The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

The Oracle
  • October 19All middle school students are invited to attend the 6th Grade Improv Showcase at 12:20 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25.
  • October 19The PSAT will be Wednesday, Oct. 23. There is no school for students in grades 6-9 and 12.
  • October 19There will be a bus emergency drill for a few buses at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The student news site of The Archer School for Girls

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

The Oracle
Lucy Williams

Lucy Williams, Voices Editor

Lucy Williams joined the Oracle as a freshman staff reporter in 2021 and is now a senior serving her second year as voices editor. Outside of journalism, she runs an L.A. food blog on Tiktok and Instagram under the epithet "Little Savvy." She also serves on the Hermanas Unidas club board and the DemocraShe Leadership Team and is passionate about literature and business.

All content by Lucy Williams
Journalist Michael Pollan's 2006 book, "The Omnivore's Dilemma," exposes the realities of four American food chains: industrial, organic, local and foraged. Pollan went on a nationwide journey through farms and factories of these systems to expose surprising truths hidden by large food corporations.

Review: “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” uncovers America’s foodie reality

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
October 8, 2024

The Oracle’s Autumn Refresh Challenge 2024

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
September 23, 2024
Archer moms Priya Nambiar (left) and Shilpa Mysoor (right) wear their LOTUS to POTUS t-shirts in support of Kamala Harris presidential campaign. Inspired by Harris's female and Indian identity, the two created a small business which has reached Harris supporters nationwide. (Photo by Priya Nambiar)

Lotus to POTUS: Archer parents create national t-shirt fundraiser for Harris-Walz campaign

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
September 11, 2024
This graphic illustration displays a student in front of a Palestinian flag. This feature spotlights the perspectives of Palestinian students at Archer and spotlights solutions from organizations to address misinformation and conflict. Graphic Illustration by Uma Nambiar.

Palestinian students process discussions surrounding war, professionals offer tips for informed conversations

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 23, 2024
Junior Lucy Williams at Nobu for her birthday. Willams ate from a menu with all of Nobu's specialty Asian small dishes.

[Photo] Q&A with teen food content creator

By Uma Nambiar, Senior Reporter
May 10, 2024
The fruit cart at Temescal Beach serves fresh, juicy fruit, including mango, watermelon and pineapple, all year long. From genuine encounters with the mainly-immigrant owners of these small businesses, I've made friends and been introduced to different cultures.

Commentary: An ode to rainbow umbrellas and ice-cold fruit

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
April 28, 2024
Seniors Lacey Thompson and Laila Charles pour smoothies into cups for the “Guess the Smoothie” activity. The activity took place March 20 for the “Wild West vs. West Coast” Spirit Week theme day.

[Photo] Spirit Week incorporates new, old themes during major assessment week

By Surya Patil, Editor-in-Chief
April 7, 2024
This illustration represents the women behind the daily workings of Archer's campus, keeping it clean and safe for the community. They reflected on the impacts of their journeys at Archer, spanning from six months to 24 years. (Graphic Illustration by Oona Seppala)

Celebrating the women of Archer

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
March 14, 2024
Juniors stored their phones in the dean hub on Tech-Free Friday, Feb. 2. Freshmen, juniors and seniors participated throughout January as part of the grade-level deans’ Tech-Free Friday initiative. During their phone-free days, students reflected on their relationship with screens and how they impact their ability to follow schedules, receive news and communicate with others.

Reality is calling: Students hand in phones, navigate daily tasks during Tech-Free Fridays

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
February 11, 2024
The signature Isa Ramen consists of a chicken and fish broth, boiled all day, with Chasu pork, ramen eggs, green onions, ginger and bean sprouts. This hidden gem of a restaurant in Mid-Wilshire serves some of the most authentic ramen broth I've ever eaten.

Review: The best ramen in Los Angeles is hidden next to a car wash

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
January 26, 2024
Students read articles on The New York Times and The Washington Post on the bus ride to school. News deserts, a term used to describe communities without a source of local news, often leave people to rely on national outlets that don't feature their community's stories.

[Photo] Editorial: We’re living in a drought of truth. It needs to end.

By 23-24 Editorial Board
January 19, 2024

[Video] What’s the difference between news and opinion journalism? Oracle editors explain

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
November 30, 2023
Sophomores Alex Laffitte and Oona Seppala high-five after winning a doubles match on Archer’s home courts, Barrington courts. The team is moving into the Gold Coast league next year, which means players will play different schools, including Brentwood, Crossroads and Viewpoint. Photo by Emma Winkler.

