The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
95071X Extremity’s robot competes on the playing field during a scrimmage.
VEX Robotics team hosts inter-school scrimmages in preparation for worlds
April 26, 2025
Courtesy of Abhiram Ruthala An infographic describing the implications of different waves captured by the Muse headset, included in a video produced by the group to present their project.
Sophomore explores passion in neuroscience, placing second in California’s 16th Congressional District in prestigious coding competition
April 26, 2025
Courtesy of Dave Rickling Rickling’s stand at De Anza College Farmers’ Market, selling jars of honey and honey sticks alongside other vendors.
Dave’s Backyard Bees: from lockdown hobby to booming business
April 25, 2025
The SHS and RMS Combined Band performs at the 2024 Pancake Breakfast.
SMB prepares for annual Pancake Breakfast
April 25, 2025
Student art being showcased at last year’s Soundings exhibition in the SHS Library.
Soundings’ April 18. Exhibition will feature works from The Wildcat Review
April 17, 2025
Using phones before sleep not only harms your eyes, but also delays the time it takes to fall asleep.
Scrolling into insomnia: how electronics rob teens of sleep
April 27, 2025
Strydom’s dabbles in a variety of mediums, including pencil sketches, pen sketches and digital art.
Sophomore’s YouTube Shorts reach thousands of views
April 27, 2025
Courtesy of Portsmouth Events The remake of ‘Snow White’ sparked controversy and mixed reactions ahead of its March 21 release.
Disney’s ‘Snow White’: not the fairest adaptation of them all
April 26, 2025
Courtesy of Karthik Sangameswaran Sangameswaran proudly holds up the book his work is published in.
Senior becomes a published historian
April 25, 2025
Our H-Mart shopping basket.
A Falcon guide to Chinese Lay’s flavors from H-Mart
April 25, 2025
The notorious “torpedo bat” has increased mass in the center of the barrel, hence the name.
Controversial torpedo bat makes a splash in MLB
April 27, 2025
Athletic trainer Kevin Attard helps junior football and lacrosse player Jayden Kwong prepare for knee rehabilitation.
New athletic trainer hired after months-long search
April 25, 2025
Bonner instructs swimmers to start the set off the block.
Christian Bonner’s journey from non-swimmer to longtime swimming coach
April 17, 2025
Ning launches a three against Sacred Heart as his teammates prepare to celebrate.
From 13th man to 3rd team all league — Steven Ning’s basketball journey
April 3, 2025
The beam training area at Gold Star Gymnastics.
Paying it forward for the next generation of gymnasts
March 31, 2025
Courtesy of Pinterest The ideal Expo marker in a classroom should be fresh and full of ink.
100-word rant: Dried markers, know your place (in the trash)
April 25, 2025
This energy drink is the perfect refreshing drink on a hot summer day.
100-word rave: Energy drinks are just spectacular
April 25, 2025
The issue of modern feminism: Don’t mistake progress for exploitation
The issue of modern feminism: Don’t mistake progress for exploitation
April 20, 2025
Mangione’s alleged actions were wrong, but the diagnosis of America’s failing health-care system wasn’t
Mangione’s alleged actions were wrong, but the diagnosis of America’s failing health-care system wasn’t
March 31, 2025
Stay safe.
In a dark time, it’s time to know your rights
March 27, 2025
New York Times’ games can predict my future
New York Times’ games can predict my future
April 26, 2025
The infamous “criss cross chair” from TikTok Shop, ranging from $40-70, has taken over social media feeds.
Is TikTok Shop another marketing trap or actually have legitimate products?
April 17, 2025
Students gather to eat and talk on the upper deck.
Prom 2025: A grape evening at the Mountain Winery
April 6, 2025
Courtesy of Imgflip If you’re going to stop reading this story right here, this meme sums up my entire high school experience (I been chilling with boba but it’s close enough). Seriously, though, John Cena’s Chinese is elite.
My high school life in memes
April 5, 2025
Courtesy of Neha Sharan Students compete in a co-ed tournament held at the India Community Center in Milpitas.
A sophomore’s gambit: encouraging more girls to take up chess
April 4, 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
Beverly Xu

Beverly Xu, Editor-in-Chief

All content by Beverly Xu
It’s time to use those cold emailing skills (and your $29.99 monthly LinkedIn Premium subscription) to get LinkedUp.

