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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

All content by Jenny Li

Commons announces interim Associate Head of School

Jenny Li
May 9, 2019

Debbie Reed will assume the position of interim Associate Head of School, President Rick Commons announced in an email to students, parents and faculty this morning. Reed will take the office during...

Letter from the Editors

Jenny Li
May 6, 2019

We appreciate this feedback, and we encourage members of the community to send Letters to the Editor expressing any concerns for future issues. While the article is the opinion of one staff member and...

Manager of Security Mark Geiger checks classroom doors during the security staff’s first active shooter drill, which involved the entire campus. Students and faculty were instructed to lock doors, turn off lights and remain silent inside their classrooms.

Security staff leads school in active shooter drill

Jenny Li
January 31, 2019

Security guards in tactical gear joined the rest of campus in a lockdown drill Feb. 23 to ensure that students and faculty members were aware of appropriate and secure locations in the case of an active...

Security guard Mark Geiger attempts to open locked door during drill. Credit: Ryan Albert

Security staff participates in lockdown drill with rest of school

Jenny Li
January 23, 2019

Security guards in tactical gear joined the rest of campus in a lockdown drill today to ensure that students and faculty members were at appropriate and secure locations in the case of an active shooter....

Political State of Mind

Political State of Mind

Jenny Li
November 15, 2018

“Son do you know why I’m stopping you for,” music artist and Grammy-winner Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter rapped in his 2004 song “99 Problems”. “Cause I’m young and I’m black and my hat’s...

Midterms 2018: Guide to California's Propositions

Midterms 2018: Guide to California’s Propositions

Jenny Li
November 2, 2018

This year, many seniors will be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 United States midterms election. Here is a non-partisan guide to the 11 ballot propositions:   Proposition 1 approves $4 billion in...

School investigates social media account

Jenny Li
October 4, 2018

The school administration identified the creator of the since-deleted Instagram account @hwmeme, which contained explicit racist, sexist, homophobic and anti-semitic references to specific members of the...

Posts over Posters: How Has Social Media Impacted Modern Activism?

Posts over Posters: How Has Social Media Impacted Modern Activism?

Jenny Li
September 4, 2018

Two months ago, Silicon Valley resident Charlotte Willner returned home from vacation to long conversations with her Pinterest co-workers about the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” family...

School working to repair underground pipe leak

School working to repair underground pipe leak

Jenny Li
August 25, 2018

An underground water pipeline feeding to the entire campus has sprung a leak on the upper level of the parking lot near the security kiosk, Chief of Campus Operations Jim De Matte said. Security guard...

Photo illustration by Jenny Li

An Affinity for Diversity: Discussing our response to the climate assessment

Jenny Li
June 1, 2018

Rob* ’20 stared at the screen in front of him in shock. A moment earlier, he had been watching his friend’s video game livestream when someone under an anonymous username appeared on the chat. “WE...

Abbie Howell '18 discusses gun violence with community leaders at USC. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Senior conducts meeting on gun violence

Jenny Li
May 20, 2018

Abbie Howell ’18 led a strategy meeting discussing gun violence with Jacqueline Thompson, Senior Counsel to Congressmember Karen Bass, at the University of Southern California on Saturday. Participants...

Photo by Caty Czeto. Photo illustration by Jenny Li.

Facing the Music: Coachella Consequences

Jenny Li
April 26, 2018

Sirus Wheaton ’19 stood alone, surrounded by hundreds of strangers. The crowd was silent in anticipation, waiting for the members of BROCKHAMPTON to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival....

Photo Illustration by Jenny Li

Leaders of Today and Tomorrow: Voteless but not voiceless

Jenny Li
March 21, 2018

Luis Rodriguez had never imagined that walking out of his school could change history. Fifty years ago, in March of 1968, 13-year-old Rodriguez led his classmates to walk out of Richard Garvey Intermediate...

Photo Illustration by Jenny Li

#The Struggle is Real: the West and the White Savior Complex

Jenny Li
February 27, 2018

Superhero movies are always the same. Powerless, struggling characters are in trouble and only the superhero has the ability to save them. The protagonist defeats the villain, saves the helpless characters...

Photo Illustration by Jenny Li and Kate Schrage

Risky Business: Coining a new currency

Jenny Li
January 10, 2018

When Brandon Porter ’18 saw his 2013 Bitcoin investment triple in value in less than six months, he felt a sense of victory. He quickly sold his investment, congratulating himself on profiting off the...

