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The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle
Students Against Sexual Violence offers SafeBAE certification to Sophomores
Students Against Sexual Violence offers SafeBAE certification to Sophomores
Elizabeth Johnstone 24, Mark Ma 24, Ella Graber 24 and Allie Hunnius 24 perform a jazz piece together in Chalmers East.
Prefect Council hosts Fall Coffeehouse
South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) leaders and club members stand together at the Diwali celebration. The festival took place in Chalmers on Nov. 18.
SASA hosts celebration of Diwali with festival
Former CBS Middle East Deborah Camiel (Ariel 24) speaks to students and faculty at a meeting Nov. 15. She talked about her experience as a journalist covering the Israeli-Palestine conflict in Gaza despite violence between the two groups.
Journalist speaks on her experience in the Middle East
SLIDE presents to students
Harvard-Westlake River Park was officially approved by the Los Angeles (LA) City Council Nov. 14. The schools conditional use plan, site plans and environmental impact report were all reviewed in the process by LA City Hall committees and officials.
LA City Council officially approves River Park for construction
Ian Mitchell King (center, partially obscured), registered sex offender, joined the Studio City Neighborhood Council on Aug. 16.
Studio City Neighborhood Council members resign
Van Nuys residents express concern over potential Van Nuys Airport expansion
Studio City Ice Cream Shops
RECOGNIZING RIVER PARK’S PARTNERS: The school’s administration hosted an event for River Park’s partners to thank them for their support on Jan. 25. Attendees included the Tatviam Band of Mission Indians, Special Olympics, Angel City Sports and Friends of the LA River.
School holds event to thank community
Less waste in the cafeteria
Less waste in the cafeteria
Empowering young voices in politics
Empowering young voices in politics
Create walkable cities
Fight antisemitism amid Hamas war
Fight antisemitism amid Hamas war
Make Advanced math classes weighted
Make Advanced math classes weighted
A Friendship for the Ages
A Friendship for the Ages
Illustration by Ashley Ham
Save Our Spirit
Students line up outside their school after a shooting has just occurred.
Generation Under Fire
Two teachers are married with a wolverine, the schools mascot, officiating.
From School Bells to Wedding Bells
Illustration by Sabrina Simek
Reclaiming Narratives
Shelving the Books
Shelving the Books
Anna Ames 24, as Howie,
Performing arts department opens ‘Much Ado About Nothing’
Performing Arts Teacher Chris Sullivan speaks to the audience before the groups opening set Nov. 2. The performance was the third of the Jazz Lunch Concert Series, a set of new performances created by Sullivan at the beginning of the year.
HW Jazz hosts third Jazz Lunch Concert series with guest performers
Cover design for Player. Written and produced by Sarah Parmet 25
Junior releases debut single “Player”
Senior releases debut album trust issues
Senior releases debut album “trust issues”
Attacker Alex Heenan 24 legs up on a five-meter penalty shot against Newport Harbor in the CIF semifinal Nov. 8.
Boys’ water polo loses to Newport Harbor in semifinal due to missed call in final seconds
The field hockey team poses with their medals after defeating Bonita High School 2-0 in the Tournament of Champions final Oct. 28.
Going for Gold
Midfielder Micah Rossen looks to make a pass in a game against Sierra Canyon on Jan. 23.
Boys’ soccer to defend Mission League title
Mimi Rhee 25 prepares to return an serve an opponents serve in a home game against Westlake High School Sept. 13.
Girls’ tennis loses CIF team matches
Ellie Koo 24 takes a swing in a match against Marlborough on Nov. 12.
Girls’ golf cut from playoffs
BATTLE-TESTED JOURNALISTS: Print Managing and Satire Editors Jade Harris 24 and Davis Marks 24 pose as Editors-in-Chief Averie Perrin 24 and Ella Yadegar 24 in Yadegars signature Madhappy™ sweatshirt.
Letter from the (Satire) Editors: prioritizing untruthful reporting
Chronicle dinner
Chronicle dinner
Official Malibu Chili Cook-Off survival guide
Official Malibu Chili Cook-Off survival guide
HW Media retreat recap
Illustration by Amelia Chiarelli
Oreo no longer safe for vegans
The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle
The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

Davis Marks, Print Managing Editor

All content by Davis Marks
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION: On Nov. 8, the L.A. Planning and Land Use Management Committee hearing regarding the school’s River Park athletic facility commenced. The hearing took place at Los Angeles City Hall. Throughout the meeting, any member of the Studio City community was able to give feedback about River Park in the form of short speeches.

[Photo] LA City Council planning committee approves River Park environmental impact report

November 15, 2023
BATTLE-TESTED JOURNALISTS: Print Managing and Satire Editors Jade Harris 24 and Davis Marks 24 pose as Editors-in-Chief Averie Perrin 24 and Ella Yadegar 24 in Yadegars signature Madhappy™ sweatshirt.

