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The Oracle
Class of 2025 Student Council representatives Rachel Chung, Francie Wallack and Tavi Memoli smile in front of boxes of donuts and containers of hot water to mix with hot chocolate packets. Chung served as photographer for the event, documenting the party on her digital camera. The juniors’ autumn party was meant to provide a space to talk to their peers and relax in the midst of their academics. 
Fall friendship: Juniors bond over donuts, drinks at class party
Juniors sit at Union Peak in Lander, Wyoming. From Aug. 25-Sept. 1, most members of the Class of 2025 went on Arrow Week, a hiking and leadership program that is a part of Archer’s curriculum.
Juniors adapt to Arrow Week with fewer students attending, develop leadership skills
A slide from the Honor Education Councils presentation explains the guidelines for Grammarly versus ChatGPT, which both use artificial intelligence. Upper school HEC representatives presented at grade-level meetings Sept. 5 about the addition of AI guidelines to the student handbook.
HEC, community members discuss addition of AI guidelines to handbook, related ethics
Sophomores Emerson Cohen, Emily Paschall and Meredith Ho gather together for a picture at Leo Carrillo Beach. To commence the school year, sixth through 10th grade students participated in Archer’s annual Fall Outing, where they connected through outdoor activities including ropes courses, games and swimming. “I think it was definitely my favorite fall outing that we’ve done so far,” sophomore Darian Weiss said. “It’s nice that was our last one. It was a good way to end it off.”
Fall Outings for grades 6-10 promote team building, leadership
Student Body President Anaiya Asomugha (24) speaks to students and faculty, welcoming everyone to the 2023-24 school year Aug. 22. Asomugha and Head of School Elizabeth English gave speeches in the courtyard in celebration of the first day of school.
‘Striking brilliance’: Administration announces theme for year, students attend first day of school
Three faculty and staff school pictures feature science teacher Tara Renner, English teacher Alexandra Greenberg and history teaching apprentice Whitney Wagner. The Oracle held a Q&A with Renner, Greenberg and Wagner to ask them about their first few weeks at Archer and initial feelings surrounding the 2023-24 school year. (Photos by Ultimate Exposures and Graphic Illustration by Zoe Gazzuolo)
Q&A with new teachers Tara Renner, Alexandra Greenberg and Whitney Wagner
Harry Styles performs Late Night Talking at SoFi Stadium Oct. 23, 2022. Since 2019, the average concert price to see prominent artists like Styles has risen 18%.
Pulling back the curtains: Rising ticket prices impact concertgoers’ access to seeing artists live  
Honor Education Council members discuss ethical dilemmas at one of their general sessions. Senior members of HEC said their current main goal is transparency and connection with the community.
Setting intentions: Q&A with senior Honor Education Council members on goals for year
Sophia Bratman (24), Anaiya Asomugha (24), Ella Gray (24) and alumni Ava Cherniss (23) wave colorful flags in the courtyard. They were all counselors for Archer Summer, a paid position where they oversaw group activities with kids and organized camp life.
Summer salaries: 3 Archer students work their first jobs over the summer
Actresses Judy Reyes and Ana Ortiz picket at the Writers Guild Association strike May 8. Ortiz has been attending WGA and SAG-AFTRA protests almost daily since the start of the unions’ strikes.
Hollywood actors, writers share insight into cause, impact of ongoing dual strike
Visual Arts teacher Hannah Kremin positions her artwork and prepares for the opening of the 2023 Eastern Star Gallery faculty and staff art show. Kremins piece on display is called Swans Dance and was made from clay, plaster, acrylic, sand and wax.
 ‘It’s humanizing’: Eastern Star Gallery show facilitates student, faculty connection
The movie title “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is displayed in a colorful font with a black background. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” features Miles Morales, a teen who struggles to fully embrace his secret identity as Spider-Man, as he seeks to restore balance in the multiverse. 
Review: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse’ turned me into a Spider-Man fan
Drake and 21 Savage perform at the Forum Aug. 16. Their concert was high-energy and iconic, lighting the venue up with music and fun.
Review: Drake and 21 Savage’s It’s All A Blur Tour was one giant party
Taylor Swift sings her opening song of The Eras Tour, “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince.” After the opening song, Swift delivered an incredible three and a half hour long performance with costume, set and design changes throughout the show. 
Review: Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour changed my life
Siena Fantini (’27) and Grace Nordling (’28) sing in the Blackbox theater during a performance of “Frozen Jr,” a junior musical version of the 2018 Broadway musical “Frozen.” Performances took place May 19 and 20.
“Frozen Jr.” sparkles on stage as cast members grow their skills through process
Visual Arts teacher Hannah Kremin positions her artwork and prepares for the opening of the 2023 Eastern Star Gallery faculty and staff art show. Kremins piece on display is called Swans Dance and was made from clay, plaster, acrylic, sand and wax.
 ‘It’s humanizing’: Eastern Star Gallery show facilitates student, faculty connection
The movie title “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is displayed in a colorful font with a black background. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” features Miles Morales, a teen who struggles to fully embrace his secret identity as Spider-Man, as he seeks to restore balance in the multiverse. 
