Finally, AP Tests are over! The relief and freedom of the students is overwhelmingly obvious in their actions and expressions afterwards. However, the classes are not over yet, and those classes still require that students participate and be active in learning—because, while AP tests may be completed, the school year is certainly not.
Replacing decrepit water fountains, planting gardens and installing new cabinetry in the cafeteria are among the myriad of improvements the school's maintenance staff has been busy working on this year, and students around campus have taken notice.
Just last month, the school installed new wooden cabinets, funded by the PTSO, in the cafeteria to replace the old trophy case, which has been moved to the gym lobby. According to plant operations supervisor Brian Moran, the main reason for this change was to increase storage space.
Next year’s budget woes may be solved, but the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD) is now facing a $3 million deficit for the 2011-2012 school year.
The budget deficit for 2010-11 has been solved by cutting courses and programs, implementing a salary freeze and a pay cut, withdrawing money from the reserve and instigating teacher layoffs. As a result of these changes, some class sizes such as English 9 will increase by one or two students.
Freshman David Zarrin wants to change the way people think about bicycles. With a first place prize in engineering from the International Science and Engineering Fair under his belt, he may very well do so.
"I learned of the issues of today's bicycle through experiencing them myself as I rode my bike," Zarrin said. These problems, he said, primarily relate to limited gear ratios, no backwards pedaling capability, and inefficient gear shifts.
Next year will be one of change and adjustment for drama students, as current English teacher Kerry Mohnike has volunteered to teach two classes of drama after Chris Mahle, who has led the program for four years, was not retained by the school.
Many students were disappointed about news of Mahle's departure, which was revealed during a drama club lunch on April 6 by assistant principal Karen Hyde. Junior Hannah Harter said the news was "very upsetting" and was surprised to hear it.
Students and teachers will be branching out in the next few weeks as they explore new subjects and other parts of the world.
As one example, junior Daryl Chang will be taking part in a prestigious internship at Stony Brook University in Long Island called Garcia MRSEC.
After advancing from the county competition in April, 15 juniors traveled to Pasadena in early May to participate in the State History Day competition.
Junior Steven Louie was a semi-finalist with his paper on Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and junior Shannon Galvin took third place, becoming the alternate to the national competition with her website on John Marshall and judicial review.
The administration tested out a new pilot Wednesday bell schedule with tutorial between fourth and fifth period rather than after sixth on May 17 and May 24.
Assistant principal Joe Bosco said the experimental schedule resulted from a schoolwide student survey, in which 63.8 percent of students answered that tutorials would be better utilized between fourth and fifth period and 62.5 percent of those who answered such said they would not mind having lunch 30 minutes later.
On May 7 in the Saratoga Library, the Saratoga Youth Commission hotsted its second annual Film Fest, an event where Bay Area students were able show off their self-produced movies.
"Our main objective was to give a place for people who enjoy making films to show them and get rewarded for their work," said organizer Ramiz Sheikh, a junior. "We also had a Flim Fest last year, which was a great success, and wanted to make it better this year."
Rick-rolling the announcements. Trying the notoriously spicy chicken at Smoke Eaters. Visiting the Mystery Spot and Hicks Road. These are a few of the 21 missions, some more daunting than others, that senior Lauren Henderson has set out to accomplish before she says goodbye to Saratoga High.
Henderson, who is attending Seattle University this fall, documents the count-down on her blog, "21 Things, 2 Months," on Tumblr and YouTube channel under "laurenslistof21," to document her progress.
