Tapping into a new form of dance March 9, 2012 — by Vivien Lu With the noisy tap shoes, I begin to produce an entirely new sound. Stomp, hop, shuffle, step, flap, step, stomp and repeat—one of the simplest routines for any tap dancer. It took me an hour to memorize this routine in the correct order and still I looked like an off-balance leprechaun, ungracefully clomping my large feet all over the place. read more » Field trips open minds of students March 5, 2012 — by Vivien Lu With the school year quickly coming to an end, restless students are excited to jump out of their seats as both MAP and drama are venturing to Southern California on class field trips. Drama plays with other schools read more » End of procrastination requires wake-up calls January 12, 2012 — by Vivian LeTran and Vivien Lu People usually do not change unless an event is significant enough to have a real impact on their daily lifestyle. Eventually, as students journey through life, they will receive some sort of wake-up call that will change and shape their habits for their entire lives. People tend to miss the obvious; the conundrum here is how in-your-face the epiphany has to be before they actually see it. read more » Falcon Focus: Science teacher runs her heart out January 12, 2012 — by Vivien Lu Science teacher Kelly Nicholson lacked interest and passion in other sports while she was in high school, but she had a knack for running and has stuck with it for 32 years. read more » Trainer treats students with ice and laughter November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu In the small training room near the pool, athletic trainer Liz Gilmore Alves tends to numerous athletes a day, caring for immediate injuries and placating and speeding recovery for long-term injuries. read more » Easy dinner for busy people November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu As the child of working parents, I find myself constantly scavenging for leftovers in the refrigerator or cooking a narrow variety of food for myself, ranging from toast to french toast. After what became too routine, I recently found salvation in a completely different and more fortunate alternative. read more » Walk the human plank: pop culture phenomenon hits high school October 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Nikil Ramanathan Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon. read more » Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Field trips open minds of students March 5, 2012 — by Vivien Lu With the school year quickly coming to an end, restless students are excited to jump out of their seats as both MAP and drama are venturing to Southern California on class field trips. Drama plays with other schools read more » End of procrastination requires wake-up calls January 12, 2012 — by Vivian LeTran and Vivien Lu People usually do not change unless an event is significant enough to have a real impact on their daily lifestyle. Eventually, as students journey through life, they will receive some sort of wake-up call that will change and shape their habits for their entire lives. People tend to miss the obvious; the conundrum here is how in-your-face the epiphany has to be before they actually see it. read more » Falcon Focus: Science teacher runs her heart out January 12, 2012 — by Vivien Lu Science teacher Kelly Nicholson lacked interest and passion in other sports while she was in high school, but she had a knack for running and has stuck with it for 32 years. read more » Trainer treats students with ice and laughter November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu In the small training room near the pool, athletic trainer Liz Gilmore Alves tends to numerous athletes a day, caring for immediate injuries and placating and speeding recovery for long-term injuries. read more » Easy dinner for busy people November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu As the child of working parents, I find myself constantly scavenging for leftovers in the refrigerator or cooking a narrow variety of food for myself, ranging from toast to french toast. After what became too routine, I recently found salvation in a completely different and more fortunate alternative. read more » Walk the human plank: pop culture phenomenon hits high school October 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Nikil Ramanathan Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon. read more » Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
End of procrastination requires wake-up calls January 12, 2012 — by Vivian LeTran and Vivien Lu People usually do not change unless an event is significant enough to have a real impact on their daily lifestyle. Eventually, as students journey through life, they will receive some sort of wake-up call that will change and shape their habits for their entire lives. People tend to miss the obvious; the conundrum here is how in-your-face the epiphany has to be before they actually see it. read more » Falcon Focus: Science teacher runs her heart out January 12, 2012 — by Vivien Lu Science teacher Kelly Nicholson lacked interest and passion in other sports while she was in high school, but she had a knack for running and has stuck with it for 32 years. read more » Trainer treats students with ice and laughter November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu In the small training room near the pool, athletic trainer Liz Gilmore Alves tends to numerous athletes a day, caring for immediate injuries and placating and speeding recovery for long-term injuries. read more » Easy dinner for busy people November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu As the child of working parents, I find myself constantly scavenging for leftovers in the refrigerator or cooking a narrow variety of food for myself, ranging from toast to french toast. After what became too routine, I recently found salvation in a completely different and more fortunate alternative. read more » Walk the human plank: pop culture phenomenon hits high school October 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Nikil Ramanathan Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon. read more » Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Falcon Focus: Science teacher runs her heart out January 12, 2012 — by Vivien Lu Science teacher Kelly Nicholson lacked interest and passion in other sports while she was in high school, but she had a knack for running and has stuck with it for 32 years. read more » Trainer treats students with ice and laughter November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu In the small training room near the pool, athletic trainer Liz Gilmore Alves tends to numerous athletes a day, caring for immediate injuries and placating and speeding recovery for long-term injuries. read more » Easy dinner for busy people November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu As the child of working parents, I find myself constantly scavenging for leftovers in the refrigerator or cooking a narrow variety of food for myself, ranging from toast to french toast. After what became too routine, I recently found salvation in a completely different and more fortunate alternative. read more » Walk the human plank: pop culture phenomenon hits high school October 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Nikil Ramanathan Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon. read more » Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Trainer treats students with ice and laughter November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu In the small training room near the pool, athletic trainer Liz Gilmore Alves tends to numerous athletes a day, caring for immediate injuries and placating and speeding recovery for long-term injuries. read more » Easy dinner for busy people November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu As the child of working parents, I find myself constantly scavenging for leftovers in the refrigerator or cooking a narrow variety of food for myself, ranging from toast to french toast. After what became too routine, I recently found salvation in a completely different and more fortunate alternative. read more » Walk the human plank: pop culture phenomenon hits high school October 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Nikil Ramanathan Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon. read more » Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Easy dinner for busy people November 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu As the child of working parents, I find myself constantly scavenging for leftovers in the refrigerator or cooking a narrow variety of food for myself, ranging from toast to french toast. After what became too routine, I recently found salvation in a completely different and more fortunate alternative. read more » Walk the human plank: pop culture phenomenon hits high school October 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Nikil Ramanathan Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon. read more » Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Walk the human plank: pop culture phenomenon hits high school October 3, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Nikil Ramanathan Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon. read more » Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Falcon Focus: Senior pursues Indian Carnatic music October 3, 2011 — by Jackie Gu and Vivien Lu On a given Tuesday night, senior Parthiv Mohan has piles of work to complete that his intensive classes demand. Instead of working on an AP Physics laboratory or reading dense philosophical text for AP Lang, however, he’s more likely to be found at his music teacher’s studio, practicing Carnatic music. read more » Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Increasing flow of freshmen September 9, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Freshman Nikhil Chakravarthy expected to encounter a new set of rules and an expanded workload in high school. He did not, however, foresee the packed classes and cramped halls. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. read more » Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Freshman kicks off the year with soccer aspirations September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu For freshman Audrie Pott, the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal for her soccer team. Soccer has been Pott’s favorite sport for as long as she could remember; she started playing when she was only 2. “Soccer has always been my No. 1 sport,” Pott said. “I plan to play throughout high school too, and see where that takes me.” Pott enjoys every aspect of being part of a team and is looking forward to joining the school’s girls’ soccer team. read more » New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
New school psychologist anticipates success September 5, 2011 — by Vivien Lu New school psychologist Michael Slone joined the administrative team at the start of this school year after former school psychologist Mark Atkinson accepted a position as the director of special education at the district office. Slone was encouraged by Atkinson to apply for the position and is excited to come to Saratoga High. “He bragged about this school and the students,” Slone said. “All of the positive information he gave me about the students, the staff and the administration was one of the reasons that convinced me to come here.” read more » ‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
‘Winnie the Pooh’ fails to win over teenagers, but brings back childhood memories September 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh Only July 15, Disney brought back another favorite cartoon from our childhoods this past summer. We return to the Hundred Acre Woods with “Winnie the Pooh.” The charming adventures of the silly old bear and his animal friends reintegrates the whimsical simplicity that many newer movies and cartoons more frequently lack. read more » Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Sports Hall of Fame June 2, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Saratoga Sports Hall of Fame, started in 2007, is such a new tradition that the plaque for it has not yet been created, but the honor still holds its prestige. read more » Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Softball team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Softball: Team breaks losing streak with two victories May 25, 2011 — by Vivien Lu and Izzy Albert The Falcons lost 16 games this year, but many players felt good that they were able to win two of the final four games in exciting fashion. read more » Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Insomniac refuses to sleep through life May 11, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It is 4 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. I am in bed and under the covers in my fish-decorated pajamas, but for some reason, I am not asleep. Instead, I lie in the serene darkness with every desire to be asleep, but unfortunately, this attempt appears to be useless, as usual. Most juniors would have fallen asleep from exhaustion by now, but this is a typical night for me because I have always had a sleeping problem. read more » Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Sadies runs smoothly April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the turnout for the April 2 Sadie Hawkins dance was low, the estimated 150 students who went were able to make the most of it. “I think there weren’t a lot of people because the dance happened right after Decades Dance and right before junior prom,” junior Kylie Tseng said. read more » French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
