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
Thea Leimone

Thea Leimone, Features Editor

Thea Leimone joined The Oracle in 2018 and became the Features Editor in 2021. She loves swimming and was on Archer’s varsity swim team for three years. She graduated in 2022.

All content by Thea Leimone
My first photo from the 2018-2019 Oracle staff. This photo was on the lanyard I wore when I reported. Since my first year writing for The Oracle, I have held positions as a Staff Reporter, Cultures Editor and Features Editor. 

Commentary: So long, Pub Lab

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 22, 2022
Promotional poster for ABC News podcast "The Dropout," reported by Rebecca Jarvis and produced by Taylor Dunn and Victoria Thompson. The two season podcast follows former entrepreneur of the biotech industry Elizabeth Holmes' path to being convicted of criminal charges.

Review: Dropping out of fame, ‘The Dropout’ tells story of Theranos scam

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 20, 2022

Post-prom: Students reflect on celebration with peers

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 11, 2022
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[Photo] Local small business: Seniors share their love for Belwood Bakery

By Grace Doyle, Sports Editor
May 8, 2022
Senior Faith Soriano's prom dress and shoes are laid out prior to the event. The prom will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23.

Prepping for prom: Seniors and juniors share thoughts prior to event

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
April 26, 2022
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[Photo] ‘Young people are less institutionally minded’: How youth participation in politics has increased

By Nina Sperling, Senior Reporter
May 18, 2022
Freshman Alina Williams' greek amphora pottery piece is placed for a submission photo. The piece won a blank award for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The piece was a project for her Introduction to Ceramics class that her teacher Olivia Moon urged her to submit for judging.

Awards and accomplishments: Students sweep in art and writing awards

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
March 31, 2022
Archer students and faculty pose, making X's with their arms for International Women's Day theme: "Break the Bias." The day took place Monday, March 8, 2022, in the first full week of Women's History Month.

‘Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope’: Students share thoughts on Women’s History Month

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
March 14, 2022
Archer's varsity track and field team poses at their first Liberty League meet of the season, located at Birmingham High School. The 18 member team will continue competing through May.

Ready, set, sprint: Varsity track and field kicks off season

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
March 13, 2022
Claire Leimone poses will a Trader Joe's reusable bag filled with grocery items. On top of their fantastic food and welcoming stores, Trader Joe's provides recyclable and reusable bags.

An ode to Trader Joe’s

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
March 1, 2022
Junior Eliza Tiles and a friend pose with one of the hundreds of carrots they farmed. Farming, hiking and field labs were part of Tiles' daily life during her semester abroad in Chewonki, ME

Through the eyes of Eliza Tiles: A semester abroad in Chewonki

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
February 16, 2022
An AP Calculus AB and BC course and exam description binder sits on the desk of math teacher Monica Barragán. The binder details the specific standards and way in which to teach the AP course. Phasing out AP classes will allow teachers to choose their curriculums and teaching pace.

‘It allows teachers to teach’: Archer phases out of advanced placement, honors courses for 2022-2023 school year

By Thea Leimone and Vaughan Anoa'i
February 15, 2022
A female agent from the FBI demonstrates how bulletproof vests are worn. Students who participated in the assembly had the opportunity to try on gear following the presentation.

[Photo] Feminism in the FBI: Female agents visit campus, discuss career paths

By Vaughan Anoa'i, Editor in Chief
January 28, 2022
Students observe artwork on display at the first Visual Arts Fair held in the courtyard at lunch. Two rows of clotheslines were pinned with student art ranging from photography to felt artwork for the community to look at. Senior Bess Frierson created this event to showcase all of the artwork that fellow students have created, whether they are in an art elective or not.

‘Art unites people’: First ever Visual Arts Fair celebrated in courtyard

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
January 24, 2022
Senior and co-captain Marissa Gendy dribbles in a game against Heritage High School. The team has worked together to support one another as friends and as teammates as they work to improve their skills and scores.

Basketball bonds: Varsity basketball grows together

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
January 9, 2022
Netflix's newest blockbuster "Don't Look Up" creates an eerily similar world to our own filled with disaster-denying politicians, exploitative businessmen and scientists fighting to save the world; all while a comet is set to destroy the planet.

Review: ‘Don’t Look Up’ at the screen

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
January 9, 2022
Poster for the upcoming middle school play titled "Bright. Young. Things." The play follows a group of young geniuses in a televised competition for the title of the brightest child of Britain. The story shares the kids journey of competition, self-reflection and coming together.

