Immigration, visa reform desperately needed April 3, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Currently an immigration reform bill is being drafted in Senate in order to help 300,000 undocumented immigrants currently living in America under Temporary Protective Status, or TPS, which gives them refuge from physical danger in their home country. The bill would offer these undocumented immigrants, 60 percent of whom are from Mexico, a faster way of gaining citizenship. read more » Softball team makes comeback after last year’s subpar season April 3, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson The softball team is making a comeback from its last 5-17 season and is proving to be formidable competition in the El Camino league. read more » Dong and Bedekar earn 2013’s highest academic honors April 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Edward Dong, a poet and math and science whiz, was recently named valedictorian for the class of 2013 with an academic GPA of 4.7536 and a total GPA of 4.7271, and Nikki Bedekar, a top tennis player with an outgoing personality, received the honor of salutatorian with the second highest academic GPA of 4.6582 and a total GPA of 4.5984. read more » Courage for Change workshop resurrected after 25 years March 12, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson On Saturday, March 2, 85 girls spent their morning laughing together and bonding over issues of female empowerment at the Courage to Change Workshop. read more » Art teacher’s remembered by students and fellow teachers February 4, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. McCue was diagnosed last February, but chose to continue teaching as much as possible because of his love for his students. read more » Softball aims to move up to the next level February 4, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Coach: Joe Medeiros Last season's record: 5-17 Last season recap: The team competed in the El Camino League and beat Cupertino High School, Lynbrook High School and Fremont High School. Star player: junior shortstop Mandy Lee Key additions: To be determined during tryouts Key matchups/games/meets: Gunn High School, San Lorenzo Valley Tournament read more » Sexist attitudes result from both societal pressure, family upbringing February 2, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson In December, Time magazine published an article regarding the decision of Scandinavian toy retailer Top-Toy to release gender-neutral toys. read more » Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Softball team makes comeback after last year’s subpar season April 3, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson The softball team is making a comeback from its last 5-17 season and is proving to be formidable competition in the El Camino league. read more » Dong and Bedekar earn 2013’s highest academic honors April 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Edward Dong, a poet and math and science whiz, was recently named valedictorian for the class of 2013 with an academic GPA of 4.7536 and a total GPA of 4.7271, and Nikki Bedekar, a top tennis player with an outgoing personality, received the honor of salutatorian with the second highest academic GPA of 4.6582 and a total GPA of 4.5984. read more » Courage for Change workshop resurrected after 25 years March 12, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson On Saturday, March 2, 85 girls spent their morning laughing together and bonding over issues of female empowerment at the Courage to Change Workshop. read more » Art teacher’s remembered by students and fellow teachers February 4, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. McCue was diagnosed last February, but chose to continue teaching as much as possible because of his love for his students. read more » Softball aims to move up to the next level February 4, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Coach: Joe Medeiros Last season's record: 5-17 Last season recap: The team competed in the El Camino League and beat Cupertino High School, Lynbrook High School and Fremont High School. Star player: junior shortstop Mandy Lee Key additions: To be determined during tryouts Key matchups/games/meets: Gunn High School, San Lorenzo Valley Tournament read more » Sexist attitudes result from both societal pressure, family upbringing February 2, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson In December, Time magazine published an article regarding the decision of Scandinavian toy retailer Top-Toy to release gender-neutral toys. read more » Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Dong and Bedekar earn 2013’s highest academic honors April 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Edward Dong, a poet and math and science whiz, was recently named valedictorian for the class of 2013 with an academic GPA of 4.7536 and a total GPA of 4.7271, and Nikki Bedekar, a top tennis player with an outgoing personality, received the honor of salutatorian with the second highest academic GPA of 4.6582 and a total GPA of 4.5984. read more » Courage for Change workshop resurrected after 25 years March 12, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson On Saturday, March 2, 85 girls spent their morning laughing together and bonding over issues of female empowerment at the Courage to Change Workshop. read more » Art teacher’s remembered by students and fellow teachers February 4, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. McCue was diagnosed last February, but chose to continue teaching as much as possible because of his love for his students. read more » Softball aims to move up to the next level February 4, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Coach: Joe Medeiros Last season's record: 5-17 Last season recap: The team competed in the El Camino League and beat Cupertino High School, Lynbrook High School and Fremont High School. Star player: junior shortstop Mandy Lee Key additions: To be determined during tryouts Key matchups/games/meets: Gunn High School, San Lorenzo Valley Tournament read more » Sexist attitudes result from both societal pressure, family upbringing February 2, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson In December, Time magazine published an article regarding the decision of Scandinavian toy retailer Top-Toy to release gender-neutral toys. read more » Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Courage for Change workshop resurrected after 25 years March 12, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson On Saturday, March 2, 85 girls spent their morning laughing together and bonding over issues of female empowerment at the Courage to Change Workshop. read more » Art teacher’s remembered by students and fellow teachers February 4, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. McCue was