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 Mitchell Chen
Swimmers practice?

As swimming numbers dip, team struggles in meets

Mitchell Chen and Florence Hu
March 18, 2024
Senior Cooper Call lowers his shoulder into Pacific grove defender

Fresh boys’ lacrosse team faces rebuilding season

Nika Svizhenko and Mitchell Chen
March 15, 2024
Senior Diego Rocabado playing against Cupertino at an away game on Jan. 24.

Boys’ soccer struggles to adapt after rough start to season

Mitchell Chen and Christina Labban
February 3, 2024
Senior Zinnerah Ahmed rushes forward to score a layout against Mountain View on Jan. 24.

Girls’ basketball shows improvement in rebuilding year

Mitchell Chen and Ariel Zhou
February 3, 2024
Junior Angie Chen tells her story of body dysmorphia at the Speak Up for Change assembly on Jan. 26. 

Speak Up for Change assembly: Students and staff discuss healing by seeking help, body dysmorphia, pursuing passions

Mitchell Chen, Andrew Lin, and Emily Wu
January 27, 2024
Senior Mitchell Chen got a dub playing OG fortnite after playing for three hours straight.

Another day, another win for the ‘OG’ Fortnite

Mitchell Chen
December 11, 2023
Calling a timeout, the team decides to run a new play to try  to score on possession.

Despite defensive improvements later in the season, boys’ water polo finishes last in league

Mitchell Chen
November 16, 2023
Seniors Mitchell Chen and George Hu finally finished their Chipotle bowls before heading to class.

1 mile, 2 runners, 4 Chipotle Bowls, many regrets.

George Hu and Mitchell Chen
November 15, 2023

Boys’ water polo struggles to find traction in first few weeks

Mitchell Chen
October 3, 2023
Senior Emma Green fights for the ball in a game against Presentation on Sept. 27.

Field hockey adjusts to new coach as the season progresses

Mitchell Chen and Saachi Jain & Ariel Zhou
October 1, 2023
Senior wing Victoria Le shotblocks against Monta Vista on Sept. 7.

Girls’ water polo season off to a hot start with an undefeated record

Mitchell Chen
October 1, 2023
Timothy Leung outlasted 49 other competitors to win his category at the state speech tournament.

Sophomore wins speech state championship for Programmed Oral Interpretation

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
June 6, 2023
Swimmers warm up at the Baylor Aquatics Center at the CCS championships.

Swim team participates in CCS, girls’ team makes States

Mitchell Chen, Victoria Lin, and Aiden Ye
May 27, 2023
Collage of prom photos

Beach Boardwalk praised as ideal prom location

Mitchell Chen and Neal Malhotra
May 27, 2023
Lisa Fung and Anushka Sankaran are the Class of `23 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

Class of ‘23 valedictorian and salutatorian announced

Mitchell Chen
May 25, 2023
Junior Neal Malhotra catches some Z’s after a long night of playing brawl stars — he forgot to complete his history homework due that day.

Call it a case of Junioritis-’24

Mitchell Chen and Neal Malhotra
May 22, 2023
Sharkie, the mascot of the San Jose Sharks, came to give senior Kayla Steele her scholarship on March 1.

Senior wins scholarship from San Jose Sharks

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
May 6, 2023
Senior Keon Nikfar competes in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Swim team struggles with low participation, hurting their ability to win meets

Mitchell Chen and Kevin Yang
March 30, 2023
Freshman Ishir Gupta dives towards the bird in a doubles practice match on March 28.

Badminton team looks to new freshman talent for team expansion

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
March 30, 2023
Senior wins New York Times award for 2022 personal narrative contest

Senior wins New York Times award for 2022 personal narrative contest

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
February 15, 2023
A junior’s Tesla was totaled after a crash into a house’s yard on Herriman Avenue in late January.

Recent student driving accidents, speeding reports raise safety concerns

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
February 13, 2023
I hope Santa won’t realize his missing elf!

