szachik@pvs.org, Author at the bird on fire

Vexillology: The Art of Flag Design

March 5, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Feature Post

By 8th-Grade Blogger Max Pretorius

Whether it be a flag of a state, nation, town, or a school, flags are used everywhere. Having a flag lets your community be represented in a recognizable banner. Though making a flag seems simple, it is very complicated, and making a good flag can take a very long time. To help with this, vexillologists and designers have created certain guidelines for making flags. The main guidelines were made in a collaboration between the North American Vexillological Association and the UK’s Flag Institute and can be found in “The Commissioner’s Report on the Guiding Principles of Flag Design” (https://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Flag_Design_Commission_Report.pdf). These guidelines can help you make an amazing flag of your own!

Rule 1: Keep It Simple

One of the most important things about flag design is simplicity. Your flag should be easy enough for a child to draw. You have to remember that flags are seen from a distance, so they must be simple. The line between flags that are too complex and not too complex would be something like the United States’ flag. Simplicity is important in flags because, again, you are likely looking at them from a distance. Complexity could muddy up what you’re seeing. You should not have seals on a flag, as they are far too complex and minute to be seen.

The new Minnesota flag is a simple, great flag, easily drawn by any child (Graphic Source: https://www.sos.mn.gov/media/4k3o50q2/2023-state-emblem-redesign-commission-report.pdf ).

The old Minnesota flag is a horrible, mess of a flag, with an overcomplicated design (Graphic Source:https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Minnesota ).

Rule 2: No Text

One of the most important, yet commonly broken rules, is that there should be no text on a flag. A flag is not an essay. A flag is NOT a note card. A flag is a design, a design that lets you convey messages and ideas through it. Text completely ruins the point of having a flag and is far too complicated to be seen from a distance.

Iowa’s flag is a mess, with it using a lot of over-complicated text (Graphic Source: https://www.customflagcompany.com/product/iowa-state-flag/?srsltid=AfmBOooZKlP9P-4bX0NezujB38CD8TNC44ewWfbczxC3tRhbF1u9pDe8).

Ohio’s flag is a great flag, with it hiding the O into design (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Ohio ).

Rule 3: Use Symbolism

Flags should have meaning. You don’t just want to make a flag with a couple colors you like; flags should represent something symbolic about its people. Symbolism on a flag should represent the entirety of the community it represents, as opposed to specific parts of it. Symbolism could be anything from a symbol, to a shape, to a color.

The flag of the United Kingdom has great symbolism. The Union Jack uses its design to reflect England, Scotland, and Ireland within the crosses (Graphic Source: https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/uk-flags/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/ ).

The French flag is a tri color. This means it has symbolism through the colors of the flag. Though it’s better to have designs to incorporate symbolism, this still works (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-France).

Rule 4: Be Careful with Colors

This is similar to the idea of not being too complex; flags need to not have too many colors. Too many colors can make flags complicated and expensive. When you use colors, you should try to contrast dark and light colors, so that if you were to create a grayscale image, they would still contrast.

The flag of the United States has three simple colors: red, white, and blue. These simple colors help make it a great flag (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-the-United-States-of-America ).

The flag of Dominica has a whopping seven colors. This makes the flag a lot worse, as it is an over-complicated mess, with each extra color having less and less symbolism (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Dominica).

Rule 5: Be Distinct

When designing your flag, being distinct is very important. If you have a flag that’s similar to other flags, it can hinder your flag’s meaning and symbolism. And, people might not recognize it. However, you can make your flag similar to another flag if it is relevant to the symbolism of your flag. For example, Liberia, a country in Africa, has a flag very similar to the flag of the United States. This choice was intentional as the country was founded by former slaves from the United States.

The flag of Liberia is intentionally similar to the flag of the United States due to Liberia’s history (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-the-United-States-of-America, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Liberia ).

The flag of Chad (above) is very similar to Romania (below), although they have completely different symbolism. This is an extreme example of why it’s important for your flag to be distinct (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Chad, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Romania ).

