november 2005 (VOL. 12, NO. 2)
M O N T H L Y
inside
Polar Picnic Recap .............. 6 AlphaSmar t Makes Donation to LS ........................... 4 & 9 Int’l Programs Update ....... 12 Nat’l Merit Results ........... 16
harker.org Picnic Photo Booth Photos online - go to your division home page for link!
events US Conservatory Presents
the
comedy of
eRRORS
Thurs. - Sat., Nov. 3 - 5 All Shows 8 p.m. US Gym • 500 Saratoga Ave. Tickets: Adults $12 Seniors/Students (K-Gr.6) $10 Buy tickets at US Bookstore or e-mail tickets@harker.org For more details see page 2.
Harker News — November 05
N E W S L E T T E R
F R O M
T H E
H A R K E R
S C H O O L
Girls Volleyball Achieves CCS Ranking - a Harker First! The US varsity girls volleyball team became the first ever Harker athletic team to be ranked in the Central Coast Section (CCS) top 15, ranking 14th in the San Jose Mercury News poll released Oct. 5. The team improved to number 13 in the poll released Oct. 12. “This is huge for our school,” said K-8 athletic director and US varsity girls volleyball coach Teresa Smith. “The ranking will bring more attention to our school, and will bring more good players to Harker who want to be part of a ranked program.” The volleyball team earned their top 15 ranking after an impressive win over San Benito High School, whose team was ranked 5th in the CCS at the time. Said Smith, “We have played a lot tougher schedule this year to create an opportunity for us to get noticed.” Many years of dedication by Harker’s players and coaches contributed to the team’s recent accomplishments. Former athletic director and current MS Dean of Students Jack Bither said, “It didn’t happen overnight. It’s the manifestation of years of progress. No shortcuts. They earned it. They are now among the elite.” Head of School Chris Nikoloff said, “Our team has worked very hard. We’re proud of the girls and all that they’ve been able to accomplish.” “I respect and admire what the kids
have accomplished this year. They set a fine example for the entire athletic program,” said athletic director Dan Molin. “Coach Smith has done a wonderful job with her girls and has an admirable program from the middle school level to varsity.” Team co-captain Sylvia Schmidt, Gr. 12, said, “I love the team, and they’re my best friends. I’m so proud of us.” Smith said that beyond the impressive play of Sylvia Schmidt and younger sister Tanya Schmidt, Gr. 10, she is also impressed by her two freshmen starters, Nikki Woods and Candace Silva-Martin. “They have brought a very
high level of play to the team in just their first year,” said Smith. “However,” she continued, “I am most impressed with my seven seniors, who have sacrificed for the volleyball program for the last four years, and who have laid the foundation for what has become a topnotch volleyball program.” The seniors are: Schmidt, Amanda Polzin, Mariah Bush, Karen Chiu, Sharon Her, Jamie Wei and Candace Chang. (Some of the information in this story was gathered from a story written by Karen Chiu, Gr. 12, in the Oct. 7, 2005 issue of The Winged Post, Harker’s US student newspaper.)
Harker Homecoming – a Schoolwide Tradition A spirited crowd of K-12 students, families, faculty, staff and alumni kicked off another great Homecoming football game at Foothill College on Oct. 8. The inspirational start for the evening was the singing of the Harker
Robert Boucher, parent
A
est. 1893 • K-12 college prep
Anthem and the Star Spangled Banner by the LS, MS and US vocal ensembles. The always-adorable LS Eaglets and junior cheerleaders helped introduce the Harker football players by forming a tun-
nel for them to run through – and entertained the crowd with their routines throughout the evening – for the game against Stone Ridge Christian High School. The Eaglets were second graders Kathy Cutler, Maya Jeyendran, Kristen Ko, Cordelia Larsen, Kristen Park, Lauren Speckman, Namitha Vellian and Allison Yatco. The junior cheerleaders were: Gr. K: Haley Keller, Taylor Kohlmann, Continued on pg. 19
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