The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
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
English teacher Jason Friend holds up money to the song “Money, Money, Money” by ABBA. The homecoming theme for the staff this year was “The Game of Life.”
Faculty’s quad day guides students through the life-sized version of the “Game of Life”
October 16, 2024
Freshman Tessie Berger (left) plays the role of Raymond Berry, an attorney for the dial painters with junior Ben Davies (right) who plays the role of Edward Markley, a counsel for the U.S. Radium Corporation.
Drama prepares ‘Radium Girls’ for the fall play
October 14, 2024
Mothers of middle and high school students from across the Bay Area listen to MomsConnect 2024 panelists on Sept. 22.
Safine among panelists for non-profit Chai with Moms inaugural event
October 10, 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
TikTok has created a variety of new opportunities for music artists to go viral but this has also come with a negative impact on the music industry.
TikTok’s short-form approach undermines the quality of today’s music
October 18, 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
Young NFL stars James Cook and Marvin Harrison Jr. celebrated their breakout campaigns in blowout victories.
The first five week of fantasy football: Wild breakout performances and disappointing injuries
October 14, 2024
On Aug. 24, Zhang competes in the 50-meter freestyle in the preliminary round at Junior Pan-Pacific Championships.
Talented swimmer goes to Australia to compete at 2024 Junior Pan-Pacific Championships
September 30, 2024
Freshmen Delsin Dizoglio and Kaylee Ren play physical tic-tac-toe in period 6 P.E.
New mandatory P.E. rule for freshmen goes into effect
September 29, 2024
The Falcons huddle before their first scrimmage of the season against Evergreen on Sept. 5th.
Football team sees hard work pay off as a dominant 42-7 win against the Pioneers places them 2-0 in league
September 29, 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
Kamala Harris represents the U.S. in international politics.
Kamala Harris brings long-awaited and indispensable gender and ethnic representation to U.S. politics
September 30, 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
Part of my Smiski collection near my desk.
Smiskis are the perfect collectible to decorate your room
October 18, 2024
The school and Benny Pierce field) I spent 13 treacherous hours at.
The tale of my never-ending 13-hour school day
October 14, 2024
Real-life image of my friend with AirPods while studying.
Top-10 classical music pieces to take a listen to
October 5, 2024

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon

Isabelle Wang, News Editor

All content by Isabelle Wang
Part of my Smiski collection near my desk.

Smiskis are the perfect collectible to decorate your room

Isabelle Wang
October 18, 2024
In May of 2022, baseball player Samanyu Ram stands on Saratoga’s home field after a CCS win against St. Thomas More.

Senior commits to NYU’s Division III baseball program

Clara Choi and Isabelle Wang
September 19, 2024
Lee practices a backflip with his coach.

Senior finds welcoming community in tricking

Isabelle Wang
September 19, 2024
Some of our favorite seasonal snacks.

Because we miss the holiday season, here are our favorite eats

Divya Vadlakonda and Isabelle Wang
September 15, 2024
My nail designs usually include stars, pearls and 3D swirls of various colors.

Nail dust and volatile chemicals are no match for my love for nail art

Isabelle Wang
August 30, 2024
The immense piles of emails we get from the district each week.

Photo or Graphic for: Too many district emails muddle the efficiency of communication

William Norwood
May 21, 2024
Tofu is soy delicious.

We love tofu so much — you should too

Divya Vadlakonda and Isabelle Wang
May 4, 2024
Kapur’s family celebrates the New Year with their Haft Sin table. 

Beyond family traditions: How classes and clubs help students stay connected to their cultures

Nicole Lee and Isabelle Wang
May 4, 2024
One of the iconic caricatures of the “Clash Royale” game.

Photo or Graphic for: “Clash Royale”: The defining game of my middle school days

Bryan Zhao
April 19, 2024
A girl working on her homework at sunrise as opposed to during midnight hours.

Photo or Graphic for: Our journey of building better sleep habits

Nicole Lee and Victoria Lin
March 27, 2024
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Photo or Graphic for: The most important day of the year: Waffle Day

William Norwood and Sarah Thomas
March 25, 2024
Junior Sarah Lim hits the golf ball at the AJGA tournament on July 12.

