The safe that changed his life: former SHS student Matthew Hahn’s unlikely journey to recovery
Hahn started using drugs before his time at SHS and was trapped in a downward spiral until a horrific discovery changed the trajectory of his life.
Tanvee Tirthapura, In-Depth Editor
The next era of athletes are choosing balance over burnout
Alysa Liu represents a new era of elite athletes who are redefining success on their own terms.
I’m submitting my two weeks’ notice; I’m retiring from SHS
Catch me in bed, asleep, for the foreseeable future — I have a lot of sleep debt and retirement sounds like the perfect time to start paying it back (with interest).
Today’s rom-coms lack the charm of the ‘90s classics
There’s a reason most people prefer rewatching old classics over modern hits.
On-campus extracurricular activities should not extend late into the evenings
From robotics to music, almost much of the SHS student body is shackled to campus long after the sun sets.
Wrestling builds on last season with a bigger team
With 11 wrestlers, four more than last season, the Falcons have seen some strong results this year.
Sophomore dances on elite stages
Lemeng Qu has danced in various styles — from contemporary to ballet — since she was 3.
Speak up for Change speakers focus on the challenges that have helped shape them
The seven covered topics from immigration to grief to mental health struggles.
Tai Zhan bakery brings diverse customers to Saratoga downtown
The vegan bakery, which opened in 2023, has amassed a large following among Saratoga residents and other admirers across the Bay.
‘Zootopia 2’ lives up to the legacy of the original
The sequel, which is projected to gross more than the original, featured stunning animations, along with a hilarious and action-packed plot line.
Freshman and Symphonic band splits into two classes
For the first time in the school’s history, FBSB percussion is given its own class due to its growing size.
As influencers market products, overconsumption grows
Costs of the trend are becoming increasingly dire financially and environmentally, experts warn.
How to be a LinkedIn influencer
If you’re not optimizing your LinkedIn before age 10, are you even trying?
Is it better to take the SAT, the ACT or both?
Both standardized tests can be submitted to colleges, but each one has its pros and cons.
Parent and student volunteers host annual Saratoga Pumpkin Walk
On Oct. 23, Saratoga Elementary decked out in Halloween decorations, including music, food trucks and a hand-crafted haunted house.
Revived Hall of Fame Gala links generations of alumni and staff
The last time people were inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame was in 2011.
MAP seniors go on annual “Amazing Race”-inspired trip to SF
The scavenger hunt took students to historic landmarks across the city — from Chinatown to the original United Nations Plaza.
Digital Electronics joins the list of STEM-based honors classes
The class saw a dramatic increase in enrollment since introducing an honors level of the course this year.
AP Stats teacher implements new activity-based curriculum
Veteran teacher Jennifer Mantle’s effort is part of a nationwide trend to help math and science classes engage their students more fully.
German exchange student adjusts to American school culture
Junior Katharina Adams compares her life in Germany to the new one she is building here during a year of cultural exchange.
Media glorifies risky behaviors for young audiences
As shows like “Euphoria” and “Sex Education” gain an ever-younger viewership, they raise questions of how risque media impacts its impressionable audience.
I fear I may have peaked in elementary school
Somehow as an 8-year-old, I was an academic weapon, friends with everyone and still had enough time to sleep 10 hours a night.
Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian announced
Grace Liu and Luke Zhang earned the highest weighted GPAs of the senior class, making them the valedictorian and salutatorian.
The first day of school in August requires months of planning for teachers
Long before students pick up next year’s schedules, the English department is already assigning teachers schedules and beginning the arduous task of preparing the curriculums for a brand new batch of students.
School board finalizes district map for new trustee elections
The district, now divided into five trustee-areas, includes Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and small parts of Palo Alto and Cupertino.
Softball places first in the league as they gear up for CCS
With only two losses the team hopes to win first in the league and progress far into the rounds at CCS.
Two juniors explore their passion for photography through sports
Two MAP students photograph sports games at SHS, expanding their media skills and receiving freelance photography jobs.
With few effective guardrails, more teens are engaging in illegal sports gambling
As gambling becomes more accessible to underaged teenagers, SHS students are getting hooked to online sports betting.
SHS orchestras travel to Atlanta for National Orchestra Festival
In a historic trip for the school, the students enjoyed performing in a national conference alongside experiencing the city of Atlanta and its culture.
The 3 habits of the highly professional presenter
Disclaimer: Side effects may include bad grades, nervous breakdowns and nightmare fuel that will follow you well into college.
100-word rant: I hate March
Tests, essays and projects, the 31-day month has everything except a proper break.
New district plans include updated facility rental policies and revamped campus security systems
Administrators will be standardizing the use of Facilitron to rent campus spaces alongside the installation of new security cameras.
With community support, board appoints Heath Rocha as permanent superintendent
The decision saves the district money and resources.
From chart-toppers to hidden gems: my top albums of 2024
The music world exploded in 2024, as artists blended new sounds and broke creative boundaries, leaving listeners with an entirely new soundtrack for the year.
Two seniors recognized by nation’s oldest science and math research award
Leonardo Jia and Skyler Mao qualified as the Top 300 winners of the Regeneron Scholars.
SHS ‘almost-alumnus’ from Class of ‘84 shows there are many pathways to success
From high school dropout to selling his own landscaping business, Michael Young never graduated but found his calling.
What will the next four years look like under a Trump presidency?
As Trump enters his second term in office, students across campus navigate the potential shifts in policy, civil rights, and personal freedoms that could follow.
Camping at Mount Diablo: We get away for the weekend
As family friends, our hangouts tend to have more possibilities, one being camping with our parents.
Marching band closes its season placing second at the WBA Regional Championships in LA
After a disappointing last place at their first competition, the Cupertino Tournament of Bands, the band ended their season on a high note, winning second place at their final competition.
Marching band takes fourth place at Cupertino High competition
After months of rehearsal, the marching band successfully completed their first two performances of the season.
The perfect gift: my childhood blanket
My trusty pink blanket has lived in four different places over ten years, and it is yet to have a hole in it.
Competitive athletes balance rigorous sports schedule with academics
Two talented students discuss the strategies and challenges they use when navigating their busy schedules of sports, school, and other extracurricular activities.
Freshmen pull through despite fewer than 30 participants in their first quad day performance
From a witty skit to upbeat dancing, the Class of 2028 delivered admirable spirit and many smiles.
100-word rave: Applesauce is my go-to snack
Sweet and easy to throw in your lunchbox, applesauce is the perfect snack.
Kamala Harris brings long-awaited and indispensable gender and ethnic representation to U.S. politics
If Harris is elected in November, it’ll change the political landscape for decades to come.
When politics intrude into the classroom
Students and teachers both believe that personal biases should not affect political discussions in the classroom, yet they disagree on how visible the opinions truly are.
Is it possible to have the perfect sleepover with your best friend?
After having our first sleepover in seventh grade, we’d fallen into a mundane routine in subsequent sleepovers, so we decided to try something new.
Students participate in prestigious Blue Devils Drums Corps over the summer
Six students from the SHS band program traveled to Indianapolis to compete in the DCI World Championships.
100-word rant: Homework should always be due at the start of class, not midnight of the night before
There’s no reason to submit homework the night before class when our teachers won’t even see it until the next day.
Top 10: things that keep me up at night
The only time I’m not sleepy is when I try to fall asleep.