The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
Courtesy of LGSUHSD board The official map, decided during the April 14 public hearing.
School board finalizes district map for new trustee elections
June 1, 2025
Courtesy of Saratoga High School Junior Arjun Krish is one of 20 students in the country who have a shot at representing the US at the International Biology Olympiad.
Junior qualifies for International Biology Olympiad training camp at Harvard
May 27, 2025
French 1 classes are switching to the “Reporters Francophones” textbook for next year.
Language classes to try new textbook options next year
May 25, 2025
Seniors gather in the quad to celebrate their college decisions.
Seniors showcase post-grad plans on Commit Day
May 23, 2025
Choir and AP Music Theory teacher Beth Nitzan conducts a choir class during a rehearsal for their end-of-year concert on May 19.
Nitzan to leave school after four years in music department
May 21, 2025
Me conducting taste evaluations with two drinks at once.
The *actual* best boba places in the Bay
June 2, 2025
Courtesy of Aidan Smith Finn and Aidan pose together in the backyard for pictures before prom.
The Duality of Man: Aidan and Finn Smith
June 2, 2025
Keys works on an essay with an English 11 Honors student.
The first day of school in August requires months of planning for teachers
June 1, 2025
Hector and I pose with our first target after eliminating her in San Francisco.
Senior Mag 2025: We were eliminated in Senior Assassin — but that only made the game more fun
May 29, 2025
Seniors Annette Li and Kayla Nguyen anchor on an SHSTV broadcast.
Senior Mag ‘25: Duo evolves from GNNers to SHSTV head producers
May 27, 2025
(left to right) Audrey Wong, Summer Shen, Hannah Bui and Angela Tan prepare for a football game.
Senior Mag 2025: From Europe to the Bay, Flute seniors bonded over marching band
June 1, 2025
Courtesy of Annette Li We pose after our victory against Fremont High on April 30.
Senior Mag 2025: The chemistry and chaos of a 4-year badminton partnership
June 1, 2025
Junior Garrick Chau faces off sophomore William Dechlick and mental health therapist Victor Thompson in the Falcon Nest.
Foosball club brings in a professional to coach members skills
May 31, 2025
Many physical therapies consist of stretching and light exercises.
Student athletes navigate a long rehabilitation process after injuries
May 31, 2025
Courtesy of Lauren Nguyen Smiling proudly, the team stands together and celebrates their awards.
Dance team reflects on Nationals and what’s next
May 28, 2025
A wide variety of euphemisms impact perception in different ways.
Words that need to be heard: euphemisms are dangerous tools for desensitization
June 1, 2025
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Universities have no right to revoke diplomas for political speech
May 30, 2025
Courtesy of Charles Edward Miller People protesting against unlawful deportations.
Universities need to take action to prevent students from being deported by ICE
May 30, 2025
11th grade classes are full of interesting material.
100-word rant: teachers, five tests in two days is just cruel
May 29, 2025
Campaigning on popular social media apps such as Instagram shouldn’t be the norm.
For school leadership elections, candidates can rely too much on social media advertising
May 28, 2025
General Psychology teacher Hana Chen.
General Psychology class explores the field through projects
June 15, 2025
Courtesy of Nathan Shows The view from the dinner cruise on the Vltava.
The last class to remember being stranded in Prague, 2022
June 4, 2025
Courtesy of Rani Khanna Rani and Krishen in their childhood.
The Khanna twins: more like regular siblings than twins
June 4, 2025
Courtesy of Saratoga High School Grace Liu and Luke Zhang are the valedictorian and salutatorian of the senior class respectively.
Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian announced
June 3, 2025
Courtesy of NBC Bay Area Saratoga High’s field shot from above.
Senior Mag: How anti-turf advocacy became my turf
June 3, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 6
Volume 57, Issue 6
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 5
Volume 57, Issue 5
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 4
Volume 57, Issue 4
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 3
Volume 57, Issue 3
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 2
Volume 57, Issue 2
April 23, 2025

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Atrey Desai
Strategizing alongside Jason Cheng, Ryan Jain battles it out in the midgame against the computer.

Senior Mag 2023: Parking Lot Pawns

Jason Cheng and Atrey Desai
Hemmerich helps a group of students edit a project. 

