The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
95071X Extremity’s robot competes on the playing field during a scrimmage.
VEX Robotics team hosts inter-school scrimmages in preparation for worlds
April 26, 2025
Courtesy of Abhiram Ruthala An infographic describing the implications of different waves captured by the Muse headset, included in a video produced by the group to present their project.
Sophomore explores passion in neuroscience, placing second in California’s 16th Congressional District in prestigious coding competition
April 26, 2025
Courtesy of Dave Rickling Rickling’s stand at De Anza College Farmers’ Market, selling jars of honey and honey sticks alongside other vendors.
Dave’s Backyard Bees: from lockdown hobby to booming business
April 25, 2025
The SHS and RMS Combined Band performs at the 2024 Pancake Breakfast.
SMB prepares for annual Pancake Breakfast
April 25, 2025
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
Using phones before sleep not only harms your eyes, but also delays the time it takes to fall asleep.
Scrolling into insomnia: how electronics rob teens of sleep
April 27, 2025
Strydom’s dabbles in a variety of mediums, including pencil sketches, pen sketches and digital art.
Sophomore’s YouTube Shorts reach thousands of views
April 27, 2025
Courtesy of Portsmouth Events The remake of ‘Snow White’ sparked controversy and mixed reactions ahead of its March 21 release.
Disney’s ‘Snow White’: not the fairest adaptation of them all
April 26, 2025
Courtesy of Karthik Sangameswaran Sangameswaran proudly holds up the book his work is published in.
Senior becomes a published historian
April 25, 2025
Our H-Mart shopping basket.
A Falcon guide to Chinese Lay’s flavors from H-Mart
April 25, 2025
The notorious “torpedo bat” has increased mass in the center of the barrel, hence the name.
Controversial torpedo bat makes a splash in MLB
April 27, 2025
Athletic trainer Kevin Attard helps junior football and lacrosse player Jayden Kwong prepare for knee rehabilitation.
New athletic trainer hired after months-long search
April 25, 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
Courtesy of Pinterest The ideal Expo marker in a classroom should be fresh and full of ink.
100-word rant: Dried markers, know your place (in the trash)
April 25, 2025
This energy drink is the perfect refreshing drink on a hot summer day.
100-word rave: Energy drinks are just spectacular
April 25, 2025
The issue of modern feminism: Don’t mistake progress for exploitation
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
New York Times’ games can predict my future
New York Times’ games can predict my future
April 26, 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
Volume 57, Issue 6
Volume 57, Issue 6
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 5
Volume 57, Issue 5
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 4
Volume 57, Issue 4
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 3
Volume 57, Issue 3
April 23, 2025
Volume 57, Issue 2
Volume 57, Issue 2
April 23, 2025

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Tara Natarajan
The five contestants (left to right) — Derek Liang, Anika Kapasi, Beverly Xu, Kathy Wang and Tara Natarjan — line up behind their boards.

The Charcuterie Board Beatdown: which reporter will make the breaking board?

Anika Kapasi, Derek Liang, Tara Natarajan, Kathy Wang, and Beverly Xu
My Common App essay after two months of fruitful progress.

Top 10: places where I’ve worked on my college application essays (and why you shouldn’t)

Tara Natarajan
Charlie Brown is an unexpected Christmas comfort character

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ spotlights struggles of those who just don’t mesh with the holiday

Tara Natarajan
Gym bro culture normalizes disordered eating under the guise of self-improvement

Gym bro culture normalizes disordered eating under the guise of self-improvement

Tara Natarajan

Mountain View episode underscores need for independent student journalism

Tara Natarajan and Kavya Patel
Am I really a Logician? Debriefing my personality test results 

Am I really a Logician? Debriefing my personality test results 

Tara Natarajan
A still from one of my childhood shows, “Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom.” Ben, an elf, and Holly, a fairy, hang out with their friend Gaston the ladybird.

A childhood without ‘Spongebob’ allowed me to experience truly great childhood TV

Tara Natarajan
Junior Sarah Lim marks her last putt at Baylands during the team's second match of the season on Aug. 30.

Photo or Graphic for: Early season update: Girls’ golf team banks on returning players 

Kathy Wang
Senior Lucas Dennis pitches a ball

Top senior athletes: Falcons shine in their respective sports

Victoria Lin, Tara Natarajan, and Aiden Ye
There are multiple pathways to college other than going straight after high school.

Photo or Graphic for: As colleges acceptance rates continue to decline, more students should turn to options other than 4-year universities

Neal Malhotra and Kavya Patel
Alumni players Rick Worman, Rich Orlando, Kevin Ruf, Steve Worman, Larry Worman, Kevin Tanner, Rob Orlando and Kyle Heinrich (left to right) pose with coach Benny Pierce (center) at the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl reunion game against Los Gatos on Nov. 26, 1992.

Colleagues, alumni reflect on longtime football coach’s Benny Pierce’s life and legacy

Tara Natarajan
One of my go-to workouts is Kirsten Ferguson’s popular ‘90s Walk series.

The Peloton app might be what you need to get fit

Tara Natarajan
With superscoring, students combine their best scores from each section of the SAT.

