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 Tara Natarajan
The five contestants (left to right) — Derek Liang, Anika Kapasi, Beverly Xu, Kathy Wang and Tara Natarjan — line up behind their boards.

The Charcuterie Board Beatdown: which reporter will make the breaking board?

Anika Kapasi, Derek Liang, Tara Natarajan, Kathy Wang, and Beverly Xu
February 14, 2024
My Common App essay after two months of fruitful progress.

Top 10: places where I’ve worked on my college application essays (and why you shouldn’t)

Tara Natarajan
February 4, 2024
Charlie Brown is an unexpected Christmas comfort character

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ spotlights struggles of those who just don’t mesh with the holiday

Tara Natarajan
December 7, 2023
Gym bro culture normalizes disordered eating under the guise of self-improvement

Gym bro culture normalizes disordered eating under the guise of self-improvement

Tara Natarajan
December 4, 2023

Mountain View episode underscores need for independent student journalism

Tara Natarajan and Kavya Patel
October 19, 2023
Am I really a Logician? Debriefing my personality test results 

Am I really a Logician? Debriefing my personality test results 

Tara Natarajan
October 14, 2023
A still from one of my childhood shows, “Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom.” Ben, an elf, and Holly, a fairy, hang out with their friend Gaston the ladybird.

A childhood without ‘Spongebob’ allowed me to experience truly great childhood TV

Tara Natarajan
September 24, 2023
Junior Sarah Lim marks her last putt at Baylands during the team's second match of the season on Aug. 30.

Photo or Graphic for: Early season update: Girls’ golf team banks on returning players 

Kathy Wang
September 24, 2023
Senior Lucas Dennis pitches a ball

Top senior athletes: Falcons shine in their respective sports

Victoria Lin, Tara Natarajan, and Aiden Ye
June 1, 2023
There are multiple pathways to college other than going straight after high school.

Photo or Graphic for: As colleges acceptance rates continue to decline, more students should turn to options other than 4-year universities

Neal Malhotra and Kavya Patel
May 31, 2023
Alumni players Rick Worman, Rich Orlando, Kevin Ruf, Steve Worman, Larry Worman, Kevin Tanner, Rob Orlando and Kyle Heinrich (left to right) pose with coach Benny Pierce (center) at the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl reunion game against Los Gatos on Nov. 26, 1992.

Colleagues, alumni reflect on longtime football coach’s Benny Pierce’s life and legacy

Tara Natarajan
March 15, 2023
One of my go-to workouts is Kirsten Ferguson’s popular ‘90s Walk series.

The Peloton app might be what you need to get fit

Tara Natarajan
March 13, 2023
With superscoring, students combine their best scores from each section of the SAT.

Superscoring exacerbates existing inequity in the SAT

Tara Natarajan
February 15, 2023
The leadership conference attendees pose in front of Aurora’s castle on the last day of the trip.

Leadership class travels to Anaheim and learns leadership the ‘Disney Way’

Allison Tan and Tara Natarajan
February 10, 2023
A typical BBL dress can be found on websites like PrettyLittleThing and Fashion Nova.

BBLs and beauty standards: the damaging effects of the trend cycle

Tara Natarajan
February 9, 2023
That’s a wrap for the movies of 2022.

2022 wrapup: my favorite movies of the year

Tara Natarajan
February 9, 2023
Twitter has long been toxic; why are we trying to protect it?

Twitter has long been toxic; why are we trying to protect it?

Tara Natarajan
December 8, 2022
The process of mixing the brownie batter. 

The best baking guide to making brownies from scratch (kind of)

Tara Natarajan and Kavya Patel
December 5, 2022
 Passing proposition includes the legalization of sports betting.

Photo or Graphic for: California’s propositions challenge voters with tough decisions over often obscure issues

Sarah Zhou and William Norwood
October 20, 2022
Biology teacher Anne Witkowski helps one of her students during tutorial.

