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 Howard Shu
Tony Fernandes drinks a carton of almond milk during the Feb. 11, 2022 rally, an action that made him infamous across the school as the milk man.

Senior Mag 2023: Tony Fernandes: the milk man we needed

Howard Shu
Sophomore Aidan Smith hits his approach shot on the 18th hole during league finals at Santa Teresa golf course en route to a birdie.

Photo or Graphic for: Top players qualified for CCS despite subpar team record

Saachi Jain, Amy Luo, and Sarah Zhou
Boys-Golf-Courtesy-of-Now-Forever-Studios-570x380

Photo or Graphic for: Boys’ golf ends March with just one victory in strong De Anza

Saachi Jain
Class of 1998 shooting guard Luke Weger hits a clutch three-pointer with around four minutes left to extend the Falcons’ lead to 58-52.

25 years later: SHS’s version of a staggering March Madness upset

Nikhil Mathihalli and Howard Shu
MIT college logo; visit your college!

Top 10: most underrated senior trip ideas

Kavya Patel and Howard Shu
Senior fuses meditation and neuroscience passions into research paper

Senior fuses meditation and neuroscience passions into research paper

Howard Shu and Annie Liu
1950s Saratoga's Swanee Plaza, now the Saratoga Historical Museum.

Time capsule 1968: WASC report reveals an unfamiliar past

Lynn Dai and Howard Shu
Junior Lynn Dai extracts planaria after feeding them egg yolk.

Photo or Graphic for: Students continue honing hands-on research skills in Advanced Science Research

Natalie Chua and Sanjoli Gupta
The sophomore class office sells Candy Grams in front of the student center on Oct. 28.

Class officers search for unique, but still profit-maximizing ideas to fundraise for prom

Howard Shu
Analyzing our rap album of the year: Atlanta rapper JID’s ‘The Forever Story’

Analyzing our rap album of the year: Atlanta rapper JID’s ‘The Forever Story’

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
My trip included pleasant scenery of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains, smothering my head with winter gear and the greatest TV I have ever seen.

My chaotic Lake Tahoe skiing experience

Howard Shu
My first liked songs ever on Spotify are straight out of a nightmare for hip-hop fans, including myself now.

Listening to aggressive hip-hop as a shy suburban kid

Howard Shu
All senior English classes should have one class period dedicated to college essays.

Senior English classes should align with college essay guidance

Howard Shu
Chemistry teacher Janny Cahatol’s “memory wall” depicts past students holding up a whiteboard telling a joke or memory. 

Teachers’ room decorations capture memories, exemplary student work

Howard Shu
Clockwise: Removing old HVAC ducts, installing new beams and ducts, baseball field demolition and engineering lab renovation.

Summer construction ends successfully

Howard Shu
Class of 2023 reflects on their year emerging from the pandemic

Class of 2023 reflects on their year emerging from the pandemic

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
The team poses for a photo during their end-of-year banquet at Lazy Dog on May 15th.

Photo or Graphic for: Boys’ golf placed second in league finals, junior qualified for CCS finals

Mitchell Chen and Nilay Mishra
Junior shortstop and pitcher Lucas Dennis throws a pitch during the last game of the regular season on May 12 against Fremont.

Baseball team makes CCS after a three-game win streak to end the regular season

Howard Shu
Spanish teacher Allison Dermont and her fiance stand in front of the dance floor at Homecoming.

Spanish teacher Allison Dermont to depart school

Howard Shu
Chess boxing: the ingenious combination of physicality and intelligence

Chess boxing: the ingenious combination of physicality and intelligence

Howard Shu
Course registration patterns look to be consistent with past years

Course registration patterns look to be consistent with past years

Howard Shu
Pictured here is senior outfielder Derek Hsu at bat.

Season preview: Baseball looks to win El Camino with well-rounded roster

Howard Shu
Two juniors nominated for NCTE writing contest

Two juniors nominated for NCTE writing contest

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
Engineering Design and Development students design and build original projects for practical use

Engineering Design and Development students design and build original projects for practical use

Sam Bai and Howard Shu
Pictured here is the result of Howard and Arnav’s first game against each other, which resulted in a stalemate and atrocious accuracy ratings.

