All photos are courtesy of SFHS Photo Archive.

1964

Cardigans Galore:

This is a photo of the Saint Francis Cheerleading Squad. You may notice that there are a couple differences between this team and the one we currently have. Whether it’s the lack of skirts or the presence of ties, things have clearly changed in these past six decades.

All Boys School:

Typical of photos of Saint Francis from the ’60s, all of the students are male. No, the girl students were not afraid of having their picture taken—they simply did not exist. Saint Francis remained an all-boys school until 1970 when it combined with Holy Cross, the all-girls high school just down the road.

Not So Lasting Legacy:

Before Saint Francis was the sports powerhouse it currently is, they had a more miscellaneous selection of sports. One of these, as pictured, was bowling! Whether it be its loss of popularity in the new millenium or Saint Francis’s recent emphasis on more mainstream sports, bowling is no longer a popular activity at Saint Francis.

1974

Pre-600 Building Era:

The advancements, or lack thereof, in architecture are apparent in this image. If you were to stand in the same location this photo was taken now, your feet would be on asphalt instead of grass. However, the building in the top left, known as the Andre House, has been a constant structure from 1923, since before the school’s modern day construction. At this point, it is the only structure that has seen the full history of Saint Francis.

Groovy Group:

From the makeup to the choice of outerwear, this picture is distinctively ’70s. Although expressed in a much different way, the importance of fashion in a students life is clear.  

Play Day of Yesterday:

Instead of rap battles and dance-offs in the gym, homecoming activities took place on the track. Even the bikes in this photo look somewhat vintage–nothing like the neon Schwinns of today.

1984

No Place like Chili’s:

Despite a slight modernization in the logo, the sign the students are cheerfully standing behind clearly points to a certain fast-casual restaurant. Chili’s, although lacking today’s infamous triple dipper, was also a popular hangout spot for Lancers.

Can’t Do Spirit Day Without My Cyclops Sunglasses:

It’s funny to us how this is obviously an ’80s look, but to the girl in the photo, she’s actually just making an allusion to the current pop culture. Maybe the next generation will think the same of us when they see photos of us at spirit days, celebrating 2020s fashion.

Tug of War Tradition:

One thing that has not budged since the ’80s is our tradition of tug-of-war at each rally. If it wasn’t for the difference in style and quality of the camera, everything looks about the same as today, especially the distressed faces of struggle.

1994

Custodial Nightmare:

This photo brings up an extremely philosophical and meta question: was High School Musical 2 inspired by a scene at Saint Francis after finals? All jokes aside, this photo brings up many logistical questions such as: who is cleaning all this up and can we do this now? There must have been a reason this tradition was discontinued, but maybe if that complication is solved, it could be revived….

’90s Pitch Perfect:

The knitted vests and loose jeans combination really completes the look of this performance. These students did not actually attend Saint Francis. Instead, they were from Independence High School and were invited by Saint Francis’s International Club. Saint Francis was lucky to be blessed with what looks to be the Backstreet Boys of the South Bay.

Life without Airpods:

By the early ’90s, the Bay Area was ahead of its time in terms of technology. However, this photo, from the Gen Z perspective, looks close to archaic. It’s crazy to consider how much our school has advanced in three decades.

2004

Ticket Waiting to Happen:

By the time senior year comes around it is said that students lose motivation to do school work. Does the same apply with putting on seat belts? Seen here at least five senior girls are piled into a Chevrolet wearing their senior jerseys, an iconic Lancer clothing item that is still popular to this day. 

These Kids Need Wordle:

In the Y2K era, there were fewer options to solve class boredom than there are now. Before iPads, the only way to get through a long class was to do the unthinkable: listen. Here’s some food for thought the next time you are bored in class playing Block Blast: past generations didn’t even have The New York Times puzzles to get them through sixth period.  

Quad Squad:

With the remodeling of our quad over these past few years, much of the wildlife has been exterminated. Although the loss of a few hundred square feet of grass may seem insignificant, it has transformed our lunchtime seating habits. In this picture, along with some questionable fashion choices, are students sitting directly in the quad walkway. Nowadays it would be most peculiar to see a group of students sitting criss-cross applesauce on the fully paved quad. 

2014

Rock Out:

This photo also offers a view of the quad that is much more different from the one we have today. If you look past the awesome looking band, you can see classrooms that look nothing like the marvels of architecture currently bordering our campus. Despite the technological advancements, our quad still remains a place for clubs and student groups to express themselves, as pictured here!

Some Things Never Change:

This photo shows how Saint Francis hasnt changed too much in a decade. This exact photo could probably be recreated today, down to the trash cans! With the 200 building looking the exact same as it does today and the incredibly basic college and sports wear that the students have on, this is an example of ways in which Saint Francis has stayed consistent.

Birthday Shenanigans:

Apart from the aggressive side parts that a Gen Z Tik Tok movement put an end to, this picture resembles a scene that could very possibly happen today. The Sobrato Commons remain a popular spot for students to hang out, study, and celebrate the aging of a friend.