The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
Sophomore Lauren Song performs as Clara in Los Gatos Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
Dancers perform in ‘The Nutcracker’ with the Los Gatos Ballet
December 18, 2024
Casavant’s frequent drop-ins on water polo games and practices brought energy to the team.
In supporting student athletes, staff members make important connections
December 15, 2024
Students dance to the music in the moshpit on Dec. 7.
Winter Formal at Gilroy Gardens garners positive feedback
December 14, 2024
Many seniors feel frustrated with the lack of a consistent counselor.
Students last names A-F have faced struggles with guidance counselor turnovers in past two years
December 13, 2024
In recent years, an increasing number of students have applied early to college.
Class of ’25 sees an increased number of early college applicants
December 13, 2024
Playing Grace Fryer and Tom Kreider respectively, senior Kat Aldrete and junior Larry O’Brien star in the SHS ‘Radium Girls’ fall play.
Senior Kat Aldrete shines as lead role in ‘Radium Girls’
December 14, 2024
A perfect sparkly Christmas decoration to get you in the festive mood.
Top 10: Christmas Decorations
December 13, 2024
There are various ways to approach studying math competitions such as the AMC.
Students prepare for math competitions with various methods and mediums
December 13, 2024
AP Physics teachers Tom Casavant and Matthew Welander discuss a change in their upcoming lesson plans.
Class-alike teachers collaborate to improve and standardize student experiences
December 13, 2024
The result of the poll conducted by our Falcon Instagram account.
What songs top the charts for all-time favorite holiday music?
December 13, 2024
The boys basketball team poses after their game with American High School on Dec. 7.
Boys’ basketball secures second place at James Lick Invitational despite key injuries
December 14, 2024
Free throw attempt from the team's recent scrimmage against Wilcox on Dec. 7.
Freshman basketball team brought back for the first time since COVID
December 13, 2024
Senior Daniel Jadali shooting a freethrow
For Falcon players, basketball is a year-round commitment
December 13, 2024
Falcons look to defend Notre Dame’s free kick during home game on Dec. 10.
Girls’ soccer defeats Notre Dame Knights 3-2, still undefeated in pre-season
December 13, 2024
49ers’ head coach and former SHS student, Kyle Shanahan, sits in grief after the team suffered a rough 24-23 loss to the Cardinals on Oct. 6.
49ers hobble through losing season
December 12, 2024
The logo of the Better Canvas extension for students to download.
100-word rave: “Better Canvas” is just better
December 13, 2024
Red lights are often run at the intersection of Highway 85 and Saratoga Avenue.
Saratoga drivers: Simmer down and use more caution, please
December 13, 2024
The use of social media allows controversial news to spread and grab the attention of more Americans than ever.
Social media fuels increasing polarization of American politics
December 13, 2024
The fast fashion industry really is Hell.
‘Brandy Hellville’ documentary reveals fast fashion as a devil in disguise
December 12, 2024
The many confusing aspects of Shakespeare make his works unappealing.
To read or not to read: My struggle with Shakespeare
December 7, 2024
A super cool pineapple
Top 10: Fruits
December 14, 2024
My perfect Christmas tree where these gifts go under.
Top 10: Best Christmas Gifts
December 13, 2024
I contemplate between two different Owala FreeSip colors at Target.
My journey to find the perfect water bottle ends with Owala
December 13, 2024
Christmas music is fine no matter what season you’re in.
Christmas music can be played, shamelessly, any time of the year
December 13, 2024
The perfect place to be during Christmas.
Christmas is just horrible without snow
December 13, 2024

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
Alec Guan

Alec Guan, School Scope Editor

All content by Alec Guan
Los Gatos music group “A Piacere” performs a musical piece at the biannual Coffeehouse talent show on Nov. 16.

Saratoga Teen Advisory Board hosts relaxing talent show before finals week

Alec Guan
December 12, 2024
Films such as Disney’s 2025 Snow White are redundant and unwanted by audiences.

Hollywood’s dilemma: politics, stereotypes or quality

Alec Guan
December 7, 2024
Cell phones in the classroom pose a significant distraction and threat to student’s education

State’s decision to restrict cell phone usage in schools is a step in the right direction

Alec Guan
November 4, 2024
Seniors Keion Ashjaee-Marshall and Tevita Pahulu practice taping wrist injuries.