Going for gold: Varsity tennis moves up to Gold Coast League alongside new assistant coach

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
November 27, 2023

[Video] Q&A with Class of 2023 alumni on their experiences, advice for first-year Archer students

By Tavi Memoli and Lucy Williams
October 26, 2023
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. Photo by Casey Huff.

Fall friendship: Juniors bond over donuts, drinks at class party

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
September 30, 2023
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. Photo by Makenzie Hilton.

Summer salaries: 3 Archer students work their first jobs over the summer

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
September 20, 2023
Student Body President Anaiya Asomugha ('24) and Executive Board member Tess Hubbard ('24) hold their hands up to create a human tunnel as the younger students run through. Moving Up Day took place June 2 and commemorated non-graduating students and their achievements this year.

[Photo] Moving Up Day celebrates ‘motivated,’ ‘creative’ rising senior class

By Surya Patil, Editor-in-Chief
June 4, 2023
Journalism adviser Kristin Taylor helps publications staff members organize the yearbooks while grades six through 11 line up to receive them Wednesday, May 24. Community members signed each other's yearbooks to reflect on the year before summer break.

Yearbook distribution week resurfaces community memories from school year

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 29, 2023
Junior Cate Childers poses in a Colgate University soccer jersey to celebrate her commitment to their Division I women’s soccer team. From starting soccer at age 4 to joining the recruiting pool freshman year to committing to Colgate April 29, Childers said she is relieved and excited to see what the future holds. 

Junior Cate Childers verbally commits to play Division I soccer at Colgate University

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 17, 2023
Festival board members Grace Whitney (’25), Sadie Long (’24) and Grace Delossa (’23) pose for a picture on the pink carpet during Archer’s Film Festival 2023. According to film teacher Andrew Ruiz, the board has gained many leadership skills over months of choosing films, booking the venue, organizing logistics and generating publicity for the event.

Teenagers screen their stories at Archer’s Film Festival 2023

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 2, 2023
The position of Student Body President goes to Anaiya Asomugha (’24), as she received the most votes from the rising upper schoolers. The Executive Board will be comprised of Tess Hubbard (’24), Amelia Hines (’24) and Laila Charles (’24).

BREAKING: 2023-2024 Student Council Executive Board results announced

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 2, 2023
My younger sister and I work at the register at Timeless Treasures Ticktocker Thrift Shop in Culver City. We were nervous for our first time managing the register, as our people skills had gotten worse due to quarantine. However, spending hours talking to customers helped us improve communication with them through words and friendly gestures.

Op-Ed: Too many words

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
April 17, 2023

The Scoop on Academic Peer Pressure in preparation for College

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
April 17, 2023
Boxes of ripe strawberries were lined up in this farmers market I visited last summer. farm-to-table culture encourages buying from these markets to support local farming businesses and receive fresher produce.

Op-Ed: Farm-to-table

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
April 13, 2023

From soul food to rhythm and blues: BSU hosts cultural festivities for Black History Month

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
March 15, 2023
Staff Reporters Lucia Williams ('25) and Surya Patil ('25) and journalism adviser Kristin Taylor accept the 2022 Online Pacemaker Finalist award at the 2022 National High School Journalism Convention. This award recognized high school news sites for journalistic excellence. 

Commentary: Celebrating Student Press Freedom Day with bold journalism, brave advocacy

By Surya Patil and Lucy Williams
February 24, 2023
Chinese teacher Pei-Ying Gosselin teaches parents introductory Chinese phrases during the Archer School for Parents language learning event. She said the lesson gave parents a similar experience to connect to their child when their child has questions or struggles in class.

Archer School for Parents brings guardians into the classroom

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
February 21, 2023

The Scoop S3 Ep3 – The Scoop on Growing Up Archer: Alumni Lauren Finkelstein

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
February 16, 2023
Seniors Genevieve Sive, Sienna Ozar, Kennedy Schultz and Audrey DeUgarte study for final exams in Clark Street Bakery across the street from Archer. Many teachers made lengthy study guides for upper schoolers to practice material since many exams covered class material taught back in September.

