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 Sarah Thomas
The most important day of the year: Waffle Day

The most important day of the year: Waffle Day

William Norwood and Sarah Thomas
March 25, 2024
District makes major change to SHS’s freshman P.E. policy: All must now take the class

District makes major change to SHS’s freshman P.E. policy: All must now take the class

Sarah Thomas
March 18, 2024
District’s INSPIRE strategic plan aims to improve educational outcomes through support and opportunities

District’s INSPIRE strategic plan aims to improve educational outcomes through support and opportunities

Sarah Thomas
March 14, 2024
The new 2024-25 calendar gives students a full week off for Thanksgiving.

Start of school bumped earlier as district moves to a full week off for Thanksgiving

William Norwood and Sarah Thomas
January 26, 2024
After a hard day of work, senior Yao poses with engineering teacher Warmuth.

Students volunteer their time as TAs to decrease teachers’ workloads

Sarah Thomas
January 25, 2024
Nicole, William, Sarah and Isabelle smile happily over food.

The QUIET SHY somehow carried the BRITISH CHAD

Nicole Lee, William Norwood, Sarah Thomas, and Isabelle Wang
December 20, 2023
Shut the lulu up

Shut the lulu up

Sarah Thomas
December 14, 2023
Homework quizzes need to be tweaked to actually test for understanding

Homework quizzes need to be tweaked to actually test for understanding

Sarah Thomas
November 6, 2023
Piracy is a lifestyle.

How to read books without even paying

Sarah Thomas
September 27, 2023
cuckoo parents go vroom vroom.

Parents: Please follow the rules and don’t clog the parking lot

Sarah Thomas
September 27, 2023
most relatable image ever

Sparkling water is everything to me: It should be for you, too 

Sarah Thomas
September 8, 2023
Harrison Hwang and Mateusz Palusinski pose after eliminating their targets Maya Singla and Ananya Seth.

Class of ‘23 senior assassin ends in controversy

Sarah Thomas
May 27, 2023
Students, staff and administrators gather to listen to the panelists share their experiences and opinions.

Panel describes what it’s like to be Black in Saratoga

Sarah Thomas
May 25, 2023
The feud between Spotify and Apple is as old as streaming itself… but it's time for it to end.

Spotify and Apple are close competitors, but there’s a clear winner

Sarah Thomas
April 3, 2023
College Board continues to erase key black figures from history.

CollegeBoard’s recent actions prove it cares more about money than education

William Norwood and Sarah Thomas
April 3, 2023
You can’t change the minds of the school’s most prolific journalists (looks directly at P3)

Top 10: worst (real) takes heard in the Journalism room

Sarah Thomas
March 1, 2023
Class of ‘22 alumna Cici Xu stands in front of the Supreme Court steps in support of affirmative action. 

Alumni stand up for threatened affirmative action policies

William Norwood and Sarah Thomas
February 15, 2023
‘Cashless future’ carries negative implications

‘Cashless future’ carries negative implications

Sarah Thomas
February 15, 2023
Blom and Timmons pose at an ice rink in Palo Alto.

Lovestruck: The Falcon plays matchmaker

Sarah Thomas and Ariel Zhou
February 12, 2023
Female politicians face sexism as a part of their day-to-day lives.

America needs to speak out against violence directed towards female politicians

William Norwood and Sarah Thomas
December 10, 2022
Top 10 Christmas songs not by Mariah Carey

Top 10 Christmas songs not by Mariah Carey

Sarah Thomas
November 22, 2022
Seven minutes into a 30 minute lunch break, all three of the lunch lines still extend out of the cafeteria.

School should seek to turn difficulties with Universal Lunch Program into opportunities

Sarah Thomas and Beverly Xu
November 4, 2022
The upcoming midterm elections will be the first chance for some seniors to vote.

Seniors channel hope for change into political actions in upcoming midterm elections

Sarah Thomas and Sarah Zhou
October 29, 2022
In a game against Homestead on Oct. 18, the Falcon’s senior night, senior Georgia Adams pushes against an opposing player, racing to get to the ball. 

Field hockey team celebrates growth and perseverance as season ends

Lena Aribi and Sarah Thomas
October 20, 2022
Some of the topics the School Site Council hopes to address this year are installing solar panels and improving the school’s composting system.

School Site Council reconvenes and works to review student concerns

Sarah Zhou and Sarah Thomas
October 20, 2022
Students and parents learn Flash Mob dances at Garba.

Indian Cultural Awareness Club hosts first Garba at school

Kavya Patel and Sarah Thomas
October 20, 2022
History teacher Kirk Abe plays the drums at a gig.

Jazz, rock and bossa nova: Abe drums through genres

Sarah Thomas
October 13, 2022
Levine has a lot of guts to cheat for someone who has a baby angel tatted next to his right nipple.

Adam Levine cheating scandal reveals society’s (or at least his) descent into immorality

Sarah Zhou and Sarah Thomas
October 12, 2022
Assistant principal Matt Torrens’ ticket to Hollywood (one way!)

