The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
Sophomore Lauren Song performs as Clara in Los Gatos Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
Dancers perform in ‘The Nutcracker’ with the Los Gatos Ballet
December 18, 2024
Casavant’s frequent drop-ins on water polo games and practices brought energy to the team.
In supporting student athletes, staff members make important connections
December 15, 2024
Students dance to the music in the moshpit on Dec. 7.
Winter Formal at Gilroy Gardens garners positive feedback
December 14, 2024
Many seniors feel frustrated with the lack of a consistent counselor.
Students last names A-F have faced struggles with guidance counselor turnovers in past two years
December 13, 2024
In recent years, an increasing number of students have applied early to college.
Class of ’25 sees an increased number of early college applicants
December 13, 2024
Playing Grace Fryer and Tom Kreider respectively, senior Kat Aldrete and junior Larry O’Brien star in the SHS ‘Radium Girls’ fall play.
Senior Kat Aldrete shines as lead role in ‘Radium Girls’
December 14, 2024
A perfect sparkly Christmas decoration to get you in the festive mood.
Top 10: Christmas Decorations
December 13, 2024
There are various ways to approach studying math competitions such as the AMC.
Students prepare for math competitions with various methods and mediums
December 13, 2024
AP Physics teachers Tom Casavant and Matthew Welander discuss a change in their upcoming lesson plans.
Class-alike teachers collaborate to improve and standardize student experiences
December 13, 2024
The result of the poll conducted by our Falcon Instagram account.
What songs top the charts for all-time favorite holiday music?
December 13, 2024
The boys basketball team poses after their game with American High School on Dec. 7.
Boys’ basketball secures second place at James Lick Invitational despite key injuries
December 14, 2024
Free throw attempt from the team's recent scrimmage against Wilcox on Dec. 7.
Freshman basketball team brought back for the first time since COVID
December 13, 2024
Senior Daniel Jadali shooting a freethrow
For Falcon players, basketball is a year-round commitment
December 13, 2024
Falcons look to defend Notre Dame’s free kick during home game on Dec. 10.
Girls’ soccer defeats Notre Dame Knights 3-2, still undefeated in pre-season
December 13, 2024
49ers’ head coach and former SHS student, Kyle Shanahan, sits in grief after the team suffered a rough 24-23 loss to the Cardinals on Oct. 6.
49ers hobble through losing season
December 12, 2024
The logo of the Better Canvas extension for students to download.
100-word rave: “Better Canvas” is just better
December 13, 2024
Red lights are often run at the intersection of Highway 85 and Saratoga Avenue.
Saratoga drivers: Simmer down and use more caution, please
December 13, 2024
The use of social media allows controversial news to spread and grab the attention of more Americans than ever.
Social media fuels increasing polarization of American politics
December 13, 2024
The fast fashion industry really is Hell.
‘Brandy Hellville’ documentary reveals fast fashion as a devil in disguise
December 12, 2024
The many confusing aspects of Shakespeare make his works unappealing.
To read or not to read: My struggle with Shakespeare
December 7, 2024
A super cool pineapple
Top 10: Fruits
December 14, 2024
My perfect Christmas tree where these gifts go under.
Top 10: Best Christmas Gifts
December 13, 2024
I contemplate between two different Owala FreeSip colors at Target.
My journey to find the perfect water bottle ends with Owala
December 13, 2024
Christmas music is fine no matter what season you’re in.
Christmas music can be played, shamelessly, any time of the year
December 13, 2024
The perfect place to be during Christmas.
Christmas is just horrible without snow
December 13, 2024

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Sarah Zhou
Rise and shine I guess 🤡

Healthy sleeping habits are unrealistic for most students

Sarah Zhou
March 26, 2024
Natalie and Victoria’s tentative first bites.

Spicy ‘reaper’ tenders at Dave’s Hot Chicken fail to bring the heat

Leyna Chan, Natalie Chua, Victoria Hu, and Sarah Zhou
March 24, 2024
School’s 6 VEX Robotics teams gear up for upcoming competitions in quest for world championships

School’s 6 VEX Robotics teams gear up for upcoming competitions in quest for world championships

Daniel Wu and Sarah Zhou
February 6, 2024
Admins reeling us back from escaping to our cars in the parking lot.

