Megana Iyer

Parents for each of Jay Koo's students are paying $1,150 for the four week summer course where one of the area’s top SAT tutors can work his magic and boost their scores.

Despite the numerous hours that the rally commission puts into its scripts and skits, the administration too often disagrees with the kinds of jokes they include. It’s unfair that the rally commission is censored to the point of absurdity, smothered by a perpetually growing stream of rules and regulations.

Reporters reflect on changes to the popular TV show "The Big Bang Theory."

On May 1, seniors across the country had to commit to to their chosen colleges.

Senior Charles Li holds a script in his hand as he nods his head along to the lines.

Carter is 15, maybe 16. His teammates crowd around him, chuckling and nodding, shoving each other around. They are at a friend’s house, and it seems like any other day.  

After looking through hundreds of documents, researching archives, contacting experts and compiling their findings into one project, History Day participants came together at the Santa Clara County Office of Education on March 1 to present their topics and display their hard work.

A new, clearer ASB constitution took effect last month, on Feb. 24, after agreeing earlier this year that the old version was incomplete and ambiguous. ASB officers hope the revised document will prevent misunderstandings about elections procedures and give the student body a voice in school affairs.

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

Senior Rio Harada has sat through hundreds of hours of lectures, jotted down notes in English and history, taken the SAT and passed countless tests. But in June, after the years that he spent struggling through school with his classmates, he plans to take a very different path: Harada will be enlisting in the military.  

The mock trial team is now preparing for its month of competitions, which will begin in early February. The county competition will be held in the Santa Clara courthouse, and the team will participate against schools across the county.

As the lights in the Large Gym went out last Friday, colors flew around the packed gym. Thrown from all sides of the room, the glow sticks that had been handed out at the beginning of the assembly painted the air in rainbows as students’ screams echoed off the walls.

In September 2013, California lawmakers passed a bill to raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour by 2016 from the current $8 minimum wage. This change will make the state’s minimum wage the highest in the country. Lawmakers plan to raise the wage to $9 per hour by July 2014 and bring the total to $10 by 2016.

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

With the partition of India in 1947 came bloodshed, riots, despair and one of the largest mass migrations in history. Millions of lives were cut short, and thousands of families were separated

Starting in late October, the ASB decided to revise its constitution in order to legitimize ASB processes and clarify rules concerning clubs and elections.

The words “save a life” and “donate now” flash in pink and white on the computer screen, as billions of dollars flood into breast cancer organizations around the world. Millions of people log onto websites, walk in parades and buy pink merchandise every year in hopes of making a difference.  

The school has four guidance counselors, Frances Saiki, Eileen Allen, Monique Young and Alinna Satake, all situated in this hallway. Their doors are always open to students.

The science department has expanded significantly this year, with growth in the number of students taking AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science and AP Biology, all requiring the addition of one new class and a total of two new teachers in the department.

With the mock trial season underway, the team is facing  several new changes, including the addition of a new attorney coach, Ed Quevedo, and changes in leadership due to the loss of several seniors.

When she was in third grade, senior Katie Woodruff received a letter that changed her life. This letter, from the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization, came in the mail soon after the death of one of her family’s dogs and promoted raising guide dogs in one’s own house.

Ever since sophomore Fiona Sequeira was little, she was entertained with stories of her sisters’ experiences in high school, from Jessica Sequeira’s tales of the journalism room at Saratoga to Sophie Sequeira’s stories about her experiences at Archbishop Mitty High School. 

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

With the start of the new school year underway, the ASB is hoping to rid the school of dormant clubs, work harder to create a positive atmosphere on campus and consolidate the school’s charitable efforts this year.

Math teacher Audrey Warmuth teaches teaches Indtoduction to Engineering. The class explains to students the design process in engineering.

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

Following in the footsteps of many other high schools in the area, the school is now seriously considering installing solar panels in the front parking lot. The Green Commission met with the district board on April 9 to discuss this possibility after hours of research and planning. 

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

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

Most days after school, sophomore Gonzalo Palomino sits in front of the television, his eyes locked on the screen, his fingers madly pressing different buttons on the controller. He’s been practicing for hours, all in hopes of beating the game, Mortal Kombat.

Artist Alexandra Conway grew up in Saratoga. Attending both Redwood Middle School and SHS, Conway graduated in 2006. Her passion for painting sparked during high school under the guidance of late art teacher, Steve McCue.

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

Imagine returning to school on a dreary Monday morning after a weekend filled with music lessons, a speech and debate tournament and a track meet. Dark circles surround your eyes, you sigh, realizing that you have not completed the homework for the seven classes that lie ahead of you —  it's going to be a long day.

Fifty students are crowded into a hallway. Some are eating and talking loudly, others are laughing over a video on a phone. Then, of course, there are those who are sitting at desks inside an open classroom and trying to work, shielding their ears from the noise that’s flooding in from the crowded hallways. 

Most days after school, sophomore Gonzalo Palomino sits in front of the television, his eyes locked on the screen, his fingers madly pressing different buttons on the controller. He’s been practicing for hours, all in hopes of beating the game, Mortal Kombat.

After years of dedication to the school, English teacher Natasha Ritchie and PE teacher Peter Jordan, who is now working as an instructional coach for new teachers in the district, have won the Goldin Foundation Award for Excellence in Education. This annual award is only given to six educators in the Silicon Valley. 

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

Less than a century ago, women finally gained the right to vote after years of fighting for their rights. Just four years ago, Hillary Clinton ran for president of the United States and became closer to winning presidency than any female candidate ever had before.

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

This semester, ASB has come up with a way to help fading clubs regain lost momentum during second semester, a serious problem many clubs face each year.

Ever since they were young, seniors Maya Nag and Rebecca Yang have played both the piano and the bass clarinet, among other instruments.

Sophomore Adrienne Kim has a lot on her plate this year.

When the audience first saw freshman Nina Nelson step up to the microphone at Saratoga Idol on Nov. 29, they thought she was just an average contestant waiting for her few minutes of fame.

Antwerp is a city located in northern Belgium, a cultural hub complete with a large cathedral and musicians playing on cobblestone streets. Taking a glance around, you’ll find few cars — walking is the preferred mode of transportation.

In India, thousands of people each year suffer from treatable eye conditions. The Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) attempts to solve this problem by paying for eye surgeries and transforming these people’s lives.

"Action,” a whisper sounds, and all goes silent except the actors’ voices and the low, steady hum of a video camera. Later, members of the sitcom team run through the lines, edit the video and sit back and watch their work in action.

For as long as anybody can remember, Soundings, the school’s arts and literary magazine, has given students the chance to publicize their creative work for their peers to enjoy.

Sophomore Joowon Lee spent the first four years of his life living in South Korea. While there, he built up his Korean vocabulary and language skills. Once Lee moved to the United states, he spent countless hours in Korean school, and was able to build up an extensive Korean vocabulary at an extremely young age. 

Xylophones run around clumsily as monkeys eat bananas.  Four students mouth the words slowly as their thumbs begin to move rapidly.

The audience listens to the crisp sound of ripping paper as a judge at the Los Angeles International Thespian Society (ITS) tears open an envelope. It is an intense competition between creative students and their costume designs.

All is quiet in the little area behind the library. Red flowers surround circular tables and benches, forming a serene area, and two students eat at one of the black tables. In the middle of this tranquil area, a street sign proudly states “Hyde Park.”