The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

The Oracle
The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

The Oracle
The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

The Oracle
Anna Brodsky

Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief

Anna Brodsky joined the Oracle staff in 2016. She took a hiatus for the 2017-2018 school year to fulfill her art credit by serving as copy editor for the yearbook. She returned to the Oracle in 2018 as Editor-in-Chief and served in that role until she graduated in 2020.

All content by Anna Brodsky
In the 2017 Women's March, women came together to continue the fight for gender equality. Recent events have proved the fight for female justice has only begun.

[Photo] Column: Wake up, old man

By Azel Al-Kadiri, Columnist
September 13, 2021
Archer's very own mascot, the Panther, poses in front of a Winter Wonderland poster from a previous celebration on campus. Due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases, this year's Winter Wonderland caravan was cancelled until further notice.

[Photo] Snow happens: On-campus Winter Wonderland caravan cancelled

By Vaughan Anoa'i, Editor in Chief
December 12, 2020
Mementos from my time at Archer, including the wreath I wore to weave the Maypole, a rock I painted on my first Fall Outing, my sixth grade OneCard and a photo of my friends on our last day of in-person classes.

Letter from the Editor: A final thank you

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
May 20, 2020
A seven year old listens to junior Ava Thompson read Dr. Seuss' "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" at the beginning of April. Thompson's volunteer service, FaceTime Storytime, has teenagers read to children between the ages of five and ten to provide distraction during quarantine. Thompson said this interaction was one of her most touching. "Afterwards, her mom sent me a picture of a thank you card she had written me," Thompson said. "It was very cute." Photo courtesy of FaceTime Storytime Instagram.

Junior Ava Thompson founds FaceTime Storytime volunteer service

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
May 18, 2020
The Executive Board next year will be comprised entirely of seniors. The position of Student Body President goes to the rising senior with the most votes; in this case, there was a tie for president, and margins between all four candidates were so close that there will be a runoff election during Friday's class meeting.

[Photo] BREAKING: Student Council Executive Board announced, runoff for president scheduled Friday

By Oracle Staff
May 6, 2020
A sophomore English class taught by Stephanie Nicolard virtually touches hands on Zoom. Sophomore Marley Mills said that it was only one of the many fun activities they had done in class.

Community members reflect on implementation of remote learning practices

By Chloe Fidler and Anna Brodsky
April 23, 2020
The front of Archer on March 13, 2020, the last day of on-campus school activity. On March 8, 2021, in-person learning will officially begin again as the sixth graders arrive to attend class on the Archer campus for the first time.

Archer to remain closed for remainder of school year

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
April 16, 2020
On Friday, the College Board announced that AP exams will be shortened to 45 minutes and be conducted online. Students are required to know a reduced scope of content for each course, and online review will be available for free.

College Board announces shortened, online AP tests in response to COVID-19 school closures

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
March 23, 2020
Students will not come to campus starting next Monday due to threats about the spread of COVID-19, according to an email from Head of School Elizabeth English. Until Spring Break, classes will be conducted remotely using platforms like Zoom and PowerSchool Learning. Photo illustration courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BREAKING: School to transition to online learning starting next week

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
March 12, 2020
2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Elizabeth Warren holds a rally in Oakland in May 2019. Warren was the final major female candidate left standing in the 2020 Democratic primary but dropped out of the race Thursday morning.

Commentary: Goodbye, Elizabeth Warren

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
March 7, 2020
PJ the day away: Pajama Day exemplifies tradition, incorporates new features, Gonzalez says

PJ the day away: Pajama Day exemplifies tradition, incorporates new features, Gonzalez says

By Anna Brodsky and Celeste Ramirez
March 2, 2020
In the college admissions corridor, various pennants hang along the walls representing the past two years where Archer graduates have matriculated. For people of color, the harmful effects of microagressions surrounding the college admissions process has become an area of discomfort and discouragement, as topics such as race, athletics and socioeconomic status arise.

[Photo] Juniors attend college kick-off, discover ‘options’ and ‘opportunities’

By Avery Fox, Staff Reporter
February 26, 2020
#Askedandanswered: Impactful stories of 2019-2020

#Askedandanswered: Impactful stories of 2019-2020

By Anna Brodsky, Celeste Ramirez, Nyah Fernandez, and Jessica Jimenez
February 24, 2020
Looking to fight fatigue? Try reviewing your notes soon after the relevant lesson or using techniques like the Pomodoro or the Important-Urgent matrix.