Let us skip our non-essential classes

Daniel Wu and Sarah Zhou
January 30, 2024
Senior Margaret Laver performs a roundhouse kick during her black belt assessment at the Sunnyvale Martial Arts Academy.

Seniors excel in Taekwondo despite the sport’s gender imbalance

Sarah Zhou
November 29, 2023
Banning cellphones in school is counterproductive

Banning cellphones in school is counterproductive

Sarah Zhou
November 26, 2023
The team huddles and encourages each other during their senior night against Homestead on Oct. 18.

Varsity girls’ volleyball pulls members from JV due to low numbers

Natalie Chua and Sarah Zhou
October 21, 2023
AI tools could democratize the college admissions landscape — if used properly

AI tools could democratize the college admissions landscape — if used properly

Sarah Zhou
October 18, 2023
This is what most classes look like.

100-word rant: Fellow Falcons, please start acting your age

Sarah Zhou
September 18, 2023
The dates we all dread to see on our calendars…

Top 10: Ways to get out of MOSAIC

Sarah Zhou
September 12, 2023
The team huddles during a time out in a game against Christopher High School on Sept. 5.

Season preview: Girls’ volleyball adjusts to small roster and new coach

Natalie Chua and Sarah Zhou
September 9, 2023
Sophomore Aidan Smith hits his approach shot on the 18th hole during league finals at Santa Teresa golf course en route to a birdie.

Top players qualified for CCS despite subpar team record

Saachi Jain, Amy Luo, and Sarah Zhou
May 20, 2023
The 000-wing women’s bathroom in all its glory.

School bathrooms: too often a trying experience

Sarah Zhou
May 10, 2023
@MinsuiTang July 21, 2023… be there.

Here’s what to do with your free time in the Bay Area this summer

Sarah Zhou
May 8, 2023
The Saratoga Library hosted various local speakers who discussed their experiences with creative writing forms.

Student speakers focus on the power of language in SED talks event at public library

Sarah Zhou
May 2, 2023
We have also mastered the eyebrow raise that is a must to accompany the side eye.

Top 10: bombastic side-eye moments

Minsui Tang and Sarah Zhou
April 27, 2023
Members of the Females for Finance Club meet during lunch on March 28.

Females for Finance plans magazine with Design Club

Shaan Sridhar and Sarah Zhou
March 30, 2023
Ken looks girlypop and Barbie looks like she’s plotting his murder.

‘Barbie’ movie trailer proves to be both disappointing and depressing

Minsui Tang and Sarah Zhou
March 24, 2023
Newsflash: the tests didn’t know.

My MBTI changes on every platform I take it

Sarah Zhou
March 22, 2023
Every five minutes, there is a scene exactly like this one.

‘Where Are We Going, Dad’ was a banger in 2013, but not now

Minsui Tang and Sarah Zhou
March 22, 2023
Holiday Pajama Day was good, but we’re still waiting for it to be great.

Top 10: worst spirit day themes

Minsui Tang and Sarah Zhou
March 16, 2023
There should not be such a notable lack of differentiation between honors and college prep electives.

Opinion: Honors-weighted elective classes should offer CP alternatives

Sarah Zhou
March 8, 2023
Students and teachers both highlight the importance of asking questions.

Upperclassmen and teachers reflect on skills necessary to succeed in widely perceived ‘most difficult’ classes

Sarah Zhou
February 8, 2023
Geese roam the halls outside the Engineering Lab in May 2021.

Well-forested campus serves as haven for birds and other wildlife

Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou
February 8, 2023
Redwood trees line the campus border on Saratoga Sunnyvale Road.

Maintenance team focuses on creating safe, inviting landscaping on school’s 40-acre campus

Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou
February 8, 2023
This show sucks.

I just cannot finish the ‘Big Bang Theory’

Sarah Zhou
February 3, 2023
A student shadow sits in on their matched volunteer’s classes.

Prospective students get a peek into campus life through shadowing program

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
February 3, 2023
Junior Saara Saini tutors at Algebra 1 Math Lab on Nov. 12.

Math teacher starts Saturday peer tutoring program to support Algebra 1 class

Victoria Hu and Sarah Zhou
November 21, 2022
No caption necessary.