Review: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse’ turned me into a Spider-Man fan
Drake and 21 Savage perform at the Forum Aug. 16. Their concert was high-energy and iconic, lighting the venue up with music and fun.
Review: Drake and 21 Savage’s It’s All A Blur Tour was one giant party
Taylor Swift sings her opening song of The Eras Tour, “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince.” After the opening song, Swift delivered an incredible three and a half hour long performance with costume, set and design changes throughout the show. 
Review: Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour changed my life
Siena Fantini (’27) and Grace Nordling (’28) sing in the Blackbox theater during a performance of “Frozen Jr,” a junior musical version of the 2018 Broadway musical “Frozen.” Performances took place May 19 and 20.
“Frozen Jr.” sparkles on stage as cast members grow their skills through process
Pictured is Katsu Bar’s original katsu sandwich with waffle fries. The restaurant opened its sixth location May 1 in Santa Monica, and I reviewed four items on its menu.
Review: Katsu Bar brings delicious Japanese cuisine to Santa Monica
The birthday cake cookies I made using the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook sit on top of the recipe. The recipe was straightforward and made the most delicious cookies.
Review: ‘Momofuku Milk Bar’ is delicious but complicated
This is the table set up at Haidilao Hot Pot that my extended family and I had when we went for dinner. We ordered many items, including egg noodles, spinach, corn, fried bean curd rolls and chicken fried rice. I highly recommend this restaurant for a unique dining experience that exposes you to a part of Chinese culture.
Review: Haidilao Hot Pot allows diners to not only enjoy a meal, but an experience
This is the famous truffle pasta from Sushi House Unico located in Beverly Glen Circle. It was creamy and it had great texture to it. This was my favorite dish of the night.
Review: Sushi House Unico’s dishes capture wide range of cuisines
I hold my dessert from Pinkberry: a large pomegranate and tart swirl with cookies and cream and chocolate chips on top. Upon the first bite I knew this would be my new favorite dessert place.
Review: Pinkberry’s frozen yogurt is personalizable, delicious
Senior Chloe Resnick and world language teacher Mark Forte stand together at Zuma beach after Resnick competed in a surf competition. For the fall season, the surf team has expanded to include experienced middle school surfers.
Surf’s up: Surf team expands to experienced middle school surfers
Seventh graders Zoe Butler and Isabel Kromwyk run side by side on a sunny afternoon during cross country practice. Middle school cross country coach Kiaira Bostic said they are both determined athletes, and she looks forward to seeing them become stronger runners this season.
Side by side: Seventh graders Zoe Butler, Isabel Kromwyk jog into middle school cross country season
Freshmen Pheobe Measer and Chloe Ventura Ruvalcaba high-five after a point in a preseason match against St. Monica Preparatory. Archers JV volleyball team lost 0-2 against St. Monica and most recently beat the Oakwood School 2-0.
Freshman-filled JV volleyball team adjusts to change, builds confidence
Athletic Director Kim Smith gives an opening speech at the 2022-2023 Athletic Awards Night. Last year, along with Athletic Awards Night, she organized college signings, pep rallies and other events.
Q&A with Athletic Director Kim Smith on start of sports seasons, goals for year
Finalist pairs smile after playing Windward in the PBL championship. Eighth grader Hana Cho said the team made major progress since the beginning of the beach volleyball program and overcame challenges throughout the season.
Middle school beach volleyball team reflects on challenges, triumphs of season’s finals
This image features a few album covers of certain tracks on my perfect autumn playlist. Covers include Fiona Apples classic, Tidal, and Ethel Cains Preachers Daughter. (Graphic Illustration by Siena Ferraro).
The perfect autumn playlist to maximize coziness all season long
Audrey Chang (’24) takes her senior portrait. Chang will be serving as the Editor-in-Chief of The Oracle for the 2023-2024 school year. (Graphic Illustration by Audrey Chang)
Letter from the Editor
To start ending worldwide polarization, we must begin having conversations with people who hold different beliefs than us. Fostering empathy and recognizing others as a human is how we can begin repairing the world and mending the political divide. 
Op-Ed: How to combat hate, stop polarization
An 8-year-old me holds up a photo of a Gucci dress, wearing the duplicate I made myself. Months earlier, I became infatuated with it in the mall, which inspired me to start sewing. I still make clothes to this day.
Commentary: My love and devotion to fashion
My sister and I smile for a picture in the summer of 2012. We have always had a very close relationship, and I have loved taking care of her; she has taught me so many lessons. I am grateful that she helped me grow my leadership skills through the experience of taking care of her.
Op-Ed: Being a big sister made me a better leader
Japanese Breakfast performed May 11 at the Kilby Block Party Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. Witnessing their performance live is one of my final memories of high school and stirred up a lot of bittersweet emotions.
Column: An ode to senior year… and Japanese Breakfast
My friend and I took this screenshot of our avatars on one of our favorite servers. Throughout all the years I’ve played video games, it’s always been the one I can consistently return to, having built some of my strongest relationships and shaped who I am as a person.
Column: Create new world
As I begin the road to graduation, Im reminded of the extraordinary experience that Ive had writing a feminist column. It has been a beautifully empowering process that I will be forever grateful for.
