The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

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 Shaan Sridhar
District staff presented a comparison of graduation requirement differences between Saratoga High and Los Gatos High at the special board meeting on Feb. 13.

District to reconvene alignment work groups, implement ethnic studies graduation requirement

Avani Kongetira and Shaan Sridhar
Members of the Females for Finance Club meet during lunch on March 28.

Females for Finance plans magazine with Design Club

Shaan Sridhar and Sarah Zhou
Ke Huy Quan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”

A Hollywood ending: Low-drama ceremony caps exciting and historic Oscar season

Shaan Sridhar
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” is nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The Academy is out of excuses for the 95th Oscars

Shaan Sridhar
The Prosecution team poses with glee for a celebratory photo during a team debrief following a victorious competition on Jan. 26.

Photo or Graphic for: Mock Trial caps most successful season in recent history, but fails to advance

Christina Chang and Sanjoli Gupta
Class of ‘65 alumnus Steven Spielberg’s new movie, “The Fabelmans,” covers much of his experience at the school.

‘The Fabelmans’ puts spotlight on antisemitic abuse directed at school’s most famous alumnus

Shreya Rallabandi and Shaan Sridhar
The Common Application counts em dashes in word count differently than other word processors.

The Common Application has an em dash dilemma

Shaan Sridhar
A Black doll was found hanging from a noose in the main quad on the morning of Nov. 13.

Staff editorial: Racist incident a reminder of the work we need to do

Shaan Sridhar
Superintendent Bill Sanderson, board trustees Cynthia Chang, David Guidry, Katherine Tseng and Theresa Bond and a community member (on behalf of board trustee Peter Hertan) honor retiring and outgoing board trustees Chang, Guidry and Hertan at the Nov. 15 board meeting.

2 retired teachers and Saratoga parent win seats on school board

Shaan Sridhar
A portrait of school board candidate Misty Davies.

School board candidate Q&A: active parent and project manager Misty Davies

Shaan Sridhar
School board candidate Alex Shultz poses for a photo.

School board candidate Q&A: former Los Gatos science teacher Alex Shultz

Shaan Sridhar
School board candidate Chris Miller’s campaign logo.

School board candidate Q&A: former LGUSD board member Chris Miller

Shaan Sridhar
School board candidate David Guidry at a campaign event in 2018.

School board candidate Q&A: incumbent David Guidry

Shaan Sridhar
School board candidate Steve Chen’s campaign logo.

School board candidate Q&A: former Los Gatos math teacher Steve Chen

Shaan Sridhar
Expanded Homecoming court celebrated at football game

Expanded Homecoming court celebrated at football game

Anirudh Iyer and Shaan Sridhar
State and county voter information guides sent ahead of California’s June 7 primary election.

Top 10: Most absurd candidate statements on the actual primary election ballot

Shaan Sridhar
 The Board of Trustees debates the implementation of a new bell schedule at the meeting on May 10.

Staff editorial: A vote of no confidence in the school board

Shaan Sridhar
Laws allowed adults to go maskless at bars but not students at schools.

Looking back, the school and county mask mandates made zero sense

Shaan Sridhar

Track: While losing meets, individuals set their own PRs

Tara Natarajan and Shaan Sridhar

Summer math courses should not be accepted for course credit

Shaan Sridhar

SHS and LGHS have an AP European History issue

Shaan Sridhar
Future me: Am I tripping for no reason?

Future me: Am I tripping for no reason?

Shaan Sridhar
Ye posted a rant about Pete Davidson and Disney to Instagram on Feb. 12.  

How to understand Ye’s rants with QPA analysis

Apurva Chakravarthy and Shaan Sridhar
The Batman stands in the rain as red light from a vehicle shines on.  

‘The Batman’: Matt Reeves’ new take continues gritty, dark themes

Shaan Sridhar

Will it ever end? COVID-19 strains mental health and personal relationships

Selina Chen, Lihi Shoshani, and Shaan Sridhar
Students, parents and staff indicate schedule preferences in a district-wide survey.

Reactions to 3 possible spring semester bell schedules favored by board

Apurva Chakravarthy and Shaan Sridhar

24 hours in the life of a student

Shaan Sridhar
TikTok influencer @texasbrownie posts about her academic schedule, waking up tips and dating advice.

‘Life influencers’ are only influencing people to think badly about themselves

Shaan Sridhar
“Draft A” is one of three bell schedule proposals created by the district that the board preferred.

Keep our bell schedule simple: 85-minute classes and daily tutorials

Shaan Sridhar
The district aligned valedictorian and salutatorian GPA calculation.

District aligns GPA policies between both school sites

Tara Natarajan and Shaan Sridhar
Junior Shreya Rallabandi unsends a joke in response to my message on Facebook Messenger

Apple, please help: I want to delete my texts

Shaan Sridhar

I love baseball, but the MLB needs to change the game for viewers at home

Shaan Sridhar
The football team practices for upcoming games on Oct. 21

Injury forces football team to forfeit at half in painful 28-0 home loss to Los Altos

Shaan Sridhar
Fearful Halloween Haunt visitors run for cover following reports of an active shooter.