Teachers: If you give group work, please let us assess our group members

Sarah Zhou
November 17, 2022
The photography club’s Instagram advertises upcoming events for members to participate in, such as the Uganda fundraiser.

Reestablished photography club engages new members with interactive weekly challenges

Sarah Zhou
November 17, 2022
Live laugh eggs.

Not going to Tahoe for winter break makes me eggcited

Sarah Zhou
November 12, 2022
Gross.

I love the game Hay Day and I’m proud of it

Sarah Zhou
November 12, 2022
Now MAP seniors pose for a picture before their trial in May.

Students find greater interactivity and room for creativity in MAP than regular humanities classes

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
November 10, 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
Junior wing Amaris Charton looks down the pool for a releasing player.

Girls’ water polo ends season with victories

Stephanie Sun and Sarah Zhou
October 21, 2022
 Passing proposition includes the legalization of sports betting.

California’s propositions challenge voters with tough decisions over often obscure issues

Sarah Zhou and William Norwood
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
Fung dances during a color guard performance at the winter guard and percussion senior night on April 8.

Color guard member learns to overcome insecurities, gain self-acceptance

Sarah Zhou
October 19, 2022
In groups, students practice stage fighting at a ComedySportz practice on Oct. 5.

ComedySportz works to win crowd over with puns

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
October 12, 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
Library technician Lee Tapley works at the front desk of the library.

Library technician Lee Tapley juggles multiple responsibilities

Sarah Zhou
September 27, 2022
The number of students who do not receive federal financial aid for college after graduation must change.

Current merit-based college aid system needs rethinking

Sarah Zhou
September 22, 2022
I hate Viserys.

‘House of the Dragon’ brought back anger from ‘Games of Thrones’ that I didn’t know I still had

Sarah Zhou
September 15, 2022
Senior goalie Rosie Kline looks across the pool for an open player

Girls’ water polo prepares for upcoming season with new head coach

Stephanie Sun and Sarah Zhou
September 14, 2022
Me and my frustration, literally every day.

Parents, students: Please stop blocking my driveway

Sarah Zhou
September 14, 2022
A photo of a dreary-looking neighborhood in Saratoga from one of my walks.

What going on 6 a.m. walks during the summer has done for me

Sarah Zhou
September 13, 2022
Top 10 posts from the Saratoga NextDoor

Top 10 posts from the Saratoga NextDoor

Sarah Zhou
September 9, 2022
I am drooling.

BuzzFeed is wrong about mint chocolate chip ice cream

Sarah Zhou
September 7, 2022
73 questions: conversations with the school community

73 questions: conversations with the school community

Lena Aribi, Meher Bhatnagar, Christina Chang, Lynn Dai, Victoria Hu, Hannah Lee, Jonny Luo, Shannon Ma, Nikhil Mathihalli, and Sarah Zhou
May 30, 2022
Students advocate for various changes to the school, which mostly go ignored or take a long time to be addressed.

Board needs to focus more on student concerns

Sarah Zhou
May 19, 2022
Students share experiences living in Saratoga with out-of-the-mainstream political beliefs

Students share experiences living in Saratoga with out-of-the-mainstream political beliefs

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
May 17, 2022
Kamila Valieva comments on Deng’s Instagram post.

Sophomore fundraises for charity through commissions on Instagram art account

Sarah Zhou
May 10, 2022
 Junior Channie Hong gives his speech at senior night.

Swim team celebrates senior night in anticipation of CCS

Sarah Zhou
May 3, 2022
Junior Emily Boselli and sophomore Amaris Charton at their Eagle Ceremony.

Four sophomores and juniors break new ground as Eagle Scouts

Sarah Zhou
May 2, 2022
After the dryness of that baked potato, we will need IV fluids to die properly hydrated.