Top 10: Things that happened when Santa came down the chimney

Mitchell Chen
December 21, 2022
Eric Miao and Jayden Ham play a Mozart duet arrangement for flute and clarinet.

Tri-M concert raises money for Hurricane Ian relief

Mitchell Chen and Zachary Zinman
December 6, 2022
Chang received the NSPA honorable mention award for her impactful journalism portfolio.

Falcon editor wins honorable mention for NSPA Writer of the Year award

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
December 6, 2022
Posing in an upward dog position, I take in deep breaths to clear my mind.

Yoga has a cult following of millions; I won’t be joining them

Mitchell Chen
November 21, 2022
While leg day might not be my favorite, I never skip it.

The many ways people make fools out of themselves in the gym

Mitchell Chen
November 20, 2022
The cheer team walks together along the track before the football game.

Cheer team prepares for competitions as sideline season comes to an end

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
October 21, 2022
Senior Keon Nikfar looks to shoot during the game against Wilcox on Oct. 3.

Boys’ water polo makes late-season turnaround, looks forward toward next year

Mitchell Chen and Anthony Wang
October 21, 2022
Head coach Kendal Jarvis smiles as the team creates a plank centipede.

Boys’ water polo looks to repeat success despite losing key seniors

Mitchell Chen
September 24, 2022
Before beginning cheering for a varsity football game, the team takes a photo together

Cheer team focuses on conditioning hoping to qualify for nationals

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
September 24, 2022
Senior Merriam Labban walks down her runway.

Senior takes design and fashion passion to next level at modeling show

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
September 24, 2022
New health clerk and campus supervisor Tammy Parris gets ready for lunch duty.

New health clerk and supervisor aims to be positive presence on campus

Mitchell Chen and George Hu
September 22, 2022
The team poses for a photo during their end-of-year banquet at Lazy Dog on May 15th.

Boys’ golf placed second in league finals, junior qualified for CCS finals

Mitchell Chen and Nilay Mishra
May 30, 2022

Newly formed clubs cultivate multitude of opportunities

Mitchell Chen and Jonathan Li
April 1, 2022
Uncrustable from lunch line

The one sandwich you can never stop eating

Mitchell Chen
March 31, 2022
Irene Frazier (far left), Solbee Lee (middle left), Meher Haider (middle right), Rebecca Boscow (far right) pose before going to CCS.

4 girls on wrestling team take their skills to CCS

Mitchell Chen
March 20, 2022
Wrestling welcomes new athletes following numerous graduations

Wrestling welcomes new athletes following numerous graduations

Mitchell Chen
February 4, 2022
Intro to Engineering and Intro to CS to be merged next year

Intro to Engineering and Intro to CS to be merged next year

Mitchell Chen and Daniel Wu
February 3, 2022
Wrestling team hopes to improve in face of rising COVID-19 cases

Wrestling team hopes to improve in face of rising COVID-19 cases

Mitchell Chen
January 23, 2022
Winter workouts: a refreshing alternative

Winter workouts: a refreshing alternative

Mitchell Chen
December 13, 2021
I can't go to the bathroom without disturbance

Finding a good bathroom: a rant

Mitchell Chen
December 13, 2021
Sophomore Minh Do plays "Christmas Festival" by Leroy Anderson on a violin at the Thankful Hearts concert at the Villa of Saratoga senior center on Nov. 28

In-person concerts become more common for service clubs

Mitchell Chen and Jonathan Li
December 3, 2021

Inspired by events and trends, students found new clubs

Jonathan Li and Mitchell Chen
October 22, 2021

Eating like The Rock for a day leads to stomach aches and regret

Mitchell Chen
October 21, 2021
How to sell your sibling 

How to sell your sibling 

Mitchell Chen
October 17, 2021

Girls’ water polo upbeat as they face a challenging season

Mitchell Chen
September 13, 2021
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