Students influenced by social media and popular entertainment to try marijuana March 3, 2014 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun In the month of February, there were several students cited for marijuana offenses on campus. The number is alarmingly high in such a short period of time, which begs the question: Why are students using the drug? One of the main reasons encouraging recreational drug use is social media. On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, there are pictures glorifying the use of marijuana. People often talk and converse about using the drug. Since our generation is so addicted to social media, the constant references and allusions to marijuana use can encourage students to experiment with the drug. read more » Take heed: APES isn’t an easy AP January 31, 2014 — by Jade Bisht and Derek Sun Looking to take an AP science that isn’t as math heavy as AP Physics, concept-based as AP Chemistry or as memorization-based as AP Biology? Considering taking AP Environmental Science (APES) because you’ve heard that it’s an “easy AP”? read more » College interviews prove enigmatic January 23, 2014 — by Derek Sun Each year, hundreds of thousands of college applicants have a chance to receive the fated college interview. But how important is the actual interview in the admissions process? There are two types of interviews: the informal interview with a college alumnus and the coveted interview with an admissions officer. Any interview with any college admissions officer has a direct correlation to college admissions, but the actual importance of alumni interviews is less clear. For most colleges including all Ivy League schools and many private schools including Duke and University of Southern California, the colleges require alumni interviews. More than 100 SHS seniors go through these interviews add each year. read more » Frequency of ticketing frustrates student drivers November 19, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun At the end of last November, senior Ethan Gelfand was pulled over for a rolling stop. The week of Oct. 28, senior Clark Rothenberg was pulled over for speeding. Was the timing of these infractions a coincidence? We think not. read more » Government shutdown: students disillusioned by media November 10, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun When the government shuts down for 16 days, it is natural to point fingers at one political party or one person. However, the shutdown only magnifies the country’s ever-deepening political split. read more » PS4 wins next-gen console crown November 5, 2013 — by Derek Sun The holiday season sparks the beginning of a two-month period in which the most anticipated video games are released. But this year, the holiday season brings an even more coveted time for gamers. read more » Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. read more » College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Take heed: APES isn’t an easy AP January 31, 2014 — by Jade Bisht and Derek Sun Looking to take an AP science that isn’t as math heavy as AP Physics, concept-based as AP Chemistry or as memorization-based as AP Biology? Considering taking AP Environmental Science (APES) because you’ve heard that it’s an “easy AP”? read more » College interviews prove enigmatic January 23, 2014 — by Derek Sun Each year, hundreds of thousands of college applicants have a chance to receive the fated college interview. But how important is the actual interview in the admissions process? There are two types of interviews: the informal interview with a college alumnus and the coveted interview with an admissions officer. Any interview with any college admissions officer has a direct correlation to college admissions, but the actual importance of alumni interviews is less clear. For most colleges including all Ivy League schools and many private schools including Duke and University of Southern California, the colleges require alumni interviews. More than 100 SHS seniors go through these interviews add each year. read more » Frequency of ticketing frustrates student drivers November 19, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun At the end of last November, senior Ethan Gelfand was pulled over for a rolling stop. The week of Oct. 28, senior Clark Rothenberg was pulled over for speeding. Was the timing of these infractions a coincidence? We think not. read more » Government shutdown: students disillusioned by media November 10, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun When the government shuts down for 16 days, it is natural to point fingers at one political party or one person. However, the shutdown only magnifies the country’s ever-deepening political split. read more » PS4 wins next-gen console crown November 5, 2013 — by Derek Sun The holiday season sparks the beginning of a two-month period in which the most anticipated video games are released. But this year, the holiday season brings an even more coveted time for gamers. read more » Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. read more » College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
