Maya Ravichandran

Despite two early-season team losses, the Falcon swim team has seen several CCS-qualifying performances. The team fell to Los Gatos on March 13 and Monta Vista on March 19, leaving the team with a 0-2 record as they advance towards leagues in late May. The girls’ varsity team lost 101-69 to Monta Vista, while the boys’ team lost 122-48.

With only one loss to Monta Vista High School out of the seven total league matches played, the boys’ tennis team is proving to once again be one of the top teams in the area.

ost universities reserve the right to rescind students, meaning that they can take back an admission. Even if the student has already enrolled in the school, the college can still revoke admission if it doesn’t believe the student has kept up with coursework.

Students have the chance to participate in the first and only round of Physics Bowl sometime between April 1- 17. 

Disney’s effort to diversify its princesses is commendable. As children, we all eagerly watched Disney princesses overcome their obstacles, and when we shared a similar culture, we felt even more connected.

The team only lost one player from the starting lineup. With the addition of Stratakos, the team should be able to make another deep run in CCS.

YouTube is becoming the next big platform for ordinary people to gain recognition and possibly make it in the entertainment business. Many aspiring artists use YouTube as a stepping stone to mainstream success. Because of its user-friendly platform, more people than ever before, regardless of wealth or location, have the potential to go big.

After the riveting cliffhanger of “White Collar” Season 5 finale left us sitting speechless before the TV screen, we waited anxiously for 10 months for the next episode. 

While a deferral from a college may look a lot better than a rejection, the percentage of deferred applicants from most colleges is too high and should be cut down.

Today, many Saratoga students are faced with the task of excelling in everything they take on under their own self-inflicted pressure and the pressure of others. The question is whether this level of stress is necessary.

The school's Science Bowl finalizes competition teams after tryouts.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that between siblings there must be competition. There is fondness and support, love and communication, yes, but always competition.  

Students discuss their Catholic faith and its impact on their lives.

It seems as if the words “download,” “charger” and “app” have become words in every 3-year-old’s vocabulary.

Reporter discusses the ups and downs of two-part finales. 

The Quiz Bowl team, consisting of sophomore Kevin Chow and seniors Ethan Ngai and Nitya Sampath, placed third out of 27 other schools at the Palo Alto Novice Tournament on Oct. 4.

Last year, the Science Bowl team placed second in regionals at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). This year, they aim to place first. 

This year, TIME Magazine ranked Bakersfield as the most illiterate city in the nation. 

The SHS App Development Club has released the updated version of the SHS App that includes new features such as a countdown timer, a “Me” page and an updated bell schedule. The app was released on Aug. 10 for both the iOS and the Android versions.

SHS seniors' scores on the PSAT qualify them for academic honor.

The homecoming theme, "Toga on TV", was announced at Movie Night on August 22.  

Every day when I walked in to Spanish class during sophomore year, I would hear all the juniors complaining about the inhumanly large amount of homework they had to complete, the impossible tests they had coming up and the two hours of sleep they usually got. This didn’t surprise me because that was basically all they talked about.

Several swimmers will compete in the CCS meet May 15-16 at the International Swim Center in Santa Clara as a result of recent qualifying times.  

As a junior, I am well aware of the large amount of homework that students receive every day. Honors English, especially, is time-consuming and involves reading 80 pages a night.   

Five new students have been voted into ASB for the 2014-15 school year and are bringing new ideas to the school. 

The ice cold concrete bites at sophomore Bradley Newton’s toes as he runs onto the dark, empty pool deck. Rubbing the drowsiness from his eyes, he and his teammates listen to the warm-up set and get ready to take the first plunge. It is 5:30 a.m.

When the show “‘How I Met Your Mother” announced that this season would be its last, we were a little sad. Every Monday night for the past nine years, there would always be one more episode about Ted, Barney and the whole gang, and 30 more minutes of laughter.  Yet, we were still excited and anticipated the last hurrah of our favorite show. 

Everything came down to the last question of the final round of the History Bowl tournament on Jan. 26. The moderator started reading the question: “A retiarius is....”  

It’s the same situation every year. When Jan. 1 rolls around, approximately 45 percent of Americans make a New Year’s resolution, according to The Oregonian. However, these goals are not as useful and necessary as they seem. In fact, they are pointless.

With the American Math Competition (AMC) coming up in February, the Math Club has begun preparing for the contest.  By attending club meetings every Friday, members are able to get into the appropriate mindset for the competition.  

It’s a typical Sunday practice. Junior Michelle Leung shivers slightly as she rubs her hands together in an effort to stay warm. It's 5 a.m., but the ice rink air is actually colder than the morning air outside. Her sleek, white skates glimmer as the lights reflect off the unmarked surface of the ice rink. She's half-asleep, but she can feel herself waking up with each stroke. 

Sophomore Sean Shi participated in his first math competition when he was in fourth grade.

Junior Steven Sum finished second out of 87 runners in the CCS division 3 meet held last Saturday at Crystal Springs, ending up with a time of 15:35. Sum will represent the school at the state meet later this month.

College Confidential. What seems like an innocent pair of words is actually one of the largest college counseling websites propagating college paranoia nationwide.

The clock reads 7:30 p.m. as principal Paul Robinson sits at his desk and smiles. It has been a great day. He has talked to students, observed classes and had a productive meeting at the district office. However, in the life of principal, there is no typical schedule.

When Math Club started about six years ago, it consisted of four students. There were no practices, no officers and few competitions. According to math teacher and club adviser P.J. Yim, the club back then was mostly “like hanging out” for these students.

