Saratoga High is one of the most rigorous public schools in California. More than 98 percent of its graduates attend college, and in 2011, 90 percent of the AP tests taken earned a qualifying score. As a result, most graduates feel that the school has prepared them to face college and life in general.

Each year in late September or early October, we devote one week to celebrating our Falcon pride. Some scoff at the traditions while others embrace them; nonetheless, this week has an impact on our school: It is Homecoming.

Homecoming is a time-honored tradition at SHS, just as it is at most other high schools across the nation. And although the majority of students will probably forget in a few years who won quad day and who was the Homecoming queen, Homecoming leaves a lasting impact on many students and on the school as a whole.

Lawyer, writer, software engineer, caterer. Living in Sweden, Italy, Mexico, or Southern California. Walking into a high school reunion is overwhelming, yet undeniably exciting to see the diverse paths former friends and peers have taken after graduating.

Many a time, students at Saratoga High dismiss leadership opportunities in favor of a rigorous academic schedule and numerous other extracurricular activities. However, participating in class office, as these three alumni testify, bolsters a student’s high school experience and is truly rewarding later in life.

For the past five years, students and teachers from Saratoga High and West Valley College have coordinated their respective Special Education departments to host the Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration. On Dec. 15, the Sixth Annual Alumni Holiday Celebration was held in the cafeteria. It is a potluck, so attendees are encouraged to bring an appetizer, snack or dessert item.

What's the point of high school? So often we roam the halls of the science wing pondering the significance of the anatomy of a frog in our own lives or leave the math quad wondering why we need to know how to graph a parabola. Why do we read "Of Mice and Men" in freshman year, and who cares about the causes of World War I?

In short, these necessary high school lessons serve as building blocks for later in life, perhaps stepping stones for a future career. Just ask Lynn Chouw, a 2001 graduate and current aerospace engineer at Lockheed Martin.

A series of alumni speakers were invited to the school's College and Career Center during their spring breaks recently to describe their college experiences.

The College and Career Center coordinator, Bonnie Sheikh, called the visits "a great opportunity for [students] to talk to alumni" and gain "a practical perspective."

Sheikh brought in speakers by asking PTSO parents if they had older kids who would be willing to speak and also sending messages through the online program Naviance.

Most students today would never imagine being able to buy a yearbook for $4 or listen to Duke Ellington and his jazz orchestra live for even less. For students here 40 years ago, such occurrences were normal.

While most clubs wait until after Club Day to get started, the speech and debate team has already been hard at work over the summer preparing for its season, which begins Sept. 25 with the Robert Garcia Tournament at St. Francis High School.

Despite the loss of several key team members and the promotion of former assistant coach Dan Hodgins to head coach, the boys' cross country still has high expectations for a great season.

The team’s two strongest runners, alumni Alan Menezes and Kian Banks, graduated last year, a big loss for the team considering the talents the duo brought to the squad. The team will also having to deal with the loss of seniors Kyle Borch and Nick Olsen and sophomore Harry Curtis, who elected not to participate this year.