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
Zack Zhang

Zack Zhang, Backpage Editor

All content by Zack Zhang
Voting is an essential element of the democratic process. What can we do to make it more representative and accurate?

National Bonus Plan offers smart way out of Electoral College madness

Zack Zhang
December 13, 2024
Start lifting today!

Do you have gym anxiety? This is why you shouldn’t be afraid to start

Caleb Yu and Zack Zhang
December 11, 2024
AI can benefit and stimulate growth in many fields including economy, health care, and education.

Hold your concerns, AI will make a better future

Zack Zhang
December 5, 2024
Kim, Wei and Eo, from left to right, doing their prospective activities.

How seniors with different majors are approaching college applications

Sunny Cao and Zack Zhang
October 28, 2024
Vote yes on Prop 2 to better fund public schools and put students first.

How Proposition 2 will help create a safer and more equitable public school environments

Zack Zhang
October 28, 2024
Results shown on Google Map after searching up “housing developments nearby,” which doesn’t include those that didn’t publicize themselves on the map.

A gentler approach to growth: Why ADUs offer a middle ground in housing development

Zack Zhang
October 21, 2024
Boycotting is a great method to let small voices be heard, but it has become less promising in recent years.

Why boycotts usually miss their mark

Zack Zhang
September 8, 2024
The Instagram post on the @toga.2028 account announcing the results of the freshman class election.

School leadership chooses to elect freshman class officers after school starts

Sanyukta Ravishankar and Zack Zhang
September 6, 2024
Zack trying pickleball for the first time with Sunny.

Why pickleball is getting so much hype and why you, too, should join the trend

Sunny Cao and Zack Zhang
August 24, 2024
The tension of banning TikTok in the U.S. rises again since Trump’s last attempt four years ago.

Despite politicians’ actions to ban TikTok, eradicating would come with costs

Zack Zhang
May 15, 2024
Juniors Akshat Bora, Alan Cai and Benjamin Kuo working together on their project.

Juniors place second in state in TEAMS competition but withdraw from nationals

Sunny Cao and Zack Zhang
May 4, 2024
The third testflight of the Starship ready on the launch tower on March 14, displaying the black-covered Starship prototype atop the silver Super Heavy Booster.

Musk’s Starship hits new milestones in development and proves how close we are to space travel

Zack Zhang
May 3, 2024
The packed, overhead utility pole near my house often goes down during storms.

Undergrounding power lines prevent power outages and reduce wildfire hazards

Zack Zhang
March 21, 2024
From top left going clockwise, the artworks of Lee, Pan, Hao, and Wang.

Four students selected to display their art at ArtNow in the New Museum Los Gatos

Emma Fung, Skyler Mao, and Zack Zhang
March 14, 2024
The estimated movie tickets sold in North America took a toll in the pandemic and had yet to recover. 

An influx of prequels and sequels reveals decline in the movie industry

Zack Zhang
February 16, 2024
A nostalgic photo of my mother teaching me piano in 2012, when I was five years old.

Parents forcing children into extracurriculars can of be a blessing, not a curse

Zack Zhang
January 25, 2024
The National Geographic’s dedication in capturing the true sides of nature and humanity has created some of the most famous and classic photographs.

National Geographic’s decline reveals dangerous trends: growing addiction to screens and decrease in quality content

Zack Zhang
December 13, 2023
Members of SAG-AFTRA protest in front of Netflix and Warners Bro offices in New York on Aug 2nd.  

SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes call attention to the shortcomings in treatment of actors and screenwriters and result in major victories for unions

Zack Zhang
December 7, 2023
Students during closing ceremonies after the three day conference.

Photo or Graphic for: Model UN team gains experience from first conference at Stanford

Sanjoli Gupta and William Norwood
November 25, 2023
The library is jam packed with students during tutorial.

Teachers continue to call for hiring of credentialed librarian three years after the role became vacant

Sam Bai and Zack Zhang
November 14, 2023
The iPhone 15 series has officially switched over to the USB-C port, but the previously sold AirPods Pro and Magic Mouse still use the Lightning charger.

Three cheers for Apple’s switch to USB-C, but with one major caveat

Zack Zhang
November 6, 2023
Both sides for and against affirmative action hold valid arguments, adding onto the complexity of finding a balance in between. 

All in all, it’s good affirmative action is gone from college admissions

Zack Zhang
September 29, 2023
Toby Remmers teaching about the Columbian Exchange to his 5th period AP U.S. History class.

From kinesiology to political science, new social studies teacher enriches classroom with life experiences

Zack Zhang
September 22, 2023
A collage of my memories in Sanya.