diagnosed last February, but chose to continue teaching as much as possible because of his love for his students. read more » Softball aims to move up to the next level February 4, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Coach: Joe Medeiros Last season's record: 5-17 Last season recap: The team competed in the El Camino League and beat Cupertino High School, Lynbrook High School and Fremont High School. Star player: junior shortstop Mandy Lee Key additions: To be determined during tryouts Key matchups/games/meets: Gunn High School, San Lorenzo Valley Tournament read more » Sexist attitudes result from both societal pressure, family upbringing February 2, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson In December, Time magazine published an article regarding the decision of Scandinavian toy retailer Top-Toy to release gender-neutral toys. read more » Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Art teacher’s remembered by students and fellow teachers February 4, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. McCue was diagnosed last February, but chose to continue teaching as much as possible because of his love for his students. read more » Softball aims to move up to the next level February 4, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Coach: Joe Medeiros Last season's record: 5-17 Last season recap: The team competed in the El Camino League and beat Cupertino High School, Lynbrook High School and Fremont High School. Star player: junior shortstop Mandy Lee Key additions: To be determined during tryouts Key matchups/games/meets: Gunn High School, San Lorenzo Valley Tournament read more » Sexist attitudes result from both societal pressure, family upbringing February 2, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson In December, Time magazine published an article regarding the decision of Scandinavian toy retailer Top-Toy to release gender-neutral toys. read more » Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Softball aims to move up to the next level February 4, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson Coach: Joe Medeiros Last season's record: 5-17 Last season recap: The team competed in the El Camino League and beat Cupertino High School, Lynbrook High School and Fremont High School. Star player: junior shortstop Mandy Lee Key additions: To be determined during tryouts Key matchups/games/meets: Gunn High School, San Lorenzo Valley Tournament read more » Sexist attitudes result from both societal pressure, family upbringing February 2, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson In December, Time magazine published an article regarding the decision of Scandinavian toy retailer Top-Toy to release gender-neutral toys. read more » Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Sexist attitudes result from both societal pressure, family upbringing February 2, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson In December, Time magazine published an article regarding the decision of Scandinavian toy retailer Top-Toy to release gender-neutral toys. read more » Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Building, testing and tweaking the MSET robot February 2, 2013 — by Sophie Mattson With a completed computer version of the robot, the team moves back to reality to build, test and tweak their theories. read more » Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Yearbook staff to receive national award for last year’s book February 1, 2013 — by Bruce Lou and Sophie Mattson Last year’s Talisman yearbook recently received news that it was one of 66 books in the country to be nominated for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. read more » Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Art teacher Steve McCue remembered by students and fellow teachers January 21, 2013 — by Kelly Liu and Sophie Mattson Beloved art and digital photography teacher Stephen John McCue passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 47 after suffering from a rare form of lung cancer. read more » Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Seniors pay big bucks for apps December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Rohan Rajeev Cost of an average college application: $75. Cost to send SAT scores to each college: $11. Rush delivery of SAT scores: $35. read more » English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
English teacher known for wildly creative Halloween costumes December 16, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson A man draped in caramel-colored fabric and a red sash dons aviators, chunky golden rings and a glittery gold chain with a money sign dangling from a hook. read more » Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Supreme Court re-evaluation of affirmative action unnecessary December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The country seems to be headed in the direction of the Stone Age — the U.S. Supreme Court is unnecessarily reconsidering affirmative action for the first time since 1978. read more » Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Holiday Boutique a success for freshman class December 7, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson The freshman class sponsored the annual holiday boutique on Dec. 1 in the cafeteria and the Thermond Theater. Fifty vendors paid for spaces, and visitors of the boutique had a wide variety of items to choose from to purchase. read more » Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Prospect SAT delayed by fire alarm November 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Amy Jan It was just a quiet morning at Prospect High on Oct. 6 when hundreds of students were taking their dreaded SATs when suddenly, the fire alarm was set off. read more » Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Club builds iPhone application for Saratoga students October 15, 2012 — by Minu Palaniappan and Sophie Mattson Ever wanted to pull up a teacher’s website right from your phone or read the latest school announcements on the go? This year, the Application Developers club built its first free iPhone application, called “The SHS App,” that does just that and more. read more » Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Volleyball player hits bump in road September 26, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Senior Ramya Swami, a varsity middle blocker, was in a state of total concentration in the game against King’s Academy on Sept. 7 when crisis struck. read more » United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
