Carolyn Sun

Students have the chance to participate in the first and only round of Physics Bowl sometime between April 1- 17. 

Disney’s effort to diversify its princesses is commendable. As children, we all eagerly watched Disney princesses overcome their obstacles, and when we shared a similar culture, we felt even more connected.

After the riveting cliffhanger of “White Collar” Season 5 finale left us sitting speechless before the TV screen, we waited anxiously for 10 months for the next episode. 

While a deferral from a college may look a lot better than a rejection, the percentage of deferred applicants from most colleges is too high and should be cut down.

The Falcon provides blurbs about TV shows to consider marathon-ing over winter break.

The school's Science Bowl finalizes competition teams after tryouts.

Too often, at Saratoga High and other schools that emphasize STEM fields, students who declare their intentions to major in the humanities evoke instant derision.

The Quiz Bowl team, consisting of sophomore Kevin Chow and seniors Ethan Ngai and Nitya Sampath, placed third out of 27 other schools at the Palo Alto Novice Tournament on Oct. 4.

Last year, the Science Bowl team placed second in regionals at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). This year, they aim to place first. 

An undisclosed number of students attempted to break into the school’s office around 2 a.m. on Aug. 9, according to principal Paul Robinson. When this group of students set off an alarm, sheriff's deputies sped to the school and apprehended all involved.

Both old and new clubs are preparing for the massive Club Day event on Sept. 25. 

When a team of six individuals first formed the History Bowl team in 2012, they never imagined the program would be so successful so soon.   

Some employers want to see your SAT scores, but do they matter?

On the TV screen, a character decapitates another with a swift swing of a machete, blood spraying across the screen. The camera cuts to the detached head, which rolls on the ground while the live character looks on nonchalantly.

To many, the first words that come to mind when asked to describe Saratoga are “rich,” or “affluent.” Maybe “SAT obsessed” if it’s a good day. The stereotype of Saratoga as a rich school is certainly not without its basis in reality; according to census data the average household income in Saratoga was $147,918 in 2011, while the average household income in California was $57,287. Houses in the city often sell for $1.5 million or more — far beyond the means of all but the wealthiest Americans.

Life is unpredictable. Sometimes almost nothing goes as planned, which  can be frustrating.

On the TV screen, a character decapitates another with a swift swing of a machete, blood spraying across the screen. The camera cuts to the detached head, which rolls on the ground while the live character looks on nonchalantly. 

Starting this year, schools all over California will be making the transition to computerized testing systems. 

After the endless worrying and studying that the first semester of senior year entails, it is no surprise that many seniors are now reveling in their free time and shrugging off the heavy cloak of stress that once weighed upon their thoughts.  Senior Priyanka Krishnamurthi is one such example.  “Normally, when I used to get home, I would be like, ‘OK, I have so much homework, I have to get all my homework done,’” Krishnamurthi said. “Now, I  go on YouTube sometimes [to] browse [for] random videos. I [ also] spend a lot of time on Netflix catching up on TV shows [such as] ‘Psych’ and ‘White Collar,’ and watching movies [like] ‘Les Miserables.’”  For others, second semester motivates them to finish their homework faster so they can have more free time.

Orson Scott Card is almost as well-known for his homophobic views as for his bestselling 1985 science fiction novel “Ender’s Game,” which was adapted into a film which was released on Nov. 1.

For the longest time, math teacher PJ Yim’s so-called push-up challenge remained undefeated. 

After all but one of its members graduated last spring, the Quiz Bowl team is returning to the school this year through the efforts of senior Nick Chow. Quiz Bowl is a trivia game that consists of questions about literature, science, history, math, art and “trash,” or pop culture. It uses the buzzer system, or “lockout device,” which allow players to interrupt the reading of a question when they know the answer.

Instead of going to the computer lab to program, students in the AP Computer Science (APCS) classes this year are using new ThinkPad laptops funded by the district.

“Keep it up! No walking!” Junior co-captain Christine Schlossareck shouted encouragement to the girls’ cross country team as the 30 girls inched up the 45-degree hill on Upper Hill Drive, tired and sweaty, on Sept. 5. Though she is about only 5 feet tall, Schlossareck is a big presence on the team, and her cheers motivated teammates. 

Pancakes are supposed to be easy to make, especially if you’ve got a box of pancake mix. Just mix, pour and cook. Bam.  However, for those of us who are culinarily challenged, making pancakes can be the prelude to creating a weapon of mass destruction. It all started one fateful summer afternoon.

This year, the ASB will make amendments to the constitution regarding officer election rules. 

For the 2013-2014 school year, the AP Chemistry curriculum will be be changed to emphasize more critical thinking and lab work and less memorization. The College Board decided to make these changes to the test in response to recommendations by the National Research Council and the National Science Foundation.

Although some people have small faults such as gum-snapping or knuckle-cracking, as an artist, I have a different bad habit: I obsess over miniscule details, trying in vain to perfect my paintings and drawings.

Woolly mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers, dodos and Chinese river dolphins, thylacines and passenger pigeons — these animals no longer walk the face of the Earth, but what if they could once again?

Twelve months have made a big difference in sophomore Charley Dutro’s life.  

Sophomore Lillian Chu won the gold medal in the junior event of cadet women’s sabre at the Junior Olympics in Maryland on Feb. 28, beating a field of 130 competitors. 

Urged on by movies like “Jaws,” people have acquired an irrational fear of great white sharks, the alleged “serial killers” of the ocean. In reality, however, humans are the real predators.

For this blind date, the theme was “cross grades.” We deemed sophomore Audrey Sun and senior Harrison Su compatible due to their similar background and ready senses of humor.

Having trouble coming up with an idea for the perfect date? Scenes from romance movies or books could be a source of inspiration for fresh ideas.

Envision a group of hackers, equivalent to a cyber army, using the Internet to defend freedom and liberty of the Web and its users. Romantic, isn’t it?

Things to watch/read/listen to on Valentine's Day

Just as MySpace users switched to Facebook, Tumblr users are also switching to Instagram.

On Election Day, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize the recreational use and sale of marijuana, the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. 

For the Oct. 6 SAT, students were required to fill out an academic integrity agreement in cursive.

On Oct. 25, the girls ran the flat, 2.06 mile Lynbrook course for the second time this season.

Despite speed-walking to school, you are about to be late to first period again. Desperate, you break into a run and manage to enter the classroom just as the second bell rings.

At the starting line of one of the season’s most grueling races, runners wear a face of grim determination and, in some cases, dread. But not junior Casey Takahashi, one of the school’s three cross country captains, who smiles with genuine enthusiasm. 

No interrupting the teacher at any time. Uniforms and black shoes with visible socks are to be worn at all times. No yelling or running in the hallways. No eating during break time. No exceptions.

Unaware of the rival athlete speeding up to catch her, then sophomore Casey Takahashi is only about 100 meters away from the finish line of last year’s Lynbrook meet. She is completely oblivious and has no clue that she is about to be passed.

For the 2012-2013 school year, about 150 Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus Honors students are using a photocopied version of the trigonometry textbook because of a shortage.