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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

History Teacher Erik Wade works with a student during a meeting. The administration is discussing possible revisions to the school day to free up teacher schedules and plan more community-building events.

Administration in talks of revising schedule to alleviate stress, improve community

Alex Reisner and Ella Jeon
December 18, 2024

The school is beginning to consider ways they can refine the daily schedule to improve student time efficiency and limit academic overcommitment, according to Head of Upper School Beth Slattery.Slattery...

School to replace all AP classes starting next year

Colin Ho, Assistant News Editor
November 6, 2024

Starting next school year, the administration will remove all Advanced Placement (AP) classes, following a removal of most AP humanities and art classes, Head of upper School Beth Slattery said. Slattery...

Students on the Quad look at their phones. Starting next year, the school administration will ban phone use during school hours, in a similar policy enacted by the Middle School.

Administration plans for 2024-2025 phone ban to promote wellness, connection

Erin Ryu, Assistant News Editor
November 6, 2024

Phones will be banned during the school day on campus next school year, the school announced. Students will be unable to use phones throughout the school day— a policy first enacted by the Middle School...

Students socialize on campus. Following the administration's movement to ban phone use, they are seeking to promote social interactions among students.

Phone use to be fully restricted at Upper School starting 2025-2026 school year, administration says

Kara Jazaeri, Assistant News Editor
October 3, 2024

Phone use at the Upper School will be fully restricted starting next fall, according to an email sent the administration Oct 1. Cell phone use will no longer be permitted throughout the school day in an...

In an act to limit phone usage and distractions in class, the administration is now reinstating the use of phone caddies for the entirety of the 75-minute block.

Administration reaffirms phone policy during classes

Luca Gonzalez, Assistant News Editor
September 10, 2024

The upper school administration recently reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing a phone policy, which was introduced in the spring of last school year. The policy states phone caddies will be enforced...

A student pushes a recycling bin onto campus.

Policy Against Pollution

Students, faculty and members of the administration discuss environmental policies and sustainability goals move forward.
Saisha Kumar and William Liu
September 22, 2023

As Senior Prefect Elizabeth Johnstone ’24 walked into a meeting with members of the administration, she was determined to voice her concerns about the school’s sustainability. However, Johnstone said...

School announces new Wellness Plan

Alex Lee and Chloe Park
August 27, 2023

President Rick Commons and Head of School Laura Ross released the “Mental Health and Wellness Plan” in an email to students, parents, faculty and staff Aug. 1. The document outlines the school’s...

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

Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Associate Director of Admission Janine Jones will become the Assistant Head of School for Community and Belonging beginning in the 2023-2024 school year,...

Jacob Massey ’25, Elliot Lichtman ’23, Hugh Cheng ’25 and Sophomore Prefect Eric Lee ’25 take the new unified course survey on their laptops, allowing them to give feedback on their teachers.

Unified course surveys rolled out

Iona Lee and Hannah Shahidi
February 8, 2023

Upper school students completed surveys for each of their courses during January, the first time the administration has conducted a universal survey instead of ones created by individual teachers. Through...

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

The school administration filed a police report and has increased surveillance on campus after a Nazi symbol was found poked into a bulletin in the student lounge on Jan. 23, the fifth in a series of antisemitic...

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

Associate Head of School Laura Ross will become Head of School in July, according to an email sent by President and Head of School Rick Commons on Jan. 3. Following the change, Commons will serve solely...

Illustration by Sydney Fener

Law and Omicron: Trial by Worry

Editorial Board
January 20, 2022

As winter break came to a close, students eagerly awaited a return to on-campus education, only to be met with two disappointing days of asynchronous assignments. What could have been a triumphant beginning...

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