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The Yearbook is on Sale!

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Part of The Bird on Fire’s What’s in the News

By 8th Grade Blogger Max Pretorius

Yearbooks are something that every school has. They are important parts of American school culture. Yearbooks are books made by a group of students meant to capture the people, events, and activities that happen throughout the year. As described by Editor In Chief Olivia Puetz, “The yearbook is full of fun memories.” Zoey Guess, a part of the yearbook staff, also describes the yearbook as being “a whole-year photo dump.” You can now buy this amazing Palm Valley School yearbook for only $95! You can buy the yearbook here or at the front office.

Yearbook Staff

The yearbook has plenty of staff–tireless students and teachers working hard on the yearbook. There are four teachers that have worked on the yearbook: Mr. Gil, Mr. Jue, Mrs. Nayfack, and Mrs. Torres. In addition, there are also many students who work on the yearbook, taking photos and writing: Calum Webster, Jaxon Pacilio, Ivana Vega, Ryder Gardner, Zoey Guess, Olivia Puetz, Rylie Conway, Peter Collier, Sami Alnabelsi, and Chase Krein. Rylie Conway made the illustrations, and Olivia Puetz is the Editor in Chief.

While the 2025-26 yearbook student staff is responsible for documenting images and events for all of PVS, it is made up of Middle and Upper-School students. (Image source: Mr.Gill)

Specialty Pages

The yearbook has a total of 172 pages, many of which are specialty pages. Most of the specialty pages are for the grades going up to the next big step–these being the 5th grade going to middle school, the 8th grade going to high school, and the seniors going to college. These pages have some extra things related to that grade; for example, the 8th grade has a page with our baby pictures. It’s an extra special book for those classes promoting to a new level. So, if you’re in 5th grade, 8th grade, or are a senior, now is the best time to buy a yearbook.

How Ukraine Has Changed Our Understanding of Warfare with the Use of Drones

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Feature Post

By 8th-Grade Blogger Max Pretorius

Ever since World War II, military tactics have remained the same. Tanks and aircraft carriers have dominated the land and sea. But that is changing, and the question is, will the United States be able to adapt to these changing tactics? Modern wars like that of Ukraine have taught us that tanks are no longer useful. A new competitor arises: the drone.

How Drones Destroyed the Era of the Tank

Tanks are large and expensive machines that have proven to be good against infantry and each other. Tanks use their thick armor to defend themselves from the small arms used by infantry and counterattack using mounted machine guns or other weaponry. Tanks also use long barrels to attack other high-armor vehicles. 

Drones are great at countering these tanks. Drones are inexpensive flying machines that are able to drop explosives and fire guns. What makes drones so powerful is that you can get ten, inexpensive, $500 drones and destroy a multi-million dollar tank with them (businessinsider.com). Tanks are just no longer useful due to how easily they can be destroyed by a couple drones.

How the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Taught Us about Drones

The Second Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict was the first post-modern war. It was a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict was in 2020 and was a decisive Azerbaijani victory. This was due to the use of Israeli and Turkish drone technology. By using this technology, they were able to win the war in 44 days (militarystrategymagazine.com). They did this by using the drones to pummel all Armenian defenses. The Israeli drones in particular were very interesting as they were dubbed “suicide drones” because they would explode themselves to destroy enemy targets (besacenter.org). Interestingly, the first Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict was an Armenian victory due to the use of tanks and other conventional weaponry.

An Israeli IAI Harop “suicide drone.” (image source: https://thebulletin.org/2023/06/one-way-attack-how-loitering-munitions-are-shaping-conflicts/ )

The Use of Drones In Ukraine

Ukraine has been somewhat of a military testing playground for the west against Russian forces. We’ve learned a lot about modern-day warfare from Ukraine. In particular, we’ve learned about drones. Ukraine has been producing an astounding 4 million drones per year (kyivpost.com). To put that into perspective, Russia, with the biggest tank force in the world, had ~3,000 operational tanks and ~13,500 armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) (army.mil).Those are miniscule numbers compared to the millions of Ukrainian drones being produced every year. 

Due primarily to Ukrainian drones, Russia has lost 4,030 tanks and 8,833 AFVs (army.mil). This means that Russia has lost so many tanks that they have resorted to using non-operational tanks in storage. It just comes to show how pivotal drones have been in the war, attacking naval ships, infrastructure, infantry, tanks, and other strategic targets.

