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The Student News Site of University Preparatory Academy

Aquila

The Student News Site of University Preparatory Academy

Aquila

The Student News Site of University Preparatory Academy

Aquila

Teachers don’t live at school?

Teachers don’t live at school?

Shreya Choudhury, Reporter May 25, 2023

Teachers at UPA have spent years getting to know each of their students, and now it’s time to get to know a little more about them. English 9 and current AP English Literature teacher Jessica...

Tumbling Into a New Sport

Tumbling Into a New Sport

Abhishek Mynam, Web Manager April 19, 2023

Eight-year-old Bea Davis tumbled into cheerleading while trying out new sports, little did she know, her new hobby would stick with her for the rest of her life.   Growing up, Davis tried out...

New Coach, New Rules

New Coach, New Rules

Matthew Tapia, Reporter January 31, 2023

When introduced to a new environment, many can be scared or intimidated by the unfamiliarity. This wasn’t exactly the case with Kevin Khuu, UPA’s former boys’ junior varsity (JV) coach  and former...

 Laura Gordon Reska brought bales of hay to campus as the set for the photo booth available to students during the Harvest Festival on Nov. 12. There have been several photo stations put up for students throughout the school year, including one for pictures with Santa during the December Spirit Week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Gordon Reska.)

Laura Gordon Reska joins administration as Director of Community Development

Daniella Alvarez, Reporter May 31, 2022

On a Tuesday morning, you can find Laura Gordon Reska in Johns Hopkins at 7 a.m.,  with the “Breakfast Club”, the ASB leadership who eat breakfast in the mornings together as they hold their meetings....

Junior Naomi Abtew poses in front of UPA's front office after school on Sept. 23 in her favorite pair of mom jeans and argyle-printed tank top. (Photo courtesy of Naomi Abtew.)

Teddy Bears and Spider-Man: The impact of social media influencers on UPA students

Mariah Myers, Reporter March 22, 2022

Junior Naomi Abtew enjoys spending her free time browsing social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram, gaining inspiration from influencers and finding new fashion trends that help her express...

Mia and Steve Guevara photographed at Concordia University Irvine, before Mia's volleyball camp in Newport, Calif. on July 16. Steve actively supports and encourages his daughter on her volleyball journey. (Photo courtesy of Mia Guevara.)

An Inside Look at Father-Daughter Duo Mia and Steve

Aidan Beaver, Reporter March 13, 2022

Senior Mia Guevara has two words to describe her relationship with her father, history teacher Steve Guevara: best friends.   “We're very close,” Mia said. “If he's available, I'll go...

Nicole Sebek is crowned the victor of a wrestling match at a tournament. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Sebek.)

Engineering to Exponents!

Abenezer Fissha, Reporter March 10, 2022

Math and computer science teacher Nicole Sebek grew up struggling to read. During her senior year of high school, Sebek had an argument with her father over her near inability to read. This argument prompted...

Girls' Varsity volleyball senior night ends in close loss against Nueva

Girls’ Varsity volleyball senior night ends in close loss against Nueva

Tyler Yuen and Alyssa Garcia March 4, 2022

Click on the image below to access the spark.

Killing Two Birds With One Stone

Killing Two Birds With One Stone

April Nguyen, Copy Editor February 24, 2022

As a small charter school, UPA’s limited course catalog is unable to fully cater to the wide variety of interests and goals of the 720 enrolled students. UPA has offered an array of around 50 courses...

Cayleigh Coester leads UPA's drama club in rehearsing their script for "And Then There Were None" after school in Princeton on Jan. 24. (Photo by Taylor Nguyen.)

Behind the Walkie Talkies

Taylor Nguyen, Social Media Manager February 22, 2022

Campus supervisors Cayleigh Coester, Kayla Genio and Elliot Boesch work behind the scenes of the busy school life at UPA in order to create a safe environment for students. However, there is more than...

Smilla Arehult photographed in the UPA amphitheater during lunch on December 15, 2021. (Photo by Akhila Ayyadevara.)

Senior foreign exchange student Smilla Arehult navigates high school while pursuing her interests in basketball

Ria Pandey, Copy Editor December 20, 2021

Upon completing her elementary and primary high school education in Stockholm, Sweden, Smilla Arehult moved to San Jose in early August 2021 to experience American high school education at UPA as a transfer...

Hernandez poses on a SkyStar Ferris wheel in San Francisco near the de Young Museum in March.

Fashion enthusiast Jessica Hernandez joins counseling department

Abhishek Mynam, Web Manager December 16, 2021

Second-generation immigrant Jessica Hernandez, UPA's newest academic counselor, was the first to attend college in her family.   “I had to be a role model in a sense to my younger siblings,”...

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