Battling burnout? Try these study tricks.

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
February 20, 2020
Iris Franco pictured left and Veronica Jeffers discuss the current immigration status for children entering the U.S. They came to Archer in lieu of conversations after Diversity conference on Jan. 29

[Photo] KIND attorneys present about children in immigration process

By Allie Worchell, Voices Editor
February 18, 2020
Meghan Tally will become the Upper School Director starting next fall, according to an email sent Monday. Tally currently serves as the Director of the Prep Division at Windward School. She was chosen by a selection committee comprised of department chairs, Head of School Elizabeth English and Associate Head of School Karen Pavliscak.

Windward’s Meghan Tally appointed next Upper School Director

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
February 4, 2020
In response to the U.S. killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, teenagers began producing World War III memes on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Reddit. Senior Alizeh Jarrahy, an executive board member of Muslim and Middle Eastern Culture Club and Alliance, said the repercussions of the memes extend beyond the apps to daily life. Photo illustration by Anna Brodsky.

World War III memes prompt discussion about inclusion, coping mechanisms

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
January 27, 2020
A box of tissues sits on a classroom desk. During finals week, students came to school despite being sick.

[Photo] Editorial: Sick students should stay home

By 19-20 Editorial Board
January 12, 2020
The Getty fire burns over a hill. Some families of Archer students were evacuated or faced power outages in addition to school cancellation.

‘We had to live with the unknown’: Students reflect on Getty fire impacts

By Anna Brodsky, Jessica Jimenez, and Vaughan Anoa'i
November 7, 2019
The Getty fire burns near Brentwood at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, October 28. The lights of the city are distorted by the heat of the fire, which was clearly visible from a residential hill less than 2 miles from Archer.

Getty fire prompts evacuations, school closure

By Anna Brodsky and Rio Hundley
November 1, 2019
With free wifi and delicious coffee beverages, Peet's is a great place to sit down and get some work done.

Just Brew It: Best coffee shops to study on the Westside

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
October 17, 2019
Student council representatives perform a halftime dance. The inaugural event split grades into two teams (red and black) to compete in a number of activities for spirit points.

[Photo] Color Clash: Student Council organizes ‘supportive,’ ‘competitive’ new event

By Rio Hundley, Features Editor
October 16, 2019
After hearing that Upper School Director Gretchen Warner had received the headship at The Madeira School, Head of School Elizabeth English and Warner’s mother sent her flowers, which currently decorate Warner’s office. “It’s been a lot of ’sorry to see you go, but we’re so excited for you’ [from the Archer community],” Warner said.

BREAKING: Upper School Director Gretchen Warner appointed Head of Madeira School

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
September 27, 2019
The servery features hot food options, salad, soup, frozen yogurt, snacks, breakfast, drinks and a grab-and-go section.

[Photo] Servery works to reduce lines, offers options to community

By Rio Hundley, Features Editor
September 26, 2019
Destiny Morado '22 cheers at the Los Angeles Global Climate Strike. She said she was grateful to attend the event with Archer. "It felt so empowering," she said. "We had all our sisters together. It showed the world that young people matter."

‘Our future matters’: Global Climate Strike calls for governmental action, ’empowers’ youth

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
September 21, 2019
Upper School Director Gretchen Warner announced Wednesday that Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime were no longer blocked on the Archer network. The websites were banned for about a week.

Administration lifts streaming ban, emphasizes harms of television at school

By Anna Brodsky, Lola Lamberg, and Molly Goldberg
September 11, 2019
Editor-in-Chief Anna Brodsky stands outside of Archer.

Letter from the Editor

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
September 8, 2019
Karen Garcia '23 brought her project to the Archer STEM Symposium after winning the California State Science Fair. She researched the presence of microplastics in salt.

Eighth grader Karen Garcia wins California State Science Fair for research on microplastics

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
June 6, 2019
A photo illustration depicts a lack of political discourse. History Department Chair Bethany Neubauer emphasized the importance of political conversations in the classroom. "More conservative political views are in a minority in our community, but in teaching history and in teaching historical ideas and political ideas, we really want our students to be examining those ideas and not assuming that one is right or wrong," she said. Graphic design by Anna Brodsky.