Letter from the (Satire) Editors: prioritizing untruthful reporting

Jade Harris and Davis Marks
September 21, 2023
LA City Planning to determine future of River Park

LA City Planning to determine future of River Park

Eden Conner and Davis Marks
August 29, 2023

HW Media retreat recap

Davis Marks, Print Managing Editor
August 25, 2023
After renovations and repainting over the summer, the Senior Lot now features larger spots and more space for cars to drive through. The Senior Lot has several less parking spots than before, and some seniors were assigned spots in the nearby Junior Lot.

Campus Operations completes parking lots

Davis Marks, Print Managing Editor
August 25, 2023
Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Associate Director of Admission Janine Jones poses for her yearbook portrait during the 2022-2023 school year.

Jones to become Assistant Head of School for Community and Belonging

Davis Marks
June 2, 2023

2023 student awards announced

Davis Marks
May 31, 2023
Jonah Anschell 23 poses for his yearbook photo during the 2022-2023 school year. Anschell passed away on April 19 from suicide.

School responds after second student death

Davis Marks and Grant Park
May 28, 2023
Departing teachers

Departing teachers

Natasha Speiss, Hannah Shahidi, Zoe Goor, Davis Marks, and Caroline Plunkett
May 24, 2023
ISIR IN SESSION: The Kutler Center celebrated 10 years of ISIR this year. Now, an ISIR department is being introduced to the Middle School.

ISIR introduced to Middle School

Davis Marks
March 22, 2023
PLANNING AT POLLYANNA: Teachers attended the annual Pollyanna Conference, the largest gathering of K-12 educators in the LA area, in order to discuss the role of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work in schools. Attending the conference was part of the school’s framework of DEI this year.

SLIDE becomes Directed Study course

Davis Marks
March 22, 2023
Claire Paul 23 smiles with a cupcake as she celebrates getting accepted into the school before seventh grade.

Highway to Harvard-Westlake

Ella Yadegar and Davis Marks
February 9, 2023
In response to the multiple antisemitic vandalism incidents this year, members of the Jewish Club posted signs around campus meant to spread awareness about antisemitism.

School searches for suspects after fifth antisemitic vandalism incident

Davis Marks and Natalie Cosgrove
February 8, 2023
President Rick Commons sent a school-wide email Tuesday detailing the most recent incident of antisemitic vandalism.

Commons reports fourth incident of antisemitic vandalism

Davis Marks
January 24, 2023
Sanders is currently Director of Admission and Financial Assistance at Francis Parker School in San Diego.

Sanders appointed Head of Admission and Enrollment

Davis Marks and Chloe Park
January 18, 2023
The schools emergency broadcasting system notified the community at 6:20 AM that in-person instruction would be canceled Tuesday.

Both campuses closed due to rain storms

Davis Marks and Chloe Park
January 10, 2023
President Rick Commons speaks to juniors about the fourth antisemitic vandalism incident during a Junior Class Meeting assembly on Monday.

School reports third antisemitic vandalism incident of the year

Davis Marks
January 8, 2023
Associate Head of School Laura Ross will begin serving as Head of School in July. Prior to becoming Associate Head of School in July 2020, Ross was Head of Upper School from 2017 to 2020.

Ross to become Head of School

Davis Marks and Chloe Park
January 3, 2023
PLAYING FOR THE PRESIDENT: Ryan Pinsker ’23 plays his new game “Get Ricky C” with his friends. The game is modeled after the online game 2048 and features images of teachers and administration instead.

Student creates HW web game

Iona Lee and Davis Marks
December 14, 2022
Students discuss the commercialization of Christmas, impacting other winter holidays and emphasizing materialism.

Selling Our Spirit

Davis Marks and Iona Lee
December 14, 2022
History Teacher Peter Sheehy discusses 19th century American history with his Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) class of juniors. APUSH is one of multiple AP classes being discontinued.

Academic departments reduce the number of Advanced Placement courses offered

Davis Marks
December 14, 2022
Students are lacking spirit, which leads them to forget how enjoyable the school community can be.

Stepping up our Spirit

Davis Marks, Assistant News Editor
November 19, 2022
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ’88 poses for his yearbook photo during his junior year at the Harvard School for Boys.

Mayor Eric Garcetti ’88 explains allegations

Davis Marks and Will Sherwood
November 16, 2022
Carter Staggs ’23, in character as Tectonic Theater Project member Greg Pierotti, interviews Elise Fried ’24 and Clara Berg ’25, in character as Reggie Fluty and Marge Murray, respectively. The play uses the real words of Laramie residents gathered through interviews.

Fall Play: ‘The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later’

Davis Marks and Alden Detmer
November 16, 2022
Congresswoman Karen Bass and businessman Rick Caruso 76 campaign to be elected as mayor of Los Angeles.

