The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

The Oracle
  • November 17There will be a bus emergency drill Thursday, Nov. 21, and there is no late bus.
  • November 17The Amphitheater will be closed Monday, Nov. 18 for the removal of the US Musical set.
  • November 17School will be closed Friday, Nov. 22 for virtual parent-teacher conferences.
The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

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

The Oracle
Cat Oriel

Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor

Cat Oriel joined the Oracle staff as a contributing writer in 2015, was promoted to Voices Editor in 2017 and is now the News and Features Editor. She is a part of Archer’s varsity volleyball team, co-founder of the Feed2SucceedFund Archer Chapter, a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Culture Club and is the CEO of the Arrow Store. She was named the Middle School Poet Laureate in 2013 and the World Language Poet Laureate in 2015. Her other interests include graphic design and dogs.

All content by Cat Oriel
Archer's mascot, the Panther, demonstrates its team spirit during the game. Leyla Namazie '17 and Kaia Turowski '17 each took turns in the Panther suit for the night. Photo by Meghan Marshall '17.

Op-Ed: Panther Pride? — Archer’s mascot needs an update

By Cat Oriel and Cybele Zhang
May 24, 2018
Marlena Lerner '18, Sophie Evans-Katz '18 and Zoë Applebaum Schwartz '19 interview actress Laura Dern during the film festival. The festival commenced with a compilation of Dern's most famous films including "Blue Velvet," "Wild" and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi". 

Archer Film Festival features keynote from Laura Dern, highlights student voices

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
May 10, 2018
Sisters Cameron Thompson '18 and Kelsey Thompson '20 perform a duet in the Festival of Dance. The dance show took place on April 27.

[Photo] Dancers perform in last show of the year, ‘Festival of Dance’

By Kamryn Bellamy, Staff Writer
May 9, 2018

‘Come Alive’: Musicians, singers perform in Spring Concert, celebrate seniors

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
April 25, 2018
An illustration of Mason Ramsey, known as the "Yodeling Walmart Kid", wearing his iconic white button-down shirt, red bow-tie, cowboy hat and boots. Ramsey became famous after a video of him singing "Lovesick Blues" in his local Walmart went viral. Illustration by Saskia Wong-Smith '18.

Commentary: Country boy, I love you

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
April 18, 2018
Senior Omari Benjamin reads a passage from "The Little Prince" while dressed as a fox during the One Book kickoff celebration in the courtyard. Benjamin, who is in AP Spanish, read a portion of the book in Spanish.

Class of 2018 continues One Book tradition, celebrates ‘The Little Prince’

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
April 15, 2018

Biennial One Book celebration brings ‘The Little Prince’ to life

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
April 11, 2018
Senior Dom White '18 holds up a sign for cars on Sunset Blvd to read. Teachers stood close to the side walk to make sure students stayed safe and away from cars.

Students participate in unplanned walkout during #ENOUGH National Walkout

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
March 20, 2018
Jayla Brown '18 holds a sign that says "End Gun Violence Now" during the National Walkout on Mar. 14. The walkout caused difficult yet necessary conversations around campus. The Editorial Board encourages students to continue to advocate against gun violence in schools.

[Photo] Editorial: Where do we go from here?

April 10, 2018
Seniors Jael Ellman and Gracie Marx shout during the protest. Many cars sounded their horns in solidarity.

[Photo] Lena Jones’ ‘Black Salt’ showcases ‘brilliance’ of people of color

By Molly Goldberg, Culture Editor
March 23, 2018
Sarah Khneysser '20 holds up a "Stop Gun Violence Now" sign during the #ENOUGH National School Walkout. After a few planned minutes of silence in the courtyard, high school students unexpectedly marched off campus to protest on Sunset Blvd.

Middle schoolers create a tunnel to welcome the high schoolers back to campus. The younger students were encouraged not to leave the front lawn because of safety precautions.

Sophomores Betsy Gaghan, Beechie Spiller, Sydney Cort and Zoe Cort run toward the other protesters. According to Gaghan's sign, one in three people know someone who has been shot.

Saskia Wong-Smith '18 poses for a photo with her Bates pennant after signing her National Letter of Intent. She is Archer's first swimmer to commit to swimming collegiately.