This image shows a cheap, Ukrainian first-person drone flying. (image source: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/02/08/killer-drones-pioneered-in-ukraine-are-the-weapons-of-the-future )

The Use of Anti-Drone Technology

The war has also brought anti-drone technology. Ukraine in particular has been using two main technologies to intercept drones: the sting and the MEROPS drone system. The sting is a Ukrainian-designed drone that is great at intercepting other drones. It can fly up to 280 km per hour (reuters.com). The sting is such a good and cheap drone that many Middle Eastern countries are interested in purchasing the drones to defend themselves against Iran (reuters.com). Ukraine has also been using the MEROPS. The MEROPS is an American-made, ai-powered, drone defense system (militarnyi.com). It works with radar to send out interceptor drones to attack other drones; each drone costs about $14,500 (militarnyi.com). Ukraine has also been installing nets on their roads to protect them against Russian drones (nytimes.com).

This image shows Ukrainian road nets protecting the road against drones. (Image source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/world/europe/ukraine-russia-drones-nets.html )

Conclusion

Ukraine has taught us that warfare is going to change forever. Gone are the days of tank offensives and frontline attacks. Modern warfare is being fought with drones, millions of them.

The Reason Gas Prices Have Gone Up

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Part of The Bird on Fire’s What’s in the News

By 8th-Grade Blogger Max Pretorius

Have you or your parents gone to the gas station recently? If you have, you’ll have definitely noticed gas prices going up. Many people know this has to do with conflict in Iran, but there is much more to it than that.

Iran Blocks the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is a wide straight between Iran and a small exclave of Oman. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Recently, the United States has engaged in conflict with Iran. Iran then decided to blockade the Strait of Hormuz by attacking anything that goes through the strait. According to The New York Times, “The vital waterway, which normally carries one-fifth of the world’s oil exports, has been all but shut down by Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels”. 1/5th of the world’s oil is a lot of oil.

This image is a map I made to show the middle east and the area where this conflict is happening. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf (left of the strait) and the Indian Ocean (right of the strait).

Why are we affected?

Many people have pointed out that it doesn’t make sense for this to impact the United States. According to American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, 60% of crude oil used in American refineries is from the United States, with 88% of it being from North America. By this logic it doesn’t make sense for the United States to be affected. As the U.S. Energy Information Administration states, “Crude oil is traded in a global market.” This means that if there’s less oil in the global market, oil prices increase everywhere. Intuitively, it makes sense. If United States oil prices didn’t increase, it would be better for American oil manufacturers to export oil to other countries willing to pay more. Well, this isn’t entirely true. Sometimes oil prices from a certain place can change based off oil type and transportation options.

The Impact

Due to the current conflict in the middle east, according to AAA (as of March 31), gas prices in California have risen to $5.561 from $4.593 a month ago. That’s nearly a $1 per gallon difference! It’s unlikely these prices will go down until Iran stops blockading the Strait of Hormuz.

Slide onto the Ice with CSF

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Part of The Bird on Fire’s What’s in the News

By 12th-Grade Blogger Melina Brodeur 

The California Scholarship Federation and California JUNIOR Scholarship Federation at Palm Valley School hosted an ice-skating event at the Acrisure Arena last month to allow students to come together and create a space with laughter and moments that are unforgettable. Events like this allow students to take a break from school activities and enjoy time with friends and support each other. Skating is the perfect activity to meet new people and enjoy your time away from school for a few hours. I asked Matteo Lam, the CSF President, “Why do you think events like ice skating are important for students?” and he replied, “Events like ice skating give students the opportunity to socially connect in a dynamic different from the everyday classroom experience. It’s fun, a new experience for some, and helps build community.” So if you have missed this event, make sure to watch out for future CSF activities so you’re able to enjoy the experience of hanging out with friends and having fun. 

Matteo, Nevan, Olivia, and Louisa have fun, skating, and enjoying time together. (Photo credits to Mr. Killeen and Ms. Zachik.)
Mr. Killeen captured the action of Matteo doing a “hockey stop” and spraying all with ice.

The Power of Having a Hobby

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Op-Ed Post: How do we really feel?

By 12th-Grader Melina Brodeur 

Bedazzling is one of my guilty pleasures. It takes many, many hours for me to finish a project, but placing down each little rhinestone is relaxing and allows me to get off my phone for a few hours. Bedazzling for me is not just decorating things with rhinestones, but a creative outlet that allows me to reduce my stress and anxiety. When I feel I am unable to focus on homework, do my reading, or even be able to study for a test, I decide instead to take some time to give myself a second to slow down, and focus on my thoughts while doing something I find extremely rewarding. I started bedazzling because I had watched a TikTok video of a girl explaining how much she enjoyed it.

