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The Falconer

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School holds Back to School Night for new school year
September 5, 2025

The smell of tacos and the buzz of...

Crossword week of 9/5/2025
September 5, 2025

Made by Claire Zhou with the cross...

Trending
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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

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Integrated Math I teacher Noel Banuelos works at his computer, with colorful paper and craft supplies in the background. Banuelos began teaching in 2011 and joined the school’s math department this year.

Fresh Face Friday: Noel Banuelos

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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

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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

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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

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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

News
Kristen Cullen, English 10 Honors and English Language Development 3 teacher greets parents outside her classroom. Back to School Night took place on Wednesday.
School holds Back to School Night for new school year
Jessie Chen, Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Workflow • September 5, 2025
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
September 2, 2025

The school is offering a new Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)/Recording Arts course under the Visual and Performing Arts electives, giving students...

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 on detailing responsible teacher and student usage...

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

Crossword
Crossword week of 9/5/2025
Crossword week of 9/5/2025
Crossword Week of 8/27/2025
Claire Zhou, Assit. Editor-in-Chief, Design • August 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 a new addition to the school's team, Guevara has experience...

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, the word “carefree” could not have been further from...

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 darting between the corners. Rackets extended, wrists flicked...

Opinion
Spanish teacher Viviana Alvarado-Gomez works on grading her students' tests. Alvarado-Gomez spoke about the importance of Spanish classes for native speakers.
Space for Spanish: Native speaker classes
Gabriela Morillo Dal Piccol and Priscilla Akin • September 2, 2025

From French to Korean, Arabic to Chinese, each vibrant language spoken on campus is a reflection of our world’s diversity.  Although one of the most...

Pro/Con: Early decision
August 20, 2025

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

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,”...

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
Ticket to learn
Lana Weber, Sophia Gorba, and Sarina Feng • May 27, 2025

Catalina Island by Lana Weber Colorful schools of fish flitted against the deep blue background as students swam among tendrils of kelp dancing...

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...

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
Lana Weber, Sophia Gorba, and Sarina Feng • 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
Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend" is the artist's seventh studio album, and consists of 12 tracks. Carpenter released this alternate album cover after her controversial first cover came under criticism. Photo courtesy of Island Records.
Mac DeMarco's sixth studio album "Guitar" is composed of 12 tracks. DeMarco released the album on Aug. 22. Photo courtesy of Deezer.
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.
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