College interviews prove enigmatic January 23, 2014 — by Derek Sun Each year, hundreds of thousands of college applicants have a chance to receive the fated college interview. But how important is the actual interview in the admissions process? There are two types of interviews: the informal interview with a college alumnus and the coveted interview with an admissions officer. Any interview with any college admissions officer has a direct correlation to college admissions, but the actual importance of alumni interviews is less clear. For most colleges including all Ivy League schools and many private schools including Duke and University of Southern California, the colleges require alumni interviews. More than 100 SHS seniors go through these interviews add each year. read more » Frequency of ticketing frustrates student drivers November 19, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun At the end of last November, senior Ethan Gelfand was pulled over for a rolling stop. The week of Oct. 28, senior Clark Rothenberg was pulled over for speeding. Was the timing of these infractions a coincidence? We think not. read more » Government shutdown: students disillusioned by media November 10, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun When the government shuts down for 16 days, it is natural to point fingers at one political party or one person. However, the shutdown only magnifies the country’s ever-deepening political split. read more » PS4 wins next-gen console crown November 5, 2013 — by Derek Sun The holiday season sparks the beginning of a two-month period in which the most anticipated video games are released. But this year, the holiday season brings an even more coveted time for gamers. read more » Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. read more » College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Frequency of ticketing frustrates student drivers November 19, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun At the end of last November, senior Ethan Gelfand was pulled over for a rolling stop. The week of Oct. 28, senior Clark Rothenberg was pulled over for speeding. Was the timing of these infractions a coincidence? We think not. read more » Government shutdown: students disillusioned by media November 10, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun When the government shuts down for 16 days, it is natural to point fingers at one political party or one person. However, the shutdown only magnifies the country’s ever-deepening political split. read more » PS4 wins next-gen console crown November 5, 2013 — by Derek Sun The holiday season sparks the beginning of a two-month period in which the most anticipated video games are released. But this year, the holiday season brings an even more coveted time for gamers. read more » Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. read more » College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Government shutdown: students disillusioned by media November 10, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun When the government shuts down for 16 days, it is natural to point fingers at one political party or one person. However, the shutdown only magnifies the country’s ever-deepening political split. read more » PS4 wins next-gen console crown November 5, 2013 — by Derek Sun The holiday season sparks the beginning of a two-month period in which the most anticipated video games are released. But this year, the holiday season brings an even more coveted time for gamers. read more » Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. read more » College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
PS4 wins next-gen console crown November 5, 2013 — by Derek Sun The holiday season sparks the beginning of a two-month period in which the most anticipated video games are released. But this year, the holiday season brings an even more coveted time for gamers. read more » Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. read more » College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. read more » College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
College sports recruiting spirals out of control October 28, 2013 — by Derek Sun Ten years ago, 90 percent of prospective college athletes committed during their senior year and signed their National Letter of Intent during the holiday season. Fast forward to the present, and that is no longer true. College recruiting is spiraling out of control nowadays with top-flight athletes committing to college as early as eighth grade or freshman year. These commitments are absurd, both for the athlete and for the school. read more » New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
New books turned movies hope to have success in theatres October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun Every so often, a couple brave directors try to convert popular books into movies. This transition from text to big screen almost always proves to be a struggle. read more » Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Great SHS sports moments: Walkoff winners take De Anza League Crown October 15, 2013 — by Derek Sun With our backs to the wall, the 18 of us on the Falcon baseball team had nothing else to do but fight last May. Down 1-0 in the De Anza League championship series to the Wilcox Chargers in a best of three series, Game Two was win or go home. And we confronted our toughest challenge yet, coming from behind. read more » Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Drivers weigh consequences of ‘one-year’ license rule October 8, 2013 — by Trung Vandinh and Derek Sun During an average school-day lunch, many students pile into one car and hurry off to fill their stomachs. Though the law imposes a one-year wait before new drivers can carry minors, few students climbing into cars know if the driver has had his license for that long. To these kids, waiting that year does not matter. read more » Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Following Google’s lead, schools should offer students creative relief September 26, 2013 — by Allison Lin and Derek Sun Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, said, “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but rather by the play instinct rising from inner necessity.” read more » New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