Class of ‘15 alumna returns as intern to teach Biology

Derek Liang and Tara Natarajan
September 24, 2022
Nearly 50 seniors show up to the first day of Homecoming move-in.

Senior Homecoming participation increases

Allison Tan and Tara Natarajan
September 24, 2022
Duvvuri sets the ball for his teammate

Junior wins national volleyball title with his team in the 16U division

Tara Natarajan
September 21, 2022
Counselor Brad Ward leads a college application introductory presentation for seniors in the new College and Career Center on Aug. 25.

College and career counselor Brad Ward quickly settles into the school community

Tara Natarajan, Shreya Rallabandi, and Beverly Xu
September 19, 2022
Affirmative action cannot be abolished without drastic consequences

Affirmative action cannot be abolished without drastic consequences

Tara Natarajan
May 19, 2022
Seniors Sadaf Sobhani and Caroline Keogh strike a pose on the runway together.

Benefit organizers, model reflect on 2022 show

Tara Natarajan
May 19, 2022

Track: While losing meets, individuals set their own PRs

Tara Natarajan and Shaan Sridhar
April 9, 2022
Kyle Scola hits a jump off a ramp at the Northstar slopes while snowboarding.

A Tahoe life: Skier and snowboarder relish their time on the slopes

Tara Natarajan and Daniel Wu
April 9, 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
Senior Amoli Vanavadiya overtakes her competitor at a meet.

Cross-country captain reflects upon school educational experiences in India

Tara Natarajan
February 4, 2022

English teachers foster classroom community through various forms of gift exchanges

Tara Natarajan and Kavya Patel
February 4, 2022

Dutch transfer student experiences Saratoga education and school culture

Tara Natarajan
February 1, 2022
Caroline Keogh works with sandpaper letters in her Beijing Montessori elementary school

Senior reflects on education abroad compared to in Saratoga

Tara Natarajan
January 12, 2022
The ‘metaverse’ may be the internet’s next big thing, but it shouldn’t be Meta’s

The ‘metaverse’ may be the internet’s next big thing, but it shouldn’t be Meta’s

Tara Natarajan
December 2, 2021
‘Blue Banisters’: Lana Del Rey reminds us that she is still in charge of her narrative

‘Blue Banisters’: Lana Del Rey reminds us that she is still in charge of her narrative

Tara Natarajan
November 28, 2021
Five (actually good) covers of Christmas classics you should add to your 2021 winter playlist immediately

Five (actually good) covers of Christmas classics you should add to your 2021 winter playlist immediately

Tara Natarajan
November 22, 2021
The district aligned valedictorian and salutatorian GPA calculation.

District aligns GPA policies between both school sites

Tara Natarajan and Shaan Sridhar
November 18, 2021
Profane graffiti from the night of Oct. 31 scrawled across a wall at Los Gatos High School

Los Gatos community responds to vandalism incidents of spray-painted profanities and slurs

Sanjoli Gupta and Tara Natarajan
November 16, 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
Nicki Minaj’s vaccine-related tweets amount to a public health hazard

Nicki Minaj’s vaccine-related tweets amount to a public health hazard

Tara Natarajan
October 11, 2021
Principal’s assistant Pola-Michelle Alas to leave school for district office this month

Principal’s assistant Pola-Michelle Alas to leave school for district office this month

Tara Natarajan and Sanjoli Gupta
October 7, 2021
Halloween 2020

My first autumn in America

Tara Natarajan
October 2, 2021

New English 12 teacher splits time between SHS and LGHS

Apurva Chakravarthy and Tara Natarajan
September 13, 2021

As team rebuilds, senior golfer relishes having a more normal season

Avani Kongetira and Tara Natarajan
September 13, 2021
The singer’s supporters rally near the Los Angeles courthouse where her conservatorship case is being heard.

Conservatorships aren’t just a Britney issue — they’re a civil rights issue

Tara Natarajan
September 6, 2021
Screen Shot 2021-01-21 at 10

Weaving the fabric of pandemic communication

Tara Natarajan
January 21, 2021
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