The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
A view of the Palisades fire from the seventh floor of Class of ‘24 Brielle Wong’s UCLA dormitory.
LA fires prompt alumni attending UCLA to return home at start of quarter
January 17, 2025
Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second four-year term in office on Jan. 20, 2025.
What will the next four years look like under a Trump presidency?
January 17, 2025
Jason Shiuan will be honored with the award at CASMEC on Jan. 16.
Music director named band educator of the year in California
January 15, 2025
Sophomore Lauren Song performs as Clara in Los Gatos Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
Dancers perform in ‘The Nutcracker’ with the Los Gatos Ballet
December 18, 2024
Casavant’s frequent drop-ins on water polo games and practices brought energy to the team.
In supporting student athletes, staff members make important connections
December 15, 2024
Sisters Richa Moorjani and Sheherazaad are both pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.
Sister alumni navigate complex world of Hollywood and the entertainment industry
January 9, 2025
Playing Grace Fryer and Tom Kreider respectively, senior Kat Aldrete and junior Larry O’Brien star in the SHS ‘Radium Girls’ fall play.
Senior Kat Aldrete shines as lead role in ‘Radium Girls’
December 14, 2024
A perfect sparkly Christmas decoration to get you in the festive mood.
Top 10: Christmas Decorations
December 13, 2024
There are various ways to approach studying math competitions such as the AMC.
Students prepare for math competitions with various methods and mediums
December 13, 2024
AP Physics teachers Tom Casavant and Matthew Welander discuss a change in their upcoming lesson plans.
Class-alike teachers collaborate to improve and standardize student experiences
December 13, 2024
The team poses for a picture on Jan. 16 after a home victory against MacDonald.
Boys’ soccer defeats MacDonald, marks three-game win streak
January 18, 2025
Crowd arises in ovation for Falcons’ impressive comeback
Boys’ basketball rallies back from 13-point deficit, securing top spot in El Camino
January 17, 2025
The boys basketball team poses after their game with American High School on Dec. 7.
Boys’ basketball secures second place at James Lick Invitational despite key injuries
December 14, 2024
Free throw attempt from the team's recent scrimmage against Wilcox on Dec. 7.
Freshman basketball team brought back for the first time since COVID
December 13, 2024
Senior Daniel Jadali shooting a freethrow
For Falcon players, basketball is a year-round commitment
December 13, 2024
Kash Patel
The weaponization of the presidential pardon ought to end
January 13, 2025
In a capitalist world, informed journalism takes second priority.
Billionaires should step back from publications they own
January 12, 2025
Acting Superintendent Heath Rocha is looking towards a year of cooperation.
Staff editorial: Acting Superintendent Heath Rocha is the right choice to lead the district out of recent turmoil
January 11, 2025
The logo of the Better Canvas extension for students to download.
100-word rave: “Better Canvas” is just better
December 13, 2024
Red lights are often run at the intersection of Highway 85 and Saratoga Avenue.
Saratoga drivers: Simmer down and use more caution, please
December 13, 2024
The three best dishes we ordered at Ippudo: Akashu Modern, Chicken Karaage, and Pork Buns
Our visit to Ippudo: A cozy experience with tastes beyond ramen
January 17, 2025
If all of our icks culminated into one man, this is what he would look like.
Top 10: Icks
January 17, 2025
Piling on ten layers of clothing is not a comfortable experience.
Skiing? s-NO-w thank you.
January 15, 2025
The three bears often travel, stacked on top of each other.
‘We Bear Bears’ are still the bear-y best trio
January 12, 2025
We tasted and reviewed the arrangement of six Thanksgiving pies.
Are Crumbl’s holiday desserts worth the hype?
January 12, 2025

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Leyna Chan
Senior Alexi Grebert is leading the top soccer team France Ligue 1. 

Photo or Graphic for: Senior Mag 2024: Senior takes gap year to explore soccer management interests before college

Kevin Yang
May 25, 2024
Mmmm…

Senior Mag 2024: Reviewing dorm-friendly microwave mug recipes so you don’t have to

Victoria Hu, Leyna Chan, and Sanjoli Gupta
May 25, 2024
I loved to experiment using different ingredients in my slime. 