Sanya, my family’s beloved vacation destination

Zack Zhang
September 15, 2023
Some of my favorite snacks to eat after school are honey butter chips, shrimp chips and pocky.

After-school snacks: my secret key to productivity

Zack Zhang
September 12, 2023
Sophomore Samanvi Boppana (center) and her team work on their CubeSat, a nanosatellite concept by NASA that can detect plastic in the ocean.

Sophomore’s past science projects recognized by national award

Zack Zhang
June 7, 2023
A map of SHS with the sites mentioned in the story labeled.

Many spots on campus are named after former staff and community members: Do you know them all?

Zack Zhang
June 3, 2023
Math teacher Kelly Frangieh speaking at the podium and  opposing the board’s new policy.

Teachers raise concerns over district’s move to enforce longer school time hours

Nicole Lee and Zack Zhang
May 27, 2023
From left to right, my grayed-out home screen, the restriction settings and individual apps. (Recreated to reflect what it used to be)

Parental control through screen time is a vital tool for teenagers’ development of self-control

Zack Zhang
May 22, 2023
An image of the old, golden and crunchy oats. They were beautiful. 

100-word rant: New oats are inferior to the beloved old oats 

Zack Zhang
May 2, 2023
Nichols’s family attorney Ben Crump (center) speaks during a news conference with Nichols’s father (second from the right) and mother (right) on Jan. 23. 

Tyre Nichols video: The terror-spreading camera footage of the incident shouldn’t be publicized 

Zack Zhang
April 3, 2023
ASB candidates taped up campaign posters in front of the Student Center.

ASB officers for 2023-24 school year announced

Victoria Lin and Zack Zhang
March 20, 2023
Discussion with a first-generation immigrant: Preserving traditional culture

Discussion with a first-generation immigrant: Preserving traditional culture

Zack Zhang
March 15, 2023
The finance facts revealed by Princeton University shows how little the actual student tuition fee holds up in the total annual revenue of the school.

From education to business: Elite schools have lost sight of affordability

Zack Zhang
March 15, 2023
I imagine myself on a worry free vacation in a typical, stressful school day.

A perfect day for a stressed Saratoga student

Zack Zhang
March 13, 2023
Model UN participated in the 26th SMUNC held by Stanford last November.

Model UN plans first ever conference at Saratoga High

Aiden Ye and Zack Zhang
February 16, 2023
Senior point guard Nick Tjaden shoots a floater in the game against Palo Alto on Jan. 20.

Boys’ basketball edges out Gunn, but faces tough tests in De Anza

George Huang and Zack Zhang
January 29, 2023
Rohan Chopra receives his CineSpace Best Educational Film Award from the imagery manager and co-founder of the NASA CineSpace competition, Dr. Carlos Fontanot. 

Junior wins award for best educational film in NASA competition

Emma Fung, George Hu, and Zack Zhang
December 15, 2022
Quiz Bowl Club officers teach techniques and train the team members by answering quick questions during their lunch meetings. 

Quiz Bowl wins first two tournaments, qualifies for national tournament

Nikhil Mathihalli, Aiden Ye, and Zack Zhang
December 1, 2022
Senior Mateusz Palusinski dribbles the ball down the court in the Thursday game against Aptos High School. 

Season preview: Boys’ basketball returns strong lineup for upper league

George Huang and Zack Zhang
November 18, 2022
Timothy Wei and his father run in the neighborhoods during weekends. 

Sophomore follows father’s footsteps in running

Zack Zhang
November 10, 2022
Students spent their class period watching “Amsterdam” in the theater.

History in Film takes field trip to AMC theater, watches ‘Amsterdam’

Zack Zhang
November 9, 2022
Comparison between photos taken by an iPhone 14 Pro (left) and an iPhone 11 Pro (right) suggests a huge progression in iPhone’s detail catching and AI processing in their cameras.

Apple’s newest iPhone models are worth every penny

Zack Zhang
November 1, 2022
The comfortable environment Brad Ward sets up for the new location of the College & Career Center (CCC)

College specialist creates warm, encouraging space for students during college visits

Carolyn Wang and Zack Zhang
September 25, 2022
The students sit in one of the many classrooms rented by MLCC and listen carefully to their teacher as she teaches on a Saturday morning.

Saturday Chinese school helps students improve language skills

Zack Zhang
September 25, 2022
New English teacher Mary Palisoul teaching English 10

New English teacher joins school with 11 years of teaching experience

Atrey Desai, Zack Zhang, and Andy Zhu
September 24, 2022
Load More Stories