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
Melinda Wang

Melinda Wang, Photo Editor

Melinda Wang joined The Oracle as a staff reporter in 2022, became a senior reporter in 2023 and is now the photo editor in 2024. She takes art classes and is invested in community service outside of Archer. When she isn’t doing homework, you can find her listening to Lana Del Rey or taking photos.

All content by Melinda Wang
A student debates between taking the PSAT and practice ACT, both of which are optional at Archer. Juniors had the opportunity to take a practice ACT Oct. 19 and a PSAT Oct. 23, which could qualify them for a National Merit scholarship. Sophomores took the PSAT Oct. 23., which could not qualify them for National Merit. (Graphic Illustration by Melinda Wang)

Juniors, sophomores take PSAT, practice ACT, reflect on value of standardized testing 

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
November 17, 2024
Junior Lauren Ho grasps a stress ball in her hand. With the recent popularization of fidget toys, such as the Nee-Doh cube, stress toys have begun making a comeback among students at Archer.

Fidget Toy Frenzy: Exploring usage of fidget toys among students

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
November 10, 2024
Grades eight, 10 and 12 balance on one side of a scale "Arrow Week," while grades seven, nine and 11 balance on the other. Arrow Week historically took seventh, ninth and 11th grade students, but will now take eighth, 10th and 12th grade students. (Graphic Illustration by Melinda Wang)

Different grades attend Arrow Week, mixed feelings raised among students

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
October 10, 2024
Juniors Caroline Collis, Cleo Wilson, Julia Ong and Dakota Tooley play spike ball during the first Final Friday of the year. The Final Friday celebration was summer-themed and occurred Friday, Sept. 27.

Final Friday Festivities: 9th grade representatives plan first Final Friday of school year

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
September 30, 2024
On a dirt road, children run alongside a bus while waving goodbye to Archer students. This past June, upper school students visited Kenya for 11 days through the Archer Abroad program.

Archer Abroad immerses students in sustainability-focused Kenya trip

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
September 2, 2024

School celebrates Moving Up Day, last day of 2023-2024 school year

By Vivianne Arnold and Melinda Wang
June 2, 2024
A graphic illustration depicts a hand holding a phone with different popular slang terms surrounding it. Many so-called "Generation Z" terms stem from African American Vernacular English and are popularized through social media platforms.

From ‘ate’ to ‘rizz’: Diving into Generation Z’s usage of slang 

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
May 27, 2024

‘It’s for anybody who wants to dance’: Festival of Dance showcases student-choreographed dances

By Melinda Wang and Meredith Ho
May 17, 2024
Junior Bryce Collis and sophomore Emerson Cohen practice a dance move during the upper school Night of Dance and dance company auditions April 15. Students first auditioned in randomly-sorted groups before performing by grade level.

Tempos and tryouts: Dance company auditions foster ‘supportive’ atmosphere across grade levels 

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
April 26, 2024
Hollyn Alpert (’28) runs while tossing blue powder into the air March 22. Students celebrated Holi on the back field and threw colored powder at each other to commemorate the new spring.  

A vibrant Holi-day: Holi celebration marks beginning of spring

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
April 14, 2024
Broadcast: GEG hosts International Women's Day event, honors theme of 'Inspiring Inclusion'

Broadcast: GEG hosts International Women’s Day event, honors theme of ‘Inspiring Inclusion’

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
April 13, 2024
Broadcast: Senior dance captain celebrates annual Night of Dance, reflects on Archer dance community

Broadcast: Senior dance captain celebrates annual Night of Dance, reflects on Archer dance community

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
March 21, 2024

S4E8 – The Scoop on student journalist Lisa, her perspective on student censorship

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
March 17, 2024
The graphic illustration portrays a hand holding a heart, symbolizing a charitable nonprofit, next to a question mark. I have noticed a recent increase in youth-led nonprofit organizations, and I feel it is now more important than ever to consider the intentions behind their founding, which can affect the sustainability of such organizations in the long run. (Graphic Illustration by Melinda Wang)

Op-Ed: Passion should be the real foundation for student-led nonprofits

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
March 12, 2024
Photo Essay: Lunar New Year celebration honors old traditions, welcomes new ones

Photo Essay: Lunar New Year celebration honors old traditions, welcomes new ones

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
March 7, 2024
CulinArt dietician Carrie Gabriel helps Lucy Kaplan (’26) create her own snack mix as she describes the benefits of balanced eating. Gabriel hosted the wellness table Thursday, Jan. 18, in the courtyard to increase nutritional awareness and promote well-rounded diets.

[Photo] Eating for energy: CulinArt staff hosts wellness table, promotes nutritional awareness

By Zoe Gazzuolo, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
January 25, 2024
The Muses pose in front of the scoreboard that displays their league ranking at YULA Boys High School Dec. 13, 2023. Sophomore Lucy Kaplan said she tends to avoid looking at the scoreboard because it makes her nervous and only knows whether The Muses won or lost until after the competition. The Muses are ranked first in their league after three competitions.  