United Airlines compromises customer service September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Priyanka Nookala Air travel should be a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, and airlines typically take it upon themselves to ensure passengers can sit back and enjoy the flight. However, for 10-year-old Phoebe Klebahn, the experience was far from desirable. read more » Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Locals celebrate Saratoga with street festival September 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang On Sept. 16, quiet Saratoga downtown was transformed into a bustling street festival known as “Celebrate Saratoga,” a fresh and more family-friendly take on the now-defunct “Saratoga Street Dance.” read more » Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Digital databases the forefront of academic research September 20, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson To keep up with the digital revolution, librarian Kevin Heyman has used funds from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, the SHS Foundation and the School Site Council to allow students access to eight digital databases. read more » Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Track: Athletes reflect on season May 24, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Although the track team may not have had a lot of success at meets after they moved up to the De Anza league this year, a couple of athletes have kept the team on the radar during CCS. read more » Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Teachers explore the world’s wonders May 24, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Biology and AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Thomson can pinpoint the time in which she became enamored with the rainforest and wildlife—her summer vacation in Ecuador. read more » Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Team looks forward to CCS May 4, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Over spring break the school was pretty empty—except for the track team who was busy at work, diligently running laps during practice. read more » Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Breaking the cycle April 29, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson I didn’t realize how sedentary my lifestyle would become after beginning junior year. I had always assumed that I would make time to exercise. After being on the cross country and track teams during my sophomore year, I developed a love of running and hoped to continue it. Sadly, my busy schedule has led me to spend more time at the desk rather than on the treadmill. read more » Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Attempts to revitalize Saratoga prove promising April 11, 2012 — by Andy Fang and Sophie Mattson Saratoga Downtown, also known as the Village, is commonly regarded by students as a stagnant area that really does not have much to offer. read more » Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Team adjusts to A league March 30, 2012 — by Jennifer Jin and Sophie Mattson Last year, the boys’ and girls’ track teams enjoyed strings of victories against opposing schools in the West Valley League. This year, the track teams have been moved up to a higher degree of competition in the De Anza League. read more » Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Junior publishes book on leadership March 27, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Countless students dream about rising to a position of leadership in their future careers. Junior Shahab Moghadam is one of those students, but rather than dream, he decided to learn about how to be a leader by reaching out to people who have been in the most prestigious positions of leadership. read more » Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Outrageous peaceful protest bill infringes upon the First Amendment March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Ever since the ratification of the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, Americans have enjoyed the freedom to assemble peacefully and lawfully. Despite this precedent, the government is undermining this basic Constitutional right of the people by outlawing peaceful protests under certain circumstances. read more » Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Students drawn to DrawSomething March 26, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Andy Fang The sketch first appears to be a rotting banana, then a dirty blonde wig. Suddenly and inexplicably, a light bulb goes off in the student’s head and he types in “Lady Gaga” on his smartphone. The student squeals in delight; he just won three coins. read more » Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Students’ enthusiasm for history revealed in competition February 15, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson and Aashna Mukerji A group of students who share a passion for history and a thirst for intense competition have found their calling, the History Bowl. read more » Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Freshmen excel in sports February 8, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson Balancing Act Freshman Robert Gragnola’s lifetime love of playing sports has led him to participate in three school sports. read more » Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Medical marijuana crackdown in CA addressed improperly February 1, 2012 — by Sophie Mattson As of mid 2011, the federal government has been shutting down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries in California due to the widespread usage of the drug for recreational purposes. However, the problem shouldn’t be addressed by shutting down dispensaries. The problem lies in the corruption surrounding the process by which Californians can obtain medical marijuana cards. read more » APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
APES classes to visit Año Nuevo for third year January 29, 2012 — by Izzy Albert and Sophie Mattson On March 8, AP Environmental Science students will have the opportunity to come face to face with an elephant seal. read more » Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Alumnus Bosworth presents to Leadership students December 9, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Saratoga alumnus, Harvard graduate and Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth told Leadership students about his journey from being a student at Saratoga High to becoming the director of engineering at Facebook. read more » Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Senior finds calling in world of songwriting December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Ashley Tang When senior Peter Hsieh was a sophomore in Jerry Sheehy’s world history class, little did he know that a project about Liberalism would shape his future interests and pursuits. read more » Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Budding Egyptian Democracy a hopeful yet challenging movement December 8, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson After 11 months of struggle in