The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
Navarro sings and plays the guitar in her music video.
Senior receives Bay Area Creative Foundation award for original song and music video
April 30, 2025
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
Courtesy of SiliconValley.com Students in Overfelt High protest the raids along with community members in East San Jose on Jan. 28.
ICE raids around the Bay Area break up families and instill fear
April 29, 2025
The bird flu has led to the culling of 160 million chickens, exacerbating egg shortages.
Local scientists face challenges amid resurgence of bird flu
April 29, 2025
A beautiful and vibrant spring sunset at Shoreline Park.
Enjoy your spring days with farmers’ markets, mini picnics and sunset strolls
April 29, 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
The Eagles offensive line pushes Jalen Hurts into the endzone.
The controversial Tush Push seems impossible to stop, but should it be banned?
April 30, 2025
No lights on the campus are directed at the tennis courts.
The dream of tennis court lights remains unrealized thanks to financial, design and neighborhood hurdles
April 29, 2025
Students primarily bet on NBA and NFL games, and especially on larger sporting events like the Super Bowl and March Madness.
With few effective guardrails, more teens are engaging in illegal sports gambling
April 29, 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
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
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
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
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
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
MIT college logo; visit your college!

Top 10: most underrated senior trip ideas

Kavya Patel and Howard Shu
Senior fuses meditation and neuroscience passions into research paper

Senior fuses meditation and neuroscience passions into research paper

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

Time capsule 1968: WASC report reveals an unfamiliar past

Lynn Dai and Howard Shu
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
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
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
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
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
All senior English classes should have one class period dedicated to college essays.

Senior English classes should align with college essay guidance

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

Summer construction ends successfully

Howard Shu
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
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
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
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
Chess boxing: the ingenious combination of physicality and intelligence

Chess boxing: the ingenious combination of physicality and intelligence

Howard Shu
Course registration patterns look to be consistent with past years

Course registration patterns look to be consistent with past years

Howard Shu
Pictured here is senior outfielder Derek Hsu at bat.

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

Howard Shu
Two juniors nominated for NCTE writing contest

Two juniors nominated for NCTE writing contest

Howard Shu and Arnav Swamy
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
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
Warriors starting lineup stands before game.

Warriors’ early success gives hope for championship run

Atrey Desai and Howard Shu
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

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

Howard Shu
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
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
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
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
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
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
Students gather together in the quad during lunch

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

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

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

Howard Shu and Nikhil Mathihalli

Replays are overused in professional sports

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

Apurva Chakravarthy and Howard Shu
ATsalaries

District must provide fair salary, increase benefits for SHS athletic trainer position

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

Howard Shu
scioly

Science Olympiad team happy with performance in regional tournament

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

One family’s experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine

Howard Shu
ggolfphoto

Girls’ golf team improves through their first few matches

Howard Shu
poshenloh

Math club hosts decorated Carnegie Mellon professor

Howard Shu
SAR Girls Golf

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

Howard Shu
National-History-Bowl-New-Logo

History Bowl team places second in virtual national tournament

Howard Shu and Vinay Gollamudi
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Junior golfer hopes to welcome new players in upcoming season

Howard Shu
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Curry dumplings: a family classic

Howard Shu
Carlino_Pamela

Cafeteria workers find ways to provide food during pandemic

Howard Shu and Mina Yeap
QuizBowlVisual

Quiz Bowl team makes nationals again

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

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

Howard Shu
investment club logo

Student stock traders achieve success in the financial markets

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

Measure E bond to fund more renovations across campus

Howard Shu
DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau wins U.S. Open, revolutionizes golf

Howard Shu

How I boosted my typing speed in a week

Howard Shu
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