with the team and lifting in the gym to be ready for

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Center Harry Siafarris ’27 throws down a shot attempt against Corona del Mar at Homecoming on Sept. 27, 2025.

D4 Sports

Aug. 25, 2026

The Chronicle

wolverines only Dylan Fullmer

BY DYLAN FULLMER

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF NIC MONROE

Some of my earliest memories are at the park with my dad, standing a few feet away while he tossed baseballs for me to hit. I was probably five. Sports have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad played professional baseball and won a World Series with the Angels, so competition was pretty normal in our house. I knew what he had accomplished was rare, but he was also just my dad. Baseball became serious as I got older. I was good at it, but I never loved it the way I loved football, and there were stretches where I hated playing. My dad knew what it took to reach the highest level of a sport, so he expected a lot from me. That pressure could be frustrating, but it shaped the way I approached football. I got used to criticism and having someone point out what I did wrong. I started football around five as well, although I barely remember those first few years. The first team I remember clearly was the 7-8U Jaguars, where I played receiver. Strangely, I remember a touchdown that didn’t count more clearly than most of my actual touchdowns. I caught the ball and ran all the way into the end zone without realizing the referee had called me for flag guarding around midfield. Everyone else had stopped playing while I was still sprinting down the field, convinced I had scored. By fifth grade, I was playing quarterback and linebacker in the Palisades flag league. My favorite position on defense was called “lurker,” where I could sit back, watch the quarterback and try to figure out where he wanted to throw the ball. I’ve always liked that part of football, trying to figure out what the other team is doing before they do it. When I started tackle footballin seventh grade, I moved to safety. Before every snap, I waslooking at formations, alignments and receivers, trying to figure out what might be coming. Once the ball was snapped, there wasn’t much time to think. I had to trust what I saw and react. One of the plays I remember best wasn’t even on defense. We were playing Palisades and were down two scores with about forty seconds left

in the half. The kickoff came down shortand AJ, one of my blockers, almost picked it up before leaving it for me at the last second. I scooped it off the ground and broke left. I found a hole, got through it and suddenly the only person between me and the end zone was the kicker. I cut upfield and kept running until I was in the end zone. As I’ve gotten older, football has become a lot less simple. During the season at HarvardWestlake, almost every part of my day is accounted for between school, lifting, practice, meetings, homework and sleep. There are plenty of nights when another hour of sleep sounds much better than finishing another assignment. It can get exhausting, but practice is still usually the part of the day I look forward to most. We have 16 seniors this year, and I’ve grown really close with my class. Most of the time we’re laughing, arguing or giving each other a hard time. At one road game, our quarterback realized he had forgotten his cleats and had to play in a freshman’s pair that were two sizes too small. Moments like that have somehow become as much a part of my memory of football as the actual games. Going into senior year, I feel much more comfortable on a football field than I did when I was younger. I’ve gotten bigger, faster and stronger, but I’ve also played enough football to trust what I’m seeing. Captains haven’t been named yet, but I’ve realized I’ve become one of the leaders on the team. I’m not constantly giving speeches or telling everyone what to do. Most of the time, leadership means knowing my assignment and helping a younger player when he has a question. When I was a freshman, I was usually the one asking those questions, so it’s strange realizing that I’m now one of the people younger players come to for answers. Recruiting added another part of football that I didn’t understand until I went through it. I used to think that if you played well enough, colleges eventually found you. Instead, I’ve spent a lot of time emailing coaches, sending film, going to camps and following up afterward. At first, the uncertainty bothered me. If a coach didn’t

respond, I would keep checking my phone and wondering what it meant. At camps at Brown [University] and Dartmouth [College]put the actual names, there were hundreds of players trying to get noticed, and I knew coaches weren’t going to have much time to evaluate each person. I couldn’t control who else showed up or what positions they needed. I could control how I performed, and I ended up having good camps at both. Recruiting also forced me to get better at things outside of football. I’ve had to learn how to introduce myself to adults, build relationships with coaches and advocate for myself. I also learned how quickly accomplishments start to feel normal. For years, I thought getting a college offer would feel like reaching some huge goal. When offers came, I was excited, but it didn’t take long before I wanted the next thing. I wanted a faster forty, a better game and interest from more schools. Before games, a few of us pray together. We spend almost every afternoon together during the season, and eventually the practices, lifts, bus rides and time in the locker room start blending together. We argue about stupid things and repeat the same jokes until they aren’t funny anymore. When we lose, everyone is miserable together. When we win, we enjoy it before moving on to whoever we’re playing next. Football has taken up most of my free time, cost me a lot of sleep and made school harder than it otherwise would have been. Still, even without the offers, rankings, Hudl views or college coaches watching, I would want to keep playing. I don’t think I understood that when I was younger. Back then, being good at football was a huge part of why I loved it. I liked scoring touchdowns, making plays and being one of the better players on the field. I still like all of those things, but now that I’m a senior, I’ve started thinking about how few games I have left with the same people I’ve played alongside for years. After spending so much time thinking about how well I could play and where football could take me next, I’ve started appreciating how much I’ll miss what I already have.