New year, new finals: Students respond to finals week after winter break

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
January 24, 2023
This year, we cooked up and untraditional Thanksgiving table at my grandmothers house consisting of Oysters Rockefeller, lobster bisque and debuting sweet potato Christmas trees. Experiment with new holiday dishes this winter to spice up your seasonal routine and impress friends and family.

A cozy, untraditional winter food adventure

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
January 18, 2023
Freshmen Sara Salehi and Julia Ong watch the USA v Iran World Cup game Nov. 29 in the dining hall. The Archer community has been closely following each bracket of games in anticipation of the winning team.

World Cup inspires Archer’s diversity, connectivity

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
December 12, 2022
"The Crown" is a Netflix series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the royals' impact on Britain. Season 5 is set in the 1990s, and it brings more drama and intensity to this worldwide favorite.

Review: ‘The Crown’ season 5 is a bingeworthy British bomb

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
December 7, 2022

The Scoop S3 Ep1 –The Scoop on Growing Up Archer: Sydney Curry

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
December 3, 2022
The cheerleading team lifts freshman Emily Paschall into the air at Archer's fall sports pep rally in their first performance of the year. In the future, the team hopes to perform more, possibly at Archer sports games.

Somersaults for Spirit: Archer’s cheerleaders don’t need a football team

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
November 29, 2022
Head of School Elizabeth English teaches the origins of visual design elements in her seminar American History through Architecture. She said teaching has made her more connected to the class of 2023 and faculty.

Building blocks of connection: Head of School teaches senior seminar about architecture

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
October 31, 2022
These antisemitic posters encased in plastic bags and weighed with sand were found in Beverly Hills Sunday. The Goyim Defense League, an antisemitic hate group, dispersed these Saturday night, and junior Stephanie Harrison said many of her neighbors found them in their backyards.

‘I feel jaded at this point’: Archer students respond to antisemitism in Los Angeles

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
October 29, 2022
Every number of a death toll generates the same image for a person: a dead body. Stopping to consider the lives and suffering of each person in that number will create the empathy we need to act as a community.

Op-Ed: There are lives behind the death toll

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
September 30, 2022
Student Body President Rose Chuck ('23) dances with seniors Eliza Tiles, Georgia Ehrlich and Azel Al-Kadiri in the courtyard on the kickoff First Friday event of the year. Many students, from sixth graders to seniors, ran around, ate candy and taped magazines to Student Council’s Archer vision board.

Dance parties and visions: Student Council kicks off First Fridays event, celebrates community

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
September 21, 2022
Senior Olivia Jarvie presents her project about the effects of snail slime on chronic wound healing. Judges Max Ezin and Lynn Bresnahan grade her presentation and research skills. Student scientists in Archer's research classes used the symposium as an opportunity to showcase the projects that they had been working on all year.

Worms healing wounds, devices fighting fires: STEM Symposium features Los Angeles student scientists

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
June 4, 2022
The position of Student Body President goes to Rose Chuck, as she received the most votes from the rising upper schoolers. The Executive Board will be comprised of Tess Hubbard, Alyssa Ponrartana and Meera Mahidhara.

BREAKING: 2022-2023 Student Council Executive Board results announced

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 13, 2022
Seniors Faith Soriano and Isabella Specchierla smile as they sign their National Letters of Intent and Commitment in the amphitheater. After 12 years of training in their sports, Soriano committed to play softball at California State University Monterey Bay, and Specchierla committed to play soccer at Swarthmore University.

‘Know your potential’: Archer’s senior athletes sign college letters of intent

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 12, 2022
Students like Gendy and Lassman feel silenced when society assumes they are white due to their light skin or straight hair. Lassman said that if people "take the time to educate and spread information, they show they care about students from other backgrounds."

‘A part of me that was overlooked’: the microaggressions on white-passing Multiracial identities

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
May 2, 2022
Board members Grace DeLossa ('23) and Olivia Jarvie ('22) interview special guest María Ellingen and speakers David Ronn and Jordan Kerner about gender's role in the film industry. DeLossa said she was inspired by their advice about the importance of communicating your values through the big screen. Following the interview, the audience watched 12 films by high school filmmakers that shared their identities, including perspectives from experiencing racism in school to grieving over a deceased mother.

‘This is who we are’: Archer’s 11th Annual Film Festival amplifies female voices

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
April 29, 2022
History teacher Beth Gold teaches her ninth grade students about Ibram X Kendi's children's book, "Antiracist Baby." The class dives into a multitude of difficult topics throughout the year through units on race, religion, gender, government and gender and sexuality. "Difficult knowledge" often comes up in these units, and the curriculum has changed over the years due to new research or social movements.