Mayoral Election: Down to the Wire

Davis Marks
November 16, 2022
Performing Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies Teacher Ted Walch taught, mentored and impacted thousands of students over his 30 year tenure at the school.

Remembering Ted Walch

Davis Marks and Fallon Dern
October 3, 2022
Signs posted around campus celebrate the Kutler Centers tenth anniversary.

Kutler Center Turns 10

Davis Marks
September 28, 2022
LAUSD schools respond to Fentanyl

LAUSD schools respond to Fentanyl

Davis Marks and Chloe Park
September 28, 2022
President Rick Commons announces the Ted Walch Scholar endowment at an event honoring Walch in August.

School honors Ted Walch with new arts scholarship

Davis Marks
September 8, 2022
Alex Lee ’24 (left) poses for a picture with fellow debaters at the 2022 National Speech and Debate Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. Lee and his teammates, under the name West LA Violents, beat out a large field en route to a national debate victory.

Junior receives first-place recognition competing at National Speech and Debate Tournament

Davis Marks and Chloe Park
August 26, 2022
Jacob Soboroff 01 addresses the audience filled with hundreds of friends and family of Ted Walch in Taper Gym.

School hosts 800+ for celebration of Ted Walch’s career

Davis Marks
August 25, 2022
NEW FACES IN ADMISSION: Interim Director of Admission and Enrollment Greg Gonzalez steps into his new role in the Admission Office.

Admission Office adds members

Davis Marks
August 25, 2022
Gisele Stigi 22 performs 7 Nation Army by the White Stripes during the annual Senior Solo Night.

Seniors perform at annual Senior Solo Night

Davis Marks
June 3, 2022
President Rick Commons urges the school community to remain vigilant about wearing masks in an email May 25.

Administration recommends masks amid COVID-19 surge

Davis Marks
June 1, 2022
Asian Students in Action (ASiA) members hand attendees cultural foods and baked goods.

SLIDE organizes Multicultural Fair

Davis Marks
May 10, 2022
Members of Chamber Singers, Bel Canto, Wolverine Chorus and Jazz Singers prepare to sing the National Anthem alongside other school choirs at Angel Stadium.

Choirs perform at Angel Stadium

Davis Marks
May 8, 2022
Reverend Anne Gardner leads students and faculty in a candle lighting ceremony in honor of Yom HaShoah.

School commemorates Yom HaShoah with assembly, candle lighting and exhibition

Davis Marks
May 4, 2022
Loyal Terry 19 was one of 58 students across the country to be awarded the Truman Scholarship on April 14.

Loyal Terry ’19 awarded Truman Scholarship

Davis Marks
April 24, 2022
Charlotte Newman 24 and Illi Kreiz 24 cheer on participants at a Special Olympics event organized by Community Council.

Community Council hosts Special Olympics event on Ted Slavin Field

Davis Marks
April 22, 2022
Reverend Anne Gardner stands with ashes, ready to place them on the heads of Christian students.

Reverend honors Ash Wednesday

Davis Marks
March 4, 2022
The Community Health Office redefined its definition of being fully vaccinated to include the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. All students are required to have received the booster shot in order to attend school on campus.

Community Health Office mandates vaccine booster

Davis Marks
February 19, 2022
Reverend Sumi Lounden Kim, who works at Yale University, explains Nirvana Day and its significance to Community Chapel virtual attendees.

Community Chapel honors Nirvana Day

Davis Marks
February 16, 2022
Rick Commons announced new and improved Visions for the school after surveying students, parents, staff and alumni.

School releases new Visions after surveying community

Davis Marks and Natalie Cosgrove
February 12, 2022
Max Thompson ’23 and Brandon Damelin ’23 interact with marine animals at the Heal the Bay’s aquarium in Santa Monica on a trip hosted by the Environmental Club and the Heal the Bay.

Environmental Club hosts clean-up event

Davis Marks and Jackson Mayer
February 5, 2022
Auto Club members pose altogether after racing at a go-karting outing at the MB2 raceway in Sylmar, California.

Auto Club organizes go-kart event at MB2 Indoor Raceway in Sylmar

Davis Marks
February 3, 2022
Students dunk Math Teacher Joshua Helston and enjoy pizza during the event organized by Community Council.

Community Council organizes donation celebration

Davis Marks and Iona Lee
February 1, 2022
Student Ambassadors examine the middle school campus map that the school’s Admissions Office offers to prospective families. The map features all academic centers and common areas.

Admission Office hosts self-guided campus tours

Davis Marks
January 20, 2022
In Mudd Library, Maxwell Lee ’24 and Kai Do ’24 discuss strategies for their debate tournament. Debaters are often given the topics in advance so they can compose their arguments.

Debate team competes in virtual tournament

Davis Marks
January 19, 2022
Middle School students gather on Sprague field after evacuating from a gas leak that occurred at a nearby construction site.

