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The Saratoga Falcon
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
Allied teams 95071X (right) and 1000A (left) celebrate after advancing to grand finals at the U.S. Open National Championship.
VEX Robotics team makes finalists in U.S. Open National Championship
April 10, 2025
Rally commissioners act out a skit inspired by “Beauty and the Beast.”
‘Beauty and the Beast’ rally builds hype before prom
April 10, 2025
Trustee Shawn Mortensen (far left) listens to a presentation at the district office during the school board’s March 11 meeting.
Meet Shawn Mortensen: LGSUHSD’s newest school board trustee
April 5, 2025
The Philharmonic Strings orchestra combined with the Freshman orchestra to play together in the non-competitive category of the conference.
SHS orchestras travel to Atlanta for National Orchestra Festival
April 4, 2025
Junior Kiana Saadieh makes a latte for a customer at Big Basin Cafe.
Students’ reality of working in restaurants, fast food and cafes
April 20, 2025
Caption: Despite now mostly working as a writer, Mandell has acted in various productions — most recently, he starred in the self-written one-man-show “It’s a Phase” in 2022.
SHS alumnus pursues screenwriting career amid a turbulent Hollywood landscape
April 20, 2025
Jain poses during a dive in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, her first rotation at the Johnson Space Center during fall 2023.
Alumni reflect on the benefits of college co-op programs that place them in workplace settings for extended periods
April 17, 2025
Cochrum helps a student during tutorial.
Cochrum reflects on educational journey with learning disability
April 5, 2025
An advertisement poster Leung made for the company.
Senior takes on remote social media job in New York
April 5, 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
Bossow wrestles against Bellarmine at Overfelt High on Dec. 6.
Wrestling team shows significant improvement this season
March 27, 2025
Coach Brian Liao talks game strategy with sophomores Andy Lu and Teegan Seid-Pham.
New head badminton coach brings valued guidance for players
March 27, 2025
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
Starting next school year, more students are able to study at MIT without worrying about tuition.
Educational institutions are wise to offer free tuition to low-income families
March 26, 2025
Nationwide voter turnout since 2002, blue is presidential, yellow is midterm
Sagging voter participation puts democracy at risk
March 22, 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
Top 10 celebrity baby names over the years
April 3, 2025
Volume 48, Issue 9
April 15, 2025
Volume 48, Issue 10
Volume 48, Issue 10
April 15, 2025
Volume 48, Issue 12
Volume 48, Issue 12
April 15, 2025
Volume 48, Issue 13
Volume 48, Issue 13
April 15, 2025
Volume 49, Issue 1
Volume 49, Issue 1
April 15, 2025

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Esther Luan

With declining numbers, track hopes to excel by training new recruits

Esther Luan and Harshini Velchamy
Don’t believe the narrative of ‘saving kids from sex ed’

Don’t believe the narrative of ‘saving kids from sex ed’

Esther Luan
From left to right: senior Christian Li, juniors Julian Berkowitz-Sklar and Mateusz Palusinski, senior Christopher Liu. The athletes celebrate after Liu scored an “and-one” layup on a fast break to give the Falcons a 49-39 lead over the Wildcats with one minute remaining.

Boys’ basketball team wins four straight to start league season

Esther Luan and Howard Shu
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
Delayed SAT scores prove hassle for seniors

Delayed SAT scores prove hassle for seniors

Esther Luan
Does studying with friends actually work?

Does studying with friends actually work?

Esther Luan
From left to right: Varsity players seniors Daniel Jiang, Chris Wu and Marcus Kuo perform warm up drills during practice

Boys’ water polo currently undefeated

Sam Bai, Andrew Lin, and Esther Luan
Senior Morgan Bettinger stands outside the NYU Stern School of Business during her college visit tour. 

College visits offer insights but are still limited

Esther Luan and Kaasha Minocha

Staff editorial – Title IX: topic too big for tutorial

Andy Chen and Esther Luan
Freshman ASB officers pose for a photo, ready for the coming year.