Rule 6: Flags Go on Flag Poles

When you make a flag, you need to recognize that it will be flown on a pole. This means that it needs to be distinct as said before, but it also needs to be distinct when there isn’t any wind. Try to avoid similar flags, especially on the right edges of the flag. A great example of a flag that recognizes this is that of Tennessee. Tennessee’s flag had a blue stripe on the right that helps it be distinct when flown on a pole, especially when the wind stops.

Uruguay and Greece have very similar flags, so that, when seen on a flag pole, their canton (the top left corner of the flag) is very hard to see. Thus, from a flagpole, they are easily confused (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Uruguay, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Greece ).

Tennessee’s flag is a great flag when on a pole due to its distinct blue stripe, which helps you spot it even when wind has gone down (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Tennessee ).

The Exceptions

Just because these guidelines exist, doesn’t mean that you have to follow all of them. Sometimes, not listening to the guidelines can make your flag better. Usually, when you make a flag that doesn’t follow the guidelines, it’s to enhance a different part of the flag. Some flags might be very complicated but make themselves distinct to enhance their symbolism.

(Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-California, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-South-Africa, https://preservationmaryland.org/history-maryland-flag/, https://flagpedia.net/bhutan, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Colorado )

Overall, flags are great ways to represent a community and a people, and I hope you feel excited to learn more about the amazing world of Vexillology.

Who Was Best Dressed at the Cupid Winter Wonderland Dance?

February 26, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Feature Post

By 7th-Grade Blogger Reagan Kaminsky

Last February, I interviewed PVS students to see who was truly the best dressed at the Valentine’s Day Dance. When the Cupid Winter Wonderland Dance rolled around, I knew what I had to do. Last year’s champion was, now sophomore, Elizabeth Greenwood. Who will take the win this year?

Let’s introduce our contestants:

First, is Emmy Kaminsky (Left), Emerson Dunn (Center), and Soleil Antle (Right).

Next, we have Ivana Vega (Left) and Zoey Guess (Right).

Here we have (the DJ) Kayliee Augustine-Sails.

Lastly, we have Lincoln Johnson (Left), Steven Liu (Center), Charlie Cowley (Right), and Sam West (Bottom).

I interviewed 21 people in total, and we had very close results. However, one person particularly stood out to the crowd. This year’s “Who was best dressed at the Cupid Winter Wonderland Dance?” winner was Zoey Guess! According to Zoey, she got her dress from Windsor. She said she needed to get a red dress; it was the first one she saw, and it was perfect! Clearly, the other PVS students and staff agreed with her; her dress was definitely a crowd favorite. With the elegant maxi style and contrasting fabrics, Zoey’s outfit was the perfect blend of cute and formal.

So, make sure to pick a great outfit when next year’s Valentine’s dance rolls around. You never know if there will be another competition!

A Grade Ahead

February 25, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

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

By Middle-School Blogger Jackie Pretorius

Once every year we have this thing called Move-up Day, where everyone goes to the next grade level. That means that the 5th graders get a sneak peek into middle school.

The 5th graders joined us for Morning Soar on Move-Up Day. Photo credit: PVS Facebook.

This year’s Move-Up Day started off with Morning Soar, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, doing what we normally do in assembly. We introduced the Middle-Upper School to the 5th graders and the 5th graders to the Middle-Upper School.

The schedule was different from a usual Friday, having all the periods from one to seven in order. This meant that students got to meet new teachers as well as revisit old ones. The classes showed us concepts we were going to do once we got to the next grade, while the electives stayed the same. The 12th graders went to college. Just kidding–they got a free day off, but they could also talk to the juniors and sophomores about the college-application process if they chose to during lunch.

PVS alumnus Sara Habibipour, now at UCLA, Facetimed with the Juniors and Sophomores, explaining the demands of the quarter system and midterms, and joys of college extracurriculars. Photo credit: PVS Facebook.

Let’s look at some quotes about Move-Up day.

Max (fellow blogger): I remember my first Move-up Day. It was a day like any other. My Move-Up Day buddy was Louisa Richardson, and she did an act of kindness that I’ll never forget. She bought me a bag of Cheetos at the vending machine for a dollar. I savored every last Cheeto.