Every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m, the bell rings at Redwood Middle School. This bell does not signal the beginning of lunch, but the end of the school day. Students shuffle into hallways, clutching their backpacks as they wait for their parents to pick them up, excited for a few extra hours of relaxation time. 

Every Wednesday morning, students sigh contentedly as they relish the extra hour of sleep provided by the 8:50 a.m. start. However, while students enjoy the free hour, teachers are planning lessons and working with each to find new ways to teach concepts. 

As the fall season begins, both the girls’ and boys’ cross country teams are working hard to improve their endurance.

This year, California has instituted a policy that prohibits schools from posting a required list of school supplies.  This is because of a lawsuit against the state in 2010. Now, free public education and the school supplies that come with it are universally offered to students. In Doe v. State of California, which began in September 2010, a minor, Jane Doe, demanded that the state pay fees and purchase materials for educational activities. The plaintiffs signed a settlement agreement that requires school districts to comply with the law. 

The school was recognized recently for its achievements by both the California Distinguished School Program and by the magazine US News and World Report.   

Recently, the Application Developers Club released the Saratoga Falcon app for iPhones. In the app, people can view all of the stories that have been uploaded to the Saratoga Falcon website. The stories on the app range from news to opinion to sports, separated by section. 

Recently, the Application Developers Club released the Saratoga Falcon app for iPhones. In the app, people can view all of the stories that have been uploaded to the Saratoga Falcon website.

The school was recognized recently for its achievements by both the California Distinguished School Program and by the magazine US News and World Report. 

At the SHS-Redwood charity game on Feb. 27, many students were surprised to find out that their history teacher was actually athletic.

With the girls’ swim season coming to a close, the Falcons are now preparing for CCS, which will be held at the International Swim Center in Santa Clara on May 11.  Before a big meet, such as CCS or League Championships, swimmers prepare by tapering, a term used to describe practice sets with high intensity and low yardage. They are also eating balanced and healthy diets.

Two years ago, history teacher Jim Chin learned that his fraternal twin brother, Jack, had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

To steal or not to steal, that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to watch the movie in theatres — harried by extraordinary prices — or to take up one’s laptop and illegally stream every single movie available to mankind. 

A majority of 108 teachers and staff members on April 8 voted against switching to a full block schedule. Roughly 55 percent of the staff voted to keep the current bell schedule and not to implement principal Paul Robinson’s proposed block schedule. 

Principal Paul Robinson has proposed a new schedule that, if approved, would move the school from its current modified block to a full block schedule similar to the one at Los Gatos High School. This proposal is being debated by teachers and administrators.

Since 2005, counselor Judy Jackson has helped teens with a variety of issues, including school stress, grief, drug and alcohol counseling, and nutrition issues.

Ever since the rise of chivalry in medieval times, men have been expected to take care of their female counterparts.

Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. 

Sophomore Elise Nguyen has always had a personal cheerleader. Whether at swim meets or just at practice, her sister, junior Emily Nguyen, has always been there to motivate her. Emily, who also has a fan in her sister, explained that she and Elise are able to bond over swimming.

Teens from multiple schools gathered for a night of entertainment and free food March 1 when the Saratoga Library hosted its third Coffeehouse, an event planned by the Teen Advisory Board (TAB).

On Jan. 31, students visiting the school website noticed a dramatic change. The now-red website has a new appearance and format.

Although it started out as a typical field hockey game, sophomore Nidhi Vellanki knew something was wrong when she saw her knee bent at an unnatural angle.

Have you ever wanted to hear what it’s really like to be an FBI agent? Or dreamed about one day becoming a professional musician? The 2013 Career Day is the perfect opportunity to learn about a wide range different careers. 

Educators statewide breathed a huge sigh of relief when California voters passed Proposition 30 on Nov. 6.

On Nov. 2, the girls’ water polo team triumphed over Harker 11-9. This victory allowed the team to tie with Harker for first place in the El Camino League and brought their total league record to 9-3. Top scorers included seniors Claire Schwartz and Stephanie Chen, junior Nikki de Roos and sophomore Mackenzie Rosenthal.   

Recent scares, including the vandalism of a student’s car and of school property, have caused members of the school community to bring up the question of whether the school has enough security cameras. Though some security cameras do exist in the front of the school, their effectiveness is questionable.

The black walls of the Thermond Drama Center enclose rows of straight-backed chairs and couches. Despite the gloomy description, the small theater buzzes with energy and laughter during lunch.

With all the hype that comes with the impending presidential election, students and parents often tend to forget about changes that will affect them the most in their immediate community. 

At 5:45 a.m., the air on the pool deck is frigid and the sky a dark, uninviting mass.  For sophomore water polo player Amanda Moriarty, the cold temperatures aren't that bad, especially after she has warmed up in the water.

Over a decade ago, alumna Mandy Armes (then known by her maiden name Manousos) participated in the dance commission, served as a class representative and was even in the Homecoming court.

A crowd of sophomores gathers nervously in front of room 506. It’s the first period of the first day of school. But this day is as important to history teacher Jim Chin as it is to the students — it’s his first day, too.  Chin, one of the many new staff members this year, teaches World and U.S. History. 

With a new coach and game plan, the girls’ water polo team has begun its trek to victory. The team is focusing more on strategic maneuvers for the upcoming games with one of the most demanding schedules of the fall season, with practices every afternoon and mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Examining the bright yellow activities form he received in early August, junior Aria Hooman noticed spaces to fill in the number of locks he would need and the total cost of those locks.