New year comes with a new field September 10, 2013 — by Nikil Ramanathan and Derek Sun To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field. read more » Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Amiss dismal season, Giants’ star Posey stands out September 4, 2013 — by Derek Sun Baseball is defined by its highs and lows. Following their 2012 season, the Giants were riding the highest of highs, a World Series Championship. Fast forward to the following August, the Giants are suffering the lowest of lows. read more » Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Banner baseball season ends in first round CCS loss May 22, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team’s season came to a heartbreaking end after losing to St. Ignatius 11-3 in the opening round of CCS on May 16. The Falcons finished the season with a 22-9 record. read more » Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Baseball team wins league playoffs, crowned as league co-champs with Palo Alto May 16, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcons ousted the Wilcox Chargers 6-1 to win the De Anza League Championship on May, 10. For the Falcons, it truly was a season of firsts. read more » Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Star player Stevie Berman Santa Clara University bound May 10, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Steven Berman grew up around baseball. His father starred for the UCLA Bruins and continued to play in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system for three years during the 1980s. read more » Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Summer heats up with multiple blockbuster sequels May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As the school year wraps up, students look forward to the days when they can just kick back and relax. For many, that involves spending the long summer days at the movies. Freshman Michael Schillage is looking forward to enjoying the new films that will be released in the next few months. read more » CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
CCS-bound Falcons heat up at the right time right before league playoffs May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun The Falcon baseball team ended its season the on a good note, winning the last seven games and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Silver Creek 8-3 for Saratoga’s senior day on April 27. Earlier in the week, the Falcons dominated against Mountain View in their last league series of the season. On April 26, the Falcons beat the Mountain View Spartans 4-1 behind the clutch pitching tandem of senior captains Kyle Dozier and Stevie Berman. read more » Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Three sport athlete Kyle Dozier decides on baseball at Loyola Marymount University May 8, 2013 — by Derek Sun As a freshman, Kyle Dozier never anticipated the athletic impact he would have at Saratoga. read more » Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Can you rhyme all the time? March 14, 2013 — by Derek Sun I like to rhyme all the time. I’m the best even without eight hours of rest. While Dr. Seuss could spin off magical rhymes whenever he pleased in his magical children’s books, it is harder than it looks to achieve this difficult task during a normal class period. read more » Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Boys’ baseball: Hanks and his quiet confidence hope to lead Falcons to success March 12, 2013 — by Derek Sun Senior Trevor Hanks has always flown under the radar. It’s pretty hard to make varsity as a freshman, but it’s even harder to let this feat go nearly unheard of. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Spoof: Reporter details life post-apocalypse January 24, 2013 — by Derek Sun A reporter's spoof of the end of the world. read more » Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Armstrong stripped of athletic fame and public respect November 18, 2012 — by Jonathan Young, Derek Sun So far, 2012 has been a disappointing year for athletes. read more » Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Football players start tradition in ceramics room November 15, 2012 — by Derek Sun Of all the thousands of football players in the U.S., perhaps only a few have a hangout spot as unique as juniors Travis Stokes and Clark Rothenberg. read more » Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Freshmen establish presence with quad day performance October 14, 2012 — by Derek Sun The freshman class faced the challenge of their first Homecoming with a positive attitude and an optimistic mindset, hoping to impress the other classes and their teachers. read more » Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Students believe non-block schedule deserves second look October 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun Arguably the biggest transition from middle school to high school is the block schedule all freshmen must get attuned to. read more » Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Sum comes within 2 seconds of course record October 10, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun Sophomore Steven Sum ran a time of 9:50 for the 2-mile Saratoga Invitational on Sept. 18, only 2 seconds away from breaking a 29-year-old course record. read more » Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Giants hope to carry the success in the season into the postseason October 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The term “torture” has become synonymous with the San Francisco Giants. Coined in the historic 2010 championship run that won the Giants their first national title since moving to San Francisco in 1954, “torture” originated from the gritty and low scoring manner in which the Giants played: essentially, a win was never a win until the very last out. read more » MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