Learning to cherish our lives: A reflection of the fire

Jenny Li
December 7, 2017

Before this week, Los Angeles felt incredibly distant from the outside world, impenetrable and shielded from any real devastation. Waking to the sound of sirens before sunrise to discover that another...

Entertainment speakers advise video artists

Jenny Li
November 22, 2017

Screenwriter, director and actor John Gatins, most notable for his screenplay “Flight,” spoke to Video Art II and III students Nov. 9 about his introduction to Hollywood and the evolution of his career...

Photo Illustration by Sam Ko

Like a Good Neighbor: Neighbors discuss previous expansion concerns

Jenny Li
November 21, 2017

Bruce Killlingsworth never thought he would be placing signs protesting Harvard-Westlake on his lawn. As a child, he would routinely walk the two minutes up to Harvard School for Boys for a game of baseball...

Student poses a question during a workshop at the Across Colors Diversity Conference. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

School hosts Across Colors Diversity Conference

Jenny Li
November 19, 2017

Students, parents and faculty from Los Angeles independent schools participated in workshops and discussions as a part of the biennial Across Colors Diversity Conference in the effort to become more active...

Cross country Tim Sharpe.  Credit: Jenny Li/Big Red

Sharpe Shooting: an inside look

Jenny Li
October 18, 2017

The wooden arrow hurtled at cross-country coach Tim Sharpe’s thigh. Thirty years ago in the Michigan woods, his friend’s finger slipped while stretching out his bow, letting an arrow hurtle point blank...

Photo Illustration by Sofia Heller and Alison Oh

Do Not Disturb: Why are students are reluctant to participate in political discussions?

Jenny Li
October 16, 2017

Brynn*’s ’19 mother does not believe in global warming, no matter how many articles Brynn has sent her. After years of frustration, Brynn said she’s given up. “I realized people are rooted in...

Producer Couper Samuelson talks about how the horror genre was used to discuss racism in his movie, “Get Out.”  Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Get out! Cinema Sunday begins

Jenny Li
October 10, 2017

"Get Out" Executive Producer Couper Samuelson held a discussion with students during the second installment of Cinema Sundays this year following a screening in Ahmanson Lecture Hall on Sunday. The horror...

Brittany Hong/Chronicle

Frosty relationships on Coldwater Canyon

Jenny Li
September 13, 2017

I honestly don’t remember a time when I haven’t seen the white signs decorating the houses outside our upper school, slamming our prospective parking structure in the capitalized, red font to “Save...

Marisol Ordonez: Director of HR

Jenny Li
August 31, 2017

Marisol Ordonez will return as Director of Human Resources after serving as the maternity leave replacement last February. As the Director of Human Resources, Ordonez said that she hopes to expand and...

Future Horizons Club welcomes law enforcement officers. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Law and order: Future Horizons Club welcomes law enforcement officers

Jenny Li
May 8, 2017

Law enforcement officers Tiffany Park and Vincent Cho discussed the connotations of being an officer in today’s political climate Monday during Activities. The discussion was part of Future Horizons...

Book Club Vice President Kat Edmiston '17 discusses books with high school students in foster care at the Literacy Event at Celebration Orientation at Pasadena City College on April 20. Printed with permission of Rachel Seplow '17.

Volunteers give out books to foster care students

Jenny Li
April 30, 2017

Student volunteers handed out used books to high school kids in foster care at the Literacy Event at Celebration Orientation at Pasadena City College on April 29. The Book Club collected almost 150 used...

Ryan Wixen plays dodgeball as part of the Festival to Spring on March 30. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

School rings in break with Festival to Spring

Jenny Li
April 17, 2017

Students and faculty played dodgeball and Wii Karaoke and ate In-N-Out Burger during the Festival of Spring March 31 in anticipation for Spring Break. Hosted by Community and Character Committee, the...

Brown Family Speaker and LACMA Director Michael Govan speaks to students at an all-school assembly March 20. Credit: Sofia Heller/Chronicle

LACMA Director discusses managing museum at Brown Family Assembly

Jenny Li
March 20, 2017

Students watched a truck carry a 350-ton California boulder, now known as “Levitated Mass,” to the Los Angeles County of Art on the screen at the annual Brown Family Assembly today as speaker and Director...