Theater togetherness: Middle school play brings cast together

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
December 7, 2021
Seniors sit in the Blackbox Theatre as they wait for a video of college advice from Archer graduates during a surprise celebration. The celebration during US-FLX block also included Sprinkles cupcakes donated by the Archer Parent’s Association.

Words of wisdom: Seniors celebrate first wave of application deadlines

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
November 18, 2021
Dune was released Oct. 2021, after a year's delay in release due to COVID-19. The film is an adaptation of the novel by Frank Herbert and follows a young boy in his predestined journey to power over the galaxy.

Review: “Dune” introduces a new world to cinema, treads the line of good and bad

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
November 9, 2021
Janet Lyon and Jane Davis celebrate Lyon's retirement at an after school faculty and staff party. "She deserves to retire because she’s worked so hard at this point over these years, but it’s like I feel like I’m losing a piece of myself,”  Davis said. Lyon is retiring from her role as Director of Operations after 22 years at Archer.

Into the limelight: Director of Operations Janet Lyon retires after 22 years at Archer

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
October 31, 2021
Lawn decorations in celebration of upcoming Halloween. Some other fun ways to celebrate the season are baking or watching shows and movies for the season.

The ultimate list of frightful films and shows for this Halloween season

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
October 21, 2021
Freshman August Kohn sells seniors Ruby Williams and Lexi Tooley baked goods for the GEG bake sale fundraiser in support of the LÍde foundation. The bake sale was one of multiple stations in the courtyard for the International Day of the Girl celebration on Oct. 11.

GEG fills courtyard with festivities for International Day of the Girl celebration

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
October 15, 2021
Being a teenage girl that's also an athlete is challenging for body image. Expectations of strength and performance in one part of life, and societal pressures of thin bodies and skipped meals in the other. We must learn to love our bodies and appreciate the fuel we give them.

Op-Ed: Food for thought, fuel for your body

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
October 3, 2021

Eleventh grade Arrow Week: A photo journey through Wyoming

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
September 22, 2021
The new 2021-2022 schedule template features the new rotation systems, class timing and additional periods. A document with the template was sent out to the student body so they could plan out their classes and plans for the new FLX Block and 8-day rotation.

A, B, C…G Block? Planning and overview of the 2021-2022 schedule

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
September 7, 2021
Senior Kaitlyn Kim presents to her classmates and faculty on "An Analysis of the Failures of the American Medical System for Women of Color." Kim's presentation was given in the dining hall and was based on the research from her semester-long Gender Studies seminar.

‘Thinking and learning made visible’: Seniors share semester research journeys at annual Humanities Honors Symposium

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 29, 2021
Dancers Cara Banks, Chloe Terani and Daisy Marmur perform in doorways in an edited piece streamed during the remote Festival of Dance. The doorways were used as framing to represent the isolation people have faced this past year.

Annual Festival of Dance: Overcoming obstacles and finding hope

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 26, 2021
Chairs placed outside of the Dining Hall with signs to notify others to be quiet while AP Exams take place. The first AP Exams took place at Archer this week, and the rest will follow with some subjects in-person and others online.

Perseverance and preparation: AP Exams administered in-person following year of remote learning

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 16, 2021
Juniors sit in socially distanced seats in the amphitheater during the Junior Prom Movie Night. In place of the typical junior-senior prom, Archer hosted a movie night where the 2012 movie "Pitch Perfect" was projected for students.

A pandemic prom: Junior class participates in movie night, replacing traditional prom celebration

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 2, 2021
Athletes Lauren Robson ('22) and Kate Hanney ('25) run on the Archer field during an Archer cross country practice. COVID-19 regulations have changed in L.A. county, allowing for Archer athletics to return to sports practices and some competitions.

Archer sports teams return to practices; athletes ‘reconnected,’ ‘excited’

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
April 15, 2021
Lana Del Rey released her seventh studio album "Chemtrails Over the Country Club", produced alongside Jack Antonoff and Rick Nowels, on March 19, 2021. The album cover captures Del Rey amongst her closest friends inher most authentic album yet, captioning its release with "These are my friends, this is my life. We are all a beautiful mix of everything, which is visible and celebrated in everything I do.”