Top 10: ways to get a valentine next year

You’re clearly here because you failed this year, so let me help you out for the next one.
Beverly Xu
Rector opts for a wooden box instead of caddies.

Photo or Graphic for: What the new state-wide cell phone mandate means for the district

Madhura Natarajan
AP Language and Composition teacher Erick Rector in front of his AP Lang class.

Photo or Graphic for: A guide to thrive in AP Literature and AP Language

Adarsh Peruvemba
The team, with robot number “649,” plays a qualification match at St. Ignatius during the San Francisco Regional. 

MSET Robotics team of 49 students scrambles to build a robot for their first regional, with an ambitious schedule

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
Juniors Arthur Wang, Kathy Wang, Sunny Cao, Kayla Nguyen, Aarushi Sharma and Will Norwood with their awards from the NHD states competition.

Two junior student groups qualify to the National History Day Nationals Competition

Amy Luo and Beverly Xu
A chair-full experience: Two students sharing the same seats across different periods discuss their opinions on their seating

A chair-full experience: Two students sharing the same seats across different periods discuss their opinions on their seating

Kathy Wang and Beverly Xu
I once burnt a brownie so badly that it turned into literal hell, blackened crust and all.

My stupid ‘cooking’ adventures as a kid

Beverly Xu
You would think I would have learned to be wary of banana peels from all the cartoon characters who slip on them.

Top 10: ways to fall

Beverly Xu
Seniors Eric Norris (left) and Shreyash Das Sharma (right) stand with their stimulus pad project, which creates the feeling of resistance in conjunction with the new Apple Vision Pro. 

Engineering Design and Development students build their own designs for capstone project 

Natalie Chua and Beverly Xu
With several age-old institutions breaking down America’s voting system, democracy is teetering on the edge — and shifts in our voting system will determine whether or not we drop the ball.

America needs to rethink its voting system

Beverly Xu
From stories of old shoes, hockey games and Ultimate Frisbee matches, teachers on campus give us their best first date advice from their best and worst experiences. 

Lessons outside the classroom: teachers’ dos and don’ts for a first date

Anika Kapasi and Beverly Xu
The five contestants (left to right) — Derek Liang, Anika Kapasi, Beverly Xu, Kathy Wang and Tara Natarjan — line up behind their boards.

The Charcuterie Board Beatdown: which reporter will make the breaking board?

Anika Kapasi, Derek Liang, Tara Natarajan, Kathy Wang, and Beverly Xu
The formula for these class breakdowns: part workload, part concepts, part memorization and part AP test pass rate. 

Putting SHS science classes under the microscope

Beverly Xu
MSET Bettafish and MSET Jellyfish compete against each other during a match at a FTC league meet.

FTC teams improve consistency for upcoming league tournament

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
As corporations flood social media, users begin to forget the true actor behind the screen.

Be wary of brands trying to be relatable on social media

Beverly Xu
Our all time favorites!

Top 10: best Halloween candies — extended holiday edition

Amy Luo and Beverly Xu
Crashing into mailboxes: a not-so-unique Saratoga student experience.

Top 10: sure-fire ways to fail your driver’s test

Beverly Xu
Nothing would make me genuinely happier than a three-story high can of Celsius. 

100-word rave: Celsius energy drink is my panacea

Beverly Xu
A robot from Cupertino high school drives across the field to score a “triball,” or a plastic, acorn-shaped game object.

SHS and Redwood VEX teams host qualifier tournament

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
Seniors Riley Alves and Ashly Henry dressed as skeletons during the school's Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 28.

All dressed up: Creating terror-ific memories to celebrate the spooky season

Shirina Cao, Kathy Wang, and Beverly Xu
Tiananmen Square — on June 4, 1989 — teemed with students and civilians peacefully protesting for nearly two months before the massacre, one the greatest shows of public outrage in the history of China.

The aftermath of Tiananmen Square: a survivor tells his story

Beverly Xu
Memories of my childhood — like making tang yuan with my grandma — are forever instilled in the little circular desserts.

