The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
Courtesy of Belal Aftab Saratoga mayor Belal Aftab centers his agenda on residents’ feedback.
New mayor Belal Aftab aims to foster a more vibrant, connected community
May 10, 2025
The Saratoga Speech and Debate team at TOC in Kentucky
Speech and debate celebrates national-level results while striving for more
May 9, 2025
Assistant principal and activities director Kristen Cunningham.
Cunningham to leave for admin role at LGHS, district
May 8, 2025
Courtesy of Mary Ko MSET senior mentor Anh-Quan Nguyen described the team’s performance as “the best performance of any Cuttlefish team in history.” MSET senior mentor Anh-Quan Nguyen described the team’s performance as “the best performance of any Cuttlefish team in history.”
FTC 6165 Cuttlefish boasts an 8-2 record at World Championships
May 1, 2025
Sahana Kumar shares her story on the stage of Thermond Drama Center on March 30.
TEDx Club talks featured stories of recovery and resilience
May 1, 2025
MAP, a longstanding program at SHS, hosts numerous video-based projects for students.
Sophomore MAP students illuminate social issues ‘Be the Change’ projects
May 12, 2025
Courtesy of Kristen Hamilton Hamilton and her family at her daughter Kathryn’s college graduation.
Hamilton reflects on transition from engineering career to teaching
May 7, 2025
At Garrod Farms, dozens of horses frolic in front of picturesque mountains.
Garrod Farms: a family’s generational commitment to agriculture since 1893
May 7, 2025
Courtesy of Manlin Zhang A rendered photo of “Achromatic,” the 2022-23 Cuttlefish robot.
6165 MSET Cuttlefish’s impact extends to college endeavors
May 5, 2025
Courtesy of Saratoga High School The Saratoga High math department’s recommended pathway.
Math department to require placement tests starting in August to combat unwise acceleration
May 4, 2025
Senior Captain Avi Taneja serves the birdie during the 4/15 match.
Q&A: Four senior captains reflect on their four years on the badminton team
May 11, 2025
Courtesy of Ian Johnson Junior Ian Johnson captures senior Daniel Jadali going up with contact in a basketball game against Lynbrook High School on Jan 31.
Two juniors explore their passion for photography through sports
May 10, 2025
Senior Dylan Wilson gets into the blocks for the 4x400 meter relay
Track and field team has strong outing at leagues; SCVALs will determine CCS qualifications
May 9, 2025
Golfers pose after defeating Los Gatos.
One last swing: Senior golfers bid farewell to the Toga fairways and each other
May 7, 2025
Courtesy of Quinn Bossow Bossow celebrates winning a point against an opponent at Palo Alto HS.
No limits: Sophomore Quinn Bossow tackles athletics head on despite disability
May 7, 2025
The early bird gets the worm.
To aspiring Leadership students: Campaigning early is a must
May 13, 2025
The least user-friendly survey out there.
Help wanted: Someone please fix the California Healthy Kids Survey
May 13, 2025
If only the calendar started on Monday…
The week should officially start on Monday: It just makes sense
May 11, 2025
Courtesy of Gage Skidmore Political rightwingers like Charlie Kirk and Tucker Carlson argue the U.S was built on Christian principles
Religion should not play any role in public policy decisions
May 9, 2025
43% of Republicans in a Yougov poll think Trump should be allowed a third term
While it may be possible, the two-term limit on presidency should not be overridden
May 6, 2025
My classic study setup.
The blind leading the blind: how to study like a pro
May 13, 2025
After President Yoon Suk Yeol invoked martial law on Dec. 3, hundreds of Korean citizens took to the streets to show their disapproval of Yoon’s actions.
Democracy preserved in South Korea as country impeaches would-be authoritarian president
May 11, 2025
YouTube Kids’ Policies prohibit certain types of advertisements but not enough.
Learning from the tall tales of Big Cereal
May 7, 2025
$400 camera 🆚 $150 camera
Your guide to suddenly viral old-school $1,500 digital cameras
May 7, 2025
Whatever board game you choose, it’ll certainly make a night of memories and connections.
The best way to have fun at game nights
May 7, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 6
Volume 57, Issue 6
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 5
Volume 57, Issue 5
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 4
Volume 57, Issue 4
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 3
Volume 57, Issue 3
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 2
Volume 57, Issue 2
April 23, 2025

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Benjamin Li
Ethan Lin seeks to explore his passion for Piano as he transitions to college.

Seniors seek unconventional music majors in college

Zachary Zinman and Benjamin Li
Sports and video games: merging two different worlds

Sports and video games: merging two different worlds

Benjamin Li
Team ‘Scottsdale Community College’ takes first in school’s March Madness tourney

Team ‘Scottsdale Community College’ takes first in school’s March Madness tourney

Benjamin Li
Senioritis is natural and not altogether bad

Senioritis is natural and not altogether bad

Benjamin Li

People are missing the point of Valentine’s Day

Benjamin Li

Increased COVID-19 cases force practice cancellations and rescheduled games

Benjamin Li and Jonathan Li
February Break: the best time of year

February Break: the best time of year

Benjamin Li and Daniel Wu

College (Counselor) Confidential: What she would say if she could

Selina Chen and Benjamin Li
Politics plus math equals a terrible idea

Politics plus math equals a terrible idea

Benjamin Li

100-word rant: Double 15-second YouTube ads are the spawn of Satan

Benjamin Li
Saratoga and San Jose show sportsmanship after their match which the Falcons won 4-0.