I found it so satisfying to take something simple, like a water bottle, lip gloss, or even a phone case, and transform that plain item into something unique. Hobbies like bedazzling can bring back creativity into your life in a world full of social media. Instead of spending money on buying items that are manufactured and that everyone has, now you can create a unique item that is only yours, and even customize the colors, the patterns, and even the designs. Gluing down the rhinestones is extremely relaxing and takes a lot of patience and focus. If I ever need a break from homework, social media, or studying, I know I can rely on bedazzling to be able to ease my stress. There’s even research to support the idea (Mercy, 2023). According to the American Psychological Association, creative activities can decrease stress through expressive activities that involve concentration and imagination. They say having a hobby that involves using your hands, like doing crafts, can create a calming effect. 

Hobbies don’t have to be major like building a treehouse (although if you wanted, it would be cool); just do something that feels personal to you, give yourself a chance to slow down, focus, and enjoy yourself, and maybe you’ll figure out that this creativity will be the main component to you being able to pull through the rest of the year. So go find something you enjoy doing.

Melina bedazzled fragrance bottles and a mini Vaseline using rhinestones and adhesive.  Photo by author.

CUÁNTAS PATAS!!!

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Op-Ed Post: How do we really feel?

By 8th-Grade Blogger Jackie Pretorius

My dad needed an evil ploy to get us to learn some Spanish. He thought to himself what is the most awesomest thing in the whole wide world–so awesome in fact that his children wouldn’t mind speaking in a whole different language? Thus, Cuántas patas (how many paws) was born. Out of the blue, our dad will quiz us by asking cuántas patas? The thing that annoyed me most was that the answer was always cuatro (four). Cats have four paws, and that doesn’t change! It’s like that didn’t matter though. He would pretend we are in some sort of a gameshow and would be so enthusiastic whenever we got the answer right.

One Easter day we were doing our normal thing, finding eggs, and stuff. Usually we would have to complete a URL code that leads us to a video showcasing where we were going to travel next. In order to find the missing characters in the URL, we’d have to do a fun activity. I think you know where this is going. One by one he’d pick up our cats and shout cuántas patas in the most animated way possible, and when we answered “cuatro,” he would celebrate. I’d come to find this extremely annoying while Max (my brother) has embraced it and joined our dad’s side in trying to irritate me.

Also one of my games in Scratch (a simple kids block coding language), was having to take care of a cat by playing four different mini games. In one of these mini games, I made it so that the cat you were taking care of would quiz you with various questions about how many ears, eyes, and of course paws does a cat have in Spanish and later English. Best of all I showed it to our dad, and you can’t imagine how much he enjoyed it. A little inside joke he made has turned into so much more. Although I still find the cuántas patas game annoying, I’ve come to like it as it has brought us so many memories. And, now, you can embrace it and see how ridiculous but yet so wholesome cuántas patas came to be.

My Scratch game.

A Mark Meme

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By Former and Now Returning Blogger Mark Huber

You might remember Mark’s illustrations, animations, movies, and stories from last spring semester when he was a Blog Staffer. Mark returns to us now in the last half of this spring semester. He brings with him his drawing and storytelling skills. He shares here a meme about the irony of enjoying the “fresh” outdoors. Enjoy.

Original graphic by Mark Huber.

A Dumb Introvert Rant

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Op-Ed Post: How do we really feel?

By 8th-Grade Blogger Jackie Pretorius

I joined Blog since I like writing and even though I do get to write I also have to interview people for some of the prompts. And, of course, when I learned about this interviewing thing I did everything I could to keep it at a minimum, but I’d still be forced to do it anyway. It’s not like I don’t like talking to people; it’s just my social batteries can only handle so much. On the other hand, I can sometimes be shy and barging into a random classroom, disturbing the atmosphere, and starting a conversation with someone definitely helps me get out of my bubble. (I am definitely not being sarcastic.) I wasn’t so scared that I couldn’t make a decision on what PSA to do since they mostly revolved around interviewing. 

Photo credit: I drew these myself.

These two things–low battery and shyness–make it really hard to socialize regardless of how much my brother Max wants me to, especially during dances. At the last dance, I couldn’t have a chat with myself for more than 5 minutes without him interrupting my inner monologue and literally pushing me over to people. You know how embarrassing that is having to explain myself like I did something wrong? But also starting a conversation is scary. So naturally when I knew what he was doing I would run for my life and hide behind a pillar, hoping he wouldn’t notice me.

