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The Falconer

The Falconer
Latest Stories
Album Review: ‘Guitar’
September 3, 2025

On Aug. 22, Mac DeMarco released...

Space for Spanish: Native speaker classes
September 2, 2025

From French to Korean, Arabic to...

Trending Now
1
Sophie Lesser (12) holds up her backpack and On Cloud running shoes. The bag was a gift from her father, who has a matching backpack.

What’s in your bag: student athletes

2
A student carries a Labubu keychain as they walk to class. Labubu originated as a character from Kasing Lung's series, 'The Monsters,' and were sold as Pop Mart toys beginning in 2019.

Labubu, rise of overconsumption

3
English 9 Honors and AP Language and Composition teacher Emily Chakurda stands in front of her favorite band Oasis' poster. Chakurda started teaching at TPHS this school year.

Fresh Face Friday: Emily Chakurda

4
Conan Gray's fourth studio album 'Wishbone' depicts the artist in the sky, dressed in a sailor suit and carrying a wishbone. The album was released on Aug. 15. Photo courtesy of Republic Records via AP.

Album Review: ‘Wishbone’

5
With the development of advanced artificial intelligence chatbot models, students and teachers examine ethical and effective uses of AI. This year, the school district implemented AI policies and helped teachers navigate AI usage.

SDUHSD updates AI policies

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Left to right: Sarina Peterson ("Petunia") and Brianna Rapini ("Pinky") are the people behind the Amoeba Sisters YouTube channel that educates viewers about STEM courses. Through a Q&A session, the Falconer took a look behind their creative processes. Photo courtesy of the Amoeba Sisters.

Q&A: Amoeba Sisters

News
Students in the MIDI/Recording Arts class dive into SoundTrap, watching Artist-in-Residence Scott Sayre create a melody. The class was filled to capacity in its first year.
Music program launches MIDI/Recording Arts course
Sarina Feng, Editor-in-Chief • September 2, 2025
With the development of advanced artificial intelligence chatbot models, students and teachers examine ethical and effective uses of AI. This year, the school district implemented AI policies and helped teachers navigate AI usage.
SDUHSD updates AI policies
August 28, 2025

This school year, the district updated its Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies, with changes focused...

Falconer reporters provide an update of health and climate related global events. These included the Chikungunya virus which originated in Africa, wildfires in Spain and Portugal and flooding caused by climate change.
Global Update: Health, natural disasters, climate
August 25, 2025

Lacey Sovacool lectures her fourth period Sports Medicine class, describing the process of developing budgets based on different settings and needs for equipment. Sports Medicine, which became a Career Technical Education pathway this year, was previously an external program at the school.
Sports medicine becomes Career Technical Education pathway
August 22, 2025

As students dive into the school year, an exciting new academic program emerges: Sports Medicine. In...

Crossword
Crossword Week of 8/27/2025
Crossword Week of 8/27/2025
Crossword Week of 5/5/2025
Claire Zhou, Staff Writer • May 7, 2025
Crossword Week of 4/28/2025
Claire Zhou, Staff Writer • April 28, 2025
Sports
The school's dance team impresses the crowd every performance, so there was no shock as the crowd went wild. Proven in this captured moment by their facial expressions, neither passion or talent is lacking. Photo Courtesy of Taylor Faassen (12).
Alyssa Ahn (‘25) slams a shot into the court, battling against her opponent for a wild card to the U.S. Open. Ahn won the match 6-1, 6-2 against Maya Lyengar. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Ahn.
Q&A: Alyssa Ahn, alumna U.S. Open Tennis Championships Showcase
Kai Strzelecki and Emily Chao • August 27, 2025
Varsity girls tennis team hires new head coach
Shayna Dolin and Emerson Koning • August 21, 2025

Clipboard in hand, Jan Guevara, the new girls varsity tennis head coach, can be found cheering on her players from the sidelines. Although...

Commit: Behind sports recruitment
Sage Rosskopf, Staff Writer • August 19, 2025

Many Falcons spent this past summer relaxing, with carefree beach days and sleeping late into the day. However, for a handful of student athletes,...

Badminton voices need for permanent court lines in gym
April Kato and Claire Zhou • June 6, 2025

It was just another Tuesday badminton practice. Six courts were outlined with blue Scotch tape on the gym floor, each a bit worn out from players...

Opinion
As seniors begin to work on college applications, the question of whether to apply to a college through the early decision process looms overhead. Reporters examined the advantages and disadvantages of applying early with a binding commitment.
Pro/Con: Early decision
Jessie Chen and Lana Weber • August 20, 2025

Pro - by Jessie Chen Senior year, second semester. While most seniors are stressing over college essays and waiting months for decisions, you’re already...