Swimmer Saskia Wong-Smith signs National Letter of Intent for Bates College

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
February 18, 2018
The 2018 All-Star Game Logo. The game will take place on Feb. 18 in Los Angeles for the sixth time. Image source: NBA .

NBA All-Star Game by the Numbers

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
February 17, 2018
Confetti falls on the US Bank stadium field after the Eagles won the 2018 Super Bowl. The enclosed stadium opened in 2016 and is home to the Minnesota Vikings. Photo courtesy of Brianna Coughlan.

Bye, bye Brady: Eagles soar past Patriots for their first Super Bowl title

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
February 11, 2018
Youlanda Copeland-Morgan speaks to the upper school during Diversity Day. She was one of two keynote speakers.

[Photo] Diversity Conference for ‘Equity & Inclusion’ celebrates differences, fosters community

By Alexandra Chang and Gracie Marx
January 31, 2018
The Kroks warm up their voices in Archer's orchestra room before their performance on Jan. 12. The Kroks originated in Harvard's Hasty Pudding Club, founded in 1770.

‘The Krokodiloes’ teach singing workshop to Archer a cappella groups

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
January 20, 2018

Kroks from Oracle on Vimeo.

Exclusive: Harvard a cappella group ‘The Krokodiloes’ performs, shares stories

By Nelly Rouzroch, Cat Oriel, Cybele Zhang, and Maya Wernick
January 15, 2018
Head of School Elizabeth English cheers while delivering her speech during the Groundbreaking Ceremony. The ceremony was postponed until after Winter Break due to the Skirball Fire.

‘Moving Archer Forward’: Community celebrates groundbreaking for Campus Master Plan

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
January 15, 2018
Al Jean speaks to the upper school on Jan. 10. He shared his presentation in the Dining Hall.

[Photo] ‘The Simpsons’ showrunner Al Jean shares passions for math, comedy

By Alexandra Chang, Managing Editor/Culture Editor
January 13, 2018
Juniors Ella Frey and Maddy Benfield smile in the courtyard. In addition to being equestrian captains together, the girls are also close friends.

Q&A with 2017-2018 varsity equestrian captains: Maddy Benfield, Ella Frey

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
December 3, 2017
The Stoked! platter from Stoked! California BBQ features three different kind of meat, corn, beans and bread. The platter can be purchased for $20.

Review: Smorgasburg LA highlights diverse cultures, worth the Sunday trip Downtown

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
December 1, 2017
Artistic representation of Lexie's Juul decorated with stickers. Those who do not know what a Juul looks like may mistake it for a flash drive or another everyday object. Illustration by Kisa Rozenbaoum '18 and Cat Oriel '18.

Nico-teen: Juul, vaping devices violate school drug policy, pose health risks

By Cat Oriel and Nelly Rouzroch
November 7, 2017
Sophia Caplan '22 kicks her leg in the air in front of the pride flag in the courtyard. This is the first year Archer has celebrated National Coming Out Day in addition to International Day of the Girl.

GSA, GEG, HEC collaborate to plan International Day of the Girl, Coming Out Day celebration

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
October 15, 2017
Seniors Rachel Boehm and Cydney Davis pose after placing third at the Brentwood Tournament. The varsity volleyball team sees energy as their key to success.

[Photo] Varsity volleyball places in Brentwood, Milken Tournaments

By Cybele Zhang and Ella Frey
September 29, 2017
Claire Germano poses for a picture while she sits in the library during homework. Germano is the only senior in the Class of 2018 to be named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist.

Senior Claire Germano named 2018 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
September 22, 2017
A volleyball jersey with the new athletics Artemis logo sits on a table with Laurel Bybee's research on the goddess and her final designs. The new logo is on the back of every Archer sports jersey.

Athletics Department rebrands with new Artemis logo

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
September 20, 2017
Nathanson, Ohlbaum and Boehm after practice at Vertical Sports Performance, where the team trains. The captains chose "family" as the team's word for the year.

[Photo] Q&A with 2017-2018 varsity volleyball captains: Rachael Boehm, Macoy Ohlbaum and Amelia Nathanson

By Ella Frey and Maya Wernick
September 10, 2017
Cybele Zhang '18 poses in front of The Archer School for Girls. Zhang is Editor-in-Chief of The Oracle for the 2017-2018 school year.