Another scary thing is  Blog. Yet again! I thought once I finished a post it would only be privately shared and returned for corrections, and although it was like that, there’s more to the story. After all the editing is done and you resubmit a post, it needs to go through a read-through. One person reads it aloud to the entire class as they nitpick everything. I hide from my problems by being under the table every single time a read-through of my work is taking place. And I know before the read-through our teacher makes corrections, . .  soooo. Please don’t put me through the pain and agony that are read-throughs. I would rather have a mumball thrown at my face rather than be embarrassed by maybe having a small grammar mistake and everything knowing I’m dumb because of it!

“Then, resubmit. It is ready to publish–after a read-through!”

“NOOOOOOOO!“

Anyways, in school I like working solo for obvious reasons, but sometimes you’re forced to be in groups. Whenever that happens I either do one of two things. One, I do the entire project myself while constantly worrying if it’s good enough; or, two, I do absolutely nothing without other people’s approval. But when the work is solo, I don’t have to worry about those things. But at the same time, it can be fun talking with people I would have never spoken with if this group project didn’t force me to. I just can’t make up my mind, can I?!

Even with all that said, I understand why talking with others can be beneficial. We live in a society where we have to work as a team and learning how to do so is a good tool to have. On the other hand, if you don’t want to socialize, there is no one forcing you to until you have to do those stupid interviews and read-throughs, people bugging you to socialize, or working in anxiety-inducing group projects. But, they’re not all bad. Sometimes I do enjoy it, but also now I get an excuse to complain. Thanks, Blog!

April’s Jokes and Fun

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Part of The Bird on Fire’s What’s in the News

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle 

The first day of every April is celebrated by making jokes and pranking your peers. Have you ever wondered why we celebrate the famous holiday “April Fools Day”? Does it even have a history behind it? Or was it just something that randomly started for no reason? I have discovered the answers to your questions, so you don’t have to go searching.

April Fools’ Day, in most countries, is the first day of April. It received its name from the custom of playing practical jokes on this day—for example, telling friends that their shoelaces are untied or sending them on so-called fools’ errands. Although the day has been observed for centuries, its true origins are unknown and effectively unknowable. It resembles festivals such as the Hilaria of ancient Rome, held on March 25, and Holi, the Hindu spring festival celebrated on the full-moon day of Phalguna (February–March) (Britannica).

Some people think that the holiday might have originated in France, but no one knows for sure. Here are some pranks that the Palm Valley School students have played.  

Emerson suggested “Covering brussel sprouts in chocolate to make them look like cake pops.”

Julian suggested, “Upside down hot chocolate in a glass. This is when you really quickly flip a mug upside down so the liquid is on the bottom. You clean up the mess and then add whip cream to the top so when the person goes to drink it there is only whip cream, so the liquid falls onto the person.” 

Sami goes with, “Put a rubber chicken to the exhaust of a car, and as it drives, the rubber chicken will make noise!!!!!!!”

“Putting salt into my Dads cup of tea.” – Cleo 

“Sticking googling eyes on everything.” – Livia 

“The French tradition of putting fish sticky notes on people.” – Sophia

“Replace the sugar with salt, or replace the toilet paper with real paper.” – Anna

          

A World Filled with Possibilities

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Op-Ed Post: How do we really feel?

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

I often catch myself wondering about the future, wondering who I want to be when I’m older–not like the type of job I want, but who I want to be as a person. Do I want to be someone people look up to? This is an original poem about not knowing what the future holds: 

No matter how you feel right now,
About this moment,
This moment will never repeat itself.
Growing up is inevitable.
What do I want to be?
A person everyone trusts?
Someone everyone goes to see? 
In a world where I can be anything,
A world where I could have a crown, 
Or be the most famous,
Or be the smartest of the town,
I would choose to be the quiet listening ear,
Who helps her neighbour through the tears.
I would choose to be the person who holds open the door,
Never a mean word, wouldn’t want to leave a scar.
I would choose to be delicate with a certain poise,
But also a fun person filled with love and joy.
I would choose to see the world,
In all its glory and light.
Finding the beauty in everything,
Throughout the starry sky.

For me, it’s not what I want to be, but who I want to be. It’s hard to imagine that in a few years I won’t be here, young, with my friends; we will all be separated and on our different paths in life. I want to be someone people remember and trust. In a world where I could be anything, I would choose to be kind.