7th-Grade Savannah had some words of wisdom for the 5th graders: “Don’t be nervous. Be yourself.”

Ms. Schapiro added, “Good advice.”

Sophomore John, after interacting with current college students, observed, I can see “hard work goes a long way.”

Overall, Move-Up Day was an exciting day as everyone got the chance to explore a bit of what the next grade has to offer.

New Year, New You–Is that really true?

February 10, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

It’s the start of 2026, but to me it still feels like 2025. When I think of the saying new year, new you, I wonder if that’s really true. I believe that people can change but not because of the tick of a clock. I think that no matter how hard one tries, the same things they hold onto get carried into the next year–that could be romance, a feeling, a memory, an item. I don’t think that a new year really defines a new personality for someone. This is an original poem based on my experiences with the passing of time.


A New Chapter?

I count down the minutes as the clock ticks. 
I watch the uneven hands move slowly,
Wondering what this new year has for me.
I hear loud chanting as the fireworks rip
Across the dark night sky, 
The smell of tacos in the air.
The clocks finally change.
It’s now a new year.
I see others’ smiles big and content,
But the same thoughts still circle my head. 
A new year has come, 
Though I still hold on to the past 
Where memories arose, and emotions lapsed. 
Days go by quickly, 
yet I still write with a five at the end. 
I turn to my resolutions,
Which I have yet to begin.
People act differently but are entirely the same.
New year, new you – is that really true?
For some reason I believe that a change of a clock
Doesn’t define who you are, or who you want to be. 
People seem as if everything is okay,
As if nothing bothers them. 
But I bet they are just trying to fit in.
We shield what’s on our face, all for what? 
Our true feelings and thoughts are the ones that matter.
I still carry things from the past:
How is that so bad? New year, new you?
It isn’t true for me.

A Dream that Continues Today

February 6, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

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

By 12th-grader Melina Brodeur

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day off from school, celebrated on the third Monday of January each year, even if it falls on a different day from his actual birthday. MLK Day is scheduled this way under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which places federal holidays on Mondays to lengthen the weekends. The importance of this day is to celebrate the legacy of a civil rights leader and to promote equality. Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader most known for his nonviolent protests to fight for racial equality and justice. My favorite quote from Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This quote is a call to action to stop oppression and injustice. He helped lead and advocate for civil rights movements, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which legislated an end to segregation. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is significant because it honors the life and the achievements of a leader who fought for equal rights and justice for everyone. Recognizing this day allows people to see the progress made toward racial equality and the work that remains.

Photo Credit: “The Art of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr” by the National Endowment for the Arts

Your Canadian Friends are Back!

February 5, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

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

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

Have you wondered why this time of year there is always so much traffic? Why the valley is so over populated?

That would be because your Canadian friends have returned. In Canada, during our warm spring months, it is absolutely freezing. There are so many blizzards, so much rain, and it’s difficult to get places because of the backlog of traffic, so a lot of Canadians use those months to travel. The estimated number of Canadian snowbirds that come to visit California annually is 1,600,000 (Canada to the USA).

I took a larger look and discovered many Canadians don’t just visit Palm Springs but they invest in it too and are among the top foreign buyers of property in our area. These snowbirds own 7% of homes in the Coachella Valley (Canada to USA). According to the LA Times, 303,600 Canadians visited the Palm Springs area, in 2017, spending roughly $236 million dollars!

“California has always been one of the prime winter-living locations for many Canadians. [They are] attracted by the reliable weather, the vibrant economy, and the engaging culture within the Coachella Valley. It’s a small pocket of paradise!” said Paul Antle, a long-time resident in both the Coachella Valley and Canada. He is also a board member of the school and my father.

Seriously, how beautiful is this view from Rancho Mirage’s Mission Hills? Photo credit: Soleil Antle

A Year Since The LA Fires

February 4, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

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

By Blogger Max Pretorius

Over a year ago, on the seventh of January, 2025, Southern California was shocked as Los Angeles was consumed by fire. By the time the dust settled on the 30th of January, according to The LA Times, an estimated 31 people died with an estimated damage cost of $250 billion, and, according to NBC News, 13,000 homes were destroyed.