Labubu, rise of overconsumption
August 19, 2025

With a row of sharp fangs and a sinister grin stretching across more than half its face, one devilishly iconic smile recently took...

Summer in New York City
August 18, 2025

I rolled my suitcase along the New York City streets on my way to the Lincoln Center Campus at Fordham University. “Oh God,”...

Personal Perspective: Sneha Lele
June 6, 2025

As the results of the western blot appeared, I stared at the faint, almost unreadable lines of the imaging, accompanied by the gentle...

Feature
Podcast
Each month, High School Hustles features a different business run by students at Torrey Pines High School. For April, students interviewed the owners of Sweet & Simple.
High School Hustles Podcast, Ep. 4: Sweet & Simple
In this month's episode, hosts interview Santiago Bosch about the business of his golf career. Bosch started considering golf as a future career at 6 years old.
High School Side Hustles Podcast, Episode 3: Business of golf
Coming full circle
Isabel Ji, Staff Writer • May 27, 2025

Though the cardinal-and-gold-plaid carpet has been swapped for marbled stone and new CIF banners fill the Olive Garden ceiling, the spirit of...

Capturing moments: Anna Scipione
Viki Kiss and Lily Bruch • May 19, 2025

With a camera in hand and an eye for the extraordinary, Anna Scipione is a constant presence on the sidelines, capturing the pulse of each game...

Familiar faces: Common substitute teachers
Isabel Ji and Joanne Liu • May 15, 2025

It’s the little things you notice first: a door propped open when it’s usually closed, the usual mug missing from the desk and an announcement...

Now as a teacher, Nicholas Diaz ('10) poses with an athlete after winning the CIF Open Division Championships. Diaz returned to the school as a special education teacher and assistant basketball coach after graduating. Photo Courtesy of Nicholas Diaz.
Coming full circle
Isabel Ji, Staff Writer • May 27, 2025
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A&E
Yoga is one of the wellness trends emerging in 2025. Other trends included saunas, pilates, green juice, and various other physical and dietary changes.
Wake up to wellness
Elsa Goodman, Director of Social Media • May 28, 2025

From cold plunges and saunas to pilates and green juice, 2025’s hottest (and coldest) wellness trends are quickly changing people’s lives.  In recent decades, health and wellness evolved to become a high priority. The rising priority for routine...

Students showcase their art at the fourth annual Arts Fest. Arts Fest took place on May 16 and 17 and featured dance, music, ceramics and artwork.
Fourth Annual Arts Fest
Cass Love, Staff Writer • May 28, 2025

Every seat in the Performing Arts Center was filled. Chatter filled the room. Then, the lights...

Claire Frederico (12) and Gideon Jakobs (12) perform as Maggie and Max in 'Lend Me a Tenor.' The play, which showed from April 30 to May 2 and May 6 to 9, was the last one of the school year and the last production under the direction of theatre teacher Marinee Payne.
Torrey Pines Players presents ‘Lend Me a Tenor’
April Kato and Sarina Feng • May 23, 2025

“Please laugh.” That’s what a cast member told us before we went to the show. We didn’t...

Ethan Erstlings' (10) piece 'I wasn't born this way,' hangs in the San Diego Museum of Art, Young Art 2025: Nurture and Nature exhibit. The exhibit took place from April 5 to May 18. Photo courtesy of Ethan Erstling.
Photo Gallery: San Diego Museum of Art, Young Art 2025: Nurture and Nature
Makaylah Gerling, Editor-in-Chief • May 21, 2025

As finals season approaches, nutrition is a critical factor in ensuring academic success. Social Media Manager Elsa Goodman and Asst. Editor-in-Chief, Outreach Ellie Koff suggested a couple of recipes to help get you through the final stretch. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons via Pexels.
Brain food for finals season
Ellie Koff and Elsa Goodman • May 1, 2025

As finals approach, students often focus on reviewing notes, staying up late and squeezing...

Reviews
In her third studio album, "A Matter of Time," Laufey Jónsdóttir explores new themes, sounds and styles over the course of fourteen tracks. The full album was released on Aug. 22. Photo courtesy of Vingolf Recordings under exclusive license to AWAL Recordings America, Inc.
Conan Gray's fourth studio album 'Wishbone' depicts the artist in the sky, dressed in a sailor suit and carrying a wishbone. The album was released on Aug. 15. Photo courtesy of Republic Records via AP.
Morning Lavender sits off Highway 101 in Solana Beach, inviting guests into their cafe and boutique. They offered everything from hair clips, to matching dresses, to lattes and tea parties.
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