A taste of my childhood through tang yuan

Beverly Xu
 Senior outreach lead Ameya Saund’s painting for the fundraising event’s art auction shows multiple hands to highlight how collective action can accomplish much more than a sole actor.

FRC Robotics team helps bring education to underprivileged girls in rural India

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
As the SAT is getting ready to completely transition to digital from nearly a century of being on paper, students, particularly ones abroad, should expect many benefits.

CollegeBoard’s new digital SAT is a step toward accessibility and sustainability — so don’t snap your pencils yet

Amy Miao and Beverly Xu
Attracted by glamorous college names and eye-catching buzzwords, students need to weigh the true benefits of summer pre-college programs with the costs.

Summer pre-college programs: The ‘college experience’ and fungible classes advertised come at too steep of a price

Beverly Xu
Carota speaks to students in the quad.

New Special Education Program Specialist joins school with 20 years of experience in education

William Cao and Beverly Xu
At the second mandatory meeting of the year, new junior safety lead Richard Chung introduces organization plans for the semester, along with other student leads and staff advisor Jennifer Lee.

Despite success through the years, MSET  Robotics team strives to upgrade its training

Alec Guan and Beverly Xu
After spending a week on the platform, this collage encompasses some of my favorite, ridiculously ironic Truth Social memes

I spent a week on Truth Social — and my head’s still spinning

Beverly Xu
The pancakes that my mini bear-pan aspires to mold and the Instant pot that never lets my food get cold—which one is better? I think that’s an Instant answer…

Top 10: pots and pans (of all kinds)

Beverly Xu
Junior Caitlin Weber steps up to bat at the softball team’s last league game away to Monta Vista. The team won 13-0.

Softball: Falcons lose in CCS quarterfinals after achieving 9-3 league record

Divya Vadlakonda and Beverly Xu
Facing the Capitol building of conservative Texas, Ward takes her first testosterone blocker pills on Sept. 26, 2022. 

Halfway into life, college counselor begins a ‘second puberty’ as a transgender woman

Saachi Jain and Beverly Xu
From 2019 to 2025, the chances of SHS students getting admitted into the UCs are dropping off — and in 2025, it’s my turn to hopefully not get rejected.

Dear UCs: Please don’t reject me

Beverly Xu
When Peanuts first entered print, characters looked very different from what most people recognize today.

70 year later, ‘Peanuts’ remains a childhood staple

Beverly Xu
After their final match at the World Championship, the team gathers around their robot to take a team photo.

MSET Fish perform beyond expectations at Regional and World Championships

Beverly Xu
With a blaring “Filmora Free Plan” watermark, my rooftop music video clearly had everything but a big budget.

My version of a summer treehouse: my roof

Beverly Xu
Of all the plants that I have raised, not one has been spared a speedy trip to heaven.

Unrooted: my induction into the gardening Hall of Shame

Beverly Xu
I spy with my little eye the sky and the stars — not my future. 

Can the stars see my future? I tracked my ‘horrorscope’ for a day

Beverly Xu
Class of ‘19 alumna Alex Ruemmler smiles for a picture with her junior year history teacher Faith Daly, who inspired her to become a teacher.

School alumni choose to become teachers and return to California

Anika Kapasi and Beverly Xu
At the end of a qualification match, the team’s robot balances on the charge station.

MSET robotics team faces tough competition in SF and falls short of qualifying for worlds

Beverly Xu
Wellesley students decorate a ledge with chalk in support of the recent ballot measure.

Wellesley College officials should listen to students and staff and change their gender policy

Beverly Xu
Students at the Halloween Party gather around the robot demonstration organized by the Best Buddies club.

Best Buddies club hopes to bring change to school

Neal Malhotra and Beverly Xu
Chess club members gather around the projector to analyze game strategy.

Behind the flurry of chess club ‘grand master’ posters: competition, learning and play

Beverly Xu
Sitting (or maybe swimming) next to the bunny trifecta, “Flippy” the rainbow fish has not paid rent after more than four years living in my bookshelf. 

Parting ways with my 101 dalma-plushies

Beverly Xu
Sophomore Vera Fung assembles her laser-cut beams into each truss for her Principles of Engineering bridge project.

