With a pack of gum and her trusty airpods in hand, Joanne Liu is ready to survive the most notoriously grueling school year of them all: junior year. Liu aims to highlight a wide range of student voices and ignite the creativity of journalistic writing in every story during her second year on the Falconer. As the Falconer’s Opinion editor, Liu loves to read about others’ insights and perspectives. Outside of the newsroom, Liu is a competitive figure skater, graphic designer for the TPHS Biology Olympiad Club and owner of two cats. At home during her spare time, she can be found spending time with her cats, watching YouTube, listening to music, reading, drawing or scrolling through Pinterest for all sorts of inspiration, from art to fashion to aesthetic room decor.
Billionaires like Elon Musk, Bernie Madoff and even Taylor Swift hold immense power on account of their wealth. Many have noticed their negative impacts on the environment, the lower class and the democracy...
Deep breath in, deep breath out. With a racket in hand, girls varsity tennis captain and September’s female athlete of the month Ruby Resch (11) steps out onto the tennis court, intent on securing another...
Swapping the race of a character has grown increasing prominence in the film industry, especially in the making of live action movies. The Falconer staff discussed the controversy surrounding race swapping...
With the constant bustle of busy students and staff on campus, TPHS operates with the complexity of an active ecosystem. Sporting a charming Jellycat croissant keychain on the teacher lanyard around her...
In a lab procedure gone wrong, Daniel Rowe’s third period AP Physics C class accidentally constructs a time portal to the Victorian era. Clad in a frilly blue dress, large bonnet and button up boots,...
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...
Two teams from the TPHS Biomimicry, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (BIE) Club won 2025 Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge (BYDC) Awards for their designs submitted in May 2025.
“[The BYDC is] an international...
The minute hand strikes twelve, and the pendulum releases a ring that echoes. Ding dong … ding dong … Laufey begins her third studio album “A Matter of Time” with the chiming of a clock.
Laufey's...
With a row of sharp fangs and a sinister grin stretching across more than half its face, one devilishly iconic smile recently took pop culture by storm. Complete with the rest of her physique — bunny...
Banners from reputable colleges plastered across teachers’ walls, uniforms pinned in a glass case and underclassmen eagerly wearing their dream-college sweatshirts. The pressure of getting accepted into...
In honor of Mental Health Month, the school’s Peer Assistant Leaders organized a variety of activities, including a panel on men’s mental health on May 9 and Stress Less Week from May 19 to 23.
This...
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 posted on Google Classroom. Unfamiliar handwriting sprawls...
The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce awarded April’s Rising Star Award to Saardhat Nagaram (12) for demonstrating leadership, integrity and general excellence in school.
The Rising Star Award recognizes...
The 2024-25 winter sports season brought historic achievements and new records for the school’s varsity teams. The varsity girls soccer team (17-5) won the CIF Division II State Championship, the varsity...
Left to right: Conner Tsai (12), Sydney Tsai (12) and Baylin Tsai (10) watch the sunset on a stunning beach in Kapalua with their family. They also enjoyed activities such as sightseeing on the Road to Hana, ziplining and watching Lūʻau. Photo courtesy of Baylin Tsai.
“Drill, baby, drill,” a common phrase that President Donald Trump repeated throughout his 2024 presidential campaign. Referring to drilling for oil and fossil fuels, this slogan easily illustrates...
How does a tech-savvy, genius entrepreneur and owner of a spacecraft company end up as the head of the United States Department of Government Efficiency? Elon Musk’s shift into the realm of politics...
Throughout his 2024 election campaign, President Donald Trump made promises for day one of his second presidency. From deportation programs to imposing tariffs, Trump set himself up for a rapid-fire stream...
And, they lived happily ever after. What a beautiful ending to a story, one might think. Nothing could ruin the perfect plot, the masterpiece ending — except a sequel.
Sequels like “Jaws 2”and...
Through the glass window of her older sister’s dance studio, Noelle Lee (12) spent her childhood watching her sister dance in awe. At a young age, Lee found her inspiration in dance.
“I always knew...
A cozy house-shaped wooden box stands by the sidewalk, welcoming curious passersby to explore its contents. Behind its transparent frame sits a modest collection of books, nice and snug in their small...
In the midst of a remote island’s complex ecosystem and undisturbed wildlife, a shipwrecked robot washes upon the shore and activates. Whirring to life, Rozzum 7134, or Roz, only strives to complete...
There he was. A glowing ball of sunshine with brilliant eyes and a wildly wagging tail — the perfect pet to adopt. The pure joy of finding yours is unmatched. But behind the wholesome stories of adopting...
Various points along the San Diego coast are experiencing environmental issues, still waiting to be resolved. Tijuana River and Imperial Beach faced sewage and pollution problems, while San Elijo Lagoon experienced a wildlife population decline.
In the bustling Del Mar Highlands Town Center, SunLife Organics settles in its new cozy corner beside the Sky Deck and CeramiCafe. The brightly pigmented smoothies gleamed in their cups bearing their easily...
Pro - by Joanne Liu
From the peak of the Himalayan Mountains to the depths of the Mariana trench, plastic bags have expanded their territory to nearly every corner of the Earth. They wreak an alarming...
Swept into the world of dance since the early age of three, varsity contemporary and hip hop dancer Tessa Good (10) has channeled her artistic talent into a rapidly rising career in dance.
Since her...
It’s 8:30 a.m. The ringing bell signals the start of another busy day at school. But for many student athletes, their day started hours ago.
Most morning practices at the school begin around 6:15...
In a mellifluous mix of longing, lust, insecurity and infatuation, pop music sensation Billie Eilish has made a lasting impact on the music industry and beyond with her third and newest album “Hit Me...
As the class of 2028 arrived, Link Crew implemented changes to their system, including freshman orientation events, aiming to improve their overall peer mentorship and ease the transition into highschool,...
