The Meaning of Falcon June 9, 2014 — by Samuel Liu Unpublished graduation speech on author's personal experience at Saratoga. read more » Chin’s forced departure a loss for the school May 20, 2014 — by Samuel Liu A senior says the school will be worse off without popular history teacher. read more » ‘Everything’s fine’ — how tragedy changed a senior’s perception April 1, 2014 — by Samuel Liu "The hardest part is pretending that everything is OK when it's not," senior Melissa Szenda wrote in a Facebook post on Nov. 13, 2013. Earlier that morning, a cold on in the middle of college app season, she found out her mother had died. read more » Q&A: Behind the scenes of ‘Shark Tank’ with Jason Li March 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu On March 14, senior Jason Li presented his business, iReTron, on the ABC reality TV show “Shark Tank,” which gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas against five “sharks.” iReTron recycles and sells used electronics. Li received $100,000 in grant money from investors Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran, on the condition that they would own 20% of any business he made in the next five years. Li was on stage for 55 minutes, though they only used roughly 10 minutes of it. You can watch the segment here. read more » The Saratoga factory: student stress and achievment February 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu At an ASB meeting in November, some members posed a question for student debate: Should Saratoga remove secondary GPA awards from the graduation program? read more » Guide to being lazy for the lazy-impaired February 14, 2014 — by Samuel Liu Without further ado, here are the several stages of a second-semester senior: read more » Possible move to Physics Honors course best for student understanding February 10, 2014 — by Samuel Liu The magical two letters: “A” and “P.” Mix the two ingredients together, slap ’em in front of a course and you’ll create a magical student trap — think flies drawn to an electric fly killer. read more » Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Chin’s forced departure a loss for the school May 20, 2014 — by Samuel Liu A senior says the school will be worse off without popular history teacher. read more » ‘Everything’s fine’ — how tragedy changed a senior’s perception April 1, 2014 — by Samuel Liu "The hardest part is pretending that everything is OK when it's not," senior Melissa Szenda wrote in a Facebook post on Nov. 13, 2013. Earlier that morning, a cold on in the middle of college app season, she found out her mother had died. read more » Q&A: Behind the scenes of ‘Shark Tank’ with Jason Li March 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu On March 14, senior Jason Li presented his business, iReTron, on the ABC reality TV show “Shark Tank,” which gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas against five “sharks.” iReTron recycles and sells used electronics. Li received $100,000 in grant money from investors Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran, on the condition that they would own 20% of any business he made in the next five years. Li was on stage for 55 minutes, though they only used roughly 10 minutes of it. You can watch the segment here. read more » The Saratoga factory: student stress and achievment February 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu At an ASB meeting in November, some members posed a question for student debate: Should Saratoga remove secondary GPA awards from the graduation program? read more » Guide to being lazy for the lazy-impaired February 14, 2014 — by Samuel Liu Without further ado, here are the several stages of a second-semester senior: read more » Possible move to Physics Honors course best for student understanding February 10, 2014 — by Samuel Liu The magical two letters: “A” and “P.” Mix the two ingredients together, slap ’em in front of a course and you’ll create a magical student trap — think flies drawn to an electric fly killer. read more » Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
‘Everything’s fine’ — how tragedy changed a senior’s perception April 1, 2014 — by Samuel Liu "The hardest part is pretending that everything is OK when it's not," senior Melissa Szenda wrote in a Facebook post on Nov. 13, 2013. Earlier that morning, a cold on in the middle of college app season, she found out her mother had died. read more » Q&A: Behind the scenes of ‘Shark Tank’ with Jason Li March 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu On March 14, senior Jason Li presented his business, iReTron, on the ABC reality TV show “Shark Tank,” which gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas against five “sharks.” iReTron recycles and sells used electronics. Li received $100,000 in grant money from investors Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran, on the condition that they would own 20% of any business he made in the next five years. Li was on stage for 55 minutes, though they only used roughly 10 minutes of it. You can watch the segment here. read more » The Saratoga factory: student stress and achievment February 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu At an ASB meeting in November, some members posed a question for student debate: Should Saratoga remove secondary GPA awards from the graduation program? read more » Guide to being lazy for the lazy-impaired February 14, 2014 — by Samuel Liu Without further ado, here are the several stages of a second-semester senior: read more » Possible move to Physics Honors course best for student understanding February 10, 2014 — by Samuel Liu The magical two letters: “A” and “P.” Mix the two ingredients together, slap ’em in front of a course and you’ll create a magical student trap — think flies drawn to an electric fly killer. read more » Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Q&A: Behind the scenes of ‘Shark Tank’ with Jason Li March 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu On March 14, senior Jason Li presented his business, iReTron, on the ABC reality TV show “Shark Tank,” which gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas against five “sharks.” iReTron recycles and sells used electronics. Li received $100,000 in grant money from investors Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran, on the condition that they would own 20% of any business he made in the next five years. Li was on stage for 55 minutes, though they only used roughly 10 minutes of it. You can watch the segment here. read more » The Saratoga factory: student stress and achievment February 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu At an ASB meeting in November, some members posed a question for student debate: Should Saratoga remove secondary GPA awards from the graduation program? read more » Guide to being lazy for the lazy-impaired February 14, 2014 — by Samuel Liu Without further ado, here are the several stages of a second-semester senior: read more » Possible move to Physics Honors course best for student understanding February 10, 2014 — by Samuel Liu The magical two letters: “A” and “P.” Mix the two ingredients together, slap ’em in front of a course and you’ll create a magical student trap — think flies drawn to an electric fly killer. read more » Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
The Saratoga factory: student stress and achievment February 17, 2014 — by Samuel Liu At an ASB meeting in November, some members posed a question for student debate: Should Saratoga remove secondary GPA awards from the graduation program? read more » Guide to being lazy for the lazy-impaired February 14, 2014 — by Samuel Liu Without further ado, here are the several stages of a second-semester senior: read more » Possible move to Physics Honors course best for student understanding February 10, 2014 — by Samuel Liu The magical two letters: “A” and “P.” Mix the two ingredients together, slap ’em in front of a course and you’ll create a magical student trap — think flies drawn to an electric fly killer. read more » Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Guide to being lazy for the lazy-impaired February 14, 2014 — by Samuel Liu Without further ado, here are the several stages of a second-semester senior: read more » Possible move to Physics Honors course best for student understanding February 10, 2014 — by Samuel Liu The magical two letters: “A” and “P.” Mix the two ingredients together, slap ’em in front of a course and you’ll create a magical student trap — think flies drawn to an electric fly killer. read more » Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Possible move to Physics Honors course best for student understanding February 10, 2014 — by Samuel Liu The magical two letters: “A” and “P.” Mix the two ingredients together, slap ’em in front of a course and you’ll create a magical student trap — think flies drawn to an electric fly killer. read more » Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Concussions derail soccer team January 31, 2014 — by Samuel Liu When senior centerback and co-captain Nikhil Goel went up for a header on Jan. 7 against Fremont, he didn’t realize that his opponent’s shoulder was heading for his head. Goel was knocked back furiously, onto the ground. read more » Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Culture of judgement December 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu A girl suffered bullying when her friends turned on her. read more » Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Welcome to ‘strug city’ November 8, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Senior does everything, yet struggles at life read more » Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Are artificial turf fields carcinogenic? November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Some evidence shows fields now being used across the country and at Saratoga High may not be safe. read more » SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
SIDEBAR: Analyzing FieldTurf’s science November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu This sidebar from the Nov. 1 issue looks at arguments put forth by FieldTurf. read more » SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
SIDEBAR: Chemicals identified in artificial turf November 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Testing by the Environment and Health Human, Inc. was conducted under mild conditions. Crumb rubber, the main constituent of artificial turfs, was exposed to water, and the following chemicals were identified. read more » Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Down times for downtown: Why are Saratoga businesses struggling? September 25, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen and Samuel Liu Downtown seems to have all the elements of a successful villa: location, market, cleanliness and high-quality restaurants. So why, then, is downtown failing? read more » News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