Photo or Graphic for: MAP teachers Hemmerich and Muñoz to leave SHS

Anamika Anand
In a sprint event against Wilcox High on March 24, senior sprinter Yuvraj Singh speeds ahead of his competitors.

Track ramps up training, prepares for mid-season invitationals

Atrey Desai and George Hu
Journalism Deadline Night

Photo or Graphic for: Here’s some electives advice from a junior who’s taken a bunch of them

Victoria Lin
The inner workings of Journalism: deadline night

The inner workings of Journalism: deadline night

Neal Malhotra and Atrey Desai
During a practice on Feb. 3, the sprinters do warm up drills.

Photo or Graphic for: Season preview: Track attempts to shake rust off athletes through easy early season training schedule

George Hu
Yearbook staffers crowd around as senior EIC Ritisha Byri copy-edits a layout.

Yearbook works to meet deadlines with young staff

Atrey Desai and Stephanie Sun
Senior Mateusz Palusinski dribbles the ball down the court in the Thursday game against Aptos High School. 

Photo or Graphic for: Season preview: Boys’ basketball returns strong lineup for upper league

George Huang and Zack Zhang
Saratoga downtown Starbucks closing down.

Downtown Starbucks closes its doors

Atrey Desai, Jonathan Si, and Andy Zhu
Students can expect nothing more than a generic response from college representatives that they had to compete for space to attend. 

College visits don’t live up to expectations

Atrey Desai and Minsui Tang
Students in science teacher Kristen Thomson’s class use their own computers during an activity.

New district bring your own device policy elicits mixed reactions

Atrey Desai
New English teacher Mary Palisoul teaching English 10

New English teacher joins school with 11 years of teaching experience

Atrey Desai, Zack Zhang, and Andy Zhu
The Heritage Orchard blooms in spring.

Changes to Heritage Orchard stir mild controversy

Atrey Desai and Kevin Yang
Japanese 3 Honors teacher Yumiko Muneishi helping a student with their homework.

New Japanese 3 Honors teacher uses previous experiences to build connections with students

Atrey Desai and Nidhi Mathihalli
Junior Isha Jagadish sprints in a relay event as she competes against Monta Vista High School

Photo or Graphic for: Track ends strong at late-season meets

Martin Xu and Viraaj Reddi
The Tamasha dance team performs at their BnB performance on Feb. 19

Photo or Graphic for: Tamasha highlights Bollywood culture at the school

Lynn Dai and Nikhil Mathihalli
Top 10 fonts

Top 10 fonts

Andrew Lin and Atrey Desai
Warriors starting lineup stands before game.

Warriors’ early success gives hope for championship run

Atrey Desai and Howard Shu

Robotics team wins qualifier, advance to regionals

Atrey Desai and Martin Xu
Community mourns death of 23-year veteran teacher Todd Dwyer

Community mourns death of 23-year veteran teacher Todd Dwyer

Christina Chang and Atrey Desai
Omicron variant may displace students’ travel plans

Omicron variant may displace students’ travel plans

Selina Chen and Atrey Desai
‘Clash Royale’: the pinnacle of mobile gaming

‘Clash Royale’: the pinnacle of mobile gaming

Atrey Desai and Arnav Swamy
Outreach’s unofficial commission started publicizing their hallmark event in a Nov. 8 post. 

New outreach commission plans Speak Up for Change ‘Stepping Forward’

Avani Kongetira and Atrey Desai
Sophomore Bettafish members Kai Otsuka and Rishab Melkote work on their robot in preparation for the scrimmage. 

Photo or Graphic for: Robotics team holds first in-house scrimmage in two years

Alexander Kan and Allen Luo
An Indian Thanksgiving: reworking America’s most famous meal

An Indian Thanksgiving: reworking America’s most famous meal

Atrey Desai
The football team practices at the field on Oct. 21

Photo or Graphic for: Football season cut short by lack of healthy players

Jonny Luo and Nikhil Mathihalli
Bootcamp: the best of both worlds

Bootcamp: the best of both worlds

Atrey Desai
We hate baseball.

We hate baseball.