Photo or Graphic for: How my fifth-grade slime obsession led to a small business

Meher Bhatnagar
April 5, 2024
The name of your college doesn’t guarantee you immediate success.

Photo or Graphic for: Attending a prestigious college doesn’t guarantee future success

Anika Kapasi and Angela Tan
April 4, 2024
Natalie and Victoria’s tentative first bites.

Spicy ‘reaper’ tenders at Dave’s Hot Chicken fail to bring the heat

Leyna Chan, Natalie Chua, Victoria Hu, and Sarah Zhou
March 24, 2024
Seniors trying out new activities.

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10 things to do as a senior

Victoria Lin
March 8, 2024
High schoolers compassionately taking on new responsibilities and stepping into the real world.

Photo or Graphic for: Upperclassmen fit jobs into their busy schedules

William Cao and Andy Zhu
March 8, 2024
Many teachers resented the five-day leave policy that detracted from their personal sick days.

Photo or Graphic for: COVID leave mandate for school employees reduced from five days to 24 hours after symptoms

Parav Manney
February 19, 2024
As their high school journey closes and practical incentives disappear, many seniors find themselves lacking the motivation to do schoolwork. 

Photo or Graphic for: Combating senioritis: trying to keep students engaged all the way to the finish line 

Natalie Chua and Parav Manney
February 19, 2024
The moment I realized swimming in the rain was no longer a pleasure. 

Photo or Graphic for: My damp and unpleasant experience: swimming under the pouring rain

Kevin Yang
February 15, 2024
Life as a third wheel.

Photo or Graphic for: Rolling through life as a certified third wheel

Anika Kapasi
February 14, 2024
Tote? More like NOPE.

Photo or Graphic for: Don’t buy the hype: Tote bags aren’t the holy grail

Nika Svizhenko
February 4, 2024
Gish Jen’s ‘Thank You, Mr. Nixon’: encapsulating a 50-year legacy in 272 pages

Gish Jen’s ‘Thank You, Mr. Nixon’: encapsulating a 50-year legacy in 272 pages

Leyna Chan
February 1, 2024
A student is uncertain about whether their borderline grade will become an A or B.

Photo or Graphic for: Teachers, a more standardized grading scale would vastly help reduce students’ stress levels

Sasha Prasad
February 1, 2024
Admins reeling us back from escaping to our cars in the parking lot.

Photo or Graphic for: Let us skip our non-essential classes

Daniel Wu and Sarah Zhou
January 30, 2024
Checking your decision on college portals.

Photo or Graphic for: Early Action decisions should be released sooner than January

Victoria Lin
January 30, 2024
In the future, the Falcon may have no print issue.

Photo or Graphic for: Falcon works to boost digital presence as print platform declines

Parav Manney
December 16, 2023
I am fully convinced Mary and Sara would’ve made great friends.

Measuring timelessness: re-reading and rating my favorite childhood classics

Leyna Chan
December 16, 2023
The fight for the bottle never ends.

Photo or Graphic for: Please bring back ketchup packets in the cafeteria

Meher Bhatnagar
December 15, 2023
Sometimes I sleep for 12 hours if I’m extremely exhausted.

Photo or Graphic for: Why I get decent sleep

Parav Manney
December 14, 2023
How to gaslight.

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10 manipulative behaviors

Victoria Lin
December 14, 2023
The office Giving Tree, tags completed and gifts delivered.

Cunningham: Change from Family Giving Tree donation campaign possible in future year

Leyna Chan and Natalie Chua
December 11, 2023
Winter Formal at Dave and Buster’s was not the move.

Photo or Graphic for: Staff editorial: Why holding Winter Formal at Dave and Buster’s this year was a bust

Anika Kapasi
December 7, 2023
sanjoli_lemonpopcorn

Photo or Graphic for: The best at-home movie snack: lemon popcorn

Sanjoli Gupta
December 7, 2023
My Christmas in 2022 was completed perfectly with a bowl of clam chowder despite a sprained shoulder.

