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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

Everett Lakey

Everett Lakey, Executive Editor

All content by Everett Lakey
An eighth-grade student works during a science class. Middle school administration unanimously decided in cooperation with an independent company to implement an eight-day block schedule for the 2025-2026 school year.

Middle School announces eight-day block schedule for 2025-2026 school year

Everett Lakey, Assistant News Editor
May 29, 2024

Middle school faculty and staff unanimously voted to change the Middle School schedule for the 2025-2026 school year in a meeting May 21. The school consulted with Independent School Management (ISM),...

New Academic Classes for 2024-2025

The school introduced eight new updated courses and electives for the 2024-2025 school year. Here is a look at four of them.

Introduction to Computer Science By Annabelle Cheung A new elective called Introduction to Computer Science will be available for the 2024-2025 school year and will be taught by Upper School Math Teacher...

Teacher salaries increase

Everett Lakey, Assistant News Editor
March 20, 2024

The school announced that teacher salaries will increase again for the 2024-2025 school year during a faculty meeting. The school introduced variable wage rates six years ago, changing the preceding constant...

Guest speaker and prominent British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir speaks to the crowd at Westflix. The panel consisted of student directors Madison Baffo ’24, Jacob Lutsky ’24 and Yuuki Lubin ’24.

Student wins Director’s Choice Award at Westflix for stop-motion film

Everett Lakey, Assistant News Editor
March 20, 2024

Hank Schoen ’24 won the Director’s Choice Award at Westflix for his film “Savta” on March 15. Westflix, the student-run film festival facilitated by the school, which selects student films throughout...

Cayley Tolbert-Schwartz '24, who plays Mrs. Lovett, sings alongside patrons of her meat pie shop.

Theater department opens “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Cast and crew members of this year's winter musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" share their perspectives on the production process.
Davis Marks and Everett Lakey
February 7, 2024

Walking to rehearsal while attending a summer theatre program, Elise Fried ’24 and Anna Ames ’24 eagerly discussed their favorite Broadway shows. With their senior year approaching, Fried and Ames...

Remodeled library set to open

Everett Lakey and Hannah Shahidi
December 13, 2023

Mudd Library will open to students for the first time since construction started over the summer Dec. 15. The library was initially set to be opened after Thanksgiving break but was pushed back due to...

Senior publishes crossword

Everett Lakey
December 13, 2023

Aidan Deshong ’24 published his first crossword puzzle for USA Today on Dec. 12. Although Deshong has created crosswords for his personal blog for almost a year, this is only the second time that his...

Senior Independent Studies

Eleven Seniors were chosen this semester to work on independent study projects. The seniors and their advisors are highlighted here.

Chloe Dolkart By Sienna Dall'Olmo Chloe Dolkart ’24 is studying the relationship between COVID-19 and developing Type 1 diabetes for her Senior Independent Study. Dolkart is working with Upper...

Head Prefect Bari LeBari '24 poses with Head of School Laura Ross for a picture after receiving his senior class ring during the annual Senior Ceremony.

Seniors gather for 90th annual ring ceremony

Everett Lakey, Assistant News Editor
September 23, 2023

Seniors and their families gathered on Ted Slavin Field on Sept. 10 for the 90th Senior Ceremony. Each senior was given a personalized ring or class pin, as well as flower crowns or boutonnieres, to represent...

Printed with permission of Manos Vourgourakis

Basslines and Beyond: Manos Vourgourakis

Everett Lakey, Assistant A&E Editor
September 21, 2023

The crowd quiets down, and the lights flash on as the school's Jazz Band begins their performance. Hidden beneath thetrumpets and drum lines, Manos Vourgarakis ’25 keeps the rhythm with a smooth bass...

Nyla Shelton '24, Elizabeth Johnstone '24, Glory Ho '24, Ryan Cheng '24, Print Managing Editor Davis Marks '24 and Bari LeBari '24 stand on the Convocation stage after being robed.

All-school Convocation marks beginning of new school year

Everett Lakey, Assistant News Editor
August 25, 2023

Students and faculty assembled on Ted Slavin Field for Convocation on Aug. 23 to welcome in the 2023-2024 school year. The event included the robing ceremony for both Senior and Head Prefects elected for...

Chiara Umekubo ’23 sold stickers at her Spring Market booth. Similar to the Winter Market in December, the Spring Market allowed students to purchase a variety of homemade items.

