The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
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
During the summer of 2026, the music department will be traveling to perform in Japan.
Music department to tour Japan in summer of 2026
April 3, 2025
“Morning Sun” stars a small but powerful cast of three actresses.
‘Morning Sun,’ ‘Sylvia’ and ‘146 Point Flame’: Seniors wrap up their four years in Drama with individual productions
April 2, 2025
Students studying for physics, math and computer science competitions
Students fuel their academic passions with Olympiad competitions
March 27, 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
Courtesy of Montalvo Arts Center Often rented for weddings, the beautiful grounds of the Montalvo Arts Center is a popular place for hosting social events.
A nearby gem: the Montalvo Arts Center
April 3, 2025
Combining multiple skill-sets fosters collaboration and growth in ceramics class
April 2, 2025
Kinoshita films a fight scene for her college sophomore-year passion project, “The Veil” — her first time as Director of Photography
Stories that matter: Alumna pursues cinematography to inspire through storytelling
April 2, 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
President Riley Adler demonstrates yoga moves on the March 20 meeting, focused on the benefits of the practice.
Sports Medicine Club strives to teach athletes to be more aware of their body
March 26, 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
Cutting the tree of the Department of Education in half.
DOGE’s cuts for educational programs cause instability and loss of research confidence
March 19, 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
Students take a test in Mrs. Marks’ Spanish 3 class.
Spanish teacher Stephanie Marks connects language learning to current events
April 2, 2025

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Howard Shu
Tony Fernandes drinks a carton of almond milk during the Feb. 11, 2022 rally, an action that made him infamous across the school as the milk man.

Senior Mag 2023: Tony Fernandes: the milk man we needed

Howard Shu
June 6, 2023
Sophomore Aidan Smith hits his approach shot on the 18th hole during league finals at Santa Teresa golf course en route to a birdie.

Photo or Graphic for: Top players qualified for CCS despite subpar team record

Saachi Jain, Amy Luo, and Sarah Zhou
May 20, 2023
Boys-Golf-Courtesy-of-Now-Forever-Studios-570x380

Photo or Graphic for: Boys’ golf ends March with just one victory in strong De Anza

Saachi Jain
April 6, 2023
Class of 1998 shooting guard Luke Weger hits a clutch three-pointer with around four minutes left to extend the Falcons’ lead to 58-52.

25 years later: SHS’s version of a staggering March Madness upset

Nikhil Mathihalli and Howard Shu
April 3, 2023
MIT college logo; visit your college!

Top 10: most underrated senior trip ideas

Kavya Patel and Howard Shu
March 30, 2023
Senior fuses meditation and neuroscience passions into research paper

Senior fuses meditation and neuroscience passions into research paper

Howard Shu and Annie Liu
March 24, 2023
1950s Saratoga's Swanee Plaza, now the Saratoga Historical Museum.

Time capsule 1968: WASC report reveals an unfamiliar past

Lynn Dai and Howard Shu
March 23, 2023
Junior Lynn Dai extracts planaria after feeding them egg yolk.

Photo or Graphic for: Students continue honing hands-on research skills in Advanced Science Research

Natalie Chua and Sanjoli Gupta
January 29, 2023
The sophomore class office sells Candy Grams in front of the student center on Oct. 28.

Class officers search for unique, but still profit-maximizing ideas to fundraise for prom

Howard Shu
December 14, 2022
Analyzing our rap album of the year: Atlanta rapper JID’s ‘The Forever Story’

Analyzing our rap album of the year: Atlanta rapper JID’s ‘The Forever Story’

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
December 8, 2022
My trip included pleasant scenery of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains, smothering my head with winter gear and the greatest TV I have ever seen.

My chaotic Lake Tahoe skiing experience

Howard Shu
December 5, 2022
My first liked songs ever on Spotify are straight out of a nightmare for hip-hop fans, including myself now.

Listening to aggressive hip-hop as a shy suburban kid

Howard Shu
November 12, 2022
All senior English classes should have one class period dedicated to college essays.

Senior English classes should align with college essay guidance

Howard Shu
November 11, 2022
Chemistry teacher Janny Cahatol’s “memory wall” depicts past students holding up a whiteboard telling a joke or memory. 

Teachers’ room decorations capture memories, exemplary student work

Howard Shu
September 24, 2022
Clockwise: Removing old HVAC ducts, installing new beams and ducts, baseball field demolition and engineering lab renovation.

Summer construction ends successfully

Howard Shu
September 9, 2022
Class of 2023 reflects on their year emerging from the pandemic

Class of 2023 reflects on their year emerging from the pandemic

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
June 5, 2022
The team poses for a photo during their end-of-year banquet at Lazy Dog on May 15th.

Photo or Graphic for: Boys’ golf placed second in league finals, junior qualified for CCS finals

Mitchell Chen and Nilay Mishra
May 30, 2022
Junior shortstop and pitcher Lucas Dennis throws a pitch during the last game of the regular season on May 12 against Fremont.

Baseball team makes CCS after a three-game win streak to end the regular season

Howard Shu
May 19, 2022
Spanish teacher Allison Dermont and her fiance stand in front of the dance floor at Homecoming.