Sports Medicine elective returns

Alec Guan and Linh Do
October 30, 2024
This so called “trendy” sport leaves the rest of the racquetball community in quite the pickle.

A plea to pickleballers from a ticked off tennis player

Alec Guan
September 19, 2024
Junior Nirvan Shah faces off against junior Brady Liang at lunch on Sept. 16.

Student irresponsibility undermines the Falcon Nest’s true potential

Richard Fan and Alec Guan
September 18, 2024
Try it before you judge me…

Try a strange but delectable food combination: Doritos dipped in cupcake frosting

Alec Guan
May 29, 2024
The team, with robot number “649,” plays a qualification match at St. Ignatius during the San Francisco Regional. 

MSET Robotics team of 49 students scrambles to build a robot for their first regional, with an ambitious schedule

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
May 21, 2024
The math department will integrate new Algebra and Geometry textbooks next school year.

New math textbooks to be implemented in 2024-2025 school year

Alec Guan
May 16, 2024
More and more jobs will now be taken over by automation, making Computer Science less appealing as a major.

Is studying comp sci still the golden ticket to wealth?

Alec Guan and Richard Fan
April 29, 2024
Breaking will make its debut in the 2024 Summer Olympics in an effort to draw in more attention from a younger audience.

Break Dancing to be introduced at 2024 summer Olympics

Richard Fan and Alec Guan
April 18, 2024
Students who succumb to the allure of Sparknotes will fail to analyze classic literature on their own.

SparkNotes — a glorified version of cheating

Alec Guan
March 7, 2024
Science Bowl members prepare for regionals during Feb. 1 meeting after school.  

Science Bowl team places third at regionals, falling short of national tournament qualification

Richard Fan and Alec Guan
March 3, 2024
Social media can shorten students’ attention span and hinder their academic performance.

Down the online rabbit hole: Students find social media to be detrimental to academic performance

Richard Fan and Alec Guan
March 3, 2024
MSET Bettafish and MSET Jellyfish compete against each other during a match at a FTC league meet.

FTC teams improve consistency for upcoming league tournament

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
February 6, 2024
The spread of misinformation on social media platforms is highly problematic as unqualified individuals create misleading posts

Social media too often misleads when it comes to mental health advice

Jeremy Si and Alec Guan
January 26, 2024
Florida school district outlaws the usage of cell phones during school hours; those who violate this rule will be punished.

Florida school district’s cell phone bans are a step in the right direction

Alec Guan
December 16, 2023
Nested in what previously used to be farmland, the proposed city will not succeed.

Billionaires: Don’t build that city 

Alec Guan
December 15, 2023
Don’t worry, rock music enjoyment is definitely not a cult.

How my father rocked my musical world

Alec Guan
December 14, 2023
Sophomore Yash Sharma presents “Wonders of Python” on a trip to India in summer 2023.

Sophomore’s non-profit organization aims to inspire younger generations to pursue programming

Alec Guan and Richard Fan
December 2, 2023
A robot from Cupertino high school drives across the field to score a “triball,” or a plastic, acorn-shaped game object.

SHS and Redwood VEX teams host qualifier tournament

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
November 6, 2023
Lithium mining has increased exponentially over the past few decades– and we will have to face the consequences of it sooner or later

Newsom’s mandate on electric vehicles will do more harm than good

Alec Guan and Richard Fan
October 19, 2023
Rallies are the place to go if you want people encroaching on your personal space.

Teachers, please stop shepherding us to rallies

Alec Guan and Jeremy Si
October 18, 2023
 Senior outreach lead Ameya Saund’s painting for the fundraising event’s art auction shows multiple hands to highlight how collective action can accomplish much more than a sole actor.

FRC Robotics team helps bring education to underprivileged girls in rural India

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
October 14, 2023
The average overheating Macbook is good for frying eggs for breakfast.

100-word rant: What do people see in MacBooks anyway?

Alec Guan
September 29, 2023
At the second mandatory meeting of the year, new junior safety lead Richard Chung introduces organization plans for the semester, along with other student leads and staff advisor Jennifer Lee.

Despite success through the years, MSET  Robotics team strives to upgrade its training

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
September 27, 2023
Tired of sweating? Try the sports on the right!

Top 10: unathletic sports

Richard Fan and Alec Guan
September 24, 2023
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