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The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

Ethan Lachman

Ethan Lachman, Editor-in-Chief

Ethan Lachman serves as an Editor-in-Chief. At school, he is a jumper on the Track and Field team and a French hornist in the orchestra. Off campus, he enjoys volunteering at the hospital, teaching journalism over Zoom and arguing why LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time.

All content by Ethan Lachman
President Rick Commons sent an email to the school community Friday in response to the media attention from the past week.

National media outlets publish articles critical of school’s DEI initiatives

Ethan Lachman and Kyle Reims
March 13, 2021

Media outlets such as City Journal, Newsweek, Fox News and The Atlantic published articles criticizing the school over the past week, with much of their focus on the community’s anti-racism and Diversity,...

Commons announces that students can return to campus to attend online classes

Hannah Han and Ethan Lachman
February 23, 2021

This is an ongoing story subject to updates. President Rick Commons announced in an email Tuesday that students will have the option to return to campus for classes starting March 9 because of a...

School refunds $1,000 per student, provides over $1 million in financial aid for community members

Ethan Lachman
February 8, 2021

*Correction: The school has given only a small fraction of the financial aid to employees. Almost all of the money has gone to families. Board of Trustees Chair Alan Wilson (P ’10, ’13 and ’15)...

Quaranteen Love

Quaranteen Love

Ethan Lachman
December 15, 2020

For Stone Kletecka ’21 and his girlfriend, their one-year anniversary came Oct. 26, but it barely resembled the celebration they envisioned at the start of their relationship. Accustomed to living within...

Photo Credit: Kyle Reims/Chronicle

‘wokeathw’ responds to anti-racism initiatives

Kyle Reims and Ethan Lachman
October 22, 2020

Certain members of the community, dissatisfied with the school’s new anti-racism and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, created the Instagram account @wokeathw on Sept. 7 to highlight...

Photo Credit: Kyle Reims/Chronicle

‘wokeathw’ responds to anti-racism initiatives (Print Edition)

Kyle Reims and Ethan Lachman
October 20, 2020

*Note: A longer, more in depth version has been published here. This version is published as it appeared in the print edition of the second issue of The Chronicle.  Certain members of the community,...

Letter from the Editors: Uplifting the Truth

Letter from the Editors: Uplifting the Truth

Hannah Han and Ethan Lachman
September 2, 2020

In June, we stood in the middle of Weiler 106, face-masked, sweaty and surrounded by towering stacks of Chronicles. Halfway through packaging the 1,600 newspapers that would be mailed to every family...

Administration introduces anti-racism plans

Ethan Lachman
July 26, 2020

In response to schoolwide calls to take greater action against racism, the administration released a comprehensive list of initiatives July 24 to foster an anti-racist environment on campus. President...

The account's first post outlined its goals for the initiative. There are currently 28 posts total.

Alumni start ‘blackathw’ Instagram account

Ethan Lachman
July 13, 2020

Class of 2019 alumni founded an Instagram account named “blackathw” June 21 to highlight the experiences and injustices Black students and people of color face at the school. The account is one of...

ON POINTE: One of the pre-recorded videos available to grandparents and special friends via website entails a performance by the middle school Contemporary Dance I class, taught by performing arts teacher Joe Schenck. The video lasts about one minute and details a dance routine created by the class.

Grandparents’ Day hosted online for first time

Ethan Lachman
June 17, 2020

In order to maintain the annual tradition of Grandparents and Special Friends Day, the school launched a website that allows guests to experience students’ daily lives during distance learning May 27....

Administrators, alumni meet virtually to discuss systemic racism

Ethan Lachman
June 14, 2020

In an email sent to students, parents, faculty and staff, President Rick Commons announced Friday that the administration met virtually with alumni who co-wrote two letters asking the school to take further...

Illustration by Alexa Druyanoff

An authoritarian rise

Ethan Lachman
June 4, 2020

With little regard for the “checks and balances” principle written into the U.S. Constitution, President Donald Trump declared the authority of the president “total” on April 13. Although he reversed...

While Studio City business owners struggle to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic, members of the student body are working to provide their communities with essential needs. Illustration by Alexa Druyanoff

Facing coronavirus together

Ethan Lachman
June 3, 2020

Having experienced nearly a 90 percent drop in business, Dove Rose does not know how many clients to expect when she opens her computer for virtual wellness sessions.  As a private trainer who began...

