The Student News Site of Saint Francis High School

The Lancer
A student works on the frame of their minibot.
Kicking off robotics with minibots
Encoding the next generation.
Blocks in place: new CENG chapter trains Lancers to teach free coding classes
Nanditha Venkatasubramanian ('27), Bethany Ma ('27), and Valerie Lee ('27) work on their iPads in the library.
Let the Stories Echo Back: The digital era (Lancer style)
The Altar of the Mass in the Colors of the Holy Spirit
A spirited start to the school year: the Mass of the Holy Spirit
Woodworking and personal finance classes are some of the more unknown electives offered at Saint Francis.
Under-the-radar electives
Mr. Foy poses for a picture in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Mr. John Foy
Ms. Yang smiles in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Ms. Mei Yang
Mr. Bernardo smiles in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Mr. Narciso Bernardo
Maestra Karla Andrade smiles in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Maestra Karla Andrade
Ms. Salapare gives a cheeky smile in front of the Andre House.
Teacher Feature: Ms. Dominique Salapare
Holy Mary statue surrounded by "the Garden of Hope."
Writer Swap: the Garden of Hope, a lasting legacy
Thank you teachers!
Writer Swap: the heart behind the Holy Cross mission
Mash of San Juan Diego’s annual Christmas holiday decorating competition.
Writer Swap: Catholic Schools Week at San Juan Diego
A culmination of the events SJD had over their homecoming week.
Writer Swap: homecoming at San Juan Diego
San Juan Diego's students and staff pose for a photo.
Writer Swap: back-to-school at San Juan Diego
Nanditha Venkatasubramanian ('27), Bethany Ma ('27), and Valerie Lee ('27) work on their iPads in the library.
Let the Stories Echo Back: The digital era (Lancer style)
A glimpse into life at Saint Francis in the early COVID-19 years.
Let the Stories Echo Back: how the Lancers got through COVID-19
A boy and girl hang out in the Quad.
Let the Stories Echo Back: how Saint Francis became coed
Coach Lynn poses with his tennis players.
Let the Stories Echo Back: remembering the legendary Coach Lynn
Two Lancers go at it.
Let the Stories Echo Back: the chaotic Sports Spectacular
Do the monsters cast shadows… or are they the true shadows?
The revival of horror
Agamemnon, face of "The Odyssey" movie.
Sides of the Same Coin: Emily Wilson’s review of “The Odyssey” movie
Odysseus stands in front of Polyphemus.
The male ego in “The Odyssey”
A shattered screen represents the shattered nature of peoples’ attention spans.
Modern media and its effect on attention spans
Tony and Maria.
Sides of the Same Coin: love, hate, and revenge in “West Side Story” and “Romeo and Juliet”
Agamemnon, face of "The Odyssey" movie.
Sides of the Same Coin: Emily Wilson’s review of “The Odyssey” movie
Tony and Maria.
Sides of the Same Coin: love, hate, and revenge in “West Side Story” and “Romeo and Juliet”
The handkerchief treasured by both Othello and Odin.
Sides of the Same Coin: the bitter betrayal in “O” and “Othello”
A perceptive eye surrounded by elements that characters tried to change in both "The Duff" and "Pygmalion."
Sides of the Same Coin: the power of perception in “The Duff” and “Pygmalion”
Scenes from "The Lion King" and "Hamlet."
Sides of the Same Coin: “The Lion King” and Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
Corn and corn-based products.
How cheap corn became an ingredient in American food
The Sunnyvale farmer's market.
Farm to Table: Sunnyvale Farmers’ Market review
A businessman uses a glass prism box to refract light on grocery store products.
The companies behind your groceries
A pair of teeth begin to devour a chicken wing.
The dangers of mukbang culture
A social media influencer promoting a seemingly perfect gut health quick fix.
Social media’s gut health craze
Cappuccino chip (left), honey lavender (middle), and burgundy cherry (right) gelato from Gelato Classico Italian Ice Cream.
A Walk Down Castro Street: duel of the ice cream parlors
Blue Line, grandma style pizza atop Bees and the Bird, deep dish pizza.
A Walk Down Castro Street: Blue Line Pizza
Corny Puffy Dog.
A Walk Down Castro Street: T. Castle
Maison Alyzeé on a starry night.
A Walk Down Castro Street: Maison Alyzée
Hummus Cauliflower.
A Walk Down Castro Street: Oren’s Hummus
Ms. Savinovich poses with her sushi.
At the Teacher’s Table: sushi rolls with Ms. Grace Savinovich
Mr. Ramirez posing with cute chicken bacon mac and cheese ingredients (and an empty bowl!).
At the Teacher’s Table: chicken bacon mac and cheese with Mr. Jon Ramirez
Mrs. Walsh poses with her shrimp tacos.
At the Teacher’s Table: shrimp tacos with Mrs. Walsh
Mr. Chech posing with dim sums.
At the Teacher’s Table: dim sum with Mr. Chechelnitsky
Mr. Cannon indulging in margherita pizza.
At the Teacher’s Table: margherita pizza with Mr. Cannon
The Sunnyvale farmer's market.
Farm to Table: Sunnyvale Farmers’ Market review
Iced mocha with oat milk from Cosmic Coffee Co.
Farm to Table: Willow Glen Farmers’ Market review
Fish and chips from Delicia's Falafel.
Farm to Table: Kaiser Permanente San Jose Farmers’ Market
Mandarin Oranges from Smiling Oranges.
Farm to Table: Mountain View Farmers’ Market
Cabbage from Her Farms.
Farm to Table: Creekside Farmers’ Market review
What goes into an election?
Hands of Change: campaign messaging with Courtney O’Donnell