Climbing the robo-ranks: The Muses rank 1st in Southern California league

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
January 12, 2024
Photo Essay: Ceramics students experiment with shape, color in showcase

Photo Essay: Ceramics students experiment with shape, color in showcase

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
January 10, 2024

S4E5 – The Scoop on student journalist Avital Sojcher’s experience with censorship

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
December 14, 2023
My first out of 15 haikus about Charles Darwin is in quotes. Compared to when I had no prior knowledge about poetry and didn't understand why it mattered, I now feel a deeper appreciation for how poetry evokes different feelings for each reader. (Graphic Illustration by Melinda Wang)

Op-Ed: To each their own: The importance of personal poetic interpretations

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
November 26, 2023
A graphic illustration depicts two students at school; one is actively engaging in class after a getting full night of sleep, and the other is slumped over while scrolling on their phone, exhausted and sleep deprived. Sleeping for at least eight hours every 24 hours is essential for students, however, many of them are sleep deprived due to poor sleep hygiene, stress or trouble falling asleep. (Graphic Illustration by Emily Paschall)

Sleepy students: Effects of sleep deprivation, importance of healthy sleep schedules for adolescents

By Emily Paschall and Melinda Wang
November 25, 2023

Broadcast: A conversation with school counselor Erica Greene

By Emily Paschall and Melinda Wang
October 22, 2023
Students choose from a pile of candy, which includes Almond Joys, Hichews and Twizzlers at a Final Friday table. Final Fridays often feature sweet treats and activities for students to engage in, such as friendship-bracelet-making, similarly to last year’s First Friday celebrations, which featured a schoolwide vision board.

‘Finding pockets of joy’: Final Friday encourages celebration, Student Council continues Archer tradition

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
October 19, 2023
Flags and footballs lay on Archer's sport court. Athletic Director Kim Smith and junior Cezanne Silverton worked together to bring flag football to Archer, which upper school students can sign up for in late October.

Flag football fun: Student initiative helps establish new sport

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
October 14, 2023
My jack-o’-lantern is lit up in the dark. Jack-o’-lantern faces can be silly, scary or even sad. Along with carving pumpkins, baking fun treats, watching scary movies and picking apples are some of my favorite activities to in the fall. 

Spook-tacular festivities: 5 fun activities to do for fall

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
October 9, 2023
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. Photo Source: Image from Sony Pictures Animation.

Review: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse’ turned me into a Spider-Man fan

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
September 12, 2023
New ninth grader Noah Johnson sits on the far right side of the couch with other ninth graders who are not new to Archer. Johnson said she thinks there are cliques at Archer, which can be challenging for new students, but friend groups are always shifting throughout high school.

Faculty, new students reflect on adjusting to different school settings

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
May 29, 2023
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

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
May 29, 2023
Jet Rag's 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

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
May 27, 2023
Pictured is an example of clickbait in the form of a YouTube title and thumbnail. Visually, clickbait can come in the form of excessive and over-the-top thumbnails and pictures in order to catch the attention of potential viewers. (Graphic Illustration by Melinda Wang)

Op-Ed: Clickbait negatively impacts our trust in the media

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
May 23, 2023
Coach Tony Flores fills out a scoring sheet while Archer plays Immaculate Heart. Coach Flores has been coaching for over 30 years, and said he most appreciates how the Archer team is respectful.

Swinging into another season: varsity softball reflects on growth, progress

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
April 24, 2023
Director of Nutrition and Wellness Stephanie Dorfman and dietician Carrie Gabriel stand behind the wellness table. In addition to sampling freshly made pesto pasta, students had the chance to consult Dorfman and Gabriel on healthy eating habits.

From servery to serving table: CulinArt staff promotes nutrition through wellness table

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
April 24, 2023
Amy Chua’s book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," is displayed on my iPad. Chua's novel forms an impact on the reader that is equally as powerful in its digital format as it is in its physical format.

Review: ‘Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother’ is a tale of a tiger mother’s transformation

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
March 15, 2023
“Earth Guitar” depicts Woolenberg’s favorite guitar in her home that has butterflies on it. Woolenberg's photograph demonstrates her theme of “sandwiching negatives," and it won an Honorable Mention.

The Art-cher School for Girls: students submit to Scholastic Art Awards, explore creative processes

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
March 4, 2023
Red felt is cut into elaborate patterns and characters and hung around the house or above doorframes. People who celebrate Lunar New Year hang the felt for good luck, which is shown through the character “fu” (福) because it can mean “good luck” or “prosperity.”

New moons, old traditions: students, faculty celebrate Lunar New Year with unique traditions 

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
January 29, 2023
Students from the Chinese 1 class dance around the courtyard in a big red and gold dragon to symbolize good luck for the new year. The Archer community celebrated the Lunar New Year through student-led crafts, songs and dances Jan. 27.

[Photo] Archer community hops into Lunar New Year with courtyard celebration, fashion show

By Ella Schwartz, Managing Editor
February 3, 2023
Junior Emilia Marmol discusses her work with A Sense of Home in room 148.  Archer has recognized Marmol's service through @archerservice on Instagram. 

A sense of home: Emi Marmol combats homelessness

By Melinda Wang, Photo Editor
January 18, 2023
Meredith Ho staff photo 2022

[Photo] Meredith Ho

September 13, 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.

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

By Lucy Williams, Voices Editor
September 21, 2022
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