Alumni, students send letters to the school requesting internal action to help attain racial equality

Alumni, students send letters to the school requesting internal action to help attain racial equality

Ethan Lachman
June 3, 2020

In response to nationwide protests against racial injustice, alumni sent two letters to the administration this week asking the school to more directly address racism within the school community and play...

A new, unpredictable normal

A new, unpredictable normal

Ethan Lachman
April 9, 2020

Once we come back to school, I imagine that we’ll all passionately embrace. As we grip each other tightly, our cheeks will be tomato-red not just because our computer cameras no longer hide our small...

Quarantine or Quaran-screen: Things to Watch During Social Distancing

Ethan Lachman
April 7, 2020

Theme: Freedom Due to this period of confinement, the theme of this watch list will be the liberty we have all seemed to have lost. Freedom is not only the ability to move physically, but also encapsulates...

Brookshire to replace Slattery as Upper School Dean

Ethan Lachman
April 3, 2020

In an email to her junior students, soon-to-be Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said Director of Admission at Brandeis University Sara Brookshire will replace her as an Upper School Dean next year. Brookshire...

LAHSO holds banquet to discuss diversity

Ethan Lachman
March 6, 2020

The Latin American and Hispanic Student Organization held its third Unity Banquet to start conversations about diversity on campus Feb. 24 in Feldman Horn Art Gallery. LAHSO worked with other affinity...

Hackathon organizer Lukas Seklir ’21 relays the details of his Hackathon project to Leader of HW Venture Coco Kaleel ’20. Seklir won first place for his app, Melodica, which generates a song with violin and flute accompaniment after the user hums a melody. Credit: Ethan Lachman/Chronicle

Entrepreneurs tackle STEM issues

Ethan Lachman
March 4, 2020

After receiving positive feedback from students, the school hosted its second Hackathon of the year where students applied programming skills to creative projects Feb. 15 to 16 in the Mudd Library, Hackathon...

Recall our past

Recall our past

Ethan Lachman
March 4, 2020

As I scrolled through YouTube in one last attempt to productively procrastinate my homework due the next day, I came across a tune that reminded me of my childhood. According to the comments section underneath...

Sydney Fener/Chronicle

Tunes Through Time

Ethan Lachman
January 29, 2020
Impossible to confine, music connects people. Students, teachers and musicians discuss its unique quality.
It's okay to quit

It’s okay to quit

Ethan Lachman
January 29, 2020

It’s the closing banquet after my tenth-grade basketball season. Baby-back ribs from Wood Ranch litter linen-clothed tables in the Feldman Horn Art Gallery, and as I look around, the past and present...

School to revise 2020 testing requirements

Ethan Lachman
December 13, 2019

Beginning next year, the school will eliminate the mandatory mid-year assessment testing week and will allow teachers of specific Advanced Placement courses to decide whether their students must take...

Students volunteer to create lanterns at Luminaria event

Ethan Lachman
December 12, 2019

Seven students crafted handmade lanterns alongside Studio City residents at the ninth annual Luminaria Event held by the Studio City Neighborhood Council’s Cultural Affairs Committee at Campo de Cahuenga...

Debaters win top speaker awards at Glenbrooks tournament

Ethan Lachman
November 28, 2019

Four members of the debate team won top speaker awards at the Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament hosted by Glenbrooks High School in Chicago from Nov. 23 to 25. Debater Olivia Feldman ’22 said...

Fleeing from the Flames

Fleeing from the Flames

Ethan Lachman
November 13, 2019

Shortly after the Getty Fire ignited in the early hours Oct. 28, Charlie Albert ’21 received a notification instructing him to prepare for evacuation. A few hours later, Albert’s street was placed...

Brendan Kang ’20, Tali Tufeld ’20 and Kate Konvitz ’20 lie in the back of a car while watching “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in the senior lot Thursday. Community Council hosted the drive-in movie after a month of planning, and donated the profits to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Credit: Ethan Lachman/Chronicle

Community Council organizes drive-in to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation

Ethan Lachman
November 9, 2019

To raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Community Council hosted its first ever drive-in movie, where it screened “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” in the senior parking lot Nov. 7. Students had...

