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The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon

Ashni Pillai

Ashni Pillai, Reporter

All content by Ashni Pillai
Mexican Mint leaf plant

How I grew herbs indoors with just sunlight, soil and patience

With only a few materials, I was able to grow mints and curry leaves; it was easier than I thought, so here’s how you can do it too.
 Courtesy of Vihaan Bhaduri


Bhaduri’s test drones.

Two juniors explore global tech research in drones and medical uses for AI

From flight stability to medical scans, juniors Ansh Chaudhary and Vihaan Bhaduri are applying their knowledge of drones and AI to tackle real-world challenges through hands-on research.
Chowdhri ices macaroons at El Chico in Prayaraj, India.

Sophomore pursues patisserie passion as her small business

From experimenting in her grandfather’s bakery to supplying treats for major companies, Sia Chowdhri has turned her passion into a thriving business.
Iris gets some setter reps while practicing with her dad.

Athletes navigate sports with their fathers on the sideline as coaches

Junior Keatyn Spendlove and sophomore Iris Jin say the positives outweigh the negatives.
Vasilveya’s collection of jewelry.

Embracing piercings as personal milestones

Juniors Barbara Vasilveya and Rohan Gopal share their unique experiences and reasons behind their piercings.
The scenic ride to my downfall.

Revisiting skiing over February break was my greatest mistake

Although my last time skiing was years ago, just one ski trip reminded me why I gave up the sport in the first place.
Lew’s cozy and aesthetic desk setup

Junior’s studying videos gain popularity on Instagram

Jena Lew’s Instagram account romanticizes studying through aesthetic videos and relatable content, connecting students around the world.
Clark conducts a piece for the SHS Percussion at the Midwest Clinic.

Master music educator takes percussion talents beyond SHS

Percussion director Sean Clark's work with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, Thesis and Orphic percussion groups showcase his dedication to mentoring beyond the classroom.
Arranged left to right, senior captain and center back Hillary Gonzalez leads a strong defense, sophomore attacking midfielder Katie Lu with 11 goals, and junior Keatyn Spendlove with 8 assists.

Girls’ soccer undefeated in El Camino League halfway through season

Due to powerful players on the team and a strong team dynamic, the Falcons soar at 1st place in the league and look forward to CCS.
AP Physics teachers Tom Casavant and Matthew Welander discuss a change in their upcoming lesson plans.

Class-alike teachers collaborate to improve and standardize student experiences

By sharing resources and aligning lesson plans, teachers strive to provide fair education while incorporating their unique teaching styles.
Falcons look to defend Notre Dame’s free kick during home game on Dec. 10.

Girls’ soccer defeats Notre Dame Knights 3-2, still undefeated in pre-season

Despite a dominant performance in the first half of the game on Dec. 10, the Falcons struggled to maintain the lead with possession going back and forth in the second half.
The flyer for this year’s Winter Formal hangs up around school and is posted on social media.

Tickets for Winter Formal sell out before purchase window closes

Gilroy Gardens returns as the Winter Formal venue, offering students a magical night filled with lights, dancing and unique attractions.
Rebecca Bossow enjoys the view at the Elbphilharmonie with her host family in Hamburg, Germany.

From Saratoga to Germany: a peek into Rebecca Bossow’s year as an exchange student

The senior is navigating German culture, education and the challenges of living abroad through the prestigious Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Program.
Middle Blocker Aanya Hotha swings backward to spike the ball over the net.

Girls’ volleyball devours MacDonald 3-0; later win vs. Cupertino secures Falcons second place in league

Sophomore middle blocker Aanya Hotha and freshman outside hitter Chloe Zeng lead offensive charge.
Rector hard at work grading essays as the end of the six week grading period quickly approaches.

The paper chase: English teachers battle time and numbers as they grade essays

Balancing individualized feedback, deadlines and a heavy workload, English teachers navigate the challenges of grading with dedication — even at the cost of their personal time.
Group dance carries the show with energetic dance moves and smiles on their faces.

Juniors navigate low rehearsal attendance and participation for their quad day

The Class of 2026 delivered the theme of “Candyland” with strong dances; standouts included all-girls dance and k-pop.
Panian enjoys a weekly outing with his learners.

Blake Panian strives to teach students independence as the new school resource aide

Working within the CBI program, Panian focuses on helping students feel more comfortable outside a school environment.
Freshman Chloe Zeng dives to narrowly save the ball during a game against Milpitas on Sept. 17.

Girls’ volleyball starts 1-1 in El Camino

With the addition of three new freshmen, the girls’ varsity volleyball team hopes to rebuild and make CCS.
Thomas Casavant teaches freshmen how to fix a section of their Java code.

AP Physics teacher expands course repertoire to Intro to Computer Programming

Using his experiences from working at Lockheed Martin, Thomas Cassavant learns to teach a class different from physics, his main expertise.
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