‘There’s always going to be something missing’: Archer’s community practice unpacks difficult knowledge

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
April 26, 2022
Senior Marissa Gendy gets pied in the face. Students and faculty gathered in the courtyard to watch this happen. "I just ate shaving cream," Gendy said.

[Photo] Photo Gallery: Student perspectives on annual Spirit Week event

By Chloe Fidler, Voices Editor
March 22, 2022
The Netflix film "Icarus" was released in 2017 and has since won an Academy Award. In this promotional photo, it is illustrated that the Russian government is controlling an Olympic runner, similar to a puppet. The Russian government asserts complete control over their athletes, and gives them little freedom.

Review: ‘Icarus’ transports viewers on unforeseen Russian geopolitical thriller

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
March 12, 2022
Sophomore Chloe Chu spikes the volleyball over the net during team practice at Annenberg Community Beach on Feb. 9. The team enjoys watching the sunset while bonding and staying active, teammate Tavi Memoli ('25) said.

Upper school beach volleyball hits the sand for new season

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
February 18, 2022
Pictured are seniors (from left to right) Tina Fuentes-Alva, Thea Leimone and Vaughan Anoa'i competing in a round of tug of war against the juniors. Fellow senior Chidimma Nwafor said they really came together during their last Color Wars at Archer.

Color Wars event ‘unifies grades’ and recaptures Archer’s pride

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
February 16, 2022
As I demonstrate how to cut salmon, my middle sister continues to experiment with her “axe” and my youngest sister just eats the piece whole. I have taught multiple knife-skills classes to my siblings over the years; I guess there’s better things to do at the Cheesecake Factory.

Op-Ed: Welcome to parenthood, eldest child

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
February 11, 2022
Climate-action youth advocates gather in downtown Los Angeles for the Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles 24- Hour Strike on Sept. 24-25, 2021. Multiple activities took place around Los Angeles demanding Governor Gavin Newsom to pass measures to help save the climate.

Breaking the glass ceiling: Archer activists work toward social justice

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
February 3, 2022
Freshmen Lili Franks and Cezanne Silverton work on a debate case in the library during their first week back from remote learning. Franks is wearing a KN95 mask to take extra precaution against COVID-19. Students have continued the normal school schedule since the return to campus; however, they have to communicate with many classmates online who have had exposure or infection to COVID-19.

Archer experiences COVID-19 uncertainty, safety protocols updated

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
January 20, 2022
Co-directors Azel Alkadiri ('23) and Grace Whitney ('25) strategize with Tracy Poverstein on opening night of "Bright. Young. Things." The cast was running through rehearsals in the anticipating hours before the show.

‘It’s been an honor:’ Azel Alkadiri and Grace Whitney co-direct middle school play

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
December 17, 2021
Senior Bess Frierson, founder and leader of the garden committee, gets to work inspecting the vegetation in Archer's garden. She hopes that time spent in the garden will (quote)

‘It’s a unifying place’: Students ‘get their hands dirty’ with Archer’s garden committee

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
December 14, 2021
Thanksgiving dishes crowd the stove on Nov. 25, 2021 in preparation for a Thanksgiving meal. Many families returned to their Thanksgiving traditions after pandemic cancellations last year. However, precautions were still taken by many families due to the current state of the pandemic.

Gratitude and food: Navigating Thanksgiving in a pandemic

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
December 2, 2021
Eighth-graders Julia Ong, Shayla Covington and Callie Roth represent their grade in the pumpkin decorating contest. Teams from all grade levels had to use their own supplies to transform the pumpkin in 15 minutes.

Spooktacular celebrations: Halloween returns to Archer

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
November 10, 2021
Members of the varsity cross country team celebrate after placing second in their first Liberty League meet of the season. They trained throughout the weeks prior to prepare for the meet. Pictured from left to right are Maya Acutt ('25), Kayla Bruce ('24), Kate Hanney ('25), Gabriella Specchierla ('25), captain Lauren Robson ('22), Ali Aragon ('22) and Keera Levell-Guerrero ('23).

Just keep running: Varsity cross country embarks on season with CIF in mind

By Surya Patil and Lucy Williams
October 10, 2021
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