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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

JED Foundation leads wellness trainings

Yuna Jeon, Assistant News Editor
February 12, 2025

The school partnered with The Jed Foundation (JED) to host training in mental health awareness and help-seeking for sophomores, juniors, seniors and faculty. JED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to...

Mason Walline '25 and Alexa Chang '25 carry a banner in memoriam of Trey Brown during the walk.

Members of school community remember Trey Brown III in ‘Alive Together’ walk

Connor Tang and Justin Tang
October 1, 2023

Members of the school community participated in the Didi Hirsch “Alive Together” walk at Exposition Park on Sunday, Oct. 1, where they walked to honor Trey Brown III '25, who passed away in June. The...

School offers “Gatekeeper” mental health training

Lyla Kavanagh and Kayla Graff
September 21, 2023

The school partnered with the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Foundation this year to provide “Gatekeeper Training,” a mental health training program available to students, parents, faculty and staff. Counselor...

A human reaches out longingly toward an impersonal artificial intelligence.

The harms of emotional AI

Jade Harris, Assistant Opinion Editor
May 24, 2023

It's a scene from countless dystopian films like "Ex Machina" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" — an artificial intelligence (AI) mimics human behavior, emotions and empathy, and people repeatedly fall for...

Teen knocks on therapist's door.

Talking it Out: How Therapy Supports Teens

Kayla Graff, Assistant Features Editor
December 18, 2024

Gabi*, a timid nine-year-old, steps into a warm, herbal scented room and takes a seat on a fluffy white couch. She is in her first therapy session, which her parents set up for her after they decided to...

Junior mental health alliance leaders Dennett Stibel '25, Rachel Reiff '25, Sunny Lu '25 and Micah Parr '25 pose together.

Student mental health alliance formed

Justin Tang, Assistant Sports Editor
September 23, 2023

The school created the Student Mental Health Alliance, an organization focused on bringing awareness to mental health issues and reducing the stigma around mental illnesses.The organization is a part of...

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

The school enacted new academic policies and mental health initiatives intended to support students following the deaths of Jordan Park '25 and Jonah Anschell '23 in March and April, respectively. On...

Rethinking our mental health initiatives

Ellika LeSage, Assistant Opinions Editor
September 4, 2024

When the school released its new plans for improving student mental health last August, I felt a surge of hope. After a series of tragic events in our community and minimal support for students, it seemed...

Illustration by Eva Park

Watching the Scale

Students and counselors discuss the causes and effects of body image and the rise in popularity of weight loss drugs.
MeJo Liao, Assistant Features Editor
December 13, 2023

Touching up her makeup, 16-year-old Liya* stepped back from the mirror and smiled at her own reflection. Since she started on the weight loss drug Wegovy a year ago, she has lost over thirty pounds,...

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...

Addiction specialist presents to juniors

Caroline Plunkett
March 22, 2023

Beit T’Shuvah Director of Youth and Family Services Doug Rosen spoke to juniors about substance addiction during class meeting March 15. Beit T’Shuvah is a Jewish addiction rehabilitation organization...

Kids are happily getting off a school bus and are ready to visit monuments.

Taking learning outside of the classroom

Hannah Shahidi
February 10, 2023

Classes at the school cover a wide range of topics in core subjects and additional areas of study. While some classes and programs take field trips, much of the content students learn often stays in the...

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