Review: Lana Del Rey’s ‘Chemtrails Over the Country Club’ is authentic and enchanting

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
April 15, 2021
This illustration depicts a love letter among the various aspects of the busy lives of student athletes. The love letter recognizes all the hard work and sacrifice student athletes make to do what they love.

Op-Ed: A love letter to student-athletes everywhere

By Vaughan Anoa'i and Thea Leimone
April 15, 2021
Cover for Taylor Swift's most recent song release: a re-recording of her 2009 song "Love Story," which she now has the full rights to. Taylor Swift made her debut into the world of music in 2004, at age 14. Since then, Swift has released nine studio albums and set multiple of records for music sales and awards, but is still met with intense criticism of her talent and success.

Op-Ed: What do you mean you ‘don’t like Taylor Swift’?

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
March 18, 2021
The administration announced return-to-campus plans in a series of emails which includes specific dates for each grades with a combination of social/emotional learning and academic learning. More information and updates to follow.

Archer administration announces school-wide return-to-campus plans

By Vaughan Anoa'i and Thea Leimone
February 28, 2021
Wednesday of the 2021 Scholastic Journalism Week highlights the significance of local journalism. The Oracle takes a closer look by asking community members to reflect on the impact of local journalism on the Archer campus.

Local journalism matters: Q&A with community members on importance of local journalism

By Thea Leimone and Greta Irvine
February 24, 2021
Virtual sophomore self-defense class, led by IMPACT instructor Danielle Joy, practices kicking an attacker in their homes. Self-defense is a required part of the sophomore physical education curriculum, but classes have been conducted virtually due to COVID restrictions.

Learning to fight back…at home?: Self defense classes adapt to virtual setting

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
February 21, 2021
The middle school Orchestra performs a song during the Winter Concert. The musicians recorded two videos, one for audio and one for visual, which were then edited together and added to virtual background and streamed on Vimeo.

Musical magic: Winter Concert adapts to virtual setting

By Thea Leimone and Greta Irvine
February 11, 2021
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that the Biden Administration would be continuing the Obama initiative, paused under President Donald Trump, to add American Abolitionist Harriet Tubman to the $20 bill.

Treasury Department to resume process of adding Harriett Tubman to $20 bill

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
January 31, 2021
Award-winning playwright Karen Zacarías (top right) joins junior english class and advanced theater students, along with other members of the archer community, on a Zoom to answer questions about her play "Native Gardens" and her career as a playwright. Zacarías is from Mexico and has won awards for her work, including the National Latino Playwriting Award.

Playwright Karen Zacarías joins Archer community for Q&A

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
December 19, 2020
Netflix Original, "The Queen's Gambit," is a story of a female chess prodigy living int he 1960s. The series highlights the endless capabilities of a woman who is confident in herself, and never sees gender as a barrier.

Review of ‘The Queen’s Gambit:’ An unusual feminist tale

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
December 17, 2020
Amy Coney Barrett addresses the crowd after President Donald Trump announced his nomination of her for a Supreme Court Justice. The nomination event took place at the White House.

Students express ‘frustration,’ ‘worry’ at Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court appointment

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
December 11, 2020
Pictured is a scene from the first showing of the upper school play entitled "Radium Girls." Justine Moore '22, Bess Frierson '22 and Ruby Horton '21 are shown on a pre-recording stream on Vimeo.

‘Radium Girls’: Fighting for rights amidst a pandemic

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
December 6, 2020
On the television screen, CNN anchors discuss the continuation of counting votes and possible outcomes. The 2020 Presidential Election commenced on Nov. 3 and continues today as ballots are still being counted in states such as Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Red, white and youth: 2020 Presidential Election attracts conversation among young voters

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
November 4, 2020
The Wall Street Journal cover page of Amy Coney Barrett's SCOTUS confirmation hearing. The Wall Street Journal is owned by Robert Murdoch, who also owns The New York Post and The Times of London and was the previous CEO of Fox News.

Op-Ed: Can journalism truly be objective?

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
October 25, 2020
Senator Kamala Harris speaking during the BBC News coverage of the vice presidential debate. The debate took place at the University of Utah on Oct. 7, 2020.

Let the chaos fly away: Vice presidential debate recognized as more ‘civil,’ ‘professional’ according to students

By Thea Leimone and Vaughan Anoa'i
October 18, 2020
In the virtual space, members of Archer's dance program have had to readjust and readapt their usual rehearsals for this semester. In preparation for the annual Night of Dance performance in the winter, all members of the program have been collectively rehearsing their respective dances via Zoom.