Building bridges teaches key engineering concepts

Beverly Xu
Stacked two-people high, three dragons dangle banners from their mouths and bounce up and down to the crowd’s delight.

Hakone Gardens moves forward with major renovations for its next century

Beverly Xu
Six out of the 12 members of Single’s Inferno season 2 all compete to leave the island with a partner.

Love is in the air — but not in Netflix reality dating shows

Beverly Xu
As the construction approaches completion, a large layer of turf is placed on the field.

Recent winter storms cause delays in baseball field renovations

Beverly Xu
High-fiving a long line of tournament contributors, team AstroBruins from Santa Clara High receives their award during the awards ceremony, closing up the competition.

Robotics teams host first 24-team tournament in three years

Beverly Xu
Senior captain Dylan Sinton dribbles the ball across the field during a Tuesday night practice match.

Boys’ soccer team focuses on building chemistry and momentum

Nilay Mishra and Beverly Xu
A wide variety of traditional jams, spices, beans and other foods stock the shelves of Rose Market in downtown Saratoga.

Cultural grocery stores: an essential for Bay Area residents

Victoria Hu and Beverly Xu
As schools of the same district, Saratoga High and Los Gatos High compete against each other throughout a variety of sports.

The state of the rivalry: How does SHS stack up against Los Gatos sports?

Anika Kapasi and Beverly Xu
A scene from our highly acclaimed mukbang video.

Mukbang: Why do we watch them?

Beverly Xu and Maggie Zeng
MSET Cuttlefish team modifies their robot a week before the qualifier.

Robotics teams prepare to host annual FTC tournament

Beverly Xu
Merry Birthday to me.

The most important holiday of the year: my birthday

Beverly Xu
No. 1 player sophomore Sarah Lim sets her ball down on the green for her next putt.

Freshman qualifies for golf state championship; team outperforms expectations

Beverly Xu
From 1840 to 2017, the number of US hazing deaths has shot up exponentially.

Greek life should be heavily regulated, if not eliminated entirely

Divya Vadlakonda and Beverly Xu
Falcon leaders stand out by forming strong relationships with their peers and mentors around them.

Around campus, leaders are selected through strong peer and teacher relationships

Anika Kapasi and Beverly Xu
An infographic detailing Cuttlecast’s Oct. 27 online session.

Cuttlefish robotics team hosts tech professionals on Cuttlecast

Beverly Xu
Seven minutes into a 30 minute lunch break, all three of the lunch lines still extend out of the cafeteria.

School should seek to turn difficulties with Universal Lunch Program into opportunities

Sarah Thomas and Beverly Xu
School nurse Lisa Tripp administers a COVID-19 vaccine at a partnership clinic with Inspire Diagnostics.

Fall COVID-19 booster clinics distribute updated bivalent boosters

Beverly Xu
Bawling my eyes out after being forced to wear my first Halloween costume, 4-year-old me went trick-or-treating for the first time.

Trick-or-treating, the best part of Halloween, is my childhood

Beverly Xu
Senior ACE club president Carolyn Wang presents the next group discussion to more than 15 student tutors.

ACE club members volunteer to tutor students across four different countries

Neal Malhotra and Beverly Xu
Females for Finance co-president Samantha Stoiber answers a member’s question about personal finance during their lunch club meeting.

STEM and finance clubs and organizations strive to bring in more female and nonbinary participants

Beverly Xu
Principal Greg Louie steals a big bite of his patented peanut butter and jelly sandwich, while checking his email.

A day in the life of principal Greg Louie

Beverly Xu
Not all words are created equal.

The real deal behind lol and lmao

Beverly Xu and Divya Vadlakonda
Counselor Brad Ward leads a college application introductory presentation for seniors in the new College and Career Center on Aug. 25.

College and career counselor Brad Ward quickly settles into the school community

Tara Natarajan, Shreya Rallabandi, and Beverly Xu
Senior Ananya Seth follows through on her swing, and watches the ball fly away from her.

Girls’ golf team looks to freshmen to make up for seniors lost to graduation

Beverly Xu
Junior Owen Liang mounts the new intake hardstop, preventing the intake from deploying too far down.

Robotics team readies to compete at regional offseason tournaments

Neal Malhotra and Beverly Xu
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