The Harvard Westlake Chronicle

Categories: Cultural power and civil society challenge the way in which we view our everyday life and value our community. September 8, 2026 Cultural power and civil society are two key emerging ideas of society that seek to reframe humans’ evolving relationship with the environment and with their community. These two concepts have been discussed and defined by two prominent Right Livelihood Award recipients: Vandana Shiva and Nicanor Perlas.

A newly painted pedestrian crosswalk and sidewalk were added at the North Entrance over the summer ahead of the 2026-2027 school year. The new markings create a designated route for pedestrians entering and leaving campus. Before the redesign, students near the security kiosk had to cross the driveway as vehicles entered campus. Upper School Security Guard Rick McCormack said the previous layout created visibility concerns during arrival and dismissal.

With a 22-10 victory over Venice, the Wolverines have won three straight games to open a season for the first time in five years. In 2021, the Wolverines began their season with wins over Heritage Christian, Venice, and El Camino Real. Kicker Kasra Maghami ’29 opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal. After Venice took the lead, backup quarterback CJ Woods II ’29 threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Ellis Robinson ’27 with 1:38 left in the first quarter.

Categories: Global energy markets are facing instability as geopolitical conflict, demand for electricity, extreme weather and concentrated supply chains place pressure on how countries produce and distribute energy. September 2, 2026 Global energy markets are facing instability as geopolitical conflict, demand for electricity, extreme weather and concentrated supply chains place pressure on how countries produce and distribute energy.

Beginning in earnest in the late 1800s, the industrial-scale burning of coal, then oil and natural gas, drove a multi-decade rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels that is the primary driver of modern global warming. Keeling-curve style measurements and long-term reconstructions show CO2 levels rising steadily from pre-industrial levels greater than 400 ppm today.

Blank Street Coffee opened near the upper school campus, at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Fulton Avenue, on Aug. 11. Additionally, construction continues on a nearby Joe & The Juice store that is scheduled to open within the next few months. Since opening, Blank Street, a chain coffee store started New York has consistently attracted customers, with lines stretching around the block since opening their Studio City location.

Palisades Village held its Grand Reopening Celebration on Aug. 15 after closing for 19 months and undergoing a $100 million rebuild. The Palisades Fire destroyed numerous neighborhoods including Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu in January 2025, impacting not only the land, but also the community that thrived there, according to NBC.

Categories: August 26, 2026 Head of School Laura Ross and President Rick Commons, along with Head Prefects Simren Bindra ’27 and Chase Rudoy ’27, gave speeches at Ted Slavin Field for Convocation on Aug. 24. Convocation started as a tradition in 2013 and this year’s event marks the school’s 14th anniversary. Jazz Explorers performed opening music before Ross started the event with a speech about how the pursuit of excellence takes many forms for students.

We often think of senior year as the “year of lasts:” last time stuck in Coldwater Canyon traffic, last chicken-and-rice bowl from the cafeteria and last hike up the Seaver stairs. In a way, this title is fitting. It is bittersweet knowing that this time of our lives will never come again, and this feeling motivates many of us to intentionally map out our senior year to extract as much joy and as many positive memories from it.

August 25, 2026 Flip-flops Flip-flops have officially made the jump from beach essential to everyday staple. Once saved for pool days and summer vacations, they are expected to be everywhere on campus as students head back, making them one of the summer’s biggest trends to carry. Dark Denim After years of light-wash jeans, dark-wash denim is having a major fashion moment because it feels cleaner and more polished. It is also much easier to dress up, especially paired with a nicer top or boots.