The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
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
Students dance to the music in the moshpit on Dec. 7.
Winter Formal at Gilroy Gardens garners positive feedback
December 14, 2024
Many seniors feel frustrated with the lack of a consistent counselor.
Students last names A-F have faced struggles with guidance counselor turnovers in past two years
December 13, 2024
In recent years, an increasing number of students have applied early to college.
Class of ’25 sees an increased number of early college applicants
December 13, 2024
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 result of the poll conducted by our Falcon Instagram account.
What songs top the charts for all-time favorite holiday music?
December 13, 2024
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
Falcons look to defend Notre Dame’s free kick during home game on Dec. 10.
Girls’ soccer defeats Notre Dame Knights 3-2, still undefeated in pre-season
December 13, 2024
49ers’ head coach and former SHS student, Kyle Shanahan, sits in grief after the team suffered a rough 24-23 loss to the Cardinals on Oct. 6.
49ers hobble through losing season
December 12, 2024
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 use of social media allows controversial news to spread and grab the attention of more Americans than ever.
Social media fuels increasing polarization of American politics
December 13, 2024
The fast fashion industry really is Hell.
‘Brandy Hellville’ documentary reveals fast fashion as a devil in disguise
December 12, 2024
The many confusing aspects of Shakespeare make his works unappealing.
To read or not to read: My struggle with Shakespeare
December 7, 2024
A super cool pineapple
Top 10: Fruits
December 14, 2024
My perfect Christmas tree where these gifts go under.
Top 10: Best Christmas Gifts
December 13, 2024
I contemplate between two different Owala FreeSip colors at Target.
My journey to find the perfect water bottle ends with Owala
December 13, 2024
Christmas music is fine no matter what season you’re in.
Christmas music can be played, shamelessly, any time of the year
December 13, 2024
The perfect place to be during Christmas.
Christmas is just horrible without snow
December 13, 2024

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Sam Bai
Seniors Sam, Kabeer and Shrey sleeping while Pothan stays alert

Senior Mag 2024: A professional guide to sleeping in class

Sam Bai
May 26, 2024
Weasel Decklich belaying up at Movement Climbing.

Senior Mag 2024: Learning to climb, one boulder at a time

Sam Bai
May 26, 2024
Victoria and Sam waiting in the League of Legends lobby

Senior Mag 2024: Bonding over League of Legends

Sam Bai and Victoria Lin
May 25, 2024
Gravel Ridge, owned by Ryan Cagliostro’s parents, a five-acre vineyard planted for Chardonnay grapes in 1979-81. 

Senior grows up on historic family-owned vineyard

Sam Bai
March 18, 2024
A wall in the journalism room showcasing many of the awards the Falcon has won in the past 65 years since its establishment.

Falcon wins Silver Crown Award from Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Sam Bai and Nicole Lee
March 18, 2024
A person crying after losing all of their money

Sports gambling in the digital age fuels underage addiction

Sam Bai and Victoria Lin
March 14, 2024
Junior Aiden Chen swings bat towards incoming ball.

With no JV team and a huge roster, varsity baseball team focuses on skill building for underclassmen

Sam Bai and Isabelle Wang
March 14, 2024
Bee boxes sitting on my lawn.

A new hobby has me buzzing with excitement

Sam Bai
March 13, 2024
Student amazed upon receiving a schedule of seven classes.

Yes, it’s hard, but taking seven classes a year is worth the time and effort

Sam Bai and Lynn Dai
March 13, 2024
A rain cloud smacking somebody with a fist.

Photo or Graphic for: Rain, while sometimes inconvenient, sustains us

Nicole Lee and William Norwood
March 7, 2024
The first fight encountered when playing “Library of Ruina.”

‘Library of Ruina’: the painful process of learning new games

Sam Bai
March 4, 2024
Mr. Torrens photoshopped onto an image of a Scottish Lord.

The Tarbox and Torrens Show: using photoshop to provide comic relief for the staff

Sam Bai
February 3, 2024
Herzman and Tyler enjoy music on the ride to school.

Teachers grow friendships through daily carpools to school 

Sam Bai and Annie Liu
January 24, 2024
The library is jam packed with students during tutorial.

Teachers continue to call for hiring of credentialed librarian three years after the role became vacant

Sam Bai and Zack Zhang
November 14, 2023
The National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists pose outside the college and career center.

An untapped resource: student photographers

Sam Bai
November 8, 2023
The old school website (left) in contrast to the updated version.

School and district websites undergo major redesign

Sam Bai
November 5, 2023
Principal Greg Louie stands in front of a no fire sign, reviewing the fire drill simulation

Newly created safety team plans for emergency scenarios

Sam Bai and Andrew Lin
September 29, 2023
Rector sits inside of his homemade jungle.

Plants enliven Rector’s classroom

Sam Bai and Annie Liu
September 20, 2023
Ghosted

Top 10 ways to ghost 👻

Sam Bai and Victoria Lin
May 1, 2023
27'

Photo or Graphic for: 100-word rant: Students who write 27’ instead of ‘27 should be rescinded

Allison Tan
April 1, 2023
Senior Kasie Yang’s sculpture “Quarantine Lifted,” a part of her portfolio which won a gold key.

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: 47 students recognized in 2023 competition

Sam Bai
March 20, 2023
A student plays Tetris on their computer.

School WiFi should not block students from playing video games

Sam Bai
March 20, 2023
A student addicted to their phone.