Grandblunderers > grandmasters

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
Warriors starting lineup stands before game.

Warriors’ early success gives hope for championship run

Atrey Desai and Howard Shu
Harvard sophomore Kevin Sze plays a shot out of a bunker at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Alum collegiate golfer plays top two seed on the D1 Harvard men’s golf team

Howard Shu

How to approach New Year’s Resolutions: Think of them New Year’s goals instead

Howard Shu
From left to right: senior Christian Li, juniors Julian Berkowitz-Sklar and Mateusz Palusinski, senior Christopher Liu. The athletes celebrate after Liu scored an “and-one” layup on a fast break to give the Falcons a 49-39 lead over the Wildcats with one minute remaining.

Boys’ basketball team wins four straight to start league season

Esther Luan and Howard Shu
Saratoga High alum Caroline Okuno from the 1st Marine Division Band out of San Diego poses for a photo in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Alum Caroline Okuno becomes youngest First Marine Division Band drum major

Howard Shu
Then sophomore varsity player Christian Li dribbles the ball upcourt during a home game in the 2019-20 season

Boys’ basketball: Senior-led group aims to dominate El Camino

Benjamin Li, Esther Luan, and Howard Shu
Two juniors achieve rare perfect scores on AP Comp Science exam

Two juniors achieve rare perfect scores on AP Comp Science exam

Annie Liu and Howard Shu
Graphic by junior Kaelli Trateng advertising the girls’ volleyball Dig Pink event for breast cancer awareness.

Effort begins to increase attendance at sports events

Howard Shu
Fitness club members listen as club advisor Mr. Ellis presents the workout for the day

After a successful introduction last year, the Fitness Club hopes to inspire more students to become healthier

Howard Shu
Students gather together in the quad during lunch

COVID-19 risk remains real, even for the fully vaccinated

Howard Shu
Junior Jeremy Lu (bottom right) works on the lab report for a candy chromatography lab with his group members

SHS students taking science research class at LG enjoy working on open-ended projects

Nidhi Mathihalli and Howard Shu
Baby Keem’s ‘The Melodic Blue’ pioneers path for future rap music

Baby Keem’s ‘The Melodic Blue’ pioneers path for future rap music

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
Golden State Warrior fan’s hot takes: championship window is still open despite quiet offseason

Golden State Warrior fan’s hot takes: championship window is still open despite quiet offseason

Howard Shu
As promised, district offers online program for ‘21-‘22

As promised, district offers online program for ‘21-‘22

Howard Shu and Nikhil Mathihalli

Replays are overused in professional sports

Howard Shu
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After 10 years, athletics director Tim Lugo steps down

Apurva Chakravarthy and Howard Shu
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District must provide fair salary, increase benefits for SHS athletic trainer position

Andy Chen, Shama Gupta, and Howard Shu
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Students and teachers reflect on the past year of quarantine

Howard Shu
scioly

Science Olympiad team happy with performance in regional tournament

Vinay Gollamudi and Howard Shu
Screen Shot 2021-03-27 at 8

One family’s experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine

Howard Shu
ggolfphoto

Girls’ golf team improves through their first few matches

Howard Shu
poshenloh

Math club hosts decorated Carnegie Mellon professor

Howard Shu
SAR Girls Golf

Girls’ golf team aims to rebuild in short, delayed season

Howard Shu
National-History-Bowl-New-Logo

History Bowl team places second in virtual national tournament

Howard Shu and Vinay Gollamudi
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Junior golfer hopes to welcome new players in upcoming season

Howard Shu
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Curry dumplings: a family classic

Howard Shu
Carlino_Pamela

Cafeteria workers find ways to provide food during pandemic

Howard Shu and Mina Yeap
QuizBowlVisual

Quiz Bowl team makes nationals again

Vinay Gollamudi and Howard Shu
Screen Shot 2020-12-01 at 11

Kanye West comes up tens of millions of votes short in presidential election

Howard Shu
investment club logo

Student stock traders achieve success in the financial markets

Howard Shu and Jonathan Li
Screen Shot 2020-11-05 at 8

Measure E bond to fund more renovations across campus

Howard Shu
DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau wins U.S. Open, revolutionizes golf

Howard Shu

How I boosted my typing speed in a week

Howard Shu
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