Top 10: actors to play assistant principal Matt Torrens

Sarah Thomas
October 5, 2022
A comic strip created by Richard Torrey, an author, cartoonist and illustrator, dedicated to English teacher and journalism adviser Michael Tyler. Tyler helped Torrey break his comic strip into newspaper syndication while he worked at Creators Syndicate.

Tyler found that other jobs laid the groundwork for teaching

Sanjoli Gupta and Sarah Thomas
September 24, 2022
The team played their hardest against Mitty on Sept. 13, but ultimately lost 7-0. 

Field hockey players push to fill the gap left by graduating players

Lena Aribi and Sarah Thomas
September 23, 2022
 Sarah Thomas was baptized in Kerala as a toddler.

Photo or Graphic for: On being South Indian and Christian: Students discuss microaggressions, misrepresentation in media

Sanjoli Gupta
September 22, 2022
Liz Alves teaches her Intermediate P.E. class during their swimming unit

Former athletic trainer Liz Alves returns to campus as P.E. teacher

Sarah Thomas and Divya Vadlakonda
September 21, 2022
‘Diverse’ period dramas must choose between fact and fiction

‘Diverse’ period dramas must choose between fact and fiction

Sarah Thomas
June 5, 2022
Students in Laws's English class work on exploring complex topics such as identity and rhetorical appeals in daily journals. 

All Quiet on the Eastern Front: Using the Russia-Ukraine conflict to understand history

Sarah Thomas and Sanjoli Gupta
May 30, 2022
1046

Drop Shah Rukh Khan for Rajnikanth: Give South Indian movies more hype

Kavya Patel and Sarah Thomas
May 26, 2022
Top 10 most embarrassing things that happen on vacation

Top 10 most embarrassing things that happen on vacation

Kavya Patel and Sarah Thomas
March 31, 2022
Bai Tong is love, Bai Tong is life

Bai Tong is love, Bai Tong is life

Sarah Thomas
March 31, 2022
New district official Jamal Splane takes on essential role in school culture

New district official Jamal Splane takes on essential role in school culture

Sarah Thomas and Ariel Zhou
March 23, 2022
Employees from Inspire Diagnostics wait for students at the school’s testing site

Students and staff grapple with COVID-19 infections

Sarah Thomas and Tara Natarajan
February 8, 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

Record-breaking snow storm derails students’ Tahoe plans

Kavya Patel and Sarah Thomas
February 4, 2022
Healthy relationships require communication and mutual respect, not external pressure

Healthy relationships require communication and mutual respect, not external pressure

Sarah Thomas and Ariel Zhou
January 20, 2022

Netflix’s new hit show ‘Squid Game’ tackles economic inequality

Sarah Thomas and Kavya Patel
December 17, 2021
Choose ethical consumption over following TikTok’s ever-changing fashion whims

Choose ethical consumption over following TikTok’s ever-changing fashion whims

Sarah Thomas
December 3, 2021
Shows for young adults misrepresent serious issues

Shows for young adults misrepresent serious issues

Sarah Thomas and Ariel Zhou
December 1, 2021
Students listen to speakers at Speak Up For Change in 2019

ASB considers unofficial version of outreach commission after cut

Sarah Thomas
November 19, 2021
Guitarist Julian Lage, drummer Dave King and bassist Jorge Roeder perform at The Fillmore on September 26th

In-person venues use various methods to protect attendees from COVID-19

Sarah Thomas
November 4, 2021
Roof tile collapses due to excess water, and sags the one next to it.

Part of robotics building’s ceiling collapses during recent storm

Sarah Thomas and Daniel Wu
October 31, 2021

Please avoid these 10 overdone group costumes this Halloween

Sarah Thomas and Ariel Zhou
October 22, 2021
Multiethnic South Asian students recount their experiences with identity, culture and family

Multiethnic South Asian students recount their experiences with identity, culture and family

Tara Natarajan and Sarah Thomas
October 22, 2021
The Anarchists’ poster for Daveyland

MAP students dive headfirst into 19th century social and economical philosophy

Tara Natarajan and Sarah Thomas
October 21, 2021
Sophomore Minh Do bakes with his younger sister in the midst of quarantine.

Students learn to balance in-person school with newly discovered hobbies

Sarah Thomas
October 17, 2021
The Benefit Club posts their official retro theme reveal on Instagram

Benefit transitions back to an in-person show for 2022

Sarah Thomas and Kavya Patel
October 7, 2021
Clubs readjust to an in-person setting

Clubs readjust to an in-person setting

Sarah Thomas and Kavya Patel
October 7, 2021
Students asked to pitch in to combat campus waste

Students asked to pitch in to combat campus waste

Sarah Zhou and Sarah Thomas
October 2, 2021

Lucy Dacus’s autobiographical third album displays her versatility

Sarah Thomas
September 9, 2021
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