French and Spanish clubs take their rivalry to the soccer field April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Reviving the rivalry between the Spanish club and French club, both clubs battled it out on the soccer field in an annual match on April 8 on the upper field. The Spanish club won in this intense match during lunch with a score of 3-1. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Softball grows through experience April 26, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Although the season has been less than stellar for the softball team, with a record of 1-14 as of late April, the real gain is the experience for the players. One example of this is junior center fielder Abigail Williams, who transferred to Saratoga during her sophomore year. read more » Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Softball: Freshman gains respect, leads team April 1, 2011 — by Izzy Albert and Vivien Lu Within just a few years of learning how to walk, freshman Tivoli Sisco was already throwing a softball around the yard. read more » Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Swing with the music at Jazz Cabaret March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu The Large Gym will be transformed to seem like a 1950’s prom later this month in an effort to raise money for the music department. read more » Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Softball team refreshes with new players March 1, 2011 — by Vivien Lu It seems the softball team will have to rely on its younger players after losing their star seniors to graduation, said assistant coach Dave Gragnola, referring to players such as last year’s MVP Nicole Gragnola. read more » Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Senior helps friends cut back on hair costs February 23, 2011 — by Amy Jan and Vivien Lu Last October senior Brian Vo was ready to try a buzz cut hairstyle for the first time, and he knew where to go. His friend, fellow senior Jesse Yung, had started cutting people’s hair a month earlier and was getting better. Vo put his head in his Yung’s hands. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. This year, the group consisted of about 100 students, who spent Dec. 16 and 17 entertaining guests. read more » Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Choir’s holiday spirit heard in SF January 7, 2011 — by Vivien Lu Almost like a holiday tradition, hotels in San Francisco hire the school’s choirs to come and spread the Christmas spirit. read more » Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Graffiti on and around quad shocks many December 7, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Allison Toh As maintenance workers opened the campus on Monday, Nov. 22, they found areas in and around the quad covered in graffiti. read more » Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Orchestra exchanges knowledge with Lynbrook November 10, 2010 — by Vivien Lu Inspiration comes in many places for musicians. For the new members of the school’s orchestra, inspiration recently came with a collaboration with the joint performance with the Lynbrook High School Chamber Orchestra, which took place in the McAfee Center on Oct. 29. read more » Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Nothing bundt icing on the cake October 21, 2010 — by Vivien Lu The scent of frosting and cakes flow permeate the bakeries and the heat from the freshly made desserts warm the surroundings. Both in Los Gatos downtown, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Icing On the Cake are widely known for their edible delicacies. However, each bakery has its own idiosyncrasies that draw customers back again. read more » Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim The Beatles have played there. Tchaikovsky has played there, and now the SHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra will have the honor to perform at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 8. The orchestra was invited to be a feature evening performance of a festival from World Project, a domestic and international touring company that has been in contact with SHS before because they have taken the orchestra on the Europe Tour in 2009 and also the Austrailia Tour in 2003. The company was aware of the SHS orchestra's stellar reputation. read more » Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Music department prepares for a good year September 23, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Kyumin Shim Marching Band The theme for this year's field show is "Thought Crime," and it will be under the leadership of senior drum majors Chris Chung, David Mandell and Jason Shiuan. "The theme is very different because it's pretty percussive," music director Michael Boitz said. "The music is more angry and futuristic than lyrically stylistic, how it generally is." read more » Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Road to fame online June 6, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Who knew five years ago that people would make household names for themselves from right in their bedroom, but with YouTube, hundreds of people have found this success as the website celebrates its fifth anniversary. Two of many people who use this method to broadcast themselves online are Kevin Wu (known online as KevJumba), a sophomore at UC Davis, and Ryan Higa (or Nigahiga), 19, who attends the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Both of them upload videos as often as they can in order to gain more subscribers, which further increases their popularity. read more » Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Seniors won’t soon forget their prom May 27, 2010 — by Grishma Athavale and Vivien Lu For the first time, senior prom was held at Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, a luxurious 4 star mansion turned into a hotel. The memorable evening was held on May 15 with around 300 attendants to enjoy the food, dancing and friends. "The most enjoyable part about prom was being able to spend it with all of my friends," senior Andy Berman said. "I got to share lasting moments with them. Also, the location was so beautiful; everything was so fancy." The senior class made money from the event as the bid price ranged from $98 to $103. read more » Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Pancake breakfast: musical recipe for success May 17, 2010 — by David Eng and Vivien Lu Hoards of music enthusiasts lined up for an all-you-can-eat pancake buffet served by a team of breakfast chefs including principal Jeff Anderson and Saratoga mayor Chuck Page. Complemented by sausages, strawberries, milk and juice, the pancakes were outdone only by the music that filled the spring morning of May 2. read more » Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Sadies dance raises money for Haiti