Bids for Wonderland not too pricey September 12, 2012 — by Megan Benzing This year, Homecoming week was abuzz with excitement, whether it was for the skits, the game or the decorations. But discussion about one important aspect, the dance, was conspicuously missing. read more » Juniors prepare to dance the night away April 24, 2012 — by Megan Benzing With April finally arriving and prom season looming, juniors are hustling around trying to find dresses and dates. Junior prom will be held on April 28 at the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose with the theme “Forever Young.” read more » New coaching staff brings different perspective to team April 11, 2012 — by Megan Benzing With the fourth consecutive year of a new coach for the girls’ lacrosse team, players were hopeful for something new, and that’s exactly what they got. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing “While the 2012 squad has only four seniors, the team is stacked with young athletic talent and a number of players looking to prove themselves in the SCVAL,” coach Eric Wong said. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing Sport Name: Girls’ Lacrosse read more » Leadership hosts In-n-Out fundraiser December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 40 students who took the Leadership class up on its offer of a lunch from In-n-Out last month received a delicious burger without even having to rush off-campus and speed to make it back in time. read more » College consultants take guidance too far by providing ‘packages’ and essays December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With declining acceptance rates and greater competition for top universities, it is no surprise that the many seniors have a college counselor or consultant outside of school. read more » Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Juniors prepare to dance the night away April 24, 2012 — by Megan Benzing With April finally arriving and prom season looming, juniors are hustling around trying to find dresses and dates. Junior prom will be held on April 28 at the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose with the theme “Forever Young.” read more » New coaching staff brings different perspective to team April 11, 2012 — by Megan Benzing With the fourth consecutive year of a new coach for the girls’ lacrosse team, players were hopeful for something new, and that’s exactly what they got. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing “While the 2012 squad has only four seniors, the team is stacked with young athletic talent and a number of players looking to prove themselves in the SCVAL,” coach Eric Wong said. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing Sport Name: Girls’ Lacrosse read more » Leadership hosts In-n-Out fundraiser December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 40 students who took the Leadership class up on its offer of a lunch from In-n-Out last month received a delicious burger without even having to rush off-campus and speed to make it back in time. read more » College consultants take guidance too far by providing ‘packages’ and essays December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With declining acceptance rates and greater competition for top universities, it is no surprise that the many seniors have a college counselor or consultant outside of school. read more » Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
New coaching staff brings different perspective to team April 11, 2012 — by Megan Benzing With the fourth consecutive year of a new coach for the girls’ lacrosse team, players were hopeful for something new, and that’s exactly what they got. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing “While the 2012 squad has only four seniors, the team is stacked with young athletic talent and a number of players looking to prove themselves in the SCVAL,” coach Eric Wong said. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing Sport Name: Girls’ Lacrosse read more » Leadership hosts In-n-Out fundraiser December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 40 students who took the Leadership class up on its offer of a lunch from In-n-Out last month received a delicious burger without even having to rush off-campus and speed to make it back in time. read more » College consultants take guidance too far by providing ‘packages’ and essays December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With declining acceptance rates and greater competition for top universities, it is no surprise that the many seniors have a college counselor or consultant outside of school. read more » Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing “While the 2012 squad has only four seniors, the team is stacked with young athletic talent and a number of players looking to prove themselves in the SCVAL,” coach Eric Wong said. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing Sport Name: Girls’ Lacrosse read more » Leadership hosts In-n-Out fundraiser December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 40 students who took the Leadership class up on its offer of a lunch from In-n-Out last month received a delicious burger without even having to rush off-campus and speed to make it back in time. read more » College consultants take guidance too far by providing ‘packages’ and essays December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With declining acceptance rates and greater competition for top universities, it is no surprise that the many seniors have a college counselor or consultant outside of school. read more » Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Girls’ lacrosse: New coach brings new hopes for season February 15, 2012 — by Megan Benzing Sport Name: Girls’ Lacrosse read more » Leadership hosts In-n-Out fundraiser December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 40 students who took the Leadership class up on its offer of a lunch from In-n-Out last month received a delicious burger without even having to rush off-campus and speed to make it back in time. read more » College consultants take