Photo or Graphic for: Shared experiences and togetherness are the essence of Christmas

Richard Fan
December 5, 2023
a2a2855b0ae38988

Photo or Graphic for: Banning cellphones in school is counterproductive

Sarah Zhou
November 26, 2023
I’m hoping that this is what my graduation will look like.

Photo or Graphic for: How am I a senior already?

Meher Bhatnagar
November 16, 2023
Waiting for pick-up used to take an unnecessarily long amount of time.

Photo or Graphic for: School’s new drop-off and pick-up system keeps traffic flowing

Parav Manney
November 15, 2023
Setting up the new Wi-Fi is very tedious.

Photo or Graphic for: District’s new Wi-Fi system unnecessarily frustrating and complicated

Nika Svizhenko and Skyler Mao
November 14, 2023
Tirelessly working late at night 

Photo or Graphic for: Living the night owl life: As the clock ticks toward midnight (and beyond), productivity increases

Victoria Lin
November 9, 2023
sarahz_ai-pro

Photo or Graphic for: AI tools could democratize the college admissions landscape — if used properly

Sarah Zhou
October 18, 2023
The aquatic sequences in “Avatar 2: the Way of Water” look breathtaking in 3-D. 

Photo or Graphic for: 3-D cinema can enhance viewing experience when applied correctly      

Parav Manney
October 18, 2023
Butterflies are the ultimate master of disguise, creeping up when you least expect it.

Photo or Graphic for: Butterflies and moths: Two sides of the same horrid coin

Meher Bhatnagar
October 7, 2023
The wind can be bothersome in autumn and winter.

Photo or Graphic for: 100-word rant: I like the doors closed in classrooms

Parav Manney
October 3, 2023
A graphic of an onlooker watching as their uninsured home is flooded.

Photo or Graphic for: Climate change leaves minorities at risk due to lack of home insurance

Sanjoli Gupta
October 1, 2023
Both sides for and against affirmative action hold valid arguments, adding onto the complexity of finding a balance in between. 

Photo or Graphic for: All in all, it’s good affirmative action is gone from college admissions

Zack Zhang
September 29, 2023
🤫

Photo or Graphic for: Ask the Falcon: Life advice

The Falconistas
September 27, 2023
Tasting the blissful flavors of sugar tomatoes always makes me feel nostalgic.

Photo or Graphic for: Sugar tomatoes blessed my childhood

Andy Zhu
September 26, 2023
Say no to sparkling water; it’s bad.

Photo or Graphic for: Sparkling water is trying too hard

Victoria Lin and Nicole Lee
September 21, 2023
The dates we all dread to see on our calendars…

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10: Ways to get out of MOSAIC

Sarah Zhou
September 12, 2023
“Clash of Clans” has been my go-to mobile game ever since elementary school.

Photo or Graphic for: ‘Clash of Clans’ and ‘Cut the Rope’: Revisiting the games of my childhood

Eric Shi
June 3, 2023
Students confused over MOSAIC’s purpose

Photo or Graphic for: Reflecting on MOSAIC this year: An expectantly unnecessary class 

Parav Manney
May 27, 2023
The unknowns of AI make for a more dangerous world.

Photo or Graphic for: Why ChatGPT and other deep learning models should be banned from the public

Parav Manney
May 24, 2023
My ongoing fight with the unbearable substance known as Styrofoam.

Photo or Graphic for: Styrofoam is my kryptonite

Andy Zhu
May 18, 2023
The dryers are not only slow, but spread germs.

Photo or Graphic for: 100-word rant: Restrooms should provide paper towels, not just dryers 

Parav Manney
May 17, 2023
Join the license gang and rejoice in your newfound freedom.