Human rights can be easily compromised for the sake of the political middle.
The Dissent: the danger of the middle ground
Protestors hold up a sign calling for gender equality.
More than a label: the stigma surrounding feminism
One party, two visions.
Two images of the Democratic party: Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico
The delta smelt is a tiny, critically endangered fish native only to the San Francisco Bay-Delta in California.
Detrimental changes to the Endangered Species Act
Somebody casts their vote into a ballot box.
Civic Sense: a history of the Electoral College—and why we should get rid of it
Two presidential candidates warring over culture.
Civic Sense: the “bro-ification” of media
Senate seats up for grabs.
Civic Sense: the race for the Senate
Victorious Democrats.
Civic Sense: a reflection on the 2025 elections
A peaceful protest advocating for love, peace, and change.
Civic Sense: I went to a protest—here’s why you can (and should) too
Human hands holding a piece of Mother Nature.
A Call to Justice: defunding US National Parks
A handicap sign and a person's mind in close proximity.
A Call to Justice: disabilities
A truck mows down melting ice.
A Call to Justice: immigration
The rich get richer… and richer.
A Call to Justice: the ethics of extreme wealth
The illustrious pedestal of man stands amidst the dimming of women's achievements.
A Call to Justice: gender inequality
An artistic rendition of three major AI programs: ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
AI Today: how artificial intelligence is becoming smarter
People with varying mental states.
Why “just ask for help” isn’t enough
The magnificent California brown pelican glides through the sky.
Species Spotlight: the California brown pelican
“How should we cut this cake so everyone is happy?”
Mind Games: cutting the cake of equality
An enzyme reading genetic code.
A, T, G, C… and four more?
With a stash of snacks behind their phone, a person's feed shows a post about snack cravings.
Food for Thought: thoughts of food
Carrot-filled eyes stare intensely as a walnut-shaped brain peeks out the top of a person's head.
Food for Thought: eat this, fix that?
Labels on a food product.
Food for Thought: a guide to reading the nutrition label
Different cultural norms when eating.
Food for Thought: do different cultural eating practices affect nutrition?
"Nutritional" supplements.
Food for Thought: the nutrition gap
The magnificent California brown pelican glides through the sky.
Species Spotlight: the California brown pelican
Hidden within the cordgrass, a trio of young California clapper rails walk underfoot their mother.
Species Spotlight: the Ridgway’s rail
A kiwi with kiwis.
Species Spotlight: the kiwi
An Atlantic Puffin watches as other puffins are photographed by a camera.
Species Spotlight: the Atlantic Puffin
The Western Screech Owl scrutinizes its prey.
Species Spotlight: the Western Screech Owl
Don't blink!
Sad Little Accidents: the not-so-noble legacy of Alfred Nobel
Velcro in action.
Happy Little Accidents: sticking to the facts
From one scientist to another, the Big Bang theory evolves.
Happy Little Accidents: the bang that started it all
A microwave stares at a reheated slice of pizza.
Happy Little Accidents: microwaves
A patient braces themselves for an injection.
Happy Little Accidents: anesthesia
A basketball split, or a basketball whole?
Mind Over Game: first quarter
The Lancers in a team huddle during game against Mitty.
More than a flag: the shared athletic DNA of Lancer flag football
The Ballon d’Or trophy.
The Ballon d’Or race
A hand spikes a volleyball.
A girl’s volleyball rivalry renewed
A F1 car for Ferrari.
Formula One: a quick introduction
A sprinter is neck and neck with his competitors.
Photo Diaries: Track and Field
The team huddles up before the game starts.
Photo Diaries: Boys’ Basketball
Stella Giordano (’28) gets ready before the snap.
Photo Diaries: Women’s Varsity Flag Football
The team warms up together.
Photo Diaries: Girls’ Field Hockey
Timothy Cho ('25) and Carson Sias ('25) with a double block.
Photo Diaries: Boys’ Volleyball versus Archbishop Mitty
Person hitting a golf ball.
Past, Present, and Future: golf through time
A baseball on the field.
Past, Present, and Future: the history of baseball
Weston Edwards ('28) looks for a teammate to pass the ball to.
Past, Present, and Future: the history of basketball
The team gets ready before the next play.
Past, Present, and Future: football
Rollan Tannert ('28) is in possession of the ball.
Past, Present, and Future: Boys’ Water Polo
Issue 61.2 Game
Issue 61.2 Game
Issue 61.1 Game
Issue 61.1 Game
Entering the warped world of the 700s building.
The 700s building: a student’s perspective
A nostalgic photo of our iconic school tree—may I say our mascot.
A legacy that will live on: sad news about the Bay Tree
Top secret files holding information on senior retreat.
Senior retreat secrets revealed
An exhibit of ancient artifacts.
Teacher Feature: Mr. Don Carroll recounts the Big Bang
New plans for verticality in math class will help Mr. Pasion's neck.
Calculus AB goes vertical
The Student News Site of Saint Francis High School

The Lancer
The Student News Site of Saint Francis High School

The Lancer

Anika Umbarkar (’29), Contributing Writer

Anika Umbarkar is a Contributing Writer for vol.63 of The Lancer.

All content by Anika Umbarkar (’29)
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