News analysis: Pott case a year later September 13, 2013 — by Samuel Liu, Cristina Curcelli A year from yesterday, a student at our school died. She was, by all accounts, a complex, loved girl who had once wanted to travel the world and fly. But her life changed when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by those that had been her friends — friends who took pictures of the event — and her life ended in suicide. Today, two of the students charged as part of the sexual assault are back at school — walking the same hallways that then-sophomore Audrie Pott had once wandered. The school she had attended is more or less the same, unchanged but for an aberration to its sterling record. read more » The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
The need for a student referendum on schedule July 5, 2013 — by Samuel Liu Why the students of Saratoga had little to no say in the decision to avoid the full block schedule. read more » Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Audrie Pott tragedy: Where do we go from here? May 8, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu A sense of shock settled like thick fog on the morning of Friday, April 12, after students found out about the alleged causes of sophomore Audrie Pott’s suicide last September. read more » Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Pott family speaks out at news conference, encourages students to come forward April 15, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sabrina Chen, and Samuel Liu The family of Audrie Pott, accompanied by family attorney Robert Allard and two investigators, spoke to the public at a news conference on Monday at a San Jose hotel and announced that they are filing a wrongful death case in Santa Clara Superior Court against three sophomore boys who were arrested Thursday. read more » Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Opinion: Pott case twisted to fit anti-cyberbullying agenda April 14, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “The whole school knew,” Pott family attorney Robert Allard said to Yahoo! News of the purported “viral” spreading of photos taken of Audrie Pott while she was unconscious at a party prior to committing suicide eight days later. read more » Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Sources say that ‘around 10 students’ saw illicit photos of Audrie Pott April 14, 2013 — by Sabrina Chen, Cristina Curcelli and Samuel Liu Although the national media reported that illicit photos of sophomore Audrie Pott’s unconscious body went “viral” among students at the school, several students familiar with the situation have said that they think roughly 10 people saw them, and that the photos never went on Facebook. read more » Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Students react to arrests, media blitz in Pott sexual assault case April 13, 2013 — by Cristina Curcelli, Sarah Finley, Samuel Liu, and Karen Sung Students driving to school on April 12 found an unusual sight — news vans from ABC, CBS and Fox, parked just outside the school attempting to interview students. Just the night before, on April 11, Audrie Pott’s family went public with the circumstances surrounding Pott’s suicide last September. read more » “Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
“Secret” confessions Facebook page a hearth of cyber-bullying April 7, 2013 — by Samuel Liu On March 26, a group of students created the Facebook page “Saratoga High Secret Love Confessions,” a forum supposedly created for secret admirers to anonymously confess their crushes. read more » How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
How well is Saratoga High prepared for disaster? March 12, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Maya Ravichandran Newtown, Connecticut is, in many ways, a town undeniably similar to Saratoga. Both are home to rollicking parks and public works. Both suburbias boast a population of almost 30,000, which is largely made up of middle-class families. read more » Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Saratoga beats Redwood in interstaff charity basketball game that raises $10,000 March 11, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Derek Sun Even though a group of Saratoga High teachers beat a group of Redwood Middle School teachers 51-36 on Feb. 27, the real winner was the charity the game benefited. read more » Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Community: my gateway show February 4, 2013 — by Samuel Liu You can call me uncultured or tell me to get lost, but I was never much of a TV person. read more » Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Can you read all seven Harry Potters in 24 hours? February 2, 2013 — by Samuel Liu “I’ve never read ‘Harry Potter.’” read more » French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
French cut at Redwood; possible consequences for Saratoga’s French program February 1, 2013 — by Samuel Liu and Trung Vandinh As schools around the nation experience severe budget cuts, Saratoga has not escaped unscathed. read more » 16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