Political discourse ‘messy’ but ‘valuable’ in school communities, national politics

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
June 6, 2019

Camila Blank wins international violin competition

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
June 2, 2019
Charles speaks at 'Raise Your Voice 4 Peace.' She coordinated with donors and singers to plan the event. Photo courtesy of Charles.

Sophomore Nadia Charles leads Jeneration J, ‘speaks up’ for victims of domestic violence

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
May 30, 2019
Delossa founded an e-Sports team along with Canadian teenager Alec Ohn. Her players have recieved many accolades; for example, four players are attending the qualifier for Fortnite Worlds.

Head of School Elizabeth English and co-founder Diana Meehan, flanked by Board of Trustees chair Frank Marshall, Zoe Griffin '23 and Student Body President Juliet Youssef, cheer immediately after the ribbon-cutting at the ceremony. All Archer students were invited to the stage for the ribbon-cutting.

‘A lot of memories are going to be made here’: Archer celebrates opening of Academic Center

By Rio Hundley and Anna Brodsky
April 14, 2019
Watching from the sidelines, head soccer coaches Kim Smith and Amelia Mathis observe a varsity soccer game against the Brentwood Eagles on Dec. 6. Smith is currently serving as Acting Athletic Director of the upper school, while Mathis is filling the equivalent postition for the middle school.

New Team Captains: After Lennon’s departure, coaches Mathis, Smith serve as acting Athletic Directors

By Molly Goldberg and Anna Brodsky
April 11, 2019
Eleventh grade students debrief Gail Dines' presentation in Nick Graham's advisory. Dines spoke about pornography and media literacy.

Researcher Gail Dines presents about porn culture, sparks controversy

By Allie Worchell and Anna Brodsky
March 25, 2019
When we equate extroversion with leadership, we miss out on a chance to incorporate a diversity of personality types into major decisions. It is often harder for us to see that quiet people also have traits, such as listening skills, that make them well-suited to leadership. Photo illustration by Leslie Castaneda '20.

Op-Ed: Recognize introverted leaders

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
March 14, 2019
Graham stands in front of a world map in his classroom. Graham previously taught in England.

[Photo] Faculty Spotlight: Q&A with history teacher Nick Graham

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
January 11, 2019
Eighth grade class representative Allie Rich adds whipped cream to a student's hot chocolate. This was one of several food stations during the event — others included latkes and sugar cookies.

[Photo] Student council holds Archer’s annual Winter Wonderland

By Molly Goldberg, Culture Editor
January 7, 2019

Students, faculty, staff travel to Nashville for NAIS diversity conferences

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
December 6, 2018
Greene poses in traditional Taiwanese clothing with two classmates and a tutor from Wenzao University. The group visited Tainan, where students learned to make aboriginal Taiwanese foods and perform dances.

Sophomore Amanda Greene participates in NSLI-Y study abroad program, ’embraces challenges’

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
November 14, 2018
The sixth grade class sang to Head of School Elizabeth English on her birthday. English provided this photo to encapsulate the school's culture, which she said was the primary reason she decided to remain at Archer.

BREAKING: Head of School Elizabeth English will remain at Archer next year

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
October 31, 2018
A pile of number two pencils sits on a desk. Students were required to use these pencils when taking the practice ACT on Saturday.

Juniors take on-campus practice ACT

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
October 21, 2018
Archer girls discuss their feelings during a council about Brett Kavanaugh. The rules of the council included speaking from the I perspective, respect confidentiality, embraces messiness and kindness, practice accountability and be aware of equity of voice

[Photo] Archer reacts to Kavanaugh confirmation: ‘Disappointed’ by decision

By Ella Frey, News & Features Editor
November 15, 2018
Head of School Elizabeth English poses with Assistant Head of School Karen Pavliscak. This is the last year that the two administrators will be working together. "I'll miss my close strategic partnerships with people on the senior administrative team," English said.

Head of School Elizabeth English announces upcoming departure, reflects upon time at Archer

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
October 3, 2018
Anna Brodsky poses in the courtyard. Brodsky is the Editor-in-Chief of the Oracle for the 2018-2019 school year.

