APRIL 2007 (VOL. 13, NO. 7) est. 1893 • K-12 college prep
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M o n t h l y
inside LS Jump Rope for Heart keeps everyone skipping …......… 10 MS reports best Math Invitational ever ................ 15 Student-run US blood drive draws over 100 ................ 16 JETS teams sweep local contest ........................… 19 Fashion Show Supplement inside this mailing!
events Summer registration online now!
See back page and inserts in this month’s edition!
N e w s l e t t e r
f r o m
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Ha r k e r
S c h o o l
Women’s History Class Celebrates Spirituality Women’s History courses are de rigueur for college class lists everywhere, but history teacher Ruth Meyer is teaching one right here. She recently brought Rev. Megan Wagner, M.A., a therapist, Kabbalah teacher, visual artist and interfaith minister, to speak to her students. Wagner’s work integrates traditional therapy with the sacred arts of drumming, chanting, storytelling and ritual. She also creates ceremonial robes for performance and ritual, and leads sacred journeys to Crete, Europe and Africa. In her presentation at Harker, she shared some of her skills, including drumming, and brought some of the robes she creates. Harker drama teacher Jeff Draper and his students attended Wagner’s lecture, too. “Personally, I felt the workshop was very educational because the spiritual concepts that were brought up incorporate mythology from many different cultures, from every continent, and from many periods in human history,” said Draper. “The right brain experiential learning style of drumming and singing helped teach the left brain facts and concepts on a deeper level of understanding,” he said. His students each found something
different to note. Emma Blickenstaff, Gr. 10, said, “the robes were amazing. The images showed that she values equality and the contributions of men and women in the world.” Emily Carr, Gr. 10, noted, “we didn’t know what to expect, but once she started drumming and chanting, she was glowing. It was great to see her so connected and strong. When she was talking about spirituality, she made the concepts accessible.” Joe Hospodor, Gr. 10, said, “I found it really interesting. We live in a society where we undermine women, and this woman was an
inspiration to women and showed how women have been valued in other cultures and in other countries.” Meyer’s own students were equally impressed. “I have always been interested in learning what is skipped by the conventional curriculum,” said senior Erin Newton. “I am taking the Women in World History course because I am interested in understanding the other half of history. Most history books focus on the male half. Megan’s visit really helped me learn about the roots of women’s spirituality. I learned that spirituality is universal and that Continued on page 18
The US Conservatory presents
Thurs., Apr. 19, Fri. Apr. 20 and Sat., Apr. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Sat. Apr. 21 at 2 p.m. Blackford Theater Tickets on sale beginning April 9 at all campus bookstores and through tickets@harker.org See page 17 for story! Harker News — April 07
IBM Engineer Don Chamberlin visited Gr. 7 science classes in March to help show the fun side of engineering using tic-tac-toe puzzles, the value in having engineers in our society and querying students on the coolness (or lack thereof) of engineers. See page 14 for full story.
The stars come out at CinéFest, Harker’s fourth annual fashion show event. See our special supplement this month!