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 Nilay Mishra
Consider choosing the College and Career center over the convoluted, costly and sometimes unethical world of private college admissions consulting.

Staff editorial: Reject private counselors for free school resources

Nilay Mishra
March 30, 2023
A-team members senior Adam Xu, senior Nilay Mishra, junior Advaith Avadhanam and senior Anthony Wang listen attentively as the round’s questions are being read.

Photo or Graphic for: Science Bowl team places first at regionals, heads to nationals

Nikhil Mathihalli and Anthony Wang
March 26, 2023
Understanding how an application was reviewed would ensure equity and that a holistic admissions process is truly being followed.

Staff editorial: Colleges should release internal numerical ratings to all applicants

Nilay Mishra and Arnav Swamy
January 29, 2023
Senior captain Dylan Sinton dribbles the ball across the field during a Tuesday night practice match.

Boys’ soccer team focuses on building chemistry and momentum

Nilay Mishra and Beverly Xu
December 12, 2022
Substitute Chris Rasmussen, who teaches U.S. history and History in Film, works with a student during fourth period on Oct. 19.

Subs fill in for history and math teachers on leave

Nikhil Mathihalli, Nilay Mishra, and Jonathan Si
October 19, 2022
Math Prize for Girls, hosted at MIT, is one of the few all-girls competitions. It aims to promote interest in STEM fields for high-achieving girls.

The gender gap in Silicon Valley: An untold paradox

Nilay Mishra
September 23, 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
Precalculus Honors classes should not transform curriculum to conform to AP Precalculus

Precalculus Honors classes should not transform curriculum to conform to AP Precalculus

Nilay Mishra and Arnav Swamy
May 30, 2022
Option 2 is preferred by Los Gatos High School while Option 3 is preferred by Saratoga High School

Board shies away from backing a bell schedule for next year

George Huang and Nilay Mishra
May 22, 2022
Digitizing the SAT will not make it equitable

Digitizing the SAT will not make it equitable

Nilay Mishra
March 31, 2022
Fantastic masks and where to find them

Fantastic masks and where to find them

Nilay Mishra
February 7, 2022
Clubs host Speak Up for Change events

Clubs host Speak Up for Change events

Nidhi Mathihalli and Nilay Mishra
February 7, 2022
Upperclassmen: Stop glorifying sleep deprivation

Upperclassmen: Stop glorifying sleep deprivation

Nilay Mishra
February 4, 2022
IT technician Larry Jens tackles complex issues

IT technician Larry Jens tackles complex issues

Nilay Mishra
December 3, 2021

American Math Competition (AMC) moved earlier, catching some off guard

Nidhi Mathihalli and Nilay Mishra
October 28, 2021

AP and regular Environmental Science combined into one class

Nilay Mishra
October 28, 2021
Side-by-side comparison of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13

Apple’s iPhone 13: impressive innovation or glorified iPhone 12?

Sara Bright and Nilay Mishra
October 28, 2021
The Falcons had a large crowd on a Friday night for Homecoming (pictured here), but few fans have shown up for the team’s Thursday night contests.

Nationwide shortage of football referees pushes games to Thursday nights

Apurva Chakravarthy and Nilay Mishra
October 21, 2021
Did Hagrid want Harry Potter dead all along? Mwahaha.

A news flash for ‘Harry Potter’ fans: Everybody’s favorite bumbling giant was likely a secret member of Voldemort’s inner circle

Nilay Mishra
October 8, 2021
Paparazzi photographers blackmail Italian celebrities in 2006.

Paparazzi laws: a fine balance between the First Amendment and privacy

Nilay Mishra
October 2, 2021
New rough/final draft test format harms students in the long run

New rough/final draft test format harms students in the long run

Benjamin Li and Nilay Mishra
September 20, 2021
Six of the 46 potential candidates to replace Newsom as governor if the recall election succeeds. Polls suggest that even if Newsom is recalled, none of the candidates will receive more votes than him.

California recall elections are fundamentally flawed

Nilay Mishra
September 9, 2021

Brutally honest college essay: the ‘intellectual challenge’ that Scantrons present

Nilay Mishra
September 9, 2021

Students and teachers criticize new bell schedule

Nidhi Mathihalli and Nilay Mishra
September 9, 2021
The team lines up defensively against San Mateo at the line of scrimmage.

Football team starts season with disappointment

Nilay Mishra and Shaan Sridhar
September 6, 2021
Caption: Parent booster groups present at last year’s Back to School Night, which took place virtually. This year’s event is planned to be virtual again, taking place over Zoom and Google Meets.

Back to School Night goes virtual for the second year in a row

Nilay Mishra
August 31, 2021
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Students and teachers adapt to new AP testing format

Nilay Mishra
June 5, 2021
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The age-old debate: Macs vs. Windows

Nilay Mishra and Atrey Desai
May 24, 2021
j&jvaccine

Johnson & Johnson vaccinations should not have been halted

Nilay Mishra
May 17, 2021
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New coach leads girls’ basketball

Nilay Mishra
May 17, 2021
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Girls’ basketball: New coach faces challenges posed by pandemic

Christina Chang and Nilay Mishra
April 25, 2021
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‘Fermat’s last theorem’ by Simon Singh chips away at an enigma once available only to specialists

Nilay Mishra
April 9, 2021
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Parents’ reopening reactions range from rage to reservation

Atrey Desai and Nilay Mishra
March 12, 2021
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Students ride the wild roller coaster of ‘meme’ stock runs

Jonathan Li and Nilay Mishra
March 10, 2021
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Academic competitions find new ways to run online

Nilay Mishra
March 6, 2021
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If you think 7-day free trials are a great deal, think again

Nilay Mishra
February 5, 2021
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Going test-blind distorts the college admissions process

Preston Fu and Nilay Mishra
December 1, 2020
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School combats students’ F’s with programs and support systems

Nilay Mishra and Lihi Shoshani
November 27, 2020
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Sophomore uses research experience to found Genomics and Bioinformatics Club

Nilay Mishra
November 9, 2020
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‘Rebecca’ remake offers a modern adaptation but falls short in many ways

Nilay Mishra
November 9, 2020
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In online classes, breaks between classes are too long

Nilay Mishra
November 9, 2020
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