Atrey Desai and Viraaj Reddi
Junior middle blocker Lisa Fung hits the ball as the other team’s players prepare to block.

Girls’ volleyball closes out their season with disappointing losses

Sarah Zhou and Atrey Desai
vaccine-graphic-blue

Photo or Graphic for: Being unvaccinated amid a push for vaccination

Jonny Luo and Nikhil Mathihalli
The football team practices for upcoming games on Oct. 21

Photo or Graphic for: Injury forces football team to forfeit at half in painful 28-0 home loss to Los Altos

Shaan Sridhar
Chewing gum in class — a menace or blessing?

Chewing gum in class — a menace or blessing?

Atrey Desai
When users interact with the bots on Discord, the bots explain what will occur next regarding their future.

YouTube shuts down popular Discord music bots

Atrey Desai and Arnav Swamy

Beijing’s grip on Chinese gaming and media tightens

Atrey Desai and Andrew Lin
Ethics In Technology club aims to educate students on its namesake

Ethics In Technology club aims to educate students on its namesake

Atrey Desai and Aiden Ye
We hate astrology

We hate astrology

Atrey Desai and Viraaj Reddi

Young girls’ volleyball team endures rough start

Atrey Desai and Sarah Zhou

@artby_apoorva: a documented journey for an aspiring artist

Atrey Desai and Hannah Lee
The main 2021-22 Premier League contenders — Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City — will compete in a potentially historical title race.

Revamped Premier League sparks excitement

Jason Cheng, Atrey Desai, and Vinay Gollamudi
Falcon Family Peer Tutoring Program offers student guidance for maneuvering tough classes

Falcon Family Peer Tutoring Program offers student guidance for maneuvering tough classes

Sarah Zhou and Atrey Desai
zoom-academy-graphic

Photo or Graphic for: As promised, district offers online program for ‘21-‘22

Howard Shu and Nikhil Mathihalli
KQED report: Former El Gato editor-in-chief claims newspaper adviser blocked multiple stories

KQED report: Former El Gato editor-in-chief claims newspaper adviser blocked multiple stories

Meher Bhatnagar, Atrey Desai, and Anouk Yeh
Robotics members excited by new facilities funded by Measure E

Robotics members excited by new facilities funded by Measure E

Atrey Desai and Hannah Lee
Top 5 soccer transfers of the 2021 summer window

Top 5 soccer transfers of the 2021 summer window

Jason Cheng, Atrey Desai, and Vinay Gollamudi
windowsmacvsbanner

The age-old debate: Macs vs. Windows

Nilay Mishra and Atrey Desai
top-10-movie

Top 10 movies to watch over summer

Atrey Desai
School-Board-Image

School board’s 4A decision raises questions

Atrey Desai and Michael Fok
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Super League scare raises questions about ownership models in soccer

Jason Cheng, Vinay Gollamudi, and Atrey Desai

Top 10 books to read over summer

Atrey Desai and Nidhi Mathihalli
final-robotics

MSET 649 submits robot videos, capping off their online season

Nidhi Mathihalli and Atrey Desai
wilson-fung-vaccine

Some students begin receiving COVID-19 vaccine

Atrey Desai
Screen Shot 2021-03-12 at 10

Parents’ reopening reactions range from rage to reservation

Atrey Desai and Nilay Mishra

Americans are dying as the government looks on

Atrey Desai
SHS_Reopening_Infographic_Vertical_infographic

District lays out plans for Phase 3A in community town hall

Atrey Desai and Manasi Garg
gatekeeping

The problem with cultural gatekeeping

Atrey Desai and Anjali Pai

Politically active students lead the way

Atrey Desai

Monopoly in sports video games causes unease in the player base

Atrey Desai
Screen Shot 2020-10-31 at 2

If breakout rooms do not start talking I will take action

Atrey Desai

Boba is the superior drink that deserves its fans

Atrey Desai
AMY-CONEY-BARRET-CREDIT (CAROLINE BREHMAN_POOL VIA AP)

Amy Coney Barrett: qualified but conflicted

Atrey Desai
Screen Shot 2020-10-08 at 7

Photo or Graphic for: The perfect tools and practices to build your ideal online learning environment

Jason Cheng
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