The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
SHS students, faculty, and alumni pose after their final performance with BDB.
Students participate in prestigious Blue Devils Drums Corps over the summer
September 18, 2024
Sophomore Alma Garniek begins her shift at TEAZENTEA.
New bubble tea store opens in downtown Saratoga
September 15, 2024
Amanda Lupoli fills out a Venn diagram with input from students in her 6th period AP U.S. History class.
New history teacher emphasizes instilling critical thinking skills
September 15, 2024
English teacher Amy Keys makes masks as part of a Día de los Muertos workshop in Oaxaca.
Veteran teachers return to the classroom after taking leaves last year
September 15, 2024
Junior Nolan Woo introduces his club, League of Programmers, to junior Jack Dong.
This year’s Club Rush features off-beat new clubs and traditional old ones
September 14, 2024
The album cover for “Bando Stone and The New World,” where Donald Glover plays the titular character in the accompanying movie with the same name.
Bando Stone and The New World is an exhilarating sendoff to the Childish Gambino persona
September 18, 2024
The new installment in the “Quiet Place” series originally hinted at an emotionally impactful story about the tragedies of the apocalypse, increasing fan expectations.
‘A Quiet Place: Day One’: not worth all the noise
September 18, 2024
Olivia Rodrigo engages with the audience while singing “enough for you” during her concert.
Buying last-minute Olivia Rodrigo tickets is a good idea, right?
September 17, 2024
Absolutely hooked, I can’t stop myself from watching true crime, such as the Slenderman case.
The allure of true crime documentaries
September 17, 2024
Ao3 reigns supreme as the #1 fanfiction site.
A review of popular fanfiction sites — are they worth the read?
September 17, 2024
The 2024 F1 season has already crowned 7 Grand Prix winners — the most since 2012.
The rise and appeal of Formula 1 racing
September 18, 2024
Junior Millie Wang hits a 54-degree wedge out of a bunker at Saratoga Country Club.
With only 7 players, girls’ golf hopes to ace its season
September 17, 2024
Awaiting the inquiry results, Jordan Chiles looks at the screen anxiously.
A devastating — and unfair — loss of a medal for gymnast Jordan Chiles
September 16, 2024
The Niner’s chaotic offseason has been interesting to watch mainly due to the recently-resolved contract situation of wide-receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
After a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss, the 49ers are ready to move on
September 14, 2024
In March 2024, freshmen Kayley Ren placed seventh out of 94 fencers at the Fortune Fencing Super Youth Circuit in Ontario, Calif.
Blade and balance: Freshman excels at competitive fencing
September 13, 2024
I say my line during my annual spring program.
From private school to public school, the benefits and downsides I experienced
September 15, 2024
Too often, students instinctively reach for the calculator.
Stop and think: Do you really need that calculator?
September 15, 2024
Six ants crawl on bathroom sink.
Clean up after yourself before the ants take over the school
September 12, 2024
The skibidi toilet horrors that popped up in our Instagram reels less than a year ago.
Gen Alpha has a word for that — but you probably won’t know what it means
September 12, 2024
Glasses and Contacts
Contacts vs. glasses: Which one works better?
September 12, 2024
One of the three vending machines on the school campus.
Top 10: vending machine items on campus
September 17, 2024
My teachers are fast asleep while I rush to submit the assignment.
100-word rant: Homework should always be due at the start of class, not midnight of the night before
September 17, 2024
I carry an 8-month-old baby Io.
Never again: a girl, her dog and her keyboard
September 17, 2024
Moments before we (unfortunately) tasted our least favorite boba.
Our sweet adventure: uncovering the hidden boba gems in the Bay
September 16, 2024
Some productive and unproductive ways to combat after-school slump.
A guide to productivity: How to combat the after-school slump
September 16, 2024

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Cici Xu
Mary Campbell, Caroline Keogh, Leena El Ashmawi, Casey Gilligan run together against their home game against Palo Alto on March 30, which they won 9-7

Happy to play: Girls’ lacrosse fields a team and matches up

Serena Li, Anjali Nuggehalli, and Cici Xu
April 2, 2022
School discusses mental health and seeking support at the Speak Up for Change rally

School discusses mental health and seeking support at the Speak Up for Change rally

Serena Li, Lihi Shoshani, Sarah Thomas, and Cici Xu
February 8, 2022

All recycling products at the school have been trashed in the past six months because students keep contaminating recycling bins with improper waste such as food

Christina Chang and Cici Xu
December 2, 2021
Wu instructs her Chinese 3 students to recite a passage from the textbook.

Chinese curriculum undergoes major staff changes

Cici Xu
October 22, 2021
This iconic picture captures Lake Mead’s dropping water level and the exacerbating drought in the western United States.