Junior verbally commits to play golf at Princeton

Isabelle Wang
March 14, 2024
Although there are still comparatively few, the number of Asian-American athletes is on the rise.

Photo or Graphic for: What is behind the low Asian-American racial makeup in American sports?

Florence Hu and Bryan Zhao
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
One of the slides from the club’s meeting.

Modern Mystery club ‘solves’ past murder cases, such as the 1969 unsolved Zodiac Killer case of a serial killer

Isabelle Wang and Florence Wei
March 14, 2024
Senior Angela Luo works on urinalysis at Silicon Valley Career Tech Education.

Senior gains experience working alongside veterinarian in Career Tech program 

Annie Liu and Isabelle Wang
March 14, 2024
Reporters get ready to ingest the various flavors and test their spice tolerances.

Photo or Graphic for: Noodle, noodle on the tongue, what’s the spiciest flavor of them all?

Nicole Lee, William Norwood, and Divya Vadlakonda
March 13, 2024
The transition from middle to high school is a tough one.

Photo or Graphic for: Freshman year: a time for exploration and building good habits

Bryan Zhao & Ruiyan Zhu
March 11, 2024
Subway’s footlong pretzel, cookie and churro.

Sussing out the new subway Sidekicks

William Norwood and Isabelle Wang
March 7, 2024
I promise that I will become more productive and happier when spring rolls around.

Photo or Graphic for: Goodbye seasonal depression; hello sunshine

Annika Gho
March 3, 2024
Career Compass website.

Junior creates organization to share student passions

Isabelle Wang
March 3, 2024
A ‘Candy Crush’ level.

‘Candy Crush’: simple nostalgia and comfort in one app

Isabelle Wang
March 3, 2024
The pig fetus lab on Feb. 5.

Orre’s curriculum in Anatomy and Physiology evolves to stay relevant

Victoria Lin and Isabelle Wang
February 28, 2024
Students wish their parents would show up for them physically, mentally and emotionally.

Photo or Graphic for: Parenting advice from teens: I wish…

Anika Kapasi and Jane Lee
February 6, 2024
My tote bag collection portrayed by Isabelle.

Photo or Graphic for: Tote bags are symbolic of Gen Z fashion and trends

William Norwood
February 5, 2024
AMC 12A questions leaked resulting in a disaster for the math community.

Photo or Graphic for: AMC 12A test leak underscores new era of low-risk, high-reward cheating

Florence Hu and Alan Cai
January 30, 2024
Macaroni noodles suspended in a strawberry cheese jello.

Amateurs’ kitchen: Combining sweets and salts in a meal and not loving the results

William Norwood, Nicole Lee, and Isabelle Wang
January 24, 2024
Saratoga Bike Club members rode to Shoreline on Nov. 25, 2023.

Falcon Focus: Biking club’s president finds community on extended rides

Isabelle Wang and Florence Wei
January 24, 2024
Puxtswaney Phil emerging from his burrow to dictate how much longer winter will be.

Photo or Graphic for: What even is Groundhog Day?

Victoria Lin and William Norwood
January 24, 2024
The process of crafting the Friday Letter each week invites collaborative input from staff and students.

Photo or Graphic for: Behind the principal’s SHS Friday Letter: a schoolwide group project

Florence Hu
January 24, 2024
One of my favorite vegetarian meals.

Photo or Graphic for: When it comes to eating styles, pescetarianism strikes a sensible balance

William Norwood
January 23, 2024
During break time, students get distracted by their screens.

Photo or Graphic for: Breaking down breaks: There are better ways to stay refreshed in class

Grace Lin
January 21, 2024
Postcards resembling my chickens at several points during our journey together.

Photo or Graphic for: A farewell to my 20 chickens: I will miss your company

Nicole Lee
January 21, 2024
The short-term glimmer in the city covered up its homelessness crisis.

Photo or Graphic for: San Francisco undergoes rapid cleanup, attempting to mask troubles within

Bryan Zhao and Florence Hu
January 16, 2024
Nicole, William, Sarah and Isabelle smile happily over food.