Aeden Gasser-Brennan ’19 and Ben Adelstein from Grover Cleveland High School win the 2017 California State VRC High School Championship at Pomona. Credit: Printed with permission of Aeden Gasser-Brennan

Robotics club member wins state championship

Jenny Li
March 15, 2017

Robotics club member Aeden Gasser-Brennan ’19 won the 2017 California State VRC High School Championship in Pomona on March 11 with team member Ben Adelstein from Grover Cleveland High School. The...

Dancers address diversity in 'Love' showcase

Dancers address diversity in ‘Love’ showcase

Jenny Li
March 5, 2017

Students and faculty danced in response to recent global events at the Upper School Dance Concert March 3-5 in the Rugby Auditorium. “In difficult times, we need one another.  This is our way of giving...

Amanda Offor '18 and Batia  Blank '18 pack bags of food for underprivileged communities while Isabelle Eshragi '18 fills bags with food. Printed with permission of Shauna Altieri.

Students participate in Community Service Week

Jenny Li
March 3, 2017

Students packed lunches for the homeless, spoke with previously incarcerated members from Homeboy Industries and celebrated their completion of service hours with Dippin’ Dots during Community Service...

Students showcase films at SCREEN Festival

Jenny Li
March 2, 2017

Student videographers Becca Frischling ’19, Xenia Bernal ’19, Kyle Reims ‘21 and Angel Hoyang ’18 will be showcasing films “Peace by Piece: The Story of Harry Davids” and “From Farm to Cup”...

Director of Kutler Center and Summer Programs Jim Patterson works at the school's booth at the Summer Days CAMP Fair to promote summer programs to prospective families. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Faculty members promote school’s summer programs

Jenny Li
February 26, 2017

Faculty members worked a booth and invited families to attend upcoming summer programs at the Parent Education League’s 5th Annual 'Summer Days' CAMP Fair on Sunday at the Skirball Cultural Center. Director...

Students sat on the HW Works Internship Panel to offer their advice to their peers interested in seeking an internship this summer. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Peers offer advice for internships, summer opportunities

Jenny Li
February 22, 2017

Students with previous internship experiences led a discussion and gave advice to students interested in summer opportunities today in the Kutler Center as a part of the HW Works internship program. Student...

Aileen Cano ’18 talks with another student at a multicultural brunch designed to foster diversity at the Feldman-Horn Gallery on Jan. 30. The brunch meant to give students an opportunity to come together, regardless of their ethnicity. Credit: Sophie Haber/Chronicle

Groups brunch over multiculturalism, gender

Jenny Li
February 15, 2017

Student-led affinity groups including the Latin American Student Organization; Black Leadership, Awareness and Culture Club; Gender and Sexuality Awareness Club and La Femme hosted a multicultural brunch...

Club members of Habitat for Humanity went on their first build trip of the year in Montebello.
Credit: Printed with permission of Casey Crosson '17

Habitat for Humanity goes on year’s first build trip

Jenny Li
February 6, 2017

Students painted moldings, cleaned rooms and built shelves at two build sites Saturday for Habitat for Humanity’s first build of the year in Montebello. “Habitat for Humanity is a great cause that...

Actors in the production perform as they are filmed. Printed with permission from Ed Krieger.

Weekly productions on AIDS in the LGBTQ community taking place

Jenny Li
February 2, 2017

Sophie Kim ’19 and Visual Arts Department Head Cheri Gaulke will be performing in a production commenting on the legacy of AIDS in a group of LGBTQ writers called QueerWise every Saturday and Sunday,...

Society of Global Affairs welcomes Afghan refugee

Jenny Li
February 1, 2017

Afghan refugee Khadim Dai spoke to the Society of Global Affairs and presented a short documentary he filmed in Indonesia to students Monday. Dai shot the entire documentary, titled “Life as a Hazara...

Students enjoy refreshments at the multicultural lunch.
Credit: Sophie Haber/Chronicle

Affinity groups host multicultural brunch

Jenny Li
January 30, 2017

Student-led affinity groups including the Latin American Student Organization, Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club, Gender and Sexuality Awareness Club and La Femme hosted a multicultural brunch...

Moderator Winifred White Neisser questions Norman Lear (Madeline ’13) and Kenya Barris (Leyah '19) at the "All in the (blackish) family forum. Printed with permission of Charles Flippen.