Column: Dear column, I love you.
Disney’s 2002 film “Lilo and Stitch” is getting a live action reboot, set to release in 2024. Recently, the film has come under fire, though, for its seemingly whitewashed casting decisions. (Graphic Illustration by Sydney Frank)
Column: “Ohana means family”
Image displays a Nintendo Switch alongside a gaming mouse and a few dollar bills. With the overwhelming prices of video games in the modern age, here are five wonderful games that you can play for free! Image credit to Paulina DePaulo.
Column: The best games in life are free
Audrey Chang (’24) takes her senior portrait. Chang will be serving as the Editor-in-Chief of The Oracle for the 2023-2024 school year. (Graphic Illustration by Audrey Chang)
Letter from the Editor
To start ending worldwide polarization, we must begin having conversations with people who hold different beliefs than us. Fostering empathy and recognizing others as a human is how we can begin repairing the world and mending the political divide. 
Op-Ed: How to combat hate, stop polarization
An 8-year-old me holds up a photo of a Gucci dress, wearing the duplicate I made myself. Months earlier, I became infatuated with it in the mall, which inspired me to start sewing. I still make clothes to this day.
Commentary: My love and devotion to fashion
My sister and I smile for a picture in the summer of 2012. We have always had a very close relationship, and I have loved taking care of her; she has taught me so many lessons. I am grateful that she helped me grow my leadership skills through the experience of taking care of her.
Op-Ed: Being a big sister made me a better leader
Instagram plays a large role in the growing rates of eating disorders in teenagers. As the apps popularity exponentially increases among teenagers, the commonality of eating disorders in teens has risen as well. (Graphic illustration by Tavi Memoli)
Op-Ed: Instagram’s role in the growing rates of eating disorders in teenagers
This image features a few album covers of certain tracks on my perfect autumn playlist. Covers include Fiona Apples classic, Tidal, and Ethel Cains Preachers Daughter. (Graphic Illustration by Siena Ferraro).
The perfect autumn playlist to maximize coziness all season long
My parents assemble all the ingredients necessary to make which dumpling filling. This particular dinner, my mom tried to step out of her comfort zone by making a pork and mushroom dumpling, which she had never attempted before.
My top 5 favorite Chinese foods
This graphic image contains promotional posters for five journalism films I believe are inspiring and powerful. These films range from the classic All the Presidents Men, which was revolutionary for the way it depicted journalism, to Bad Education, which emphasizes the power of student journalism in schools. (Graphic Illustration by Nina Sperling)
From ‘Shattered Glass’ to shattered glass ceilings: 5 films that capture the power of journalism
Jet Rags only location in Los Angeles has a large ground floor and a smaller second floor. Smaller items like rings, sunglasses and iron-on patches can be found near the cash register on the first floor.
My 3 favorite thrift stores in Los Angeles
Gift Guide: What to get your dad for Fathers Day
Gift Guide: What to get your dad for Father’s Day
Letter to the Editor: See the whole person
Letter to the Editor: See the whole person
Conversation with Shirin Pakfar, head of private sector partnerships for United Nations Refugee Agency
Conversation with Shirin Pakfar, head of private sector partnerships for United Nations Refugee Agency
Letter to the Editor: Sun, sand and scrumptious
Letter to the Editor: Sun, sand and scrumptious
Letter to the Editor: Food deserts
Letter to the Editor: Food deserts
Letter to Editor: Mental Health Club: 8 Ways to stay occupied & healthy during social distancing
Letter to Editor: Mental Health Club: 8 Ways to stay occupied & healthy during social distancing
The Scoop on the History of the Senior Fountain Jump
The Scoop on the History of the Senior Fountain Jump
A graphic illustration depicts a teen girl being pointed at, feeling peer pressure. According to Firewall Times, 85% of high school students have felt peer pressure during middle or high school. (Graphic Illustration by Lola Thomas)
Archer students reflect on peer pressure’s impact, professionals describe psychological effects
The Scoop: A conversation with my trans brother
The Scoop: A conversation with my trans brother
Azel Al-Kadiri (23), portraying Elinor Dashwood, and Ella Gray (24), portraying Marianne Dashwood, hold hands during a technical rehearsal of Sense and Sensibility. Rehearsals for the upper school play began in January and spanned over three months.
From script to stage: Making ‘Sense and Sensibility’
An image of a phone with numerous searches for how to fix one’s body demonstrates social medias deeply-rooted diet culture. According to Healthline, there was a large user growth among girls ages 15-22 on TikTok, an app known to spread misinformation, especially about weight and dieting. (Graphic Illustration by Olivia Hallinan-Gan)
Teenage girls reflect on diet culture on social media in all-girls environment
The Scoop on the History of the Senior Fountain Jump
The Scoop on the History of the Senior Fountain Jump
The Scoop: A conversation with my trans brother
The Scoop: A conversation with my trans brother
The Scoop on Academic Peer Pressure in preparation for College
The Scoop on Academic Peer Pressure in preparation for College
S3 Ep3 – Round Table: Varsity Winter Sports Captains
S3 Ep3 – Round Table: Varsity Winter Sports Captains
The Scoop S3 Ep3 – The Scoop on Growing Up Archer: Alumni Lauren Finkelstein
The Scoop S3 Ep3 – The Scoop on Growing Up Archer: Alumni Lauren Finkelstein
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The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