Spanish teacher Allison Dermont to depart school

Howard Shu
May 18, 2022
Chess boxing: the ingenious combination of physicality and intelligence

Chess boxing: the ingenious combination of physicality and intelligence

Howard Shu
May 16, 2022
Course registration patterns look to be consistent with past years

Course registration patterns look to be consistent with past years

Howard Shu
March 18, 2022
Pictured here is senior outfielder Derek Hsu at bat.

Season preview: Baseball looks to win El Camino with well-rounded roster

Howard Shu
March 16, 2022
Two juniors nominated for NCTE writing contest

Two juniors nominated for NCTE writing contest

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
March 12, 2022
Engineering Design and Development students design and build original projects for practical use

Engineering Design and Development students design and build original projects for practical use

Sam Bai and Howard Shu
March 10, 2022
Pictured here is the result of Howard and Arnav’s first game against each other, which resulted in a stalemate and atrocious accuracy ratings.

Grandblunderers > grandmasters

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
March 8, 2022
Warriors starting lineup stands before game.

Warriors’ early success gives hope for championship run

Atrey Desai and Howard Shu
February 22, 2022
Harvard sophomore Kevin Sze plays a shot out of a bunker at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Alum collegiate golfer plays top two seed on the D1 Harvard men’s golf team

Howard Shu
February 11, 2022

How to approach New Year’s Resolutions: Think of them New Year’s goals instead

Howard Shu
January 22, 2022
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
January 22, 2022
Saratoga High alum Caroline Okuno from the 1st Marine Division Band out of San Diego poses for a photo in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Alum Caroline Okuno becomes youngest First Marine Division Band drum major

Howard Shu
January 20, 2022
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
November 19, 2021
Two juniors achieve rare perfect scores on AP Comp Science exam

Two juniors achieve rare perfect scores on AP Comp Science exam

Annie Liu and Howard Shu
November 16, 2021
Graphic by junior Kaelli Trateng advertising the girls’ volleyball Dig Pink event for breast cancer awareness.

Effort begins to increase attendance at sports events

Howard Shu
November 16, 2021
Fitness club members listen as club advisor Mr. Ellis presents the workout for the day

After a successful introduction last year, the Fitness Club hopes to inspire more students to become healthier

Howard Shu
October 8, 2021
Students gather together in the quad during lunch

COVID-19 risk remains real, even for the fully vaccinated

Howard Shu
October 7, 2021
Junior Jeremy Lu (bottom right) works on the lab report for a candy chromatography lab with his group members

SHS students taking science research class at LG enjoy working on open-ended projects

Nidhi Mathihalli and Howard Shu
October 6, 2021
Baby Keem’s ‘The Melodic Blue’ pioneers path for future rap music

Baby Keem’s ‘The Melodic Blue’ pioneers path for future rap music

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
October 1, 2021
Golden State Warrior fan’s hot takes: championship window is still open despite quiet offseason

Golden State Warrior fan’s hot takes: championship window is still open despite quiet offseason

Howard Shu
September 30, 2021
As promised, district offers online program for ‘21-‘22

As promised, district offers online program for ‘21-‘22

Howard Shu and Nikhil Mathihalli
September 10, 2021

Replays are overused in professional sports

Howard Shu
May 15, 2021
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After 10 years, athletics director Tim Lugo steps down

Apurva Chakravarthy and Howard Shu
May 13, 2021
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District must provide fair salary, increase benefits for SHS athletic trainer position

Andy Chen, Shama Gupta, and Howard Shu
April 15, 2021
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Students and teachers reflect on the past year of quarantine

Howard Shu
April 1, 2021
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Science Olympiad team happy with performance in regional tournament

Vinay Gollamudi and Howard Shu
March 29, 2021
Screen Shot 2021-03-27 at 8

One family’s experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine

Howard Shu
March 27, 2021
ggolfphoto

Girls’ golf team improves through their first few matches

Howard Shu
March 18, 2021
poshenloh

Math club hosts decorated Carnegie Mellon professor

Howard Shu
February 2, 2021
SAR Girls Golf

Girls’ golf team aims to rebuild in short, delayed season

Howard Shu
February 2, 2021
National-History-Bowl-New-Logo

History Bowl team places second in virtual national tournament

Howard Shu and Vinay Gollamudi
January 21, 2021
savlin

Junior golfer hopes to welcome new players in upcoming season

Howard Shu
December 12, 2020
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Curry dumplings: a family classic

Howard Shu
December 9, 2020
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Cafeteria workers find ways to provide food during pandemic

Howard Shu and Mina Yeap
December 9, 2020
QuizBowlVisual

Quiz Bowl team makes nationals again

Vinay Gollamudi and Howard Shu
December 7, 2020
Screen Shot 2020-12-01 at 11

Kanye West comes up tens of millions of votes short in presidential election

Howard Shu
December 1, 2020
investment club logo

Student stock traders achieve success in the financial markets

Howard Shu and Jonathan Li
November 19, 2020
Screen Shot 2020-11-05 at 8

Measure E bond to fund more renovations across campus

Howard Shu
November 5, 2020
DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau wins U.S. Open, revolutionizes golf

Howard Shu
October 18, 2020

How I boosted my typing speed in a week

Howard Shu
September 14, 2020
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