16 and with a baby brother October 23, 2012 — by Samuel Liu A junior’s experience with his newborn brother read more » Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Fox News takes aim at objectivity October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Conservatives always rant about the “liberal media.” They have a point, as the mainstream media do lean left. read more » Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Once a national champion in judo, junior learns lessons in injury October 19, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Junior Jason Li's passion for judo began on a dark night 11 years ago. Weidong Li, his father, was hastily walking through the ramshackle streets of inner-city San Jose. read more » Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Hyde leaves Saratoga with unforgettable legacy May 30, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar She is the longest serving figure on campus. She refuses to give her age, saying only, “I’m a thousand.” She is assistant principal Mrs. Karen Hyde, who, after 36 years of serving the school and the district is retiring. read more » Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Hydey-Ho! May 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Anushree Dugar The indomitable Hyde leaves Saratoga with an unforgettable legacy. read more » Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Feeling fat: can you eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers? May 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu In my freshman year I daringly decided to eat four In-N-Out double hamburgers for a journalism assignment (I was supposed to “check it out”), and I will never do it again. read more » The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
The genius of Jeremy April 27, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Watching Jeremy Lin used to remind me of my youth basketball experience—scrub duties, easily tired, but occasionally brilliant. (OK, maybe I was very rarely brilliant, or maybe never. Whatever.) Lin, an Asian-American who hails from nearby Palo Alto High School and went to Harvard University, recently blossomed into a starting point guard for the New York Knicks, despite being a perennial bench warmer for his entire two-year career. read more » Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Chickens, part 2: Skunk vs. Dog March 29, 2012 — by Samuel Liu My news editor once asked me, “Samuel, do you live on a farm?” Though the owner of nine chickens and a dog, I have to say, somewhat regretfully, that I live in the suburbia of suburbias, right next to Redwood Middle School. read more » The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
The gender gap: what it’s like to be the minority March 14, 2012 — by Lillian Chen and Samuel Liu Junior Neal Singaporia, a member of the yearbook staff, is quite the ladies’ man. So, he said, yearbook is perfect for him. read more » Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Why Taiwan is not a country March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu The Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin’s recent rise from obscurity to basketball stardom has cast a spotlight on ethnic disagreements between mainland Chinese and Taiwanese. The question is, is Taiwan a legitimate country? read more » Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Cinnamon challengers on campus March 14, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Nikil Ramanathan stood outside of chemistry teacher Bob Kucer’s classroom, coughing, gagging and nearly vomiting. This wasn’t because of Kucer’s notoriously challenging tests, or even an upset stomach. Ramanathan was merely suffering from the effects of the self-imposed cinnamon challenge. read more » Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Lawbreakers serve their sentences by doing weekend community service on campus March 10, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Karen Sung “Dang it,” croaks a middle-aged man during break time, reacting to an unsuccessful attempt to hit a crushed water bottle with his makeshift baseball bat. He’s wearing a neon-orange construction vest, but he’s no campus renovator. read more » A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
A family’s gift: The Bedards tell their inspiring story about the loss of Andrew Bedard (1995-2004) and how his organs have saved lives January 26, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Senior Adrian Bedard leans his head back and shifts in his seat, the fluorescent lights of the journalism room reflecting off his thick glasses. He tries to remember the day his brother Andrew died, and slowly, the memories come flooding back. Adrian was 10 when Andrew, then age 8, abruptly passed away because of a hemorrhage in his brain. It was the summer of 2004, and the day was nothing out of the ordinary. “I woke up in the morning, like usual,” Adrian said. “[Andrew] and his friend were playing video games. It was Pokemon on the Gamecube ... You know, it’s weird. I can still remember everything about the screen. I can remember exactly what the town [in the video game] looks like even though I haven’t seen the game in seven years.” The words come out smoothly. Adrian talks as if he has told this story many times, but the sincerity is ever present. “All of a sudden, he had a slight headache...” Adrian said. “I was sitting on the couch, watching. [He] walks 30 feet and flops down, has a seizure. “He never wakes again.” read more » The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