March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu In addition to the usual twist of having girls ask boys, this year's Sadie Hawkins dance was also turned into a benefit to help those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti earlier this year. Around $1,000 was raised in donations, and an estimated 400 students attended the Feb. 26 dance that took place in the Small Gym. Two dollars from the purchase of each student's ticket went to the cause. Glow sticks were also sold at the door for a dollar each for the Haiti relief effort. read more » Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Winterguard performs in winter conditions March 11, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Even pouring rain could not drown out the spirit of the winterguard at the WGI San Diego Power Regional at Rancho Bernardo High School on Feb. 27. This competition featured 42 guards from several states around the country, including Arizona and North Carolina. Out of those groups, the JV guard, placed second in the regional A division. Varsity guard placed ninth. read more » Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Choir joins Lynbrook to perform Schubert’s Mass in G March 8, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang More than 250 singers from the Lynbrook and Saratoga High choirs joined together in harmony on Feb. 24 in the McAfee Center. The two choirs performed a few songs separately, then finished together with Franz Schubert's "Mass in G", accompanied by Lynbrook's Chamber Orchestra. read more » SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
SHS hosts annual SCCBDA Honor Band Concert January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Last fall junior clarinetist Kyle Fukui auditioned for the Santa Clara County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) County Honor Band, which is held once a year. He was one of 57 clarinetists undergoing this stressful challenge. In December, Fukui found out that he was among the 24 clarinetists who had the chance to join the 90-person group for its performance on Jan. 17 in the McAfee Center. The site of the concert changes among schools each year, and it was Saratoga's turn host the event. read more » Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Music thefts burst school’s illusion of safety January 28, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Ever since the start of the new year, students who frequently visit the music building have noticed that certain items are missing. These items include a computer, several thousand dollar instruments, belonging to both the students and the school, and keys used to get in and out of the building. Saratoga High is known for its safe and friendly environment. Usually, discipline problems are not an issue here—certainly not compared to most other schools. read more » Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Orchestra and symphonic band delight audiences at winter concerts January 19, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Audience members came away feeling the holiday spirit after attending the winter concerts by the orchestra and symphonic band on Dec. 9-10. The Dec. 9 concert featured the orchestra and wind ensemble, and the Dec. 10 concert featured jazz band and concert band. "I think the concert ran pretty smoothly and the audience really enjoyed the surprise skit," sophomore violist Carolynn Choi said. "I feel that the last concert from the previous year had more energy than the one this year, but I still had a lot fun and really felt the holiday spirit." read more » A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
A Gallon of Gas: Indulge your sweet side at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 4.6 miles. January 4, 2010 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang Powell's Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka's factory. read more » Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Band marches to success December 15, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang The marching band placed sixth in the Western Band Association Class Championships in Clovis on Nov. 22. In total, there were around 90 schools from all over the state at the event, according to band director Duane Otani. Most schools in Division 5A consist of at least 2,000 students; however, Saratoga only has 1,350 students, making the Saratoga band the underdog in the division. Even so, this disadvantage did not affect the overall performance of the band. read more » Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Band gains big win in Clovis competition November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang For the first time, the marching band placed first in every category in the Western Band Association competition, including general effects and Color Guard. On Oct. 24, the band traveled two and a half hours to Clovis High School to compete against 27 other schools in Division 5A. Bands here consist of 160 students or more, though most schools in this division have at least 2,000 total students vs. Saratoga's 1,350. This made the Falcons an underdog against the bigger schools and made winning "all the better," according to music director Michael Boitz. read more » Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Junior just break dances—surprising friends with his hidden talent November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang This year's junior quad day dance marked the debut of Brian Vo's no-longer-hidden talent: break dancing. All eyes were focused on him as he performed an elaborate windmill. "I was nervous before, but once I got out and finished my solo, I felt great to have represented my class," Vo said. Many people who have known Vo for a long time didn't realize he was a break dancer until after the quad dance. read more » Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Orchestra holds successful Halloween concert with Lynbrook November 13, 2009 — by Vivien Lu and Ashley Tang On Oct. 31, the orchestra delivered a stunning 2-hour performance in an exchange concert with Lynbrook High School's chamber orchestra. Combined, the two were able to play a wide variety of challenging pieces effortlessly. read more » Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »
Baby doll simulation gives psychology students a taste of parenthood October 16, 2009 — by Vivien Lu For junior Taara Rangan, a baby doll simulation in the child psychology and development class taught by Lauressa Ridge helped her appreciate her own parents. “It is a lot more challenging than I had expected....,” said Rangan. "[The fake baby] woke me up every hour at night. I had never been so tired before." During the first 10 weeks of the class, students learn about how children develop, from pre-natal information to caring for toddlers, to the different theorists and how to be proper care givers. read more »