Superscoring exacerbates existing inequity in the SAT

Tara Natarajan
The leadership conference attendees pose in front of Aurora’s castle on the last day of the trip.

Leadership class travels to Anaheim and learns leadership the ‘Disney Way’

Allison Tan and Tara Natarajan
A typical BBL dress can be found on websites like PrettyLittleThing and Fashion Nova.

BBLs and beauty standards: the damaging effects of the trend cycle

Tara Natarajan
That’s a wrap for the movies of 2022.

2022 wrapup: my favorite movies of the year

Tara Natarajan
Twitter has long been toxic; why are we trying to protect it?

Twitter has long been toxic; why are we trying to protect it?

Tara Natarajan
The process of mixing the brownie batter. 

The best baking guide to making brownies from scratch (kind of)

Tara Natarajan and Kavya Patel
 Passing proposition includes the legalization of sports betting.

Photo or Graphic for: California’s propositions challenge voters with tough decisions over often obscure issues

Sarah Zhou and William Norwood
Biology teacher Anne Witkowski helps one of her students during tutorial.

Class of ‘15 alumna returns as intern to teach Biology

Derek Liang and Tara Natarajan
Nearly 50 seniors show up to the first day of Homecoming move-in.

Senior Homecoming participation increases

Allison Tan and Tara Natarajan
Duvvuri sets the ball for his teammate

Junior wins national volleyball title with his team in the 16U division

Tara Natarajan
Counselor Brad Ward leads a college application introductory presentation for seniors in the new College and Career Center on Aug. 25.

College and career counselor Brad Ward quickly settles into the school community

Tara Natarajan, Shreya Rallabandi, and Beverly Xu
Affirmative action cannot be abolished without drastic consequences

Affirmative action cannot be abolished without drastic consequences

Tara Natarajan
Seniors Sadaf Sobhani and Caroline Keogh strike a pose on the runway together.

Benefit organizers, model reflect on 2022 show

Tara Natarajan

Track: While losing meets, individuals set their own PRs

Tara Natarajan and Shaan Sridhar
Kyle Scola hits a jump off a ramp at the Northstar slopes while snowboarding.

A Tahoe life: Skier and snowboarder relish their time on the slopes

Tara Natarajan and Daniel Wu
Employees from Inspire Diagnostics wait for students at the school’s testing site

Students and staff grapple with COVID-19 infections

Sarah Thomas and Tara Natarajan
Senior Amoli Vanavadiya overtakes her competitor at a meet.

Cross-country captain reflects upon school educational experiences in India

Tara Natarajan

English teachers foster classroom community through various forms of gift exchanges

Tara Natarajan and Kavya Patel

Dutch transfer student experiences Saratoga education and school culture

Tara Natarajan
Caroline Keogh works with sandpaper letters in her Beijing Montessori elementary school

Senior reflects on education abroad compared to in Saratoga

Tara Natarajan
The ‘metaverse’ may be the internet’s next big thing, but it shouldn’t be Meta’s

The ‘metaverse’ may be the internet’s next big thing, but it shouldn’t be Meta’s

Tara Natarajan
‘Blue Banisters’: Lana Del Rey reminds us that she is still in charge of her narrative

‘Blue Banisters’: Lana Del Rey reminds us that she is still in charge of her narrative

Tara Natarajan
Five (actually good) covers of Christmas classics you should add to your 2021 winter playlist immediately

Five (actually good) covers of Christmas classics you should add to your 2021 winter playlist immediately

Tara Natarajan
The district aligned valedictorian and salutatorian GPA calculation.

District aligns GPA policies between both school sites

Tara Natarajan and Shaan Sridhar
Profane graffiti from the night of Oct. 31 scrawled across a wall at Los Gatos High School

Los Gatos community responds to vandalism incidents of spray-painted profanities and slurs

Sanjoli Gupta and Tara Natarajan
Multiethnic South Asian students recount their experiences with identity, culture and family

Multiethnic South Asian students recount their experiences with identity, culture and family

Tara Natarajan and Sarah Thomas
The Anarchists’ poster for Daveyland

MAP students dive headfirst into 19th century social and economical philosophy

Tara Natarajan and Sarah Thomas
Nicki Minaj’s vaccine-related tweets amount to a public health hazard

Nicki Minaj’s vaccine-related tweets amount to a public health hazard

Tara Natarajan
Principal’s assistant Pola-Michelle Alas to leave school for district office this month

Principal’s assistant Pola-Michelle Alas to leave school for district office this month

Tara Natarajan and Sanjoli Gupta
Halloween 2020

My first autumn in America

Tara Natarajan

New English 12 teacher splits time between SHS and LGHS

Apurva Chakravarthy and Tara Natarajan

As team rebuilds, senior golfer relishes having a more normal season

Avani Kongetira and Tara Natarajan
The singer’s supporters rally near the Los Angeles courthouse where her conservatorship case is being heard.

Conservatorships aren’t just a Britney issue — they’re a civil rights issue

Tara Natarajan
Screen Shot 2021-01-21 at 10

Weaving the fabric of pandemic communication

Tara Natarajan
Load More Stories
Donate to The Saratoga Falcon