Reddit and Reels: Tech has made teens like me unable to focus for longer than 15 seconds

Sam Bai
March 16, 2023
Senior Anthony Wang and two assistant coaches, sophomore Skyler Mao and freshman Lawson Wang, teach four students in Redwood’s black team. 

Clubs build connections with middle school counterparts

Sam Bai and Jonny Luo
March 15, 2023
Cover of the first book in the series, “Percy Jackson and The Olympians, The Lighting Thief.”

Percy Jackson: not as good as nostalgia might make it

Sam Bai and Victoria Lin
March 13, 2023
chess.com is blocked when using school WiFi.

100-word rant: school’s wifi should stop blocking video games

Sam Bai
March 10, 2023
Physics teacher Matthew Welander does a bench press.

Physics teacher Matthew Welander finds numerous benefits of going to the gym

Sam Bai and Aiden Ye
January 26, 2023
How much money students spent at Saratoga High School compared to the national average.

How do students spend their money?

Sam Bai and Victoria Lin
January 22, 2023
100-word rant: The new bell tone is like being at SFO

100-word rant: The new bell tone is like being at SFO

Sam Bai
January 18, 2023
The three gray bins placed around campus are filled with donated food.

Photo or Graphic for: Hunger at Home club combats food insecurity through food drives

Natalie Chua
December 15, 2022
 Day 2: Skurry. Victoria: A tiny rat scurries across the floor in search of cheese, “sneaky sneaky.” Sam: A youtuber named Skurry fights the final boss from the indie game Hollow Knight.

Inktober proves to be a daunting challenge

Sam Bai and Victoria Lin
December 5, 2022
School shooting pranks undermine safety

School shooting pranks undermine safety

Sam Bai
November 18, 2022
shsfalcon

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10 isms

Victoria Lin
November 9, 2022
100-word rant: Fog is confusing

100-word rant: Fog is confusing

Sam Bai
October 26, 2022
Ask someone out with these easy, fool-proof methods.

Top 10 ways to ask someone out

Christina Chang and Sam Bai
October 19, 2022
The long line of students waiting to enter the cafeteria extends all the way to the student center.

School joins National School Lunch Program

Sam Bai and Victoria Lin
September 29, 2022
Outside temperatures are burning hot while inside ones are freezing cold.

100-word rant: too cold classes

Sam Bai
September 24, 2022
People socialize during the Food Truck Festival on Aug. 16.

Food Truck Festival deemed great success, $300 raised

Sam Bai and Leyna Chan
September 23, 2022
Gloriana Garcia standing in front of motivational posters in her room.

Long-term sub brings in her experiences as an advocate, journalist and entrepreneur into classroom

Sam Bai, Selina Chen, and Aiden Ye
May 22, 2022
Falcon individuals and teams shine in their respective sports

Falcon individuals and teams shine in their respective sports

Sam Bai, Aiden Ye, and Victoria Hu
May 20, 2022
100% sugar? More like 100 grams of sugar

100% sugar? More like 100 grams of sugar

Sam Bai
May 12, 2022
School to host Grad Night in person on June 2

School to host Grad Night in person on June 2

Andrew Lin and Sam Bai
March 18, 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
“NileRed explains what is happening in a Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction"  

NileRed, a professional amateur chemist, savior of students, bane of teachers

Sam Bai
March 4, 2022
NileRed explains what is happening in a Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction

NileRed, a professional amateur chemist, savior of students, bane of teachers

Sam Bai
March 2, 2022
Math and CS teacher incorporates video games into teaching

Math and CS teacher incorporates video games into teaching

Sam Bai and Aiden Ye
January 21, 2022
Achieving perfection after two reboots and nine tries: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

Achieving perfection after two reboots and nine tries: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

Andrew Lin and Sam Bai
January 18, 2022
My month-long journey to learn Morse code through mnemonics

My month-long journey to learn Morse code through mnemonics

Sam Bai
December 10, 2021
Senior Andrew Hong defends the goal at the team’s last game against Lynbrook on Oct. 29. The Falcons ultimately lost 8-7.

Boys’ water polo closes season with a loss to Lynbrook at league finals

Bill Yuan, Sam Bai, and Andrew Lin
November 22, 2021
Teachers gather for a picture in the library after the Nov. 16 LGSUHSD board meeting.

District Teachers Association rallies behind effort to get higher pay

Sam Bai, Shreya Rallabandi, and Aiden Ye
November 22, 2021
Sam and Andrew get insanely jacked

Sam and Andrew get insanely jacked

Sam Bai and Andrew Lin
November 18, 2021
So you want to play all the games The Falcon has reviewed recently? Start here

So you want to play all the games The Falcon has reviewed recently? Start here

Sam Bai
November 7, 2021
If you snooze, you lose

If you snooze, you lose

Sam Bai
November 1, 2021
Why you should buy ‘Bloons Tower Defense 6’

Why you should buy ‘Bloons Tower Defense 6’

Sam Bai and Jonny Luo
October 22, 2021

Advisories resume; more changes still planned

Sam Bai and Andrew Lin
October 9, 2021
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
October 8, 2021
Learning poetry, one stanza at a time

Learning poetry, one stanza at a time

Sam Bai
October 6, 2021
Welander poses next to equipment used in AP physics demonstrations.

AP Physics C students dive into school year with advanced concepts and labs

Sam Bai and Nicole Lu
September 9, 2021
Mr. Bayona smiles for a photo in a chicken costume back in high school.

New math and CS teacher aims to engage students

Sam Bai and Vicky Bai
September 9, 2021
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