Boys’ soccer: Beating strong San Jose team shows Falcons’ potential

Benjamin Li
New finals schedule elicits mixed reactions from students

New finals schedule elicits mixed reactions from students

Benjamin Li

No, Dave Chappelle, crudely mocking vulnerable groups isn’t funny

Benjamin Li

Top 10: ways to make someone mad

Benjamin Li

Formal date culture is isolating and stressful

Benjamin Li
Number of applicants to select schools 2020 and 2021

Amid COVID-19 pandemic, some seniors adopt new college application strategies

Benjamin Li and Daniel Wu
100-word rant: Candy canes have an inedible shape

100-word rant: Candy canes have an inedible shape

Benjamin Li
Then sophomore varsity player Christian Li dribbles the ball upcourt during a home game in the 2019-20 season

Boys’ basketball: Senior-led group aims to dominate El Camino

Benjamin Li, Esther Luan, and Howard Shu
Kyrie Irving was my role model athlete growing up

Kyrie Irving was my role model athlete growing up

Benjamin Li
Arkansas school resource officer caught on camera choking a student

It’s time to get police out of schools

Benjamin Li
Kyrie Irving will be forced to sit out in all games due to Nets ruling.

NBA should ban unvaccinated players from competing

Benjamin Li
Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey Protein - the most popular brand of whey protein used by myself and many others

Reporter ranks top body supplements

Benjamin Li
Senior Benjamin Li aiming for a personal record in the back squat exercise at 49ers Fit.

How weightlifting worked its way into my life

Benjamin Li
The Bye Bye Man poster

The Bye Bye Man followed me out of film and didn’t want to leave

Benjamin Li
100-word rant: Peppermint should be banned from Halloween

100-word rant: Peppermint should be banned from Halloween

Benjamin Li
I’m not clowning around. Seriously.

I’m not clowning around. Seriously.

Benjamin Li
New rough/final draft test format harms students in the long run

New rough/final draft test format harms students in the long run

Benjamin Li and Nilay Mishra
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March Madness inequality amplifies gender issues in professional sports

Benjamin Li
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Home gyms and actual gyms: Which gives the better experience these days?

Benjamin Li
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About half of seniors opt to return for in-person education

Preston Fu and Benjamin Li
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Harden and Durant reunite, form new ‘can’t miss’ trio with Irving

Benjamin Li
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Black History Month curriculum opt-out should have never been offered

Benjamin Li and Allen Luo
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An avid NBA fan’s top five players in the NBA

Benjamin Li
Screen Shot 2021-02-11 at 12

Next generation of NBA talent impresses, challenges league

Benjamin Li
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Welander adjusts curriculum to virtual learning through variety of approaches

Benjamin Li and Allen Luo
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‘Among Us’: enjoyable and rewarding

Benjamin Li and Ethan Lin
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With Lakers’ triumph, LeBron’s legacy grows

Benjamin Li
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SAT and PSAT test dates postponed until end of October

Benjamin Li and Allen Luo
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SHSTV shifts curriculum to fit virtual learning

Benjamin Li and Allen Luo

Wacky rules in sports can make your head spin

Benjamin Li

Benefits of school drug testing outweigh sacrifice of privacy

Benjamin Li

Boys’ basketball: Falcons look to rebound after tough start to league season

Benjamin Li and Tiffany Wang

“OK Boomer”: offensive or just a joke?

Allen Luo and Benjamin Li

Immigrants must overcome stereotypes in order to adjust to life in America

Andy Chen and Benjamin Li

Boys’ basketball: With many returning players, Falcons gear up to challenge league’s best

Benjamin Li and Tiffany Wang

The ACT question: Why allowing students to replace specific section scores is problematic

Benjamin Li and Alan Zu

Just Learn It: How the process for selecting the yearly theme could be better

Sina Salehi and Benjamin Li

‘Joker’ movie: stunning but shallow

Allen Luo and Benjamin Li

Response to NBA, Blizzard controversies are overreactions

Andy Chen and Benjamin Li

Sophomore’s mother balances family life with piano career

Benjamin Li and Ethan Lin

Yim and Agrawal to take over the reins of math club

Benjamin Li and Oliver Ye

iPhone 11: Is it worth it?

Allen Luo and Benjamin Li
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SHSTV now has guest instructors from professional broadcasting

Allen Luo and Benjamin Li

So far lunch changes seem to waste time rather than saving it

Benjamin Li and Ethan Lin

Cafeteria changes cause confusion; staff works to speed up lines

Benjamin Li and Allen Luo

Later start time both help and hinder students

Andy Chen and Benjamin Li
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