Letter from the Editor

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
September 19, 2018
The Class of 2018 sings "Within the Walls of Archer" at the commencement ceremony.

Class of 2018 graduates Archer

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
June 1, 2018
Women of all ages march for their rights in Los Angeles during the 2017 Women's March. The goal of the march was to protest the lack of women's rights, including the over-sexualization of women.

[Photo] ‘I was mortified’: Archer students share sexual assault experiences, hope to continue dialogue

By Nicki Rosenberg, Managing Editor
May 28, 2018
The exterior of Mountain House High School, where the tournament was held. The school is located in San Joaquin County.

[Photo] Anna Brodsky ’20 ends Archer’s speech drought, qualifies for state championship tournament

By Cybele Zhang, Editor-in-Chief
May 4, 2018
Students in a section of Honors Research pose before the symposium commences. These students designed their own year-long experiments based on their own interests and passions. Photo courtesy of Seana Duffy-Reddy '17.

Students present ‘inspiring’ projects at annual STEM Symposium

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
May 23, 2017
The varsity softball team huddles during senior night. "There's a lot of inside jokes, and I think we play better because we get along," Kamryn Bellamy '18 said. Image courtesy of Victoria Pinkett.

‘Trust’ helps varsity softball win league, move on to CIF playoff

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
May 23, 2017
Board books are displayed on a shelf in the front of the store. Owner Sharon Hearn carefully curates each collection. "We have such a broad selection of titles," Hearn said. "I really enjoy picking out the books that the store sells."

Despite challenges, Children’s Book World, independent bookstores thrive

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
May 13, 2017
Participants wait for the WE Day festivities to start. The event celebrates youth catalyzing local and global change.

Freshmen and sophomores ‘connect passions with service’ at WE Day

By Maya Wernick and Anna Brodsky
May 4, 2017
Isabella Peyrot '18, Iman Mohammed '18, Lissa Kanai '19 and Lola Wolf '19 pose for a picture. These were the four Archer girls to attend the Hackathon.

Hacking teens come together to support mental health

By Nelly Rouzroch and Anna Brodsky
April 26, 2017
From left to right, Pike and Solomon pose for a selfie with their fathers during a game on Catalina. The senior duo also captained the soccer team for the 2016-2017 season. Photo courtesy of Pike.

Q&A with 2016-2017 varsity softball captains: Rachel Pike, Liadan Solomon

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
March 20, 2017
A photo of the capitol in Sacramento, California. The Los Angeles primary elections took place on March 7. Image Source: ca.gov

Oblivious: Los Angeles voters, students uninformed about local politics

By Cat Oriel and Anna Brodsky
March 9, 2017
The softball field remains vacated. This is the first year in the past ten that Archer has not fielded a middle school softball team.

Middle school softball cancelled due to lack of interest

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
March 2, 2017
A "Super Mex" burrito sits on a table. This enormous creation is prepared with fresh tortillas, homemade green sauce, chicken, lettuce, salsa, and cheese.

Paco’s Tacos: The ultimate Mexican comfort food

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
February 14, 2017
President Donald Trump sits for a portrait. He, along with members of his staff, promoted false information about the crowd size at his inauguration. Image source: whitehouse.gov

Op-Ed: Alternative facts? Or a threat to democracy?

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
February 9, 2017
A protester bearing a sign reading "#lovearmy" marches towards the Los Angeles City Hall amid a sea of women's rights supporters. Positive messages centering around love and hope were commonplace at the Los Angeles March.

Women’s March Los Angeles draws large crowds, ‘creates change’

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
January 31, 2017
Sophomores Juliet Youssef, Grace Kerner, and Alexa Tierney pose while serving hot chocolate to students.

Winter Wonderland celebration brings holiday cheer to Archer

By Anna Brodsky, Editor-in-Chief
December 13, 2016
Mary Ellen Avery smiles on the summit of East Temple Peak in Wyoming in the summer of 2015. "I have worn that sparkle shirt on every single trip that I worked for NOLS," Avery wrote in an email. "I think it helps remind me to stay happy and have fun out there." Image courtesy of Avery.

From camping to coaching: new teacher Mary Ellen Avery strives to ‘make fitness fun’

By Anna Brodsky and Sara Weitz
December 12, 2016
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