guidance too far by providing ‘packages’ and essays December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With declining acceptance rates and greater competition for top universities, it is no surprise that the many seniors have a college counselor or consultant outside of school. read more » Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Leadership hosts In-n-Out fundraiser December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 40 students who took the Leadership class up on its offer of a lunch from In-n-Out last month received a delicious burger without even having to rush off-campus and speed to make it back in time. read more » College consultants take guidance too far by providing ‘packages’ and essays December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With declining acceptance rates and greater competition for top universities, it is no surprise that the many seniors have a college counselor or consultant outside of school. read more » Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
College consultants take guidance too far by providing ‘packages’ and essays December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With declining acceptance rates and greater competition for top universities, it is no surprise that the many seniors have a college counselor or consultant outside of school. read more » Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Winter ball video contest encourages students to attend December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Dec. 2, senior Rachel Le stood in her room with her friends, seniors Kylie Tseng and Sarah Lum, confused by the candles, rose petals, the writing on the mirror closet and the apparent lack of an asker. Suddenly, senior Brandon Pak jumped out of the closet with a rose and asked her to Winter Ball. Tseng recorded her stunned reaction on video. read more » Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Shorter first semester garners mixed responses December 15, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the packed schedule drawing to a close and finals ominously looming closer, the campus has an atomosphere of rushed panic. Students and teachers are in the process of evaluating the school’s new calendar, which puts first-semester finals before winter break and also has imbalanced semesters. read more » Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Are private schools really worth it? December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Whether we spend money or save it, we all care about and use it. We ask ourselves questions every day regarding its use: “Should I really get a large drink for two more dollars?”; “Maybe I shouldn’t get this shirt, it’s too expensive” or even “I got 20 bucks today, let’s go spend it all!” read more » PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
PC: Reality check: Your cars are valuable, treat them that way December 8, 2011 — by Megan Benzing In our high school, kids don’t seem to appreciate the things they are given, especially when it comes to cars. For those of you who don’t know, I drive the classic “mommy van”—a 1999 teal Toyota Sienna. It’s my mom’s, and if she needs it, I’m out of luck. But personally, I’m thankful I even get a vehicle to drive. read more » Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Field hockey goes far in ‘08 December 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing The 2008 field hockey team was considered one of the best Saratoga has had, coached by Amber Olsen Wilson. They came in second at CCS, only losing in the final game by one goal to Los Gatos. Ever since, field hockey has gained popularity at Saratoga and the expectations have been high. read more » New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
New pool lights to create schedule flexibility for athletes November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan The school is in the process of getting bids for the installation of lights on the pool deck, an addition that may take place next school year. But the purpose of new pool lights goes far deeper than simply illuminating the deck. Water polo players and swimmers have faced difficulties with scheduling since school practice begins during seventh period. Athletes must either sacrifice their high school sport or their seventh-period class. read more » Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Saratoga/Los Gatos rivalry pumps students up for big game November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing With the annual Saratoga/Los Gatos football game away tonight at Los Gatos, students at both schools are getting ready for the rematch of the season. read more » Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Red Zone brings students together at games November 2, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Priyanka Nookala School spirit at sports games has always been an important, though sometimes minimal, part of Saratoga High culture. This year, a “Red Zone” has been implemented at a few of the football games to try and attract students to create a student section and support the football team. read more » Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Juniors say new A.P. US History grading policies weighing them down October 20, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Joanna Lee 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. read more » Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Guidance Department provides multitude of resources September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing One place on-campus can help students with nearly any problem and can provide the resources needed to succeed: the guidance department. At the present time, the guidance department has four counselors and an adolescent therapist. This year the ratio of students to counselor is 348:1. It has been important to the school board to keep a lot of counselors on hand. They can provide students with everything from a new class schedule to assistance with personal issues to finding a tutor for even the hardest subject. read more » Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Indiana University recruits Clark for D1 soccer September 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing During their senior year, students desperately work to finish their college applications ensure a spot at their top choice schools. However, senior Kari Clark shares none of those worries. On Aug. 1, Clark received the offer to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Indiana University. Two days later, she accepted and her college search process officially ended. Clark has been playing soccer since she was 5 and has been passionate ever since. She plays center midfield and defense. read more » Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Attempts to beautify downtown cause major parking issues September 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Denise Lin Downtown Saratoga has long been considered “dead” by many students and young adults. To most, there’s not much to do, nowhere to shop and never any parking. It is always being compared to the fabulous downtown Los Gatos, which is at least twice the size and has anything anyone could ever want: diverse shopping, a variety of eateries, a central park and lots of parking lots. Saratoga’s downtown was hardly even in the running to match Los Gatos. read more » Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Saratoga Heritage Day shows off local history June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh According to history teacher Matt Torrens, today’s students live in a world of “iPods, online gaming and Chipotle.” read more » With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
With testing over, AP classes look to fill the remaining school days June 3, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Junior Viraj Parmar took five AP exams during the AP testing weeks. Parmar felt they were brutal, being hours long and spanning two weeks. He felt additional stress from SAT Subject Tests and STAR testing during those weeks. But now that they are over, Parmar feels much more relaxed. read more » Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Lacrosse ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Girls’ Lacrosse: Season ends with hope for improvement next year May 25, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Jennifer Jin Girls’ lacrosse players had their senior day game on May 3 against Pioneer High. Dressing up as “Super Mario Bros.” characters during the day, the underclassmen gave speeches and roses to their graduating seniors during the pre-game ceremony. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Cost of Senior Prom surprises many May 18, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh The announcement of the price of senior prom bids left many seniors shocked at the high cost. Starting at $120 with an ASB card and $125 without, these expensive bids garnered several complaints among the senior class. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Girls’ lacrosse: Season almost through, team striving for victory April 27, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Since the season is almost over for the girls’ lacrosse team, the players are playing opponents for the second time. Many of the girls are optimistic about their second chance at victory, but the prospects for a turnaround aren’t looking great. The team is 1-8, with the only win against Gunn. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Teachers on Facebook spur questions about limits April 26, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst Inappropriate messages, a mysteriously changed grade and the resignation of 41-year-old teacher Ginger Parks in September from Plant City High School did not appear out of nowhere; it began with the Florida teacher “friending” a student on Facebook, illustrating the ever-blurring lines of student-teacher relationships. read more » Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Students prepare for State History Day April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Cecilia Hollenhorst This year, more students qualified for the National History Day State competition than in any previous year. The state competition, scheduled for April 30 at the DoubleTree Airport hotel in San Jose, will be showcasing 16 different entries from 31 Saratoga students. read more » Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Benefit to aid Special Olympics April 19, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Each year, students put on a fashion show for a specific charity. This year, the Benefit committee, headed by seniors Erin Wong, Talia Balma and Sara Padash, has chosen to support Special Olympics. The show will be held on May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Gym. read more » It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
It’s not considered creeping if you’re having fun, right? March 4, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Is it totally wrong to just absolutely love staring at people from a distance with complete fascination with their lives? OK, it sounds pretty creepy. But I can’t be alone in taking such joy out of simple people watching. read more » New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
New coaches for girls’ lacrosse bring hope for good year March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Starting their third year as at team, the girls’ lacrosse varsity and JV teams are yet adjusting to new coaches for the third year in a row. This constant change has been tough, but the team believes these coaches are here to stay. read more » Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Seniors graduate out of NCL March 1, 2011 — by Megan Benzing Senior Shea Sullivan has been in NCL for six years. On March 19, her time with the organization will draw to a close. The National Charity League class of 2011 is finishing final preparations for their Senior Presents, which honors the seniors who are leaving high school and NCL behind. Sullivan feels nostalgic about her NCL years finally ending. read more » New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