Gas leak causes school evacuation

Lucas Cohen-d'Arbeloff and Davis Marks
January 15, 2022
During the filming of his short film, which is called “A Second Chance,” Alejandro Lombard ’23 oversees a vehicle collision scene in which two actors lie on the ground, playing dead. Lombard and the rest of his team shot and edited the short film over the course of four weeks. Printed with permission of Alejandro Lombard.

Student hosts film screening

Davis Marks
December 16, 2021
The new location of Tocaya Organica, a health-oriented Mexican chain restaurant, opened to customers Dec. 7. Dishes include tacos, bowls, quesadillas and burritos.

Restaurants open locations at Sportsmen’s Lodge

Davis Marks
December 16, 2021
Members of the Jewish Families Alliance light candles while saying a prayer during Shabbat dinner.

Jewish Families Alliance hosts monthly Shabbat dinner

Davis Marks
December 13, 2021
StandWithUs Israel’s Director of International Student Programs Charlotte Korchak discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with students over Zoom.

Israeli activist speaks to HWJFA students

Davis Marks
November 19, 2021
Crowds rush to the newly opened Erewhon Market on Ventura Boulevard to purchase food and to eat at their tables outside.

Erewhon Market opens new location in Studio City

Davis Marks and Jackson Mayer
November 18, 2021
On the ceiling of Rugby Hall, a bat lays still. The student who initially noticed bat assumed it to be a decoration, but the bat was later removed by maintenance staff.

Bat found and removed from Rugby Hall

Davis Marks and Tate Sheehy
November 18, 2021
An illustration features bags of candy being placed in a donation box. Two donation boxes were placed on campus, where students could drop candy to be donated to Operation Gratitude.

Community Council holds candy drive

Davis Marks and Abigail Hailu
November 5, 2021
LA mayoral election gains recognition from students and citizens

LA mayoral election gains recognition from students and citizens

Davis Marks
October 30, 2021
Students sit on the stage of the Saperstein Theater before speaking on a panel in front of school PODS.

School hosts annual diversity conference

Davis Marks
October 28, 2021
When Jim De Matté moves to his role overseeing the schools River Park Campus full-time in January, current Upper School Plant Manger Dave Mintz 87 will take over as Chief of Campus Operations and Construction.

Position changes in Maintenance Department announced

Davis Marks and Will Sherwood
October 24, 2021
Students and parents in the Harvard-Westlake Jewish Families Alliance (HWJFA) eat lunch outside at Holocaust Museum LA.

HWJFA visits Holocaust Museum LA

Davis Marks
October 12, 2021
Dr. Robert Gilchick explains COVID data as part of a slideshow presented to students, as Head of the History Department and Interdisciplinary Studies Department Larry Klein and Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Ari Engelberg 89 look on.

LADPH official speaks to Directed Study class

Davis Marks
October 6, 2021
Before school starts, students gather on the fire road in order to be tested for COVID-19. This testing occurs weekly, with sophomores, juniors and seniors being tested on different days.

Attendance office emphasizes importance of weekly COVID-19 testing

Davis Marks
September 28, 2021
Student Ambassadors socialize on the Middle School Lower Lawn while waiting to get food from In-N-Out and Rice Balls of Fire trucks.

Student Ambassadors gather at Training Dinner

Davis Marks
September 23, 2021
A fan blows out the fumes inside the science classroom in the aftermath of the incident.

Chemistry class accident triggers fire alarm

Davis Marks and Will Sherwood
September 22, 2021
Outside AMC Century City 15, Los Angeles residents congregate before their movie viewings.

Los Angeles movie theaters reopen

Davis Marks
September 18, 2021
Governor Gavin Newsom appears at a campaign rally with President Joe Biden in Long Beach, California.

Newsom survives recall election

Davis Marks
September 16, 2021
At the Senior Ring Ceremony, Senior Prefect Jason Thompson 22 addresses seniors and their families, discussing his high school experiences.

Seniors celebrate annual ring ceremony

Natalie Cosgrove and Davis Marks
September 14, 2021
Before the start of school, students gather on the fire road for mandatory COVID-19 testing by grade level. Constant testing ensures the safety of the community in the event of a positive case, so students can prevent the spread of the virus.

School confirms first COVID-19 case of the year

Davis Marks and Alex Hahn
September 7, 2021
Illustrated footsteps show a path from one food item to the next, which represent some of the new businesses coming to Sportsmens Lodge.

New businesses come to Sportmen’s Lodge

Davis Marks
August 28, 2021

Local restaurants accommodate to COVID-19

Davis Marks
August 27, 2021
Nilufer Mistry Sheasby smiles for a photo after winning gold in a national speech and debate competition.

Sophomore wins gold in national speech and debate tournament

Davis Marks
August 26, 2021
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