An equal parts music and riddle enthusiast, junior Claire Zhou enjoys listening to music by Clairo, Big Thief or Adrianne Lenker while solving daily New York Times puzzles. For her second year on the Falconer, Claire looks forward to maintaining the Falconer publication website with the addition of crosswords and other design features while continuing to cover stories on the Carmel Valley community. Outside of the newsroom, she is involved in the TPHS Math Club and Peer Tutoring. When she’s not in school, Claire enjoys reading work by Paige Lewis, attempting to write poetry, and growing her collection of annotated crunchy literature. Otherwise, Claire can be found volunteering at a local senior center or binging Gilmore Girls. Someday, she will attend culinary school with her younger sister.
Claire Zhou, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
• October 27, 2025
It is still dark outside when Zoe Jiamanukoonkit (12) wakes up before her alarm clock on Wednesday, just shy of 5:45 a.m., on day two of the North County Conference Coastal League tournament. She walks...
Claire Zhou, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
• October 14, 2025
Under soft stage lights and a backdrop the shade of delicate lavender, the school music department stitched note after golden note into the PAC at its annual Fall Concert last Thursday, featuring performances...
Eight students from the school — Chutian (Andrew) Chen (12), Sarina Feng (12), Sophie Laughlin (12), Collier Lawson (12), Nila Mehta (12), Ian Smee (12), Ethan Wang (12) and Eric Xie (12) — were named...
Marked by warm spices wafting from kitchen windows and temperatures in the 80s, September in San Diego is when late summer slips into early fall. This month's Salt & Straw flavors are an ode to the...
When the bell rings after seventh period on Sept. 10, you walk down the stairs of the B-building and open Instagram by second nature. Instinctively, your thumb hits the sunset gradient of your friend’s...
Claire Zhou, Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Design
• September 15, 2025
Jim Munger, what’s in your backpack?
If you have passed teacher’s aide and custodial-staff-helper Jim Munger in the B-building hallways, then you have probably seen his knee-high socks, contagious...
The school’s Bring Change to Mind officers Lindsay Lardon (12) (left), Jack Norman (12) (middle) and Landon Demuth (12) (right) stand behind their table before the school's Suicide Prevention Walk. Bring...
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 darting between the corners. Rackets extended, wrists flicked...
The school’s Cardinal boys golf team (20-2) secured another New Coastal League win at the two-day North County Conference Championship, competing against Carlsbad High School, Canyon Crest Academy, La...
A student prepares for their next four years at a university, opening the Common App. Recently, the Falconer had the opportunity to speak with college counselors Deni-Kay Freier and Sylvia Caruthers about...
You have probably seen Jim Munger in the B-building hallways, working the stadium lights at Friday night football games or assisting the custodial staff — always in colorful, knee-high socks and a wide...
Varsity girls swim team member Katerina Wietfeldt (11) begins her day at 4:40 a.m., when her first alarm, “Style” by Taylor Swift, “jolts” her awake. She has three more alarms, five minutes in...
Below blinking skyscrapers, the streets of Beijing are crowded by businessmen pacing on phone calls, food stalls steaming with sesame aromas and children in the back seats of motorcycles on their way home...
It hardly looks like winter in San Diego until lights are strung across storefronts and rooftops, and Christmas music begins to play over the radio. At Blue Bottle Coffee, the winter menu serves as...
As the last strains of the overture sing through the auditorium, Ailee Almog (10) peeks through the wings, waiting for what seems like years of music to end before “The Nutcracker” begins. Just before...
Hotel del Coronado hosts an outdoor, 'Skating by the Sea' event from Nov. 21 to Jan. 5 facing the beach. General admission was $40, and the rink schedule varies based on times and dates.
The school’s varsity girls golf team won its sixth CIF Division I state championship by three strokes at San Gabriel Country Club on Nov. 20, after tying for first place with Santa Margarita High School...
A Little Free Library, located near Dot Cafe, welcomes community members with the "take a book, share a book" catchphrase. Owners set up their libraries through the Little Free Library nonprofit organization.
Depending on the time of day, the city offers activities from hikes to climb to bakeries to visit. The drop downs below provide more detailed descriptions of options to choose from when looking to...
Every month, Salt & Straw rotates through seasonal flavors. Two weeks ago they dropped their seasonal flavors influenced by the spooky season; The Halloween Series consists of five flavors: The Great Candycopia,...
Trick-or-treaters stand in awe before a married skeleton couple and small ghosts. This house was one of many on the street that take pride in their vibrant Halloween decorations.
Posters of music artists and bands like Nirvana, Queen and ACDC line the walls of AP World History, Socio-Political History of Rock-N-Roll and Surf PE teacher Austin Wade's classroom. He hung them to show who he is as a person. "I wanted to share the interests and things that I enjoy, and hopefully ideas, concepts and interests that students might have in common," Wade said.
For elite athletes, sports are a 24/7 commitment. Passion for the game — whether keeping up with recruitment or honing drills — follows them the little time they have off field. With increasing pressure...
Seasoned and new members of the Millenium Falcons, the school’s First Robotics Competition team, returned from their first off-season competition at Chezy Champs, which took place from Sept. 27 to 29...
Every month, Salt & Straw rotates through seasonal flavors, ranging from Cinnamon & Honey Fried Chicken to the classic Freckled Mint Chocolate Chip. The spooky Halloween Series consists of five...
Defensive and offensive lineman Ansu Perez (11) recalls the final football game before CIF playoffs during his sophomore year at La Costa Canyon High School (LCC) — a game rich in tradition. Like other...
Claire Cottrill — professionally known as Clairo — explores growth, solitude and emotional vulnerability in her third album, “Charm.” Known for softening the line between R&B, soul, folk and...
Throughout the 2022-23 school year, nearly 1,100 San Diego County students were suspended as the consequence of defiance. In response to the suspension rates in the state, Calif. Sen. Nancy Skinner proposed...