The QUIET SHY somehow carried the BRITISH CHAD

Nicole Lee, William Norwood, Sarah Thomas, and Isabelle Wang
December 20, 2023
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Photo or Graphic for: If you’re pregnant (or not), avoid these truly odd food cravings

William Norwood and Divya Vadlakonda
December 14, 2023
Untitled_Artwork

Photo or Graphic for: Shut the lulu up

Sarah Thomas
December 14, 2023
Untitled Artwork

Photo or Graphic for: Being on the field or the court isn’t the only way to stay in sports

Neal Malhotra
December 13, 2023
Untitled_Artwork 23

Photo or Graphic for: ‘The Hunger Games’ prequel subverts expectations through theatrical elements and great scriptwriting 

Natalie Chua and Sanjoli Gupta
December 11, 2023
Boundless limits on the creativity of humans compared to the algorithm coded AI.

AI is unable to mimic human creativity necessary in various forms of art

Isabelle Wang
December 7, 2023
Untitled_Artwork 18

Photo or Graphic for: My mother lied to me: Hiccups do not make you one inch taller

Saachi Jain
December 7, 2023
How the first week of junior year felt.

Photo or Graphic for: Summer programs, while sometimes useful and engaging, can handicap students heading into the challenging honors and AP classes   

Anika Kapasi
December 2, 2023
Sophomore Thalea Charton dances at Dance Nationals in March 2023.

A balancing act: Sophomore learns to juggle water polo and dance

Isabelle Wang
November 16, 2023
Some AP classes, such as Calculus and Statistics, are better at incorporating real-life examples into their curriculum.

Photo or Graphic for: AP classes need to do more than simply prepare students for the AP test

Saachi Jain
November 15, 2023
Just the sight of pumpkin spice fills me with despair. 

Photo or Graphic for: Sorry, pumpkin spice lattes, there just isn’t a place for you here

Caitlin Stoiber
November 13, 2023
‘Mulan’ brought out my true reflection and taught me to appreciate it.

Photo or Graphic for: ‘Mulan’ brought honor to my identity

Annika Gho
November 13, 2023
Top candles from Sephora, T.J. Maxx and Target.

Photo or Graphic for: Best fall scented candles at Sephora, T.J. Maxx and Target

Christina Labban and Ruiyan Zhu
November 11, 2023
Students practice crocheting and knitting during Knit for Need Club’s second meeting on Oct. 25.

Knit for Need Club donates student creations to charities

Isabelle Wang and Florence Wei
November 8, 2023
Ever since flipped classrooms came into play, our worlds turned upside down.

Photo or Graphic for: Flipping out: Why we can’t stand flipped classrooms

Grace Lin and Florence Wei
November 8, 2023
Traffic lights glare red as soon as they see me.

Photo or Graphic for: Traffic lights: Are they really automated?

Bryan Zhao
November 6, 2023
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Photo or Graphic for: Homework quizzes need to be tweaked to actually test for understanding

Sarah Thomas
November 6, 2023
Project Cornerstone’s first meeting on Oct. 23 about the human brain.

PTSO launches Project Cornerstone workshop for parents

Isabelle Wang
November 3, 2023
Football fans (or not) are disappointed when their favorite dopamine-inducing candies and snacks are sold out.

Photo or Graphic for: The football snack shack needs to stock up  

Angela Tan
November 3, 2023
Ethan Hunt protecting the female leads.

Photo or Graphic for: Overwhelming clichés in new ‘Mission Impossible’ movie balanced out by well-shot action scenes

Victoria Lin
October 29, 2023
Totoro, Chu Totoro and Chibi Totoro march together.

Guide for newbies: A step into the whimsical world of Studio Ghibli

Isabelle Wang
October 28, 2023
Herzman poses in front of the Marina Bay Sands at the new teacher’s social.

Literature teacher returns after year abroad teaching in Singapore

Caitlin Stoiber and Isabelle Wang
October 27, 2023
Class rivalry during rally games is a great way to raise school and class pride. 