Dance like nobody’s watching: Archer’s dance program adjusts rehearsals due to remote learning

By Vaughan Anoa'i and Thea Leimone
October 14, 2020
Freshman Piper Porter's desk and computer setup for remote learning. Porter and her twin Paige are both new to Archer, and have been adjusting to starting a new school remotely.

New students adjust, connect through online learning

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
October 3, 2020
Lauren Robson with a leader from the Meals on Wheels organization who helped Robson launch her senior outreach program. Robson's outreach projects is one of the unique service opportunities that COVID-19 has created.

Students adapt service learning projects amid pandemic

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
September 25, 2020
"The Lighthouse," released in 2019, starred British actor Robert Pattison and American actor Willem Dafoe as they played two lighthouse keepers attempting to maintain sanity. The film garnered 118 nominations including an Academy Award for cinematography.

Review: Pattinson and Dafoe make for a twisted, maddening duo in film ‘The Lighthouse’

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
September 18, 2020
On December 3 2019, the Black Student Union (BSU) and Hermanas Unidas Club came together for a joint club meeting held in the HD room. This meeting was hosted by both club's student-leaders as well as faculty advisers.

Goal-setting and reflection: Archer club leaders ‘excited’ to explore remote learning space

By Vaughan Anoa'i and Thea Leimone
September 15, 2020
Seniors Gracey Wyles and Norah Adler socially distance while spending Labor Day at the beach in Santa Monica. Los Angeles County reached a record high temperature of 121 degrees over Labor Day weekend.

COVID-19 restrictions and heatwave burns up Labor Day weekend plans for Angelenos

By Vaughan Anoa'i and Thea Leimone
September 15, 2020
Archer sent the class of 2026 materials to make mini Maypoles in place of the famous Archer Maypole positioned in the front lawn on campus. "In some ways, each individual strand of the Maypole, whether it be the real or miniature one, is like an aspect of Archer, and when woven together, emulates connection and substantial bonds," sixth grader Saskia Sommer said.

Archer hosts first virtual Moving Up Day

By London Sinclair and Thea Leimone
June 8, 2020
In an anonymous survey conducted by the Oracle, students at Archer shared their opinions on vaccines; 74.3% of the responses answered that they strongly support vaccines. "I feel that, for the most part...the Archer community is generally believes in vaccines," Ava Rothenberg '22 said. Graphic Illustration by Amanda Greene

‘Important’ and ‘safe’: Students share thoughts on vaccines

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
June 8, 2019
Middle schoolers in the ALTeachers X-Block follow sophomore Ambassador Leadership Team member Jessica Tuchin '21. The X-Block focused on teaching students how to be ambassadors for the school.

Ambassador Leadership Team reflects on school year

By Thea Leimone and Amelia Stone
June 7, 2019
A sign in front of the Dining Hall, which was lined with chairs and individual desks for students taking the AP Exams. The exams were held in other places such as the library and lighting studio.

Archer students complete AP exams

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
June 2, 2019
One wall of the village bridge, filled with extra boxes from the classrooms. Honor Education Council organized an activity where students could write reflections about the village and the new building on the walls of the bridge.

Students say goodbye to classroom village, transition into Academic Center

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
May 30, 2019
Student Council members sell Diddy Riese cookies in a Galentine's Day sale benefitting Planned Parenthood. This was one of 10 fundraisers during Philanthropy February, which was organized by the Community Service Leadership Board.

Philanthropy February ‘educates the community’

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
March 30, 2019
For the Pi day festivities, math students decorated each link of a paper chain with a digit of Pi. In addition to creating the chain, students participated in scavenger hunts and fundraisers related to math.

Archer celebrates Pi Day with week of math challenges

By Thea Leimone, Emma London, and Liz Haltrecht
March 21, 2019
Freshmen London Sinclair and Chloe Fidler sit in the shade in the courtyard during x-block. 'The lavender grey color of the jacket really compliments our uniform colors.' Sinclair said.

Rain on: New grey puffy jacket keeps students warm

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
February 24, 2019
The Journalism Education Association scheduled this year's Scholastic Journalism Week from Feb. 18 to Feb. 24. Scholastic Journalism Week is intended to nationally support scholastic journalism. Graphic designed by Lola Lamberg '21.