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

The Oracle
Lena Jones

Lena Jones, Columnist

Lena Jones joined the Oracle as a columnist in 2019 with a clear goal in mind: to keep religious affiliation from being an overlooked identifier at Archer. As co-founder of the Archer Interfaith Association, she created her column to focus on the effects that spirituality can have on the individual and within a community. During the summer of 2019, she served as Senate Chaplain at ALA Girls Nation. In addition to writing, Lena enjoys orchestra, track and field, Honor Education Council, and the workshops she plans for the youth at her church.

All content by Lena Jones
Archer Alum Lena Jones on a fishing trip down the California Coast. Jones deferred until 2021, and is working on cultivating academic, practical and vocational skills during her gap year.

[Photo] College during COVID: Class of 2020 experience freshman year in university in a “multiplicity” of ways

September 7, 2020
Archer graduate Lena Jones recently proposed and petitioned to both the Archer student-body, as well as the faculty, for the inclusion of Malcolm Xs autobiography in at least one of the humanities courses. Jones, who was admitted to Yale University and is taking a gap year, offered to join in the conversation with junior classes as they discuss the autobiography in the spring.

[Photo] Archer graduate Lena Jones proposes Malcolm X autobiography to ‘mend the hole’ within current curriculum

August 22, 2020
A piece of armor lays on Lena Jones bed. Jones uses her final column to explore how one Biblical quote brings her comfort in challenging times.

Column: On ancient armor, quarantine and certain victory

By Lena Jones, Columnist
May 31, 2020
As a new strain of coronavirus overtakes the world, one doctor leans on both her medical and religious backgrounds to address the situation.

Column: On science, religion and a faith-filled physician

By Lena Jones , Columnist
April 8, 2020
Many African Americans who identify as Christian feel compelled to examine the past, and they recognize that their religion was once used to oppress their racial group.

Column: On race, Christianity and the battle within

By Lena Jones, Columnist
February 3, 2020
Columnist Lena Jones received a book from her mother as a reminder that, sometimes, healing is out of our hands.

Column: On healing, spirituality and slaying dragons

By Lena Jones , Columnist
December 6, 2019
Letter to the Editor: Elementary, My Dear

Letter to the Editor: Elementary, My Dear

By Lena Jones, Columnist
May 23, 2019
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