[Photo] Letter from the Editor

By Cybele Zhang, Editor-in-Chief
August 28, 2017
Danielle Roberts, Jenn Babin, Cybele Zhang, Meagan Rowles, Gracie Marx, Jael Ellman, Sophie Evans-Katz, Kamryn Bellamy and Macoy Olhbaum pose during advisory on Halloween in 2015. Babin has been Class Dean of 2018 since 2014, but will be taking on the role of Dean of Students in the fall. Image courtesy of Cybele Zhang.

Jenn Babin appointed as Dean of Students

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
May 24, 2017
Student athletes and members of the Athletics department meet with Under Armour representatives to discuss their company becoming the official sponsor of Archer Athletics. After addressing comments made by the CEO Kevin Plank praising President Trump, the Under Armour team presented about their female team sports line.

Archer Athletics discusses Under Armour sponsorship, encourages student input

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
May 16, 2017
The Archer delegation cheers during the Spirit Competition at the 2017 JCL Convention at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco, CA. Archer won first place among small high schools.

Latinists attend Junior Classical League Convention in San Francisco

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
May 14, 2017
9th Grade Arrow Week photo competition winner announced

9th Grade Arrow Week photo competition winner announced

By Liz Haltrecht, Nelly Rouzroch, and Cat Oriel
May 4, 2017

LA March for Science from Oracle on Vimeo.

‘There is no Planet B’: Thousands March for Science in L.A.

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
April 27, 2017
Eighth graders Maggie O'Leary and Hannah Joe play with beige slime during the slime X-block. The weekly session, led by three sixth graders, teaches girls how to make different types of slime.

Slime trend encourages creativity, entrepreneurship

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
March 22, 2017
Junior Natalie Goldstein's scooter sits in the hallway while Goldstein is in class. During her injury, Goldstein had to use a scooter to get around the school. "[In smaller classrooms], I have to leave my scooter outside. I have to hop around and use the desks to move," she said.

Op-Ed: Accessibility: You can never have too much

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
March 12, 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
A protestor at LAX holds a sign with a quote from Mother Theresa on Jan. 29. Thousands of protestors gathered at airports around the world after President Trump signed an executive order banning seven predominantly Muslim countries. Photo courtesy of Banafsheh Salimi.

Americans, immigrants affected by Trump’s travel ban

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
March 1, 2017
This is me, wearing red, eating noodles from Din Tai Fung and holding my hongbao at The Americana's Chinese New Year Celebration in 2016. Chinese New Year is one of my favorite holidays. 2017 is the year of the Fire Rooster; since I was born in 2000, I am a Golden Dragon.

(Chinese) New Year, New Me: Celebrating the year of the fire rooster

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
February 9, 2017
6th grade students reflect on the day by writing in journals and discussing takeaways. According to 6th grade dean Ms. Burns, this activity was done to increase empathy, inclusivity and understanding within the grade.

Diversity Conference encourages student voices, exploration of cultures

By Cybele Zhang, Cat Oriel, and Alexandra Chang
January 31, 2017
Archer's bus 803 driver An'twon Colvin stands in the bus aisle after a long ride. According to Colvin, bus driving has kept him grounded, and he appreciates Tumbleweed Transportation's support and acceptance.

‘Bus driving saved me:’ An’twon Colvin’s road to happiness

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
December 13, 2016
Middle schoolers run and play basketball on the Sport Court during fitness class. In addition to after school sports, the Court is used for daily fitness classes.

Middle school volleyball, cross country finish ‘successful’ final season, say goodbye to Sport Court

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
November 30, 2016
This is me, wearing my black Pasadena shirt on the far left, working the polls on election day in Pasadena, California, at the Assistance League. In the photo, I am working as the precinct ballot reader machine clerk. My tasks in this position included inserting ballots into the reader and handing out stickers.

Democracy at play: What I learned from being a poll worker on Election Day

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
November 29, 2016
The seventh grade class representatives smile during a class meeting on the back field. "I love my grade. They're all such amazing people, so I wanted to be one of the people to represent them," Langdon Janos '22 said.

Meet the 2016-2017 middle school class reps, president

By Cat Oriel, News & Features Editor
November 11, 2016
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