The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
Mothers of middle and high school students from across the Bay Area listen to MomsConnect 2024 panelists on Sept. 22.
Safine among panelists for non-profit Chai with Moms inaugural event
October 10, 2024
Ward talks to a representative from Hult International Business School as part of a college fair on Sept. 23
The CCC’s services are here to help students through the application process
October 5, 2024
To conserve paper and reduce the risk of cheating, College Board has made the decision to transition toward an almost fully digital testing model for their Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Changes to AP testing procedures set to take effect in 2025
October 5, 2024
“A Dark Future” currently holds three titles: Lift-off Global Network Sessions Official Selection, Official Winners of the One Earth Film Festival Young Filmmakers Contest and Regeneration International Youth Film Selection.
MAP grade 11 project “A Dark Future” wins International Environmental Film Award
September 29, 2024
During their first meeting on Sept. 12, Slime Club members mix a large bowl of glue with an activator to make slime.
New Slime Club is drawing over 60 members each meeting
September 26, 2024
A screenshot of SHS Fizz where students post content ranging from academics to shower thoughts
New SHS-focused Instagram confessions page stirs concerns
October 4, 2024
The crevice is widening between the ideologies of America’s two leading parties.
Deepening political divides are fragmenting America
September 26, 2024
History classes rely on using reliable sources when discussing political events.
When politics intrude into the classroom
September 26, 2024
Big data corporations like Disney are more involved in data stealing than you may think.
Behind a curtain of ‘transparency,’ many companies process user data undercover
September 25, 2024
A name like that might just give poor X a case of torrential bullying.
Elon Musk cursed his son by naming him X æ A-xii Musk
September 24, 2024
Young NFL stars James Cook and Marvin Harrison Jr. celebrated their breakout campaigns in blowout victories.
Fantasy Football Overview Weeks 1-4: Wild breakout performances and disappointing injuries
October 5, 2024
On Aug. 24, Zhang competes in the 50-meter freestyle in the preliminary round at Junior Pan-Pacific Championships.
Talented swimmer goes to Australia to compete at 2024 Junior Pan-Pacific Championships
September 30, 2024
Freshmen Delsin Dizoglio and Kaylee Ren play physical tic-tac-toe in period 6 P.E.
New mandatory P.E. rule for freshmen goes into effect
September 29, 2024
The Falcons huddle before their first scrimmage of the season against Evergreen on Sept. 5th.
Football team sees hard work pay off as a dominant 42-7 win against the Pioneers places them 2-0 in league
September 29, 2024
In last year’s matchup with Santa Clara, senior Sydney Riera controls the game from the middle of the field.
Field hockey team hopes to find improvement during rebuild
September 24, 2024
The balance of power at the school sites is heavily outweighed by the district.
Staff editorial: As the board levels up on district office personnel, LG and SHS staff suffer negative impacts
October 10, 2024
The Monopoly theme is a mere shadow of what it could have been.
This year’s Homecoming theme for the senior class is a major disappointment
October 10, 2024
Kamala Harris represents the U.S. in international politics.
Kamala Harris brings long-awaited and indispensable gender and ethnic representation to U.S. politics
September 30, 2024
No phone use on campus will prove to be a health and safety hazard.
Cell phones have a healthy and necessary role in schools
September 26, 2024
In the dark reality of social media, family channels have let money and fame blind them.
YouTube Family channels too often lead to child exploitation
September 24, 2024
Real-life image of my friend with AirPods while studying.
Top-10 classical music pieces to take a listen to
October 5, 2024
The library is the perfect place to work
100-word rave: A love letter to tutorials
September 26, 2024
An example of a WeTip poster depicting the impact of negative comments hangs in Meghan Laws’ English classroom.
WeTip posters aim to provide a way to report harassment, bullying and other issues
September 26, 2024
Stationery products from Muji
Top 10 best stationery brands
September 24, 2024
A paper knife is like trying to become an academic weapon — it’s not as magnificent or sustainable as it appears.
New year, new habits: I tried to become an academic weapon
September 24, 2024

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon

Shirina Cao, Lifestyles Editor

All content by Shirina Cao
During their first meeting on Sept. 12, Slime Club members mix a large bowl of glue with an activator to make slime.

New Slime Club is drawing over 60 members each meeting

Shirina Cao
September 26, 2024
The dance team sells homemade baked goods at their bake sale at the Sept. 5 home football game against El Camino to fundraise for competition and costume costs.

