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Sophomores Alma Garniek and Sia Bharadhwaj performed during the group dance.
Sophomore quad day thrives with a boost in participation
October 20, 2024
Seniors wave goodbye to students and staff in the audience after successfully delivering a stunning performance.
Seniors ends week of Quad Day performances with an energetic display
October 20, 2024
Group dance carries the show with energetic dance moves and smiles on their faces.
Juniors navigate low rehearsal attendance and participation for their quad day
October 20, 2024
Assistant superintendent of business services Ruben Fernandez, superintendent Bill Sanderson, director of human resources Dagmar Derickson, assistant superintendent of student services Heath Rocha and public information officer Tanya De La Cruz listen to public comment against the amendments to Sanderson’s contract. The new contract was approved by the board in a unanimous decision.
Widespread criticism over district leadership leads to community meetings and attempts at rebuilding trust
October 18, 2024
Sporting green jerseys, Joseph Yu, Elaine Luo, Sophie Qi and Serena Hu went all out for their performance.
Freshmen pull through despite fewer than 30 participants in their first quad day performance
October 18, 2024
Judges receive rubrics to score each performance out of 160 possible points.
How are Homecoming performances ranked?
October 20, 2024
The once-great Marvel and Pixar trend toward decline, as multiple factors drag them down.
The hidden factors behind Pixar and Marvel’s downfall
October 18, 2024
With an endless stream of online content, students find themselves overwhelmed by the temptation of smartphones.
In a world of short-form videos, long-term focus becomes a challenge
October 18, 2024
Each teacher reflected on their growth since they first started teaching at the school.
25 Years later: Educators reflect back on their first year at SHS
October 18, 2024
Gru Junior successfully tames Gru’s high school mascot—the honey badger Lenny.
‘Despicable Me 4’ is getting too much hate
October 18, 2024
With a shock offseason trade, Karl Anthony-Towns joins the New York Knicks to play alongside tenured Knick Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks are on course to finally bring a championship to New York
October 22, 2024
Leagues like Overtime Elite allow high school athletes to display their talents on a giant online platform.
How young athletes have started using social media for success
October 21, 2024
The constant cycle of practice and school leaves little free time during the day.
Competitive athletes balance rigorous sports schedule with academics
October 21, 2024
Falcons lineup in front of the endzone preparing to rush forward for another touchdown.
Football boasts 49-0 Homecoming win over Lynbrook, maintains undefeated record
October 21, 2024
Alice Vaughan balances in the flag position while practicing her solo performance at Garrod Farms.
Sophomore equestrian vaults to destress, despite dangerous nature of sport
October 15, 2024
Results shown on Google Map after searching up “housing developments nearby,” which doesn’t include those that didn’t publicize themselves on the map.
A gentler approach to growth: Why ADUs offer a middle ground in housing development
October 21, 2024
Though the school lunch applesauce is good, I prefer the ones that come in a pouch, since I don't need a spoon to eat them.
100-word rave: Applesauce is my go-to snack
October 18, 2024
To fight an upward battle, students struggle against time
100-word rant: classes without breaks
October 14, 2024
The balance of power at the school sites is heavily outweighed by the district.
Staff editorial: As the board levels up on district office personnel, LG and SHS staff suffer negative impacts
October 10, 2024
The Monopoly theme is a mere shadow of what it could have been.
This year’s Homecoming theme for the senior class is a major disappointment
October 10, 2024
There are some items I can’t leave behind on a ski trip.
Trip essentials from a yearly Tahoe-goer
October 22, 2024
My favorite teddy bears and I have made plenty of good memories over the years — and their origin story is better than mine.
From trash can to happy home: a tale of two teddy bears
October 21, 2024
Kratt brothers, Chris and Martin, hold their creature power discs.
Nostalgia for ‘Wild Kratts’ hits strong as it remains to be one of my core shows of childhood
October 21, 2024
School starts at 8:30! Thankfully I still have 31 minutes to get there.
Top 10: excuses for being late
October 18, 2024
A particular scent can tug at your nostalgic feelings.
An ode to my favorite ‘scent-sibilities’
October 18, 2024

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon

Shirina Cao, Lifestyles Editor

All content by Shirina Cao
Judges receive rubrics to score each performance out of 160 possible points.

How are Homecoming performances ranked?

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
October 20, 2024
During their first meeting on Sept. 12, Slime Club members mix a large bowl of glue with an activator to make slime.

New Slime Club is drawing over 60 members each meeting

Shirina Cao
September 26, 2024
The dance team sells homemade baked goods at their bake sale at the Sept. 5 home football game against El Camino to fundraise for competition and costume costs.

Dance team welcomes new assistant coach who focuses on their technique and fitness

Shirina Cao and Renisha Mandal
September 19, 2024
Thomas Casavant teaches freshmen how to fix a section of their Java code.

AP Physics teacher expands course repertoire to Intro to Computer Programming

Shirina Cao and Ashni Pillai
September 17, 2024
Wellness Center therapist Janae Smith writes in her notebook.

New Wellness Center therapist brings diverse work experience

Shirina Cao and Madhura Natarajan
September 9, 2024
 A turtleneck constricts a woman's neck.