Gunshots and tasers: my haunting experience at Great America

Shaan Sridhar
The many different ways to say and spell Shaan

An earnest appeal to get my name right

Shaan Sridhar
Junior running back Paolo Navarro runs the ball as senior lineman Parker Smith blocks Monta Vista’s defense.

Falcons kick off league season with a win and a loss

Andy Chen, Jonny Luo, Nikhil Mathihalli, and Shaan Sridhar
Nan Ying (Michelle Yeoh) teaches Shang-Chi Xu (Simu Liu) to fight in a magical land.

‘Shang-Chi’ is the first Asian Marvel superhero — and one of the year’s best movies

Shaan Sridhar
An unlucky Porsche finds itself stuck in the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Herriman Avenue intersection.

No right turn on red: Prevent blocked intersections on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road

Shaan Sridhar
The team lines up defensively against San Mateo at the line of scrimmage.

Football team starts season with disappointment

Nilay Mishra and Shaan Sridhar
Students and staff walk by the student center during Phase 3A in March. 

School outlines COVID-19 protocols and expectations

Lynn Dai and Shaan Sridhar
93rd-oscars

The Academy Award for Best Picture goes to … who were the nominees again?

Shaan Sridhar
stuffed-animal-box

Saying goodbye to my stuffed animals after 16 years together

Shaan Sridhar
Shaan_AP

Staff editorial: Take bold action on academic pressure — drop AP classes and remove the weighted GPA

Shaan Sridhar
college athletes - michelle lim

Years of training prepares seniors for collegiate sports

Shaan Sridhar
95f9047997c7ae07d18260b9bb001f6f

Baseball team celebrates a return to games and friendships

Shaan Sridhar
IMG_1659

Student productions: transforming Zoom into a stage

Shaan Sridhar, Apurva Chakravarthy, and Anjali Nuggehali
baseball

Play ball: baseball season readies to start again

Shaan Sridhar
bookmark-screenshot

LGSUHSD, tear down this bookmark!

Shaan Sridhar
texting slang

Top 10 worst texting slang

Shaan Sridhar and Shreya Rallabandi
cancel-culture-rowling

If an artist transgresses, should their work be canceled?

Shaan Sridhar
investigating-pathways

Sophomore Arnav Garg creates podcast to advance drone-kit business

Shaan Sridhar and Shreya Rallabandi
lrc-meeting

Living Room Conversations effort struggles to get student participation

Shaan Sridhar and Vicky Bai
biden-trump-stress

The Biden administration has lifted my morale and calmed the news cycle

Shaan Sridhar
emmett-ball

Review: an indoor dog ball that doesn’t go under furniture

Shaan Sridhar
great-gatsby (anjali n)

Photo or Graphic for: ‘The Great Gatsby’: juniors debate the excesses of pursuing the American Dream

Anjali Nuggehalli
golden-globes

Golden Globes: Three Hours of Damage Control

Shaan Sridhar
subject-sat

Saratoga reacts to cancellation of Subject SATs and SAT Essays

Shaan Sridhar
capitol-riots

Democracy runs on truth; lies must be kicked out

Shaan Sridhar
toga-medical

Students create alternative to on-campus medical clubs

Shaan Sridhar
exodus

If California doesn’t address the exodus, the state will never be the same

Shaan Sridhar
bailout-sign

The entertainment industry is dying, and the government must save it

Shaan Sridhar
Screen Shot 2021-01-11 at 8

After months of threats and negotiation, TikTok’s future lies in uncertainty

Shaan Sridhar
Screen Shot 2021-01-11 at 8

Donald Trump should have been Time’s Person of the Year

Shaan Sridhar
statue-liberty-vaccine-vertical

When the vaccines arrive, just take them

Shaan Sridhar and Shreya Rallabandi
academic-divide-cartoon

SHS unfairly caters too much to STEM students

Andy Chen and Shaan Sridhar
instagram-copying-features

Instagram has lost its way

Shaan Sridhar
iphone12pro

iPhone 12 Pro: a refreshing design change and features for the future

Shaan Sridhar

‘Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm’ weaves drama onto a tight line between comedy and horror

Shaan Sridhar
outdoor-theater-projection

How I turned my cousins’ backyard into a outdoor movie theater

Shaan Sridhar
burning-whitehouse-cartoon

More adults need to join social movements for positive change

Shaan Sridhar
mandalorian-premier

Season 2 premiere of ‘The Mandalorian’ meanders but also entices

Shaan Sridhar and Michael Fok
Screen Shot 2020-11-02 at 8

Doing activities ‘for college apps’ isn’t bad

Shaan Sridhar
Screen Shot 2020-09-17 at 6

Chadwick Boseman: the hero we never deserved

Shaan Sridhar and Jonathan Si
metoo

Photo or Graphic for: In light of the #MeToo Movement, it’s the students who should be driving change

Nicole Lu
Screen Shot 2020-09-10 at 9

Distance learning takes the fun out of school

Shaan Sridhar
Screen Shot 2020-09-03 at 8

Disney faces potential challenges with streaming ‘Mulan’

Shaan Sridhar
Load More Stories
Donate to The Saratoga Falcon