New dance celebrates the past decades February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Serena Chan Students rocked the night away in poodle skirts, disco outfits and hippie couture during the Decades Dance on Feb. 4. This new dance began with the ideas of ASB president David Mandell. read more » Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Junior and senior proms say goodbye to limos February 28, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Allison Toh This year students going to prom will find that their limos and party buses have been replaced with chartered buses. The main reason for the change is to quell the drama that usually accompanies the planning of the limo and party bus rides, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde. read more » You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
You did what back in high school? February 10, 2011 — by Megan Benzing “You know, back when I went to Saratoga...”, “During my childhood here...”, “I never had to deal with...”. These are all the typical conversation starters for each time I get told about how high school was so different back in the ‘70s. And I don’t just get this from one parent, I get it from both. Yep, that’s right. Both of my parents went to Saratoga High for high school. read more » Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Showing too much ‘Skins’ February 9, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock “It’s embarrassing,” said Tony. “It’s totally normal for a kid of 16 not to have had sex—” replied Stanley. “It’s embarrassing, Stan.” read more » Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Special education department hosts alumni holiday celebration January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item. read more » APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
APUSH students attend San Francisco walking tour January 7, 2011 — by Megan Benzing For the past eight years, AP U.S. History teacher Matt Torrens has been taking his students to San Francisco for a walking tour of the city for extra credit. On Dec. 20, 43 students from all of his AP U.S. classes showed up at the Sunnyvale Train Station to attend his tour. read more » Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Border laptop searches unconstitutional December 6, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Grishma Athavale When 26-year-old Pascal Abidor, a dual U.S. and French citizen, boarded a train from Canada to New York in late May, he did not expect Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to confiscate his laptop for 11 days. After he showed an Amtrak official his passport, Abidor was ordered to move to a cafe, where officials questioned him about his Hamas and Hezbollah rally pictures and forced him to unlock his computer. read more » Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Another year, another Rhodes Scholar; fifth alumni wins award November 24, 2010 — by Megan Benzing For the fifth time in eight years, a Saratoga High graduate has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. 2007 alumnus Varun Sivaram, a senior at Stanford, is one of 32 Americans who received the award this year. He will continue on to study energy policy and materials science at Oxford University in England. read more » Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Students mourn for recent gay suicides by wearing purple November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock On Oct. 20, people around the world mourned for the recent suicides across the country due to gay abuse, including the students of Saratoga High. read more » Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Harry Potter isn’t for everyone November 1, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Aanchal Mohan As the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” set for release Nov. 18, comes closer, many teenagers are rushing to buy tickets. It is part one of the dramatic close to the worldwide phenomenon and it has everyone excited and nostalgic. They have read all the books and cannot wait for it to debut on screen. Yet for seniors Grace Kim and Andy Jan, this is not the case. The magical effect of Harry Potter has not put them under the same spell as all the fans. read more » Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Sports are neither manly nor feminine October 6, 2010 — by Aanchal Mohan and Megan Benzing When the starting kicker of the Romeo High School Bulldogs in Dakota, Mich., could not attend a football game on Sept. 10, the team had to call for reinforcements. Their temporary kicker rose to the occasion, successfully making a field goal and two extra points. For most football teams, this situation would be no big deal, except that this was not a normal team and not a normal kicker. Romeo High School's kicker led her team to victory. read more » Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Alumnus hopes to become next Miss California September 26, 2010 — by Allison Toh and Megan Benzing To most, beauty pageants are just a fairy tale, something every little girl dreams about when she is a kid: all the glamor, the excitement and the dedication to a cause to help the in-need. For most, this dream dies when real life begins, but for Saratoga High alumnus, Shveta Agrawal, this dream has turned into reality. Last summer, Agrawal was chosen to become a member of the 2011 Donald Trump’s Miss California USA competition, which takes place November 19-21 in Palm Springs. She will be taking the stage with the title “Miss South Bay.” read more » Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »
Combining language classes proves challenging for teachers September 22, 2010 — by Megan Benzing and Olivia Chock When French teacher Laura Lizundia explains class assignments this year, she has a challenge she has not had before: trying to give work to kids in two levels in the same class. The reality of a tight district budget and fewer students reaching the most advanced level of the language has led not only to larger class sizes but also more combined world language classes. read more »