Tackling the worst drought in 1,200 years: Why Saratogans should care

Cici Xu
October 17, 2021

A Disney miracle: reminiscing on It’s a Small World

Cici Xu
September 7, 2021
Omkar Kulkarni and his parents posted in front of Kulkarni’s solo jet after finishing his three consecutive 7-minutes solos in the South County Aviation flight school at San Martin, California. 

Flying solo: 2021 alumni immerses himself in unconventional summer activity

Cici Xu
September 1, 2021
Thank you, March For Our Lives!

March For Our Lives San Jose plans town hall meeting to address the emerging trend of mass shootings

Cici Xu
April 16, 2021
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Academy Award prediction: ‘Nomadland’ will win

Cici Xu
March 26, 2021
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Companionship is key to overcoming mental health issues in the pandemic

Cici Xu
March 26, 2021
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Staff prepares the campus for 3A in-person learning

Cici Xu
March 16, 2021
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Celebrating the Year of the Ox in a pandemic

Cici Xu
March 1, 2021
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Into thin air: Sophomore and senior siblings climb in the Himalayas for the second time

Cici Xu
January 16, 2021
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‘The Prom’: an oversimplified lesson on love and acceptance

Anjali Nuggehalli and Cici Xu
January 10, 2021
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Students second-guess opinions on social media

Cici Xu
December 12, 2020
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Weir leads maintenance staff in preparation for eventual in-person school

Andy Chen and Cici Xu
December 12, 2020
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Sophomore dedicates herself to pre-season running

Nika Bagherian and Cici Xu
December 3, 2020
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Class officers hope for outdoor, socially distanced proms

Cici Xu
November 30, 2020
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From history pages to Zoom call: Famous Supreme Court litigant advocates for the power of youth voices

Cici Xu
October 15, 2020
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Climate Clock urges people to act

Cici Xu
October 11, 2020
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TV show ‘Modern Family’ demonstrates power of acceptance

Cici Xu
October 9, 2020
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Family’s guidance is crucial on supporting children’s social-emotional growth in quarantine

Cici Xu
September 14, 2020
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Walking: an unexpected cost of online learning

Cici Xu
September 3, 2020
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WeChat users in America should be given a choice

Cici Xu
September 3, 2020
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I flattened the curve of my exponentially growing screen time

Cici Xu
August 29, 2020
AP Reaction

Students find unexpected advantages as well as flaws to online AP exams

Cici Xu
May 20, 2020
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Green Team brings Earth Week online as COVID-19 crisis continues

Cici Xu
May 13, 2020
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Students and teachers navigate online classes

Ethan Lin and Cici Xu
April 30, 2020
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Junior finds new ways during quarantine to express love for saxophone

Cici Xu
April 13, 2020
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‘The Crown’: a Netflix masterpiece worth watching

Cici Xu
April 12, 2020
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Dad, a three-hours marathoner, becomes my marathon pacer

Cici Xu
April 11, 2020
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Common Roots embraces Sources of Strength on campus

Nicole Lu and Cici Xu
April 3, 2020
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Scared to stare

Cici Xu
April 1, 2020

Amid panic of coronavirus pandemic, new quarantine policy emerges

Vicky Bai and Cici Xu
February 11, 2020

Female freshman wrestler grapples with self-acceptance

Cici Xu and Nicole Lu
February 10, 2020

Administration threatens area closures if students don’t pick up their lunchtime trash

Cici Xu and Samantha Yee
February 10, 2020

What about this year’s Academy Awards?

Cici Xu
February 10, 2020

Badminton team starts more rigorous training

Cici Xu and Christine Zhang
February 10, 2020

The time for solar panels is now

Cici Xu
February 10, 2020
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Traditional sports connects students to cultural heritage

Serena Li and Cici Xu
December 9, 2019

Wrestling team switches regimen to start from scratch, promotes stronger team bonding

Nicole Lu and Cici Xu
December 9, 2019

Dance, Verma show they belong in state race

Nicole Lu and Cici Xu
December 9, 2019

Nature-loving student incorporates homemade clay and pigments into her art

Vicky Bai and Cici Xu
December 9, 2019

Breaking Down the Walls got me involved in our community

Cici Xu
December 2, 2019

Composting comes to campus to protect the environment

Cici Xu
December 2, 2019
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School finally installs new kiln to replace one damaged in 2017 fire

Rohan Kumar and Cici Xu
October 30, 2019

Dance places first in prestigious Mt. Sac competition

Nicole Lu and Cici Xu
October 30, 2019

Girls’ cross country poised to finish the year strong

Nicole Lu and Cici Xu
October 28, 2019

If you like Troye Sivan, then Maggie Rogers is for you

Cici Xu
October 15, 2019

Promising freshman runners join girls’ cross country, season starts with high hopes

Nicole Lu and Cici Xu
September 24, 2019

Harder practices encourage boys’ cross country to reach their full potential

Nicole Lu and Cici Xu
September 24, 2019

Reduced-waste lifestyles combat overflowing landfills

Rohan Kumar and Cici Xu
September 18, 2019
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