Photo or Graphic for: Driving earlier in life will prove to be a better decision

Victoria Lin
May 15, 2023
Screen Shot 2023-04-27 at 7.09.08 PM

Photo or Graphic for: 100-word rave: Final exams for AP classes are rightfully before APs

Sanjoli Gupta
May 6, 2023
movievstheater

Photo or Graphic for: Why you should watch your next movie in theaters

Sanjoli Gupta
May 1, 2023
Moments before disaster

Photo or Graphic for: One little Victoria jumping on the bed …

Victoria Lin
April 27, 2023
The different types of pasta.

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10 pastas

Victoria Lin
April 3, 2023
The piece creatively encapsulates her many passions and priorities.

Senior places first in ‘To Be Honest’ fall art contest 

Leyna Chan and Natalie Chua
April 3, 2023
Newsflash: the tests didn’t know.

Photo or Graphic for: My MBTI changes on every platform I take it

Sarah Zhou
March 22, 2023
Boppana and her teammates’ satellite won 2nd place at the MIT BWSI CubeSat Competition in May 2022.

Photo or Graphic for: Junior Sannidhi Boppana wins Honorable Mention in prestigious women’s STEM competition 

Natalie Chua and Sanjoli Gupta
March 20, 2023
A student plays Tetris on their computer.

Photo or Graphic for: School WiFi should not block students from playing video games

Sam Bai
March 20, 2023
f04f4016aa6f61a4

Photo or Graphic for: Diary of a Wimpy Kid will always be my favorite series — the first 10 books at least

Saachi Jain
March 14, 2023
Yale Law School began ignoring U.S. rankings in Nov. 2022.

Photo or Graphic for: Opinion: Harvard and Yale Law Schools’ decisions to drop out of U.S. News ranking merely symbolic

Victoria Lin
March 13, 2023
Patroclus and Achilles, playing the lyre, share an intimate moment together. 

Why you should read most of ‘The Song of Achilles’

Jonny Luo and Leyna Chan
March 10, 2023
There should not be such a notable lack of differentiation between honors and college prep electives.

Photo or Graphic for: Opinion: Honors-weighted elective classes should offer CP alternatives

Sarah Zhou
March 8, 2023
Trying to levitate a book in vain, I slowly came to the realization that I, in fact, was not a wizard.

Photo or Graphic for: Why Harry Potter remains one of the best book series of all time

Emma Fung
March 3, 2023
Many MAP students are excited to travel to LA.  

Photo or Graphic for: MAP plans first post-COVID era LA trip

Natalie Chua and Sanjoli Gupta
February 16, 2023
Many students ask teachers for recommendation letters, but what really goes on behind the scenes? 

Photo or Graphic for: From surveys to substance: 3 teachers tell how they craft recommendation letters

Sunny Cao and Nicole Lee
February 6, 2023
Just sitting calmly as you sip a hot coffee and stare into the autumn leaves…

No love in February? Don’t give up hope

Sunny Cao and Leyna Chan
February 3, 2023
This show sucks.

Photo or Graphic for: I just cannot finish the ‘Big Bang Theory’

Sarah Zhou
February 3, 2023
Understanding how an application was reviewed would ensure equity and that a holistic admissions process is truly being followed.

Photo or Graphic for: Staff editorial: Colleges should release internal numerical ratings to all applicants

Nilay Mishra and Arnav Swamy
January 29, 2023
Language learning allows for a collaborative, applicable and social challenge to your brain. 

Photo or Graphic for: Teenagers should relish the chance to learn a foreign language

Saachi Jain
January 27, 2023
saachi-valentine

Photo or Graphic for: V-Day please: Rather than a celebration of ‘love,’ let it be a celebration of me!

Saachi Jain
January 24, 2023
The new school bell doesn’t sound too bad.

Photo or Graphic for: 100-word rant: The new school bell is fine

Parav Manney
December 16, 2022
Despite an increase in public awareness and advocacy, gun violence continues to rock the country now more than ever.

Photo or Graphic for: Ten years since Sandy Hook: No week has passed in 2022 without a mass shooting

Sunny Cao and Saachi Jain
December 14, 2022
Fitness on YouTube skyrocketed during the pandemic as a safe and accessible way to stay fit. 