Best overall costume winners Emery Genga ’21 and Felicity Phelan ’21, dressed as Glinda and Elphaba from “Wicked,” walk down the runway in the lounge. Credit: Ethan Lachman/Chronicle

Prefect Council coordinates Halloween festivities

Ethan Lachman
November 1, 2019

Students gathered in the lounge to watch their classmates compete in the annual Halloween costume contest and ate free Cinnabons, courtesy of Prefect Council on Oct. 31. Like last year, Halloween-themed...

LAHSO member Josue Martin '20 hands a tamale to Isabel Lawrence '21 on the quad during the fundraiser. Credit: Hannah Han/Chronicle

LAHSO holds fundraiser, culminating National Hispanic Heritage Month

Ethan Lachman
October 23, 2019

Marking their first fundraiser since 2017, the Latin American-Hispanic Social Student Organization (LAHSO) sold food on the quad Oct. 15 to raise money for future projects. The sale ran from third period...

School to commence WLSA Pen Pal program with two foreign schools

Ethan Lachman
October 5, 2019

In an effort to foster a more understanding community, the school will partner with the World Leading Schools Association (WLSA), Westville Girl’s High School in the Republic of South Africa and Appleby...

The value of the humanities

The value of the humanities

Hannah Han and Ethan Lachman
October 4, 2019

It’s Thanksgiving. Distant relatives, now reunited, scoop sweet potatoes onto paper plates and slather gravy on slices of turkey. They dance around each other, moving from one trivial conversation...

Moving into the new school year with a peaceful mind

Moving into the new school year with a peaceful mind

Ethan Lachman
August 29, 2019

“Try to let go of expectations for this practice, your day and even your life.” The yoga instructor said each word slowly, emphatically—I can still hear the mantra to this day. Nevertheless, in...

No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home

Ethan Lachman
August 28, 2019

Upper School Dean  Chris Jones (Taylor '18, Avery '23) has never enjoyed such a short commute to work— approximately 375 steps, to be specific.  "I joke about it in a sense," Chris Jones said. "But...

Lawler to retire, travel with husband

Ethan Lachman
June 1, 2019

After 21 years at the school, librarian Clare Lawler will depart at the end of the year in order to spend more time traveling with her husband. Lawler began her career at Harvard-Westlake in 1998 working...

Speaking about the schedule

Ethan Lachman
June 1, 2019

In an email sent to the entire community, the school announced its plan to implement a schedule change beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, when current sophomores will be seniors. The most prominent...

Students elect next year’s Prefect Council

Ethan Lachman
May 3, 2019

Sophomores and juniors elected the head, senior and junior prefects for the 2019-2020 school year. Grace Burton ’20 and Michael Lehrhoff ’20 will serve as head prefects. Dahlia Low ’20, Jaya Nayar...

Debaters start season with a series of wins and bids to TOC

Ethan Lachman and Celine Park
October 5, 2018

With seven bids, the debate team solidified its spot as the top team in the country thus far. The team started the month off at the Loyola Invitational for Lincoln Douglas Debate on Sept. 7-9, in which...

Aperture Photo Project on display in the gallery

Ethan Lachman
October 5, 2018

Upper and middle school students and Esteban Torres High School students came together over the past year to create works of documentary photography, which are now on display in the Feldman Horn Gallery. Photography...

As part of National Suicide Awareness week, Allison Salvador '19 created the Truth Tree outside Rugby Hall to allow students to voice their inner feelings and goals.

Truth Tree Spreads Awareness During Suicide Prevention Week

Hannah Han and Ethan Lachman
September 15, 2018

In an effort to spread awareness regarding teen suicide and mental health, Ally Salvador ’19 initiated and organized a project called the Truth Tree from Sept. 11 to Sept. 14. Members of the community...

Students will sing a Lucky Riff

Ethan Lachman
August 29, 2018

For the first time in over ten years, the Upper School theater department will present an off-Broadway musical, “Lucky Stiff.” “Lucky Stiff” is a comedic murder mystery mixed with elements of...

Head Prefect Ryan Stanford '18 speaks about courage at convocation. Credit: Noah Aire/Chronicle

Prefects emphasize self acceptance, courage at sixth annual all-school convocation

Ethan Lachman and Lucas Lee
August 27, 2018

Head prefects Ryan Stanford ’19 and Kevin Chen ’19 spoke about the importance of courage and being comfortable with oneself as middle and upper school students joined at the sixth annual all-school...

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