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

Jessica Li, In-Depth Editor

All content by Jessica Li
The runners explore many routes in Saratoga, venturing to roads such as Elva Avenue.

Cross country season preview: Tippetts returns to coach boys while professional runner steps up to coach the girls

Annika Gho, Jessica Li, and Amy Miao
August 31, 2024
Senior pitcher Aiden Chen announces his verbal commitment to the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletic program on Aug. 14.

Senior pitcher verbally commits to Claremont McKenna

Jessica Li
August 24, 2024
Emily, Shirina and Amy hold up the finished tanghulu while sugary water drips onto the floor.

The viral sweet treat tanghulu: Is it worth all the hype?

Shirina Cao, Jessica Li, Amy Miao, and Emily Wu
May 10, 2024
Sophomore May Gendeh performs the small lyrical routine at the United Spirit Association Nationals Competition on March 22.

Dance team competes at Nationals in Anaheim

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
April 23, 2024
My box of squishies (usually hidden in the depths of my closet), emblematic of my playful childhood activities.

Splurge diaries: my double life as a squishy collector and aspiring YouTuber

Jessica Li
March 28, 2024
If you waltz into my room, there’s a high possibility that my desk is covered with snacks.

Caving into my cravings: my go-to comfort snacks

Jessica Li
March 21, 2024
A joyful 10-year-old and a not-so-happy Sephora sales officer.

Sephora: Store shows what happens when 10-year-olds run amok under social media spotlight

Jessica Li
March 14, 2024
Avadhanam uses geometry techniques to solve Team Selection Test (TST) problems.

2 seniors now one step away from making national Math Olympiad teams

Jessica Li, Parav Manney, and Amy Miao
February 10, 2024
Dong finishes a clay stack of animals, with two sheep stacked on top of each other and one yellow and one blue bird on top.

ClayArtByJulie: Sophomore molds side hobby into small business

Jessica Li
February 8, 2024
Senior Michelle Wan fiercely raises her right arm during the ending pose of the team’s jazz routine during the competition hosted by West Coast Elite at Valley Christian on Jan. 20.

Making the most of limited practice time, dance team soars through competition season with a positive outlook

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
February 8, 2024
Anatomy and Physiology teacher Kristofer Orre achieves a deadlift personal record of 460 pounds at his gym.

Fitness pursuits keep teachers healthy, happy and focused

Jessica Li and Amy Miao
February 6, 2024
While UC Berkeley offers a tiresome uphill hike from SHS, Yale, Harvard and Stanford lead to an easy downhill slide.

Recent alumni offer their report card on how SHS prepared them for elite colleges

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
December 13, 2023
Katie Lu dribbles the ball during a game against Mustang Soccer Club at Provident Field on Apr. 15.

Freshman winger on track for national soccer pursuits

Jessica Li
December 9, 2023
Ashley Xu does a double stag jump while holding rainbow ribbons during her solo section of the folkloric group routine “Colorful Joy” during the performance at Spotlight Dance Cup nationals on July 8.

Dancers find perks in attending outside dance studios over school dance team

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
December 7, 2023
Team Saratoga 1, consisting of students Bryan Li, Lawson Wang, Advaith Avadhanam, Alan Lu, Skyler Mao and Victoria Hu (left to right) proudly hold up their second place trophy.

Mathletes place second at highly competitive Berkeley tournament

Jessica Li and Amy Miao
December 7, 2023
A glimpse into a few Chinese artifacts stationed around my room.

My room is submerged in keepsakes from China

Jessica Li
November 29, 2023
The dance team members Anisa Taymuree and Annalyn Bui hold their ending pose for their Oct. 20 football game halftime performance.

Dance team transitions from football half time performances to competition season

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
November 20, 2023
Jennifer Lee sifts through information and drafts a report on Oct. 24, preparing for the upcoming midterm review.

Biology teacher takes on new role as WASC coordinator

Jessica Li and Amy Miao
November 8, 2023
Clubs should generate genuine interest, not become mindless exercises

Clubs should generate genuine interest, not become mindless exercises

Jessica Li and Sasha Prasad
November 6, 2023
Freshman Vivian Zhong (right) and junior Ishani Agarwal (left) win medals at the MP4G awards ceremony.

7 SHS female mathletes travel to MIT for elite contest

Jessica Li and Amy Miao
October 21, 2023
Sophomore Barbara Vasilyeva and senior Ishan Joshi perform at the MAGIC concert on Aug. 27. 

Concert ‘MAGIC’ raises $30,000 for Maui fire victims and children in India

Jessica Li and Kavya Patel
September 24, 2023
The dance team performs their hip-hop routine to the song “Hot in It” for the football game on Sept. 1.

Dance team kicks off to powerful start while adjusting to new coach

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
September 23, 2023
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