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

Zack Zhang, Backpage Editor

All content by Zack Zhang
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 26, 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
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