Freshman class officers selected through interviews, not an election

Esther Luan and Tiffany Wang
Zorba the Greek-style madness saner than it might seem

Zorba the Greek-style madness saner than it might seem

Esther Luan
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Music program wraps up remote year with ending concert and senior night

Esther Luan
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Friendships in sports keep athletes motivated

Esther Luan
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Oddly specific campus phenomena that you may not have realized you missed

Esther Luan
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One step closer to ‘normal,’ school steps into hybrid mode

Esther Luan and Nicole Lu
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Team reflects on successful season despite COVID-19 challenges

Esther Luan
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A time to stand together for Asian Americans

Esther Luan
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Photo or Graphic for: Students and teachers adjust to an increased use of cellphones in class

Anouk Yeh & Esther Luan
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Leave students and their Snapchat F-bombs alone

Esther Luan
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New dynamic for students working jobs during quarantine

Nicole Lu and Esther Luan
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Students and alumni from LG, SHS team up in light of #MeToo Movement

Nicole Lu and Esther Luan
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Link Crew adjusts to virtual format

Esther Luan
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District establishes new protocols for distance learning

Andy Chen and Esther Luan

ASB hosts online competition to connect students and boost school spirit

Esther Luan and Samantha Yee

Colleges should not have required all students to leave campus

Esther Luan
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Leadership to introduce changes to club system

Andy Chen and Esther Luan

School adjusts to post-coronavirus reality 

Esther Luan, Harshini Velchamy, and Tiffany Wang

Senior bikes to LA over course of seven days

Esther Luan

Sophomore takes on the runway

Esther Luan and Tiffany Wang

Allnighters and instant regret

Esther Luan
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Author returns to Chinese roots in debut novel

Esther Luan

Speak Up For Change informs students about consent, making tough decisions

Apurva Chakravarthy and Esther Luan

Falcons season off to a slow start after loss of key defender

Shama Gupta and Esther Luan

SUFC shouldn’t force speakers to conform to an arbitrary theme

Esther Luan and Siva Sambasivam
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Campus vandalism and graffiti a little-known but harmful problem, says maintenance staff

Esther Luan and Anouk Yeh

Low on fuel: In face of mounting pressures, student athletes burn out

Esther Luan and Kaitlyn Tsai

TOP 10 list: the best of the past decade

Esther Luan and Tiffany Wang

How books are chosen for English classes

Esther Luan and Oliver Ye

Girls’ soccer: Team must fill the defensive line to be successful again this season

Shama Gupta and Esther Luan

More vending machines with healthy offerings implemented around campus

Esther Luan and Kaasha Minocha

Revisiting Animal Jam: social inequality

Esther Luan

Thanksgiving break should be lengthened

Esther Luan

Phone-free spaces are effective but unnecessarily restrictive

Esther Luan and Anna Novoselov
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String quartet feature in marching band show provides new experience

Esther Luan

Falcons win Homecoming football game against Homestead, Homecoming dance well attended

Esther Luan

Memo to teachers: SHSTV should actually be shown in classrooms

Andy Chen and Esther Luan

Stop. Eating. In. The. Library.

Esther Luan

K-pop idol auditions not taken seriously

Esther Luan and Tiffany Wang

E-sports club achieves wide popularity but has no traditional meetings

Esther Luan and Andy Chen

Field trips foster social and applicational learning

Esther Luan

Lynbrook was right to fire Persky, the judge who was recalled as a result of the Brock Turner case

Nitya Marimuthu and Esther Luan

Class of ‘18 alumni march for world champion Blue Devils

Esther Luan and Maddie Jin

How TikTok created a new app market for itself

Esther Luan

Changes to bathroom policy unnecessary

Esther Luan and Shreya Katkere

New club policy limits growth

Esther Luan and Andy Chen
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