Egypt to implement an effective democracy, Egypt is finally headed in the direction of having a fair and favorable government. Despite widespread public support for the movement, it will be a formidable challenge to successfully carry out the implementation of a democratic government in Egypt after a prolonged dictatorial regime. read more » Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Pass-fail grading policies poor choice for sports December 7, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Nicholas Chow After two months of using a pass-fail grading scale for sport credit classes, including band and cheer, the administration has chosen to revert back to the regular letter-grading policy formally used. Some students may have preferred a pass-fail grading policy, but ultimately the change detracted from the class experience. read more » Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Holiday gatherings bring light to a lack of regular family outings November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Christmas—a time for Hallmark novelties, synthetic spruce trees, Santa-shaped sugar cookies red and green food coloring and most importantly, a time to see your relatives. read more » HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
HPV vaccine should be recommended for males November 27, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson The topic of vaccination for girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV) has received a large amount of attention not only in doctors’ offices, but in the media and, more recently, in politics. TV commercials have launched a “One Less” campaign proclaiming that each HPV vaccination will result in one less woman to develop HPV-related cervical cancer; and Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry has recently drawn criticism for his mandate requiring all young girls to be vaccinated against the virus. read more » Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Keeping the dream alive: Cal Grants now available to students on path to citizenship October 26, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Undocumented immigrant students living in the California have finally received the opportunity to live the “California dream.” On Oct. 8, Gov. Jerry Brown stood up for his principles signed the California Dream Act. read more » Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Classes gear up for upcoming trips in second semester October 24, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and McKenna Galvin Most students look forward to school breaks as a time to relax and unwind from the trials of school. For a select few, however, these breaks provide a unique opportunity to learn. This year, some students will have the opportunity to travel with their peers to expand their knowledge. The French and Spanish departments will be traveling to France and Mexico, respectively, while history teacher Matt Torrens will lead his “Wild West” trip to Utah, which is planned every other year. All three trips are already well into the planning process and will occur during the second semester. read more » Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Percussion section held together by a strong ties October 20, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson From the back of the band bus come the sounds of drumming and tapping. Irked band members beg the source of these sounds to cease their music, but this is an average occurrence in the life of a percussionist, and others finally ignore the persistent noise. Percussionists are much more than the instruments they play: They form two sub-groups in their section, each of which has its own distinct culture. There are 11 students in the drumline, which marches on the field, and 12 in pit percussion, which is stationary and plays instruments at the front of the field. read more » Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Track to be redone during winter holiday break October 20, 2011 — by Sarah Finley and Sophie Mattson More than 15 years have passed since the track has been replaced, and its worn-down conditions are becoming more and more apparent. However, much to the relief of frequent joggers and student athletes, the track will finally be resurfaced later this year. The track will be resurfaced beginning in December on the week before finals and finished before students return from Winter Break. read more » Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Bake sale demonstrates the harms of affirmative action October 14, 2011 — by Akshara Sekar and Sophie Mattson A cookie for a Caucasian male: $2. A pastry for an Asian-American: $1.50. A brownie for African-Americans: 75 cents. A cupcake for a Native American: 25 cents. The cost of getting rejected based on ethnicity or gender: astronomical. read more » Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Football coach Tim Lugo fills position of athletic director September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Sarah Finley As he begins his fourth year as the head football coach, Tim Lugo will also will be taking on the new role of athletic director. read more » Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Students build houses in Honduras over summer September 22, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson and Deborah Soung Last summer, junior Katlyn Hirokawa and sophomore Tim Casey-Clyde traveled to Honduras for two weeks with the Sierra Service Project (SSP), a Christian charity organization, to build two houses in the slums of Tegucigalpa, the capital. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America behind Nicaragua. Nearly 60 percent of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line. read more » California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
California governor’s allowance of funeral protesters unfair to the public September 15, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson Across America, members of the Westboro Baptist Church have made headlines for their fanatical beliefs and outrageous protesting methods. They are a homophobic and anti-Semetic religious organization based in Topeka, Kans., who travel all over the country to picket and protest at funerals, concerts, conventions and even high schools. read more » Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »
Junior develops her own painting style September 10, 2011 — by Sophie Mattson I’ve never been one to dabble in the arts—the most recent artistic experience I had was exploratory art class in sixth grade. Believe me, I am no prodigy; however, I’ve always been curious in attempting two artistic eccentricities: painting with toothpaste and creating a picture entirely composed of lipstick kisses. It may sound disturbing that I would want to create such strange artwork, but I have a reason. read more »