Norman Lear, Kenya Barris speak at diversity forum

Jenny Li
January 13, 2017

Speakers discussed racial diversity at the Middle School yesterday, ranging from ideas about the media’s influence on the election to the importance in bridging cultural divides. The public forum, “All...

Construction work closes Upper St. Michaels

Jenny Li
January 12, 2017

Juniors with parking spots at Upper St. Michaels temporarily parked on the track Jan. 3-6 due to the repaving of the Avenida del Sol, which leads to the lot. “We were just being cautious to get our kids...

Students win Chinese essay contest

Jenny Li
December 11, 2016

Eight students in various Chinese classes received awards in an essay contest run by the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools. Students were required to write about a person who...

Students take a picture in a photo booth in the lounge as part of the Winterfest activities. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Community celebrates break with winter festivities

Jenny Li
December 8, 2016

Students dressed up in ski gear, onesies and more this week for the annual Winterfest celebrations in anticipation of Winter Break. Social Committee and Prefect Council chose to continue the tradition...

Organization holds entertainment summit

Jenny Li
November 29, 2016

Students attended the second annual Women in Entertainment Summit at the Hollywood Cinerama Dome on Nov. 10. The summit centered around panels led by prominent women in the media and entertainment industries. The...

Students celebrate Halloween

Jenny Li
November 22, 2016

Students participated in a Social Committee-organized costume contest and took photos in a photo booth to raise money for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on Halloween. The committee organized the...

Student volunteers hold daycare for faculty, staff

Jenny Li
November 20, 2016

Ten student volunteers watched 19 children of faculty and staff members during the Faculty Professional Growth Day on Nov. 11. Students did not attend school Friday, as the school day was designated for...

Website ranks school statewide, nationally

Jenny Li
November 15, 2016

Niche.com named Harvard-Westlake the best private high school in California and the fourth best in the nation for 2017. According to the website, the rankings were calculated based on several factors,...

Members of the community attended the second annual Women in Entertainment summit at the Cinerama Dome Nov. 10. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Students attend Women in Entertainment summit

Jenny Li
November 13, 2016

Students attended the second annual Women in Entertainment Summit at the Cinerama Dome on Nov. 10. The summit included panels led by women in the entertainment industry and focused on topics ranging from...

Students take photos in the photo booth sponsored by the Miles for Smiles club. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Miles of Smiles club sponsors charity photo booth

Jenny Li
November 1, 2016

Members of the Miles of Smiles club raised $1,100 to help patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles afford their medical expenses. The event, Smile! for CHLA, encouraged members of the community to...

Students dress up as characters from the Pixar film "Up." Social Committee hosted a costume contest for Halloween. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Clubs sponsor Halloween-themed festivities

Jenny Li
October 31, 2016

Students celebrated Halloween festivities Oct. 31 and participated in events hosted by Social Committee, ranging from a Halloween costume contest to themed movies in the lounge. Participating students...

A student from the Westville Boys' High School in South Africa plays table tennis while Harvard-Westlake students watch. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

South African students tour, participate in panel

Jenny Li
October 25, 2016

Twenty one student visitors from Westville Boys' High School in Westville, South Africa, played pingpong and said Oct. 4 that Harvard-Westlake's classes are a lot like their's except for the close relationships...

Nick Plummer '18 and Brandon Porter '18 encourage students to join flight club. Credit: Jenny Li/Chronicle

Students preview clubs at Activities Fair

Jenny Li
October 5, 2016

Campus groups and clubs shared aspects of their organizations to the student body and recruited members at Activities Fair Sept. 19. A total of 71 groups ran booths at the Fair, from student organizations...

Communications advisor Jim Burns. Credit: Pavan Tauh/Chronicle

Jim Burns: Communications

Jenny Li
August 31, 2016

New Chronicle and Big Red adviser Jim Burns has joined the Communications department this school year, replacing Melissa Wantz. Initially intending to pursue broadcast journalism, Burns attended the University...

Fanatics to use alumnus’ app

Jenny Li
July 5, 2016

The Fanatics plan to use former Head Fanatic and soccer captain Matthew Glick's ’14 new app, Gipper, to feature sports highlights. Gipper is a sports highlights phone app which allows users to upload...

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Jenny Li