The generation gap: has the advent of the Internet blocked our ability to focus? January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu Sophomore Henry Ling glances at his Facebook home page. Without scrolling down, a quick count reveals around 80 links, but he quickly ignores them and switches to another tab. read more » Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Tiger teachers? It’s time to rethink American education January 18, 2012 — by Samuel Liu I sat in my cousin’s living room in the Chinese city of Hang Zhou, sipping a chilled Chinese Coke. When asked about his school, perhaps out of a lack of more compelling topics, he replied by bringing out packet after packet of homework, each one seemingly thicker than the last. He was only in the sixth grade, yet his daily dose of homework nearly tripled mine. read more » Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Accomplished sophomore pianist premieres a famous composer’s waltzes January 17, 2012 — by Samuel Liu and Grace Ma With jet-black hair perfectly matching her grand piano, sophomore Vivian Wang smiles at the camera, albeit a bit awkwardly. Her demeanor is playful, perhaps simple, and it shows in her music. Listening to her gives a sense of simple, even childish, happiness. She’s anything but flashy. read more » McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
McDonalds, lunch bags and soggy buns; the lunch thief takes all December 3, 2011 — by Samuel Liu It’s like this. I’m walking out from second period, knowing that my lunch is waiting for me on the table next to the office. I’m salivating. I look around for a bag with “Samuel Liu” written prominently on it, and I look again, and then cry out in anguish. read more » Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Odd jobs on campus: Coach delivers documents part time for district November 14, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Ray Burney is not a well-known name, but he has one of the most obscure yet important jobs on the campus. read more » Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Much ado about spoons; administration alters original ban on ‘assassin’ games on campus November 13, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Samuel Liu Junior Michael Cheung and four friends from marching band were surprised to find themselves called to the office during fifth-period band on Nov. 7. They soon discovered that their involvement in an on-campus game called Assassin was the cause. read more » Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Top 10 reasons to own chickens November 2, 2011 — by Samuel Liu and Jay Mulye 1. If they misbehave, cook’em Anyone up for rooster noodle soup? 2. Fresh eggs Just wash off the poop first (yes the eggs that you bought did come from there...) 3. Fresh meat (axe not included) Mike the headless chicken lived a year after his head was cut off 4. Buy two roosters and watch them fight for sexual supremacy Couldn’t they just split up into nice even little couples? Then again, those horny little things will probably get a million divorces. Maybe it’s better that way. 5. Remove a rooster’s vocal cords read more » PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
PC: 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 25, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » 10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
10 Chickens and a rooster soup October 20, 2011 — by Samuel Liu The subtle smell of dung and life wafts through the pristine air of my backyard. Green grass and modularity are broken by a chicken coop, where the chickens have eaten everything green and pooped everything yellow. Two years ago, my family bought four chickens from a chicken farm, not only for fresh eggs, but also for testosterone (I’ll get to that later). read more » Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Wildwood Park a nighttime hangout for drug, alcohol use October 19, 2011 — by Sarah Hull and Samuel Liu A 20-second walk up a side trail in Wildwood Park near downtown Saratoga leads visitors into an area enclosed in shrubbery, one that is littered with Coors Light cans. Secluded by a ring of tall trees, the park is known among students as a prime location for drug and alcohol usage late at night. One drug user, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said it is common for older students to smoke and drink in an area just behind the park. read more » Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Freshman runner one of top milers in nation September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu 5-5 and stick-skinny, freshman Steven “Stevie” Sum does not appear to be an athlete, never mind an incredible one. read more » Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Boys’ Cross Country Preview 2011 September 11, 2011 — by Samuel Liu Coach: Dan Ambrico, entering second season as head coach 2010 record: placed 5th at CCS, captain Kyle Fukui qualified for state 2010 recap: “Last year we did not have many wins to be honest, but we did send Kyle Fukui to state which was cool. Our varsity was weakened because Sam Guy broke his ankle and I strained my Achilles so we were kind of crippled last year ” junior David Zarrin said. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
Why tiger parents are more successful April 26, 2011 — by Samuel Liu In 2009 at Saratoga High, Asians scored 88% on the math STAR test. By contrast, Caucasians and Latinos scored a mere 70% and 59%, respectively (Saratoga Accountability Report Card), shining light on how Asians dominate in academics. Just look at the composition of the math club, or speech and debate club: the Asian ethnicity far outnumbers its peers, even though only 48% of the school population is Asian. read more » Visuals by Samuel February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying
February 12, 2014: New legislation grants Calif. schools the right to punish off-campus cyberbullying