Dance team welcomes new assistant coach who focuses on their technique and fitness

Shirina Cao and Renisha Mandal
September 19, 2024
Thomas Casavant teaches freshmen how to fix a section of their Java code.

AP Physics teacher expands course repertoire to Intro to Computer Programming

Shirina Cao and Ashni Pillai
September 17, 2024
Wellness Center therapist Janae Smith writes in her notebook.

New Wellness Center therapist brings diverse work experience

Shirina Cao and Madhura Natarajan
September 9, 2024
 A turtleneck constricts a woman's neck.

Photo or Graphic for: Let’s leave turtlenecks in the past, where they belong

Sasha Prasad
May 30, 2024
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Photo or Graphic for: Road trips: a once detested, but now beloved summer tradition

Sasha Prasad
May 20, 2024
Sports Drinks

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10 sports drinks

Bill Huang
May 20, 2024
Different things make different people happy.

Taking Toga’s Temperature: What does happiness mean to you? 

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
May 17, 2024
Sophomore Brennan Pak sprints across the lacrosse field.

Longtime seasoned athletes step out of their comfort zone to pursue new sports

Jeremy Si and Shirina Cao
May 15, 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
The three Jacks’ line up in height order (left to right: Jack Gong, Jack Dong and Jack Tong).

Jack (Dong, Gong, and Tong) of all trades

Shirina Cao
May 4, 2024
When the world is turning more digital than ever, with children often online gaming during their free time, how are board games staying afloat?

Board games stay afloat among the rising online gaming industry

Shirina Cao
May 4, 2024
Saratoga students often take a variety of West Valley summer courses, whether it is for college credit or self interest.

Photo or Graphic for: Get a real college experience at no cost — take some summer community college classes

Richard Fan
May 4, 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
Self-portrait finals projects (Caleb Yu left, Franky Zheng top right, Vivienne Brooks bottom right).

Roaming campus with a purpose, Digital Photography students hone skills that can be used for a lifetime

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
March 27, 2024
The dramatic difference in body type between Ursula and Ariel indirectly villainizes certain “undesirable” features.

Disney dysmorphia: How a beloved childhood franchise instills unrealistic beauty standards and gender bias

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
March 21, 2024
Birthdays are usually filled with big smiles and happy laughter, but I still can’t help but feel sad.

Fighting the birthday blues and losing

Shirina Cao
March 14, 2024
Students who succumb to the allure of Sparknotes will fail to analyze classic literature on their own.

Photo or Graphic for: SparkNotes — a glorified version of cheating

Alec Guan
March 7, 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
Spice up your love life with these activities.

Ideas for the next big date after Valentine’s Day

Shirina Cao
February 8, 2024
The rising band faces difficulties coordinating around busy schedules, but its members look forward to their coming performances.

Photo or Graphic for: Student band Pollen Prone springs into the spotlight

Lawson Wang
January 24, 2024
Don’t worry, rock music enjoyment is definitely not a cult.

Photo or Graphic for: How my father rocked my musical world

Alec Guan
December 14, 2023
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
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
The Christmas season means an impending list of gifts to get.

The Falcon’s guide to gift-giving during the holiday season

Shirina Cao
December 5, 2023
Substitute teacher Siddhartha Punj explains key coding vocabulary during an AP Computer Science lesson on Nov. 27.

Long-term substitute AP Computer Science teacher hired

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
December 3, 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
Sofia Hoffman and Elisa Pattullo work on glazing their decorative coil pot on Oct. 11.

Ceramics gives students creative freedom and hopes to recover from recent loss of interest

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
November 6, 2023
Seniors Riley Alves and Ashly Henry dressed as skeletons during the school's Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 28.

All dressed up: Creating terror-ific memories to celebrate the spooky season

Shirina Cao, Kathy Wang, and Beverly Xu
November 5, 2023
Class rivalry during rally games is a great way to raise school and class pride. 

Dear Toga students: You aren’t ‘too cool’ to attend rallies

Shirina Cao and Anika Kapasi
October 19, 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
Drum Major Petr Tupitsyn overlooks his marching band, ready to showcase their senior night performance.

Photo or Graphic for: Marching band shows promising season with their performance ‘Blossom’

Allison Tan and Zachary Zinman
October 25, 2022
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