Prefect Council hosts Spring Market event

Everett Lakey
May 25, 2023

Prefect Council held the Spring Market, where students sold homemade food and goods, on the Quad on May 11. The market consisted of 14 tables for students to purchase items using Venmo and cash. Natasha...

Sophomores elect Junior Prefects for 2023-2024 school year

Everett Lakey
April 29, 2023

Sophomores elected Staff Writer and Layout Assistant Sasha Aghnatios '25, Ellie Borris '25, Gideon Evans '25 and Victor Suh '25 to serve as Junior Prefects for the 2023-2024 school year, Prefect Council...

COLLABORATING COUNCILS: Prefect Council attended a student government summit with Campbell Hall and Buckley to hear about how other schools run their student councils and honor boards. Members of Campbell Hall’s Honor Board presented on their system and roles.

Prefect Council attends student leadership summit with Campbell Hall and Buckley

Everett Lakey
March 22, 2023

Prefect Council met with student leaders from Campbell Hall and Buckley School on March 9 to discuss their respective student councils and honor boards. Head Prefect Yoshimi Kimura '23 said the meeting...

Kai Caranto ’23 makes a throw to first base in the fourth inning of the Wolverines’ 3-0 victory against Loyola to win their best of three series March 9. With the shutout, the team improved their overall record to 7-3 and their Mission League record to 4-2.

Baseball drops in rankings

Everett Lakey and Alex Dinh
March 20, 2023

The baseball team began the season 7-6, going 4-5 in league play. The team won two of three games against Loyola and St. Francis but was swept in a three game series against Notre Dame, losing 2-1, 6-3...

Committee hopes to restructure seminars

Everett Lakey
February 8, 2023

The seminar redesign committee, a new student group established to advise the administration as they restructure the sophomore, junior and senior seminar classes, held its first meeting Jan. 23. Psychology...

Jeon poses with her new book "Brand New World." Her book, available on Amazon, combines elements of Greek mythology, tragedy and dark academia.

Jina Jeon ’23 publishes novel

Zoe Goor and Everett Lakey
December 15, 2022

Presentation Managing Editor Jina Jeon '23 published her novel "Brand New World" on Amazon on Nov. 11. The book, inspired by the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, is the first that Jeon has published,...

Gifts of Generosity: Members of Community Council stand by gift collection bins on the Quad. These bins were placed near the security kiosk at the main entrance, in the lounge and outside of the library.

Community Council holds toy drive event with youth charity

Everett Lakey and Caroline Plunkett
December 14, 2022

Community Council partnered with New Directions For Youth (NDFY) to hold a toy drive Dec. 8 and 9. NDFY is a youth development agency providing critically needed services to more than 200,000 youth in...

Illustration by Sophia Evans and Amelia Chiarelli

Senior Independent Studies

Yoshi Kimura By Zoe Goor Yoshi Kimura ’23 is building a new instrument and composing a piece of music with it for her Senior Independent Study. Kimura said the instrument, which is played with...

Captain Daniel Katz ’09, who serves on the United States Air Force Demonstration Team, flies his number six plane upright during the 2022 Andrews Air Force Base airshow. Katz is pictured performing the calypso pass maneuver in an F-16.

Daniel Katz ’09 selected as a Thunderbird for the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron

Everett Lakey
November 16, 2022

Air Force Capt. Daniel Katz ’09 was promoted in July to the Thunderbird Squadron, which flies during air demonstrations by the Air Force. The performances showcase both the pilots’ skills and the capabilities...

A student meets with Director of HW Works Kwaisi France to discuss opportunities.

Profile: HW Works

Everett Lakey
October 3, 2022

HW Works, led By Kwaisi France, is a program that provides students at the school with internship and other career service opportunities. France said that the main purpose of the program is to help...

New Clubs at the Activities Fair

The Human Rights Watch Student Task Force By Eden Conner The Human Rights Watch Student Task Force (HRWSTF), founded by Nilufer Mistry Sheasby ’24, plans to raise awareness in the community about...

New faculty and staff join for 2022-2023 school year

New faculty and staff join for 2022-2023 school year

Julee Madkins: Director of the Learning Center By Nathan Wang Julee Madkins joined the Upper School this year as the Director of the Learning Center. Previously, Madkins served as the Director...

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Everett Lakey