MLB must clean up tainted game September 4, 2012 — by Dylan Jew and Derek Sun The drug use in Major League Baseball has had an unfortunate impact on high school sports all around the US. read more » XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
XC: Boys look to continue recent success August 31, 2012 — by Aasim Naqvi and Derek Sun The new season begins with minor changes to the basic operations of the team, with coach Dan Ambrico adding three junior captains to help keep tabs on the large team, composed of over 60 boys. Juniors Drew Bryan, Sam Guy and Daniel Johnston are the junior co-captains, along with senior captains Kabir Chandrasekhar and David Zarrin. read more » Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Juniors win $10,000 in film competition May 23, 2012 — by Derek Sun By creating a video featuring My Little Red Shoes, a Bay Area charity that donates shoes and clothing to underprivileged and homeless children, juniors Stephen Ruff and Michael Hoffman won the grand prize, a portion of $10,000, in the Bay Area Social Issues Documentary Film Contest. read more » Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Yim to take MathCounts team to nationals May 9, 2012 — by Matt Foley and Derek Sun During the third week of May, math teacher PJ Yim will be taking the California MathCounts team to the national math competition. read more » Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Saratoga beats Los Gatos in baseball for first time in 15 years May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons participated in the Valley Christian Crown Classic on the week of April 4 with one goal in mind: to make a name for the program by winning the tournament. read more » Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Best of Saratoga May 1, 2012 — by Derek Sun Best place to eat: Rose Donuts. Next to Radio Shack, this small donut shop is a lot more than it seems. Just like the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” the pint-sized store isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing. read more » Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Bountygate, the biggest controversy in sports April 30, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the Wild Wild West, bounties were placed on notorious criminals like Jesse James who evaded the law. These outlaws were hunted down and brought to justice. Fast forward a century and surprisingly, bounties are in use; however, the bounties are now being issued by the outlaws themselves. read more » Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Giants likely to rebound from disappointing 2011 season April 27, 2012 — by Derek Sun As Buster Posey was crushed at home plate, the Giants’ hopes of making the playoffs in 2011 were similarly bulldozed. With a lackluster offense, the Giants failed to score enough in the season and missed the playoffs after their Cinderella rise to the championship in 2010. read more » Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Falcons go 3-1 in a 2 week span April 11, 2012 — by Derek Sun In the week of March 19, the Falcon baseball team swept the Santa Clara Bruins winning games 3-2 and 7-1 on March 21 and March 23 respectively. read more » Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Baseball: Falcons split series against Los Altos March 21, 2012 — by Derek Sun The Falcons lost to Los Altos 12-1 on March 9 in their second league match-up of the season. The Falcons were shut down by Los Altos pitcher Luke Wiechec, who has been recruited to play at Fresno State next year. Senior pitcher Will Dennis struggled and gave up six runs to a potent Eagles lineup while suffering the loss. read more » Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Baseball: Senior finds his place after overcoming struggles March 6, 2012 — by Derek Sun Hard work pays off. read more » Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Boys baseball: Falcons confident despite tough loss March 5, 2012 — by Derek Sun The baseball team narrowly lost its season opener 3-2 to Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 24. Senior pitcher and staff ace Will Dennis was credited with the loss, but kept the team within striking distance in a 5 inning quality start. read more » Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Best friends college bound together March 3, 2012 — by Derek Sun Alumnus Kenny Song, now a freshman attending UC Berkeley, remembers the day he received his acceptance letter. Thrilled, he posted the news on Facebook, expecting variations of “congrats” and “good luck in college” in response. read more » Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Old resolutions come back in new ways January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun As the year 2010 came to a close and 2011 was only a few seconds away, I quickly closed my eyes and made a New Year’s resolution: to help out the community. And, what better way to give back than through community service? read more » Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Senior’s Tumblr reply gives her 15 minutes of Internet fame January 12, 2012 — by Derek Sun Once upon a time, she was just an ordinary student. Then one day everything changed. Senior Maddie Emery logged on to Tumblr, a personal blog site, and five minutes and 40 words later, she leapt from the bottom rung of Internet obscurity to superstar status. read more » Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Christmas comes early for sophomore biker January 10, 2012 — by Derek Sun December, a month that brings up the sweet thoughts of Christmas, was no different for students at Saratoga. Although Christmas spirit is supposed to be about giving, most students would rather receive. read more » Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Facilities unfairly off limits to students November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun Each weekend, middle-aged men—many of them fathers—walk into the school gymnasium wearing dri-fit tops and perforated athletic shorts. Seemingly an innocuous instance of pickup basketball, this weekly game shows the unfairness in the treatment of adults and students when it comes to school facilities. read more » Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Girls’ Golf: Falcons fly high, with three players making it to CCS November 21, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team turned a rebuilding season into a winning one, a positive experience for not only the veterans but also the rookies. After romping through the league tournament on Oct. 26 and claiming second place, the Falcons sent three players to CCS, all of whom will return to the team next year. read more » Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Girls’ golf: Season ends in success November 15, 2011 — by Derek Sun The girls’ golf team has come a long way. What began as a rebuilding year has turned into a year full of victories and CCS berths. read more » Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Falcon focus: Born in the early 1960s, Sparky the golf cart is still chugging along November 10, 2011 — by Brandon Judoprasetijo and Derek Sun Senior Mac Hyde was driving through town during the summer before his junior year when a glaring “for sale” sign stuck on a golf cart caught his attention. The cart belonged to his neighbor, the town butcher, and it was exactly the kind of mobile vehicle that Hyde, the son of assisstant principal Karen Hyde, had in mind for the office members at Saratoga High to use. read more » Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Freshman at Berkeley finds comfort zone November 7, 2011 — by Derek Sun Blaring music and laughter fills the fourth floor of Saratoga High alumnus Kenny Song’s dorm. The UC Berkeley freshman finds that the academic yet laid-back attitude at Cal fits him perfectly. read more » SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
SF Giants’ season ends in a mix of disappointment and high hopes October 16, 2011 — by Derek Sun On Sept. 24, Giants fans dipped their heads in defeat and sulked. What had seemed like the budding of a dynasty turned out to only be a one-hit wonder as the Giants failed to make it into the playoffs after a World Series championship in 2010. The San-Fran faithful were disappointed because after one of the most exciting underdog stories, the least expected team to win the World Series toppled the Texas Rangers, stunning the baseball world, failed to make the postseason. read more » Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Homecoming turns PG, for the better October 14, 2011 — by Derek Sun The sophomore, junior and senior class throw taunts and jeer at the freshmen who walk in to every rally. It’s a school tradition, but this year things are different. read more » Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Thareja’s hard work pays off October 10, 2011 — by Derek Sun Sophomore Nikki Thareja sits in the crouch position, measuring the distance from her to the target, just like a tiger. Tiger Woods, that is. She has only been playing golf since eighth grade, but since the first time she picked up a club, she has been hooked. “Most people think golf is boring, but it is mentally exhausting. It requires players to plan three or even four strokes ahead to beat the opponent,” Thareja said. read more » The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
The crazy class of Cochrum: A look at the history behind her room October 6, 2011 — by Derek Sun A room can tell a lot about someone. For earth science and biology teacher Lisa Cochrum, her room, 1017, is a place for her to share her stories and adventures. It is filled with toys and pictures, each one having sentimental value. read more » Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
Girls’ Golf Preview 2011 September 13, 2011 — by Derek Sun Coach: Dave Gragnola, entering first season as head coach. Gragnola has a son, freshman Robert, who excels at golf, just like his father. 2010 record: 0-14 2010 recap: In a season full of close matches, the Falcons did not find much success. Out of 14 matches, the team won zero but fought well against teams such as rival Los Gatos and league champions Evergreen Valley. Even though the team was not successful overall, it sent one player to CCS. read more » 38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
38 seniors named as National Merit scholars September 12, 2011 — by Jonathan Young and Derek Sun Thirty-eight students were notified by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) on Sept. 2 that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT, the guidance department said. read more » New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »
New finals schedule provokes mixed responses September 9, 2011 — by Anushree Dugar and Derek Sun The administration has implemented a new finals schedule this year in which finals week will start on Dec. 19, before winter break, instead of in January. Winter break will now start on Dec. 23, and students will not be burdened by having to study for finals over the holidays. read more »