Photo or Graphic for: Let’s leave turtlenecks in the past, where they belong

Sasha Prasad
May 30, 2024
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Photo or Graphic for: Road trips: a once detested, but now beloved summer tradition

Sasha Prasad
May 20, 2024
Sports Drinks

Photo or Graphic for: Top 10 sports drinks

Bill Huang
May 20, 2024
Different things make different people happy.

Taking Toga’s Temperature: What does happiness mean to you? 

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
May 17, 2024
Sophomore Brennan Pak sprints across the lacrosse field.

Longtime seasoned athletes step out of their comfort zone to pursue new sports

Jeremy Si and Shirina Cao
May 15, 2024
Emily, Shirina and Amy hold up the finished tanghulu while sugary water drips onto the floor.

The viral sweet treat tanghulu: Is it worth all the hype?

Shirina Cao, Jessica Li, Amy Miao, and Emily Wu
May 10, 2024
The three Jacks’ line up in height order (left to right: Jack Gong, Jack Dong and Jack Tong).

Jack (Dong, Gong, and Tong) of all trades

Shirina Cao
May 4, 2024
When the world is turning more digital than ever, with children often online gaming during their free time, how are board games staying afloat?

Board games stay afloat among the rising online gaming industry

Shirina Cao
May 4, 2024
Saratoga students often take a variety of West Valley summer courses, whether it is for college credit or self interest.

Photo or Graphic for: Get a real college experience at no cost — take some summer community college classes

Richard Fan
May 4, 2024
Sophomore May Gendeh performs the small lyrical routine at the United Spirit Association Nationals Competition on March 22.

Dance team competes at Nationals in Anaheim

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
April 23, 2024
Self-portrait finals projects (Caleb Yu left, Franky Zheng top right, Vivienne Brooks bottom right).

Roaming campus with a purpose, Digital Photography students hone skills that can be used for a lifetime

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
March 27, 2024
The dramatic difference in body type between Ursula and Ariel indirectly villainizes certain “undesirable” features.

Disney dysmorphia: How a beloved childhood franchise instills unrealistic beauty standards and gender bias

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
March 21, 2024
Birthdays are usually filled with big smiles and happy laughter, but I still can’t help but feel sad.

Fighting the birthday blues and losing

Shirina Cao
March 14, 2024
Students who succumb to the allure of Sparknotes will fail to analyze classic literature on their own.

Photo or Graphic for: SparkNotes — a glorified version of cheating

Alec Guan
March 7, 2024
Senior Michelle Wan fiercely raises her right arm during the ending pose of the team’s jazz routine during the competition hosted by West Coast Elite at Valley Christian on Jan. 20.

Making the most of limited practice time, dance team soars through competition season with a positive outlook

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
February 8, 2024
Spice up your love life with these activities.

Ideas for the next big date after Valentine’s Day

Shirina Cao
February 8, 2024
The rising band faces difficulties coordinating around busy schedules, but its members look forward to their coming performances.

Photo or Graphic for: Student band Pollen Prone springs into the spotlight

Lawson Wang
January 24, 2024
Don’t worry, rock music enjoyment is definitely not a cult.

Photo or Graphic for: How my father rocked my musical world

Alec Guan
December 14, 2023
While UC Berkeley offers a tiresome uphill hike from SHS, Yale, Harvard and Stanford lead to an easy downhill slide.

Recent alumni offer their report card on how SHS prepared them for elite colleges

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
December 13, 2023
Ashley Xu does a double stag jump while holding rainbow ribbons during her solo section of the folkloric group routine “Colorful Joy” during the performance at Spotlight Dance Cup nationals on July 8.

Dancers find perks in attending outside dance studios over school dance team

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
December 7, 2023
The Christmas season means an impending list of gifts to get.

The Falcon’s guide to gift-giving during the holiday season

Shirina Cao
December 5, 2023
Substitute teacher Siddhartha Punj explains key coding vocabulary during an AP Computer Science lesson on Nov. 27.

Long-term substitute AP Computer Science teacher hired

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
December 3, 2023
The dance team members Anisa Taymuree and Annalyn Bui hold their ending pose for their Oct. 20 football game halftime performance.

Dance team transitions from football half time performances to competition season

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
November 20, 2023
Sofia Hoffman and Elisa Pattullo work on glazing their decorative coil pot on Oct. 11.

Ceramics gives students creative freedom and hopes to recover from recent loss of interest

Shirina Cao and Emily Wu
November 6, 2023
Seniors Riley Alves and Ashly Henry dressed as skeletons during the school's Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 28.

All dressed up: Creating terror-ific memories to celebrate the spooky season

Shirina Cao, Kathy Wang, and Beverly Xu
November 5, 2023
Class rivalry during rally games is a great way to raise school and class pride. 

Dear Toga students: You aren’t ‘too cool’ to attend rallies

Shirina Cao and Anika Kapasi
October 19, 2023
The dance team performs their hip-hop routine to the song “Hot in It” for the football game on Sept. 1.

Dance team kicks off to powerful start while adjusting to new coach

Shirina Cao and Jessica Li
September 23, 2023
Drum Major Petr Tupitsyn overlooks his marching band, ready to showcase their senior night performance.

Photo or Graphic for: Marching band shows promising season with their performance ‘Blossom’

Allison Tan and Zachary Zinman
October 25, 2022
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