Alex Sclavos

The school has undergone some significant aesthetic changes, including renovation of the gym and football field, in the past few years. Now those changes are continuing with more high-tech projection systems being installed in classrooms throughout campus and $75,000 worth of equipment being donated to the weight room. The school acquired the new weight room equipment after new management of the Quito Shopping Center tripled 24 Hour Fitness’ lease, effectively forcing them out because they were looking for businesses that would attract customers to shop at multiple venues in one outing.

After the recent Homecoming dance, some parent chaperones expressed outrage at the manner in which students chose to dance, a form commonly known as “freaking,” a sexually suggestive form of dancing. While this style of dancing may be offensive to parents, parents should understand that there is no way to change teen culture.

Homecoming is the one bright week during the beginning of the school year when students and staff alike look forward to lunchtime performances and a decorated campus. This year, however, what should have been a fun-filled week consumed with decorating and Quad Day performances was filled with exams and projects to round out the first grading period, which ended Oct. 3.

War between nations takes a toll on all civilians, but it most directly affects the families of soldiers who are fighting in the war. These soldiers are voluntarily—when there is no draft—risking their lives for their countries, every day without hesitation. With the current shortage of troops, it is important for the military to use every man or woman they have to fight, and that includes the children of politicians.

Homecoming is the one bright week during the beginning of the school year when students and staff alike look forward to lunchtime performances and a decorated campus. This year, however, what should have been a fun-filled week consumed with decorating and Quad Day performances was filled with exams and projects to round out the first grading period, which ended Oct. 3.

157 deaths for people ages 18-23 in six years. This statistic, as reported by the New York Times, shows the grim reality of binge drinking in America. College students here often find that while alcohol is a part of school culture and surrounds them from their freshman year on, national laws prevent them from drinking until they are 21. This often results in teens drinking far more to excess, leading to problems from drunken driving to alcohol poisoning. In contrast, teenagers in Europe are allowed to experience their first taste of alcohol alongside their parents, either at family dinners or restaurants as drinking ages in Europe are usually 16 or 18 and are rarely enforced within the family. This more relaxed approach appears to be working: The concept of teens secretly drinking or binge drinking to get drunk is foreign to most European youth.

A police car pulls up outside a well-lit house. Inside, kids are yelling and dancing to loud music. When the cops are spotted, a frantic rush to hide beer bottles and escape the party begins. These days, however, such a scene is far less common. Saratoga teens have less to fear from sheriff’s, deputies, and local police, some of whom no longer penalize underage drinking at parties. Without the previous repercussions of breaking the law by consuming alcohol, students are often allowed to drive home intoxicated, jeopardizing their safety.

With the end of the year approaching, many changes are being made in preparation for next year. These include the retirement of assistant principal Gail Wasserman, another English teacher being hired and Child Psychology teacher Jill McFarlen, World History teacher Chuck Newport and guidance office staff member Becky Allen retiring.

If all goes according to plan, within five years senior Kent Johnson will be living by the beach and making a very comfortable living from his professional beach volleyball career. Johnson hopes to join the American Volleyball Program centered around beach volleyball that travels around North and South America, is the main beach volleyball circuit in the United States that represents professional athletes such as Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.