Photo or Graphic for: Extreme fitness advice on YouTube is doing more harm than good

Saachi Jain
December 8, 2022
772_20221204001827

Photo or Graphic for: Athletes, both pros and amateurs, often face mental health challenges

Anirudh Iyer
December 5, 2022
An overflow of people rush to get discounts on Black Friday.

Photo or Graphic for: For the love of Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Natalie Chua and Sanjoli Gupta
November 28, 2022
Merry Birthday to me.

Photo or Graphic for: The most important holiday of the year: my birthday

Beverly Xu
November 28, 2022
A Black doll was found hanging from a noose in the main quad on the morning of Nov. 13.

Photo or Graphic for: Staff editorial: Racist incident a reminder of the work we need to do

Shaan Sridhar
November 20, 2022
Fentanyl’s potency is well-known, but it’s important to differentiate between its medical and recreational roles.

District preps staff to handle fentanyl overdoses

Leyna Chan
November 20, 2022
Student research supervised by professions pays its dividends in experience.

Photo or Graphic for: High school research: A mismarketed resource

Anthony Wang
November 17, 2022
No caption necessary.

Photo or Graphic for: Teachers: If you give group work, please let us assess our group members

Sarah Zhou
November 17, 2022
A fresh bowl of Laksa.

Photo or Graphic for: Food connoisseur recounts a day of dining in Malaysia

Natalie Chua
November 13, 2022
Languages like Wichita have gone extinct as a result of diminishing native cultures. 

Photo or Graphic for: Guest column: To save our world, we need to save our languages

Zeyneb Kaya
November 11, 2022
Haunting wolves turned my sweet dreams into the worst of nightmares.

Photo or Graphic for: My experiences with the Big Bad Wolf

Emma Fung
November 10, 2022
Every year, Algebra 2 Honors tends to have a large number of students who drop to Algebra 2 after the start of the year. Unequal movement contributes to unbalanced class sizes.

Photo or Graphic for: Too big or too small — class size issues emerge this year

Christina Chang
November 9, 2022
Having the same name as others causes confusion.

Photo or Graphic for: Having a common name poses a minor burden

Victoria Lin
November 7, 2022
The minions are set on fire and run frantically in the background while an annoyed Gru continues to work.

Photo or Graphic for: ‘Minions: the Rise of Gru’ movie adds insight to Despicable Me trilogy

Sanjoli Gupta
November 4, 2022
period products graphic

Photo or Graphic for: Scotland is the first country to make period products free; let’s join them

Sunny Cao
October 31, 2022
The upcoming midterm elections will be the first chance for some seniors to vote.

Photo or Graphic for: Seniors channel hope for change into political actions in upcoming midterm elections

Sarah Thomas and Sarah Zhou
October 29, 2022
Some of the topics the School Site Council hopes to address this year are installing solar panels and improving the school’s composting system.

Photo or Graphic for: School Site Council reconvenes and works to review student concerns

Sarah Zhou and Sarah Thomas
October 20, 2022
Levine has a lot of guts to cheat for someone who has a baby angel tatted next to his right nipple.

Photo or Graphic for: Adam Levine cheating scandal reveals society’s (or at least his) descent into immorality

Sarah Zhou and Sarah Thomas
October 12, 2022
parav_pro-royalty

Photo or Graphic for: Trying to get rid of the royalty is a waste of time

Parav Manney
September 29, 2022
795_20220929160514

Photo or Graphic for: It’s time to abolish the British monarchy

Sunny Cao
September 29, 2022
A typical representation of Gen Z with swag.

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10: slang words

Natalie Chua
September 29, 2022
Bad habits influence and shape our everyday lives.

Photo or Graphic for: Bad habits undo the best of intentions

Emma Fung and Amy Luo
September 28, 2022
Elle and Noah look at each other in anticipation as the crowd chants for them to kiss.

Photo or Graphic for: ‘The Kissing Booth’ is a poorly made movie, but it’s worth seeing

Emma Fung
September 28, 2022
How students feel sitting in MOSAIC

Photo or Graphic for: MOSAIC: why the school can’t teach life

Parav Manney
September 24, 2022
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