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The Falconer

The Falconer

The Falconer

Sophia Gorba

Sophia Gorba, Writer

A perfectionist at heart, Sophia Gorba has dedicated her time in the newsroom to writing multiple drafts of each story and creating designs for pages (with an absurd amount of layers on InDesign) during her time as Feature Editor last year. Now rounding off her high school experience as a senior, Gorba is excited to meet new people, grow her writing skills and see how the Falconer will evolve throughout the year and beyond. She intends to spend her third year on the Falconer staff using her eye for detail to properly represent local happenings and the individual stories of people in the community. Gorba’s perfectionist tendencies extend outside of the newsroom to her hobbies as well, having dedicated far too much of her spare time to painstakingly sewing dresses and painting with watercolors and acrylics. Gorba can also be found at her Taekwondo studio working towards a black belt, spending time with friends and family, getting immersed in information rabbit holes and baking (even though she unfortunately does not have the skillset nor the correct nationality to apply for The Great British Bake Off). In her most relaxed state, Gorba enjoys sitting down with a good book, a cup of coffee and a potentially hazardous amount of scented candles.

All content by Sophia Gorba
Lauren Golafshan (11) bakes halloween-themed sugar cookies for Love, Lolo, her small business. Golafshan posted the cookies on her Instagram. Photo courtesy of Lauren Golafshan.

Warm ovens, chilly days: Student baking businesses

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer November 20, 2024

As fall turns into winter, the last red leaves disappear from trees, the weather gets colder and festive lights illuminate neighborhoods. The air fills with the scent of rain and home cooked meals. Lauren...

PALs members smile by the Kool-Aid booth. Other events included passing out red pins and candy, as well as a drunk goggle simulation. Left to right: Shyla Mighdoll (12), Ryann Holohan (10), Greta Pennock (10), Aubrie Dingman (10) and Gaby Shanner (10).

PALs Red Ribbon Week

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer November 13, 2024

Red Ribbon Week, which took place last week, was an event hosted by the school’s Peer Assistance Leaders to raise awareness among students about drug and alcohol abuse.  “It’s supposed to inform...

Education Specialist Monetta Hare co-teaches English 9 with English teacher Marie Black in this classroom. Cozy light illuminated the creative messages and bookshelf in the corner.

Fresh Face Friday: Monetta Hare

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer October 18, 2024

Ever since public schools were first widely implemented in the U.S. in the 19th century, teachers played an integral role in shaping the lives of their students. While classrooms evolved along with the...

Lauren Suh (12) designs and sews her own clothing patterns using repurposed fabrics like old denim. Suh began sewing during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Photos courtesy of Lauren Suh.

Stitch by stitch

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer October 15, 2024

Pencils scratch against paper, strong, confident lines carving out fashionable figures. Chalk rubs against fabric, dusty residue lingering on fingertips. Loud, satisfying snips pierce the air as sharpened...

Peer tutors Daniel Schwabach (12) and Yuta Hakozaki (12), and Peer Tutoring Club president Kei Tashiro (12) gather at their table. After the last bell rang, they set up the table with chromebooks and papers, ready to assist students with tutoring sessions.

From peer to peer

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer October 2, 2024

Down the stairs in a corner of the learning commons, there resides a dedicated group of students, some of whom wear yellow lanyards. They hover over chromebooks and papers, calm and collected amidst the...

The varsity boys water polo team is currently 6-5. This school year, varsity captain, Jack Mason (12), was named the first male Athlete of the Month. Photo courtesy of Jack Mason.

Athlete of the Month: Jack Mason

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer September 20, 2024

Senior captain and 1/2 side on the boys varsity water polo team, Jack Mason (12), won the first male Athlete of the Month award for the school year due to his dedication to his sport and high performance.   “I...

The modern world introduced the praising of women that embodies expectations of a post-feminist world. This led to society's rejection of traditional feminism.

Future of women in media: Societal shift from the norms in a post-feminist society

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer September 16, 2024

From bows and handsome princes to war and combat, female characters in movies are portrayed in whatever way society deems  most desirable at the time. These representations often cause more harm than...

A monarch butterfly rests on a stray twig. Monarch butterflies began their migration to Mexico in August.

Migrating monarchs

Cass Love and Sophia Gorba September 4, 2024

A monarch butterfly just fluttered by. In hues of orange, shining gold in the sunlight, a monarch is a sun catcher. Do you see it?  In the autumnal months, monarch butterflies embark on their migration...

The school's back student parking lot now consists of solar panels. Construction was completed over the 2024 summer.

Student parking lot solar panels

Sophia Gorba, Staff Writer August 26, 2024

The construction of the back lot solar panels finished just in time for the 2024-25 school year after a lengthy planning process.  The new solar panels came with environmental and monetary benefits,...

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