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The Falconer

The Falconer
News
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
Isabel Ji, Copy Editor • August 28, 2025
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
Students converse with guest speakers at the Fire Rescue and EMT Seminar on April 30. TPHS Counseling hosted four seminar sessions from April 28 to May 1.
Counseling hosts career seminars for students
May 29, 2025
A stack of history textbooks lie on a desk. Ethnic Studies was initially introduced as a required course, but will now be optional for the 2025-26 school year due to a lack of funding despite expectations for its inclusion in graduation requirements starting with the Class of 2030.
Ethnic Studies: Unfunded future
May 29, 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).
First game halftime performance
Lily Bruch, Arts and Entertainment Editor • August 29, 2025

At the halftime of the first home varsity football game of the season on Aug. 22 vs. La Jolla High School, the school’s cheerleading and dance team put on a show for fans and players.  The cheerleaders kicked off halftime with their performance...

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
Varsity girls tennis head coach Jan Guevara gives feedback to team members as they play a doubles game. Guevara, who played tennis throughout college, began her coaching journey in 2020.
Varsity girls tennis team hires new head coach
Shayna Dolin and Emerson Koning
Nami Walsh (11) juggles a soccer ball in her new Brown University uniform at a media shoot. Walsh verbally committed to play Division I soccer on August 11th, 2025. Photo courtesy of Nami Walsh.
Commit: Behind sports recruitment
Sage Rosskopf, Staff Writer
Members of the badminton team play against another team. The team has been expressing the need for permanent court lines to be painted in the school gym. Photo courtesy of TPHS Badminton Instagram.
Badminton voices need for permanent court lines in gym
April Kato and Claire Zhou
Trending Stories
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Lucy Crosby (10) and peers showcase a prototype of their own AI surgical robot, which allows them to solve complex medical problems. Crosby attended a five day med-tech program at Harvard Medical School, the MEDscienceTECH Moonshot. Photo courtesy of Lucy Crosby.

Beyond horizons: summer programs

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
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

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
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

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
Daniel McKie and Antonio Mazo • April 28, 2025
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
Daniel McKie and Antonio Mazo • February 26, 2025
In this episode, hosts interviews Lander Arauzo and Gabriel Biderman about their business, Arauzo studios. The podcast is posted monthly.
High School Side Hustles Podcast, Episode 2: Arauzo Studios
Daniel McKie and Antonio Mazo • December 16, 2024
Recent Stories
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
Talia Rosenthal, Staff Writer • August 29, 2025
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).
First game halftime performance
Lily Bruch, Arts and Entertainment Editor • August 29, 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
Isabel Ji, Copy Editor • August 28, 2025
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
Feature
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
Talia Rosenthal, Staff Writer • August 29, 2025

When the bell rings, signaling the start of a school period, students can expect a piping hot cup of tea, a bubbly greeting and a compelling...

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
August 26, 2025
Lucy Crosby (10) and peers showcase a prototype of their own AI surgical robot, which allows them to solve complex medical problems. Crosby attended a five day med-tech program at Harvard Medical School, the MEDscienceTECH Moonshot. Photo courtesy of Lucy Crosby.
Beyond horizons: summer programs
August 25, 2025
Theater teacher Sandra Geminiani describes an improv game to her Introduction to Professional Theatre students. Geminiani began teaching theatre classes, English 10 and AVID 10 at the school this year.
Fresh Face Friday: Sandra Geminiani
August 22, 2025
San Diego City College is one of the many community colleges in California available to students. With rising college tuitions and the option to transfer to a four-year institution, community colleges became a less stigmatized and more common choice for students. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.
More than a Plan B: Community college
May 29, 2025
A view of Catalina Island shows the ocean and dock. Students visited the Catalina Island at the end of April. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Roffey.
Ticket to learn
May 27, 2025
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A&E
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.
Album Review: ‘A Matter of Time’
Joanne Liu, Opinion Editor • August 26, 2025

The minute hand strikes twelve, and the pendulum releases a ring that echoes. Ding dong … ding dong … Laufey Jónsdóttir begins her third...

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’
Sarina Feng, Editor-in-Chief • August 18, 2025

Conan Gray writes music with the intimacy of journal entries. With his fourth studio album “Wishbone,” released on Friday, Gray steps back...

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...

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
Joanne Liu, Opinion Editor • 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 pop culture...

Falcon Vision
This story features a female student, who tried out for the baseball team. Student, Connelly Bohan, tried out for the school's baseball team this year. Photo courtesy of Portia Perry.
Video: BasebALL
Falcon Vision Staff, Producers • May 21, 2025

In this week's episode, reporters feature a student trying to make the baseball team. This story aired in the live Falcon Vision show on May...

Santa Cruz medicinals promotes a healthy lifestyle to teens through his social media account. This story featured a social media health guru. Photo courtesy of Nickolas Sanchez-Kishko.
Video: Tranforming health
Falcon Vision Staff, Producers
This story highlights the Long Beach Grand Prix. The prix took place in April. Photo courtesy of Daniel McKie.
Video: Long Beach prix
Falcon Vision Staff, Producers
Seniors Vincent McKeever and Coral Diaz anchor the last show the semester. The last show was a senior show, where seniors from the broadcast program were the anchors. Photo courtesy of Bailey Dotters.
Video: May 16, 2025 Falcon Vision
Falcon Vision Staff, Producers
Students participate in a sack race at the spring pep rally. Reporters covered a recap of the latest pep rally. Photo courtesy of Cade Barber.
Video: Color wars pep rally recap
Falcon Vision Staff, Producers
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