Our top 10 deathbed regrets

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
April 28, 2022

Top 10 pickup lines to woo your crush with

Nicole Lu and Sarah Zhou
April 5, 2022

Top 10 pickup lines to use to get out of the friend zone

Nicole Lu and Sarah Zhou
March 31, 2022
Night rally and dance to cap off Spring Fling Week

Night rally and dance to cap off Spring Fling Week

Sarah Zhou and Nicole Lu
March 18, 2022
Vacancy taxes are a pathetic attempt at funding and creating affordable housing solutions

Vacancy taxes are a pathetic attempt at funding and creating affordable housing solutions

Sarah Zhou
March 12, 2022
Environmental Science students travel to Año Nuevo State Park to observe elephant seals

Environmental Science students travel to Año Nuevo State Park to observe elephant seals

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
March 10, 2022
Cut the toxicity: Parents need to stop competing with their kids’ academic accolades

Cut the toxicity: Parents need to stop competing with their kids’ academic accolades

Sarah Zhou
March 4, 2022
 My friend and I test out Snapchat’s “Tiny Royale” mini-game   

Snapchat’s disappointing ripoff mini-games ranked and reviewed

Sarah Zhou
March 4, 2022
Club president Angela Luo presents to members with vice president Margaret Laver and Secretary Riley Alves during the first meeting.

Animal Science Club plans to provide animal-related volunteer opportunities to members

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
March 2, 2022
Class of 2021 alumna Irika Katiyar (middle) poses with her friends at prom in June.

Senior and junior class offices look forward to combined in-person prom

Nicole Lu and Sarah Zhou
January 25, 2022
Senior Kaasha Minocha takes her COVID-19 test on Jan. 6.

School ends close contact notices in favor of weekly testing, plans to distribute N95/KN95 masks

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
January 24, 2022
Despite omicron, school to stay in person unless trends worsen greatly

Despite omicron, school to stay in person unless trends worsen greatly

Sarah Zhou
January 20, 2022
Schneidmiller hits the ball in a match.

Alumnus Joel Schneidmiller moves overseas to play professional volleyball

Sarah Zhou
January 20, 2022
America may be the land of the free, but that doesn’t mean college should be

America may be the land of the free, but that doesn’t mean college should be

Sarah Zhou
January 20, 2022
Cutback Cleanups promotes environmental awareness through various projects

Cutback Cleanups promotes environmental awareness through various projects

Sarah Zhou
January 18, 2022
‘House of the Dragons’ announcement elicits mixed reactions

‘House of the Dragons’ announcement elicits mixed reactions

Sarah Zhou
January 15, 2022
kaashatesting

District utilizes mass COVID-19 testing to identify new cases

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
January 9, 2022
Current universal health care proposals are disasters waiting to happen

Current universal health care proposals are disasters waiting to happen

Sarah Zhou
November 12, 2021
Winter Formal planning aims to overcome setbacks amid ongoing pandemic restrictions

Winter Formal planning aims to overcome setbacks amid ongoing pandemic restrictions

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
November 4, 2021
Junior middle blocker Lisa Fung hits the ball as the other team’s players prepare to block.

Girls’ volleyball closes out their season with disappointing losses

Sarah Zhou and Atrey Desai
November 4, 2021
Forcing spider evolution 

Forcing spider evolution 

Sarah Zhou
October 29, 2021
5 stages of grief? More like 1

5 stages of grief? More like 1

Sarah Zhou
October 28, 2021
Categorizing ‘Game of Thrones’ characters from least to most poisonable

Categorizing ‘Game of Thrones’ characters from least to most poisonable

Sarah Zhou
October 24, 2021

Young girls’ volleyball team endures rough start

Atrey Desai and Sarah Zhou
October 6, 2021
The first episode of the eighteenth season

I will not be here for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 63

Sarah Zhou
October 3, 2021
Under the magnifying glass: students with faculty and staff parents

Under the magnifying glass: students with faculty and staff parents

Sarah Zhou and Victoria Hu
October 2, 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
Falcon Family Peer Tutoring Program offers student guidance for maneuvering tough classes

Falcon Family Peer Tutoring Program offers student guidance for maneuvering tough classes

Sarah Zhou and Atrey Desai
September 30, 2021
Explaining — not solving — the problem causing my massive bank statements

Explaining — not solving — the problem causing my massive bank statements

Sarah Zhou
September 22, 2021
100 Word Rants

100 Word Rants

Vicky Bai, Apurva Chakravarthy, Sarah Zhou, and Zachary Zinman
September 17, 2021
Guidance counselor Monique Young works in her office.

Guidance counselors transition to in-person senior counseling

Sarah Zhou and Nicole Lu
September 5, 2021
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