Neyha Bhat

While most seniors look forward to attending colleges and universities for their respective majors, a select few of members of the girls’ tennis players will continue the sport in college.

Those who know of “Bombay in the Bay,” the Indian Cultural Awareness Club’s (ICAC) annual Indian culture show on campus, know that members take it very seriously. What most of them do not know, however, is that many former ICAC members and Saratoga High alumni continue the tradition of Indian dancing in college as well. At this year’s “Bollywood Berkeley” dance contest held by UC Berkeley, nine alumni will compete with teams from their respective universities for the first place prize of $2000.

ASB officers hoped to increase the head count at Winter Ball, which took place on Dec. 13, by holding it in the Large Gym, lowering bid prices, decreasing pressure on students to bring dates and allowing semi-formal attire. Their hopes, however, were not fulfilled, and attendance fell short of what they expected. they had aimed to get a turn out of at least 500 but ended up with about 400 attendees.

The cheer team competed at a regional competition in Tracy on Dec. 13 and qualified for nationals for their second competition in a row. The team, however, moved up to the intermediate level for this competition. They increased the difficulty of their routine by adding in stunts such as full-twisting cradles and back tucks. “The girls had improved their skills and seemed prepared for the next level of competition,” said team advisor Larissa Ridge.

This year the girls’ volleyball team is looking forward to a strong season with a new coach guiding their young, talented roster. Brad Frederickson, who has been coaching the boys’ varsity volleyball team since 2005, will replace Lori Gragnola as coach. Gragnola coached the girls’ JV team for 11 years and was an assistant coach for the varsity team for nine years before being promoted to head coach in 2006. She left Saratoga High after the 2007 season and will continue coaching the Monta Vista boys’ varsity team in the spring.

Homecoming is the one bright week during the beginning of the school year when students and staff alike look forward to lunchtime performances and a decorated campus. This year, however, what should have been a fun-filled week consumed with decorating and Quad Day performances was filled with exams and projects to round out the first grading period, which ended Oct. 3.

As students and teachers enter the seventh week of the school year, many are beginning to feel the accumulated stress of almost two grading periods without a break. The schedule this year does not give a day off for 10 weeks between Labor Day and Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11. This has left both students and staff in need of a break.

This year, Winter Ball is getting a makeover. Because of the high price of renting the Decathlon Club last year combined with low attendance in the past few years, the event has lost more money than it has earned. This year, in an effort to make Winter Ball more profitable and well attended, ASB is holding Winter Ball in the gym on Dec. 13.

Homecoming is the one bright week during the beginning of the school year when students and staff alike look forward to lunchtime performances and a decorated campus. This year, however, what should have been a fun-filled week consumed with decorating and Quad Day performances was filled with exams and projects to round out the first grading period, which ended Oct. 3.

When some students think of California Standardized Tesing, or STAR tests, they immediately think it is an opportunity to kick back and bubble in random answers because these scores do not technically affect their college admissions. This year, however, the school aimed to change student attitudes.

The Invisible Children club had a showing of the documentary Invisible Children: Rough Cut in the McAfee Center on May 15. Although many students attended the screening solely to earn extra-credit for their history classes, most left with a new appreciation for the struggles of children in Africa.

After having taught at Saratoga for 11 years, math teacher and department head Mike Navrides is leaving to fill an opening at Los Gatos High. Despite the change of location, Navrides will continue to teach the same subjects, AP Statistics and Algebra 2. “People were very shocked when I told them,” said Navrides. “But after they recovered from the initial shock, the department and school were very understanding and supportive, which I am very grateful for.”

Originally published in the print issue of the Saratoga Falcon. By Neyha Bhat A new European History advanced placement course will be available to juniors and seniors as an elective for the next school year.