May 10, 2023 by The Lightning Rod The 5th annual Jim Flanders’ Haiku Poetry contest has come to a close. The Saratoga Springs High School English Department thanks all the poets who submitted close to 150 different haiku. The competition was fierce but here are this year’s Saratoga Springs top 3 haiku! Winner: Levi Goodman […]
Jim Flanders’ Haiku Poetry Contest’s 3 Winning Haikus Read More »
May 10, 2023 by Eliza Krackeler (‘24) The Rod Mini Across (1) Outer case of a snap pea (4) __ up (as in settling a debt) (5) En garde, ready,____! (6) Ancient, in ancient terms (7) Aliens, for short Down (1) Small lakes (2) ___ upon a time (3) Dangerous homophone in the imperative (4)
April 5, 2023 by Aditi Singh (’24) Mystery has always been one of my favorite genres in both books and movies. Add a pinch of murder, and you’ve got my total attention. So while I was scrolling through Netflix, I could not help but notice a movie that kept popping up in the Top Ten;
A Super (un)Qualified Review of Murder Mystery Read More »
April 5, 2023 by Eliza Howenstein (’24) On March 31, Taylor Swift kicked off the third weekend of her record-breaking Eras Tour, a journey through her musical decades in Arlington, Texas. On March 17, the tour started in Glendale AZ, and the city’s mayor temporarily renamed the city “Swift City” to commemorate the historic tour
The Eras Tour Recaped: Swift’s Enchanting Show is Worth the Price Read More »
April 5, 2023 by Eliza Krackeler (‘24) Covid 19, often characterized by isolation and fear, can also be described as an era of great insight. When living through a time clouded with uncertainty, it nearly always seems impossible to pause for a moment to see what can be learned from the situation. Everyone, at all
Book Review: In the Aftermath of Covid, The Plague’s Lessons Resonate Read More »
March 27, 2023 by Jade Helal (‘23) “The bear. It did f*****g cocaine! A f*****g… a bear did cocaine, dad!” Cocaine Bear, the 2023 movie directed by Elizabeth Banks, is a unique and energetic movie that offers a fresh take on the crime-thriller genre. I watched this movie in theaters at an 8:10 pm showing
Movie Review: Cocaine Bear Left me Speechless. Read More »
March 27, 2023 by Francisca Schmalz (‘24) March 27, 2023 photos by Sorell McIntire (‘25) Mamma Mia!, the musical inspired by Abba’s phenomenal and enduring hits, came to Saratoga Springs High School from March 16 through 18. Originating in London’s West End in 1999, then going onto Broadway in 2001, and eventually being adapted into
Review: They Can Dance, They Can Jive–SSHS Drama Club Stuns in Mamma Mia! Read More »
March 27, 2023 by Heather Flow (‘25) Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is a great book for those who love the coming-of-age, drama, and mystery genres. This book is one that will leave you thinking about it for days–and thinking about how to take advantage of your own life. Samantha Kingston is a typical
Book Review: Before I Fall Urges Readers to Seize The Day Read More »
March 27, 2023 by Lucia Birnby (‘23) Based on the bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the TV adaptation of Daisy Jones & the Six debuted on Amazon Prime Video on March 3rd, 2023, and has remained number one for the entirety of its run. Also turning heads is the accompanying album, Aurora, produced by
March 13, 2023 by Francisca Schmalz (‘24) From March 16th to March 18th the Saratoga Springs High School Drama Club is performing Mamma Mia, a classic musical featuring top hits from the band ABBA. The cast and crew have been working for months and it’s clearly paid off–the cast of Mamma Mia has gotten very
Q&A: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! SSHS Presents Mamma Mia Read More »
February 27, 2023 by Eliza Howenstein (’24) Both The Grammy Awards and The Brit Awards generated massive buzz with star-packed nominees and incredible performance lineups this year. To determine which was truly the best award show, I’ve compiled a ranking of each show’s best moments. The Grammys best moments: The fourth most special moment was
Music: The Grammys Outshined The Brits this Awards Season Read More »
February 27, 2023 by Francisca Schmalz (’24) Warning: this review contains spoilers Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is the introduction to Marvel’s next cinematic phase, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This was the first time the audience has seen Ant-Man, The Wasp, and company since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Personally, I loved it, although it wasn’t
Movie Review: Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Read More »
February 27, 2023 by Alex Wersten (’25) This edition’s crossword was developed by Sophomore Alex Wersten. Pick up a copy of The Lightning Rod‘s print edition for easier gameplay, and access the “key” on 2/28!
Crossword 2/27: Life in Saratoga Read More »
February 6, 2023 by Lucia Birnby (’23) It’s been nearly five years since boygenius released their self-titled EP, and fans have been waiting patiently for their return. The supergroup–consisting of Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, and Julien Baker–teased their debut LP, The Record on January 18th with three new songs: “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry,” and “True
Music: The Boys Are Back! Supergroup boygenius announces album, The Record, Out March 31 Read More »
February 6, 2023 by Olivia Clemmensen (’26) Looking for a way to spend time with your family (or with yourself)? Are you interested in art and want to grow your love and knowledge, but do not know where to start? Check out these suggested art museums and galleries right here in New York–and even at
Art in New York: Exploring Our Museums Read More »
January 17, 2023 by Aditi Singh (’24) As typical for Saratoga Springs High School students, I started off my freshman year with a unit on short stories in English class. Out of the numerous (and often grim) stories read in Mrs. Cole’s Honors 9 ELA class, one particularly caught my attention: “The Lottery” by Shirley
Deep Dive Into Our Curriculum: Shirley Jackson Read More »
