Joanna Lee

As the band played “Pomp and Circumstance,” this year’s graduating seniors, wearing navy blue or white gowns, took their seats with pride and joy. This year’s 51st graduation commencement program for the class of 2012 took place on June 7 at 6 p.m.

In effort to give students a greater voice, the district board held its annual conference with 18 Saratoga High students on March 16 during lunch in the Staff Lounge.

Several new initiatives for taxes supporting education in California have emerged in competition with the proposal of Gov. Jerry Brown.

The St. Olaf Band from Northfield, Minn. conducted by Timothy Mahr, performed in the McAfee Center on Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Every Tuesday during lunch, Spanish teacher Arnaldo Rodriguex hosts world language department meetings in his room. For more than 25 years, the teachers in the world language department chat about current department updates over food.

Juniors are experiencing a different type of grading system in their A.P. US History classes this year than has been used in the past. Some juniors are unaware that the system was even different last year and feel that they were unprepared for the change. Starting this year, A.P. US History teachers Matt Torrens, Kim Anzalone and Margarita Morelle have made the decision to implement the weighted-grade system that college prep classes use.

Among the class of 2015, seven student leaders have confidently stood up to become class officers. After a week of campaigning, the freshman class has elected Dani Bruno as its class president, Alex Kim for vice president, Nidhi Vellanki for treasurer, Neel Kattumadam for secretary and Sydney Torrens, Emily Penuen and Steven Faan for class representatives.

Bigger classes, one fewer guidance counselor, a shorter school year.

Screenplay writer and director Ed Solomon and actor David Warshofsky found their passion for film at Saratoga High in the late 1970s when they were both students here.

When he was just a freshman in his drama class, junior Arjun Desai didn’t know many of his classmates. But after having worked on his first drama performance, “Grease,” with many of his other drama-loving classmates, he has befriended many actors and actresses. Desai recalled one of the moments of building new friendships through participating in drama productions.

Screenplay writer and director Ed Solomon and actor David Warshofsky found their passion for film at Saratoga High in the late 1970s when they were both students here.

When he was just a freshman in his drama class, junior Arjun Desai didn’t know many of his classmates. But after having worked on his first drama performance, “Grease,” with many of his other drama-loving classmates, he has befriended many actors and actresses. Desai recalled one of the moments of building new friendships through participating in drama productions.

As sorrowful family members mourned their tragic loss of their 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, one of the many victims of the Tuscon shooting in January, members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral only a few thousand feet away. Chanting and holding up signs saying, “You’re going to hell” at funerals, the group believes that the deaths of young children and deceased servicemen and women are God’s punishment for America’s leniency toward gays.

After going undefeated in the B division in the El Camino League, girls’ basketball players wanted to extend their dominance to CCS. But their season ended Feb. 24 with a second-round, 50-36 loss to San Mateo.

In April 2010, Apple released the revolutionary iPad that an increasing number of people and organizations are utilizing. This usage has had an unforeseen positive impact on education because it is an alternative, money-efficient and technologically advanced way to learn academic material.

This Valentine’s Day, both singles and couples were able to enjoy heartwarming grams, thanks to Heartskate’s first annual Valentine’s Grams sale on the top of the quad steps. The sale was from Jan. 1 to Feb. 10.

Concluding their non-league games with a record of 6-6, the girls’ basketball team proved they were ready for the league season when they opened with a 43-35 victory against Fremont on Jan. 5.

This holiday season will be a relief to people who have been running ragged after demanding work schedules or long exams at school. Indeed, countless Americans are anticipating pleasant vacations. A getaway like this would only require packing clothes and toiletries, getting through the security check, boarding and departing the plane to a world full of relaxation.

With their preseason starting Nov. 26, the girls’ basketball team is readying themselves to face a season full of excitement as well as challenges. Tryouts, which began on Nov. 1, are set to be extended for an extra week after the official conclusion of fall sports. The team will again be coached by Mike Davey. Over the summer, most of the team played on the Saratoga Suns, a summer league, forming friendships even before the season had commenced. “[Playing on the Saratoga Suns with the team] helped tremendously because people already have bonded with their teammates, and the freshmen now understand how things work,” said returning senior guard Raven Sisco. “The whole basketball program is like a family.”

When their economics teacher Kim Anzalone assigned seniors Brian Vo and Jesse Yung a project to put together a business proposal earlier in the semester, they not only completed the assignment but also decided to put it into action. The two started a catering business in mid-October where they retrieve lunches from outside restaurants to deliver to students on campus for a small fee.