Photo or Graphic for: Dear Toga students: You aren’t ‘too cool’ to attend rallies

Shirina Cao and Anika Kapasi
October 19, 2023
Rallies are the place to go if you want people encroaching on your personal space.

Photo or Graphic for: Teachers, please stop shepherding us to rallies

Alec Guan and Jeremy Si
October 18, 2023
Teenage boys with baseball caps and shaggy hair block my bike, heckling over my discomfort.

Photo or Graphic for: Column: I’m afraid of teenagers who radiate middle school energy

Angela Tan
September 30, 2023
Algorithms and data sequences are rarely an accurate replacement for humans.

Photo or Graphic for: AI detectors can be xenophobic — let’s end them

William Norwood
September 28, 2023
City council meeting held on Zoom on Sep. 6, when council members discussed the campaign to ban artificial turf.

Environmental Club takes action to improve public health by advocating for legislative policies 

Isabelle Wang and Florence Wei
September 28, 2023
Piracy is a lifestyle.

Photo or Graphic for: How to read books without even paying

Sarah Thomas
September 27, 2023
cuckoo parents go vroom vroom.

Photo or Graphic for: Parents: Please follow the rules and don’t clog the parking lot

Sarah Thomas
September 27, 2023
My personal pencil case is filled with the highest quality of tools.

Photo or Graphic for: Top-tier pens and pencils can upgrade your life

William Norwood
September 27, 2023
The two watches I lost in various places.

Photo or Graphic for: A tale of two lost watches

Sunny Cao
September 21, 2023
The completed mural on the backside of the 700 building.

English 11 Honors students finish ‘Beloved’ mural in summer

Divya Vadlakonda and Isabelle Wang
September 14, 2023
The food trucks on Aug. 15 raised money for the school year.

Annual social events welcome students to the new school year

Isabelle Wang
September 9, 2023
The marvels of the irony of the fire alarm.

Photo or Graphic for: A perfectly timed fire drill precedes actual fire situation the next day

Nicole Lee
September 5, 2023
Junior Lynn Dai presents the results of her project through the zFairs platform on April 11.

Students compete at California Science & Engineering Fair but fail to advance to further competition

Isabelle Wang
May 25, 2023
The Youth & Innovation Project team’s research on the University of Waterloo page.

Sophomore volunteers as research assistant in youth and innovation project

Isabelle Wang
May 20, 2023
Students listening during the campus meeting on April 27.

District board members meet with students on campus

Emma Fung and Isabelle Wang
May 17, 2023
 Leadership has struggled with ticket sales and gaining interest among the student population in order to hold a spring dance for the past several years.

Photo or Graphic for: Leadership unable to host spring dance for the fourth year in a row 

Anika Kapasi
May 17, 2023
The newly completed field features a fully artificial turf surface.

Photo or Graphic for: Following seven months of work and $4 million renovations, new baseball field opens for season

Saachi Jain and Daniel Wu
March 31, 2023
The Soundings exhibition took place in Saratoga High’s library on March 3.

Soundings staff hosts their first exhibition to fund for print magazine

Isabelle Wang
March 17, 2023
Clay figurines to make during a movie night.

How to organize a fun-filled movie night on a $30 budget

Nicole Lee and Isabelle Wang
March 7, 2023
Food thrown on Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting “Mona Lisa.”

Throwing food at famous paintings doesn’t solve our climate crisis

Nicole Lee and Isabelle Wang
March 7, 2023
A collection of Telgemeier’s characters from Smile, Sisters and Ghosts.

Raina Telgemeier: beloved author of charming graphic novels

Amy Luo and Isabelle Wang
March 7, 2023
Striker Kate Oberhauser at the preseason game.

Girls’ soccer fights uphill battle in De Anza League

Victoria Lin and Isabelle Wang
February 8, 2023
Sarah Lim finishes her shot at Hunter Ranch in Paso Robles on Dec. 3.

Golfer reflects on mentality of playing alone

Isabelle Wang
January 23, 2023
In honor of conductor Yuriy Kerpatenko.

Microcosm of Russia’s human rights violations: Ukraine conductor dead after refusing to cooperate

Nicole Lee and Isabelle Wang
January 22, 2023
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