#EverydayJournalism: Impactful Oracle stories through the years

By Lola Lamberg, Thea Leimone, and Chloe Richards
February 22, 2019
The sophomore dancers perform fellow sophomore Sydney Banks' choreography. The dance was based off of Medusa, a mythical monster. "Medusa's snakes literally kill with looks, so I based this dance off that," Banks said.

Dancers preview upcoming Night of Dance, ‘highlight unsung heroes’

By Lola Lamberg, Thea Leimone, and Chloe Richards
February 11, 2019
Billie Eilish performs at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on March 9, 2018. Eilish often sings while playing the ukulele.

Billie Eilish’s music, persona ‘inspiring’ for students

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
February 5, 2019
Black Student Union senior-leader Madison Tyler reads the poem "Won't You Celebrate With Me" by Lucille Clifton to the upper school, staff and faculty in the dining hall. Tyler and her co-senior-leader MaeLea Williams said "supporting black businesses" is one way to celebrate "Black History Month."

Black Student Union leaders preview Black History Month

By Lola Lamberg, Thea Leimone, and Chloe Richards
February 3, 2019
Middle School Director Karen Pavliscak speaks to the middle school on the "importance of a growth mindset." Pavliscak frequently ties in pictures of animals, such as sloths, as an aspect of her presentations.

Middle School Director Karen Pavliscak teaches middle school about growth mindset, sloths

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
January 26, 2019
Graham stands in front of a world map in his classroom. Graham previously taught in England.

Faculty Spotlight: Q&A with history teacher Nick Graham

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
January 11, 2019
The drawn out plans for the construction of the new kitchen at Archer. The kitchen will be located behind the dining hall and will be divided into a servery and a kitchen.

New kitchen to emphasize nutrition, offer variety of dining options

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
December 19, 2018
The Upper School varsity soccer team huddles up before today's game. The team won 3-0 against Pacifica Christian High School.

#Ourtime: Archer varsity soccer team ‘work[s] together,’ wins first league game

By Amelia Stone and Thea Leimone
December 15, 2018
Two swimmers get ready to push off the wall and begin to swim at the PBL championships. Seventh grader Amelia Hines was named MVP of middle school swim.

Amelia Hines named middle school swim MVP

By Thea Leimone, Features Editor
December 11, 2018
Ask Archer: What are your favorite holiday traditions?

Ask Archer: What are your favorite holiday traditions?

By Lola Lamberg, Thea Leimone, and Chloe Richards
December 6, 2018
The musical cast sings a song to the upper school in the Dining Hall. The show will make its debut Dec. 8.

Buzzing, buzzy, singing bees: Upper school musical cast gives preview of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
November 29, 2018
Archer's middle school swim team celebrates after winning the PBL championships at Brentwood school. The team won the PBL championship with 242 points. "I know I practice fairly frequently so it feels good to have it pay off," eight grader Lily Prokop said.

Swimmers make a splash: Middle school swim team wins PBL championship in short season

By Liz Haltrecht and Thea Leimone
November 26, 2018
Archer students work in the hallway outside the library. The library has been closed for the past few days because a pipe burst.

Burst pipe dampens mood: Library closed temporarily due to flooding

By Liz Haltrecht, Thea Leimone, and Chloe Richards
November 15, 2018
Meehan delivers a speech to the students, parents and faculty. Meehan founded the school in 1995 with Shorr and Callaway.

Annual Founders Day ceremony ‘put[s] women back in the story’

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
November 7, 2018
Students play "feel what is in the box". If students guess correctly they receive a ticket which will eventually become a spirit point.

Creeping it real: Community celebrates Halloween, embraces atmosphere of ‘joy’

By Allie Worchell, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
November 1, 2018
Sophomore Ava Salomon blocks a hit from Heritage. The team will play Beaumont High School this Saturday.

Varsity volleyball defeats Heritage High School 3-2 in CIF-SS Division 6 quarter-finals

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
October 24, 2018
A graphic depicts the LGBTQ+ pride flag. Two seniors are leading GSA, an affinity and alliance club that aims to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ community members and allies. Photo illustration by Anna Brodsky

Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club holds first meeting

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
October 17, 2018
The varsity girls anticipate the opposing team's serve. The team will play Buckley on Oct. 11 as they continue to work towards a CIF victory.

Varsity volleyball team defeats Glendale Adventist Academy 3-0

By Lola Lamberg, Chloe Richards, and Thea Leimone
October 10, 2018
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