A year later, we still see the effects of the fire. Despite a year having passed, according to NBC news, “fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt in Los Angeles County since Jan. 7, 2025.” Furthermore, NPR’s Capradio states that “insurance companies have paid $22.4 billion of the expected $40 billion in total claims from the L.A. fires.” We hope that in the future, LA can finally be rebuilt and that people can return to their homes.

Photo Credit: Britannica, “Los Angeles wildfires of 2025”

Spirit Cafe: The Inside Scoop

February 3, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 4 Comments

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

An Inside Look By Blogger Reagan Kaminsky

The Spirit Cafe is a favorite of every Palm Valley student, but we don’t seem to understand how much work, time, and money is invested into it. I interviewed some of the many people behind the cafe, so we could get the “Inside Scoop” on how much it truly takes to bring it to life. The cafe is run by the PVS Parent Association, and all of the proceeds go to helping with events like the Fall Festival and Water Day. Also, the cafe is open Monday through Friday during lunch, so make sure to stop by.

Volunteers LouAnne Dien (Left), Linda Yoder (Center), and Monica Mathews (Right) work at the Spirit Cafe every Wednesday. Photo Credit: Reagan Kaminsky

I asked Linda about how the Cafe has done this week. She said,

“We’ve been very busy this last week; it’s interesting how one day to the next the food preferences change from Chicken Teriyaki Bowls to Chicken Melts.”
Linda Yoder

I asked Monica about how she prepares the menu items. She responded,

“Linda takes the order and fills out the form, passes it to me, and from there we air fry or microwave the item, and then we prepare it on a plate with the appropriate condiments.”
Monica Mathews

Lastly, I asked LouAnne about how she opens the cafe everyday, and how they get the items to sell at the cafe. She claimed,

“I just open it up and make sure everything’s unlocked, unwrapped, and then everyone comes. When we restock, we have three buyers. One goes to Costco, one goes to Sam’s Club, and I just go around hoping for the best supply. We all just help each other; it’s a team effort.”
LouAnne Dien

Personally, I work at the Spirit Cafe every Wednesday and Friday, and I agree. It takes a lot of work, but it’s always worth it to volunteer. Though there are many great volunteers behind the Spirit Cafe, there is one person who truly gives it her all. Elizabeth Richardson schedules the volunteers, shops for supplies, and fills in on the regular for volunteers who can’t make it. So, next time you visit the cafe, make sure to thank all of the PVS parents and grandparents for making it happen.

Why Do Things Fall Out of the News Cycle?

February 3, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Spring semester blogger Melina Brodeur asks, “Why do things fall out of the news cycle?” She did some research. Here’s what she found.

By 12th-Grader Melina Brodeur

News doesn’t stay “news” for long, and the main reason is the extremely fast pace of the 24-hour news cycle. The 24-hour news cycle is the constant reporting of issues, events, and updates around the clock across many platforms. This is a competition for attention between different news channels. Every news cycle wants to be the fastest to deliver information and stories. The new cycle pushes older topics out of the public eye, even if the issue persists. Everything in the news is constantly reviewed to see if it is still relevant to the times. In most 24-hour news cycles, according to KSL Executive Producer Kiera Farrimond, producers decide whether stories are worthy of broadcast; producers weigh whether audiences want to engage with stories or not. If a story cannot meet those requirements, it will be replaced by a new story. Journalists filter data because of either time, impact, or the ability to attract audiences, which causes newer stories to appear and old stories to disappear. In one case, the Coldplay concert was a controversy about a cheating scandal between a woman and her boss, caught on camera during a concert, and was aired online everywhere. But, today, we hear little about this situation; this controversy disappeared like a speck in the wind.

Research shows that audience behavior on a repeated topic can lead to boredom and news avoidance (International Journal of Communication, 2023). So many of us become psychologically exhausted looking at the news; there is too much information all at once. Studies show that as news consumption increases, adults feel overwhelmed. Many of us limit how much news we follow. A great example of news avoidance is my mom; she tends to hate constantly hearing the news blare in her ears about all the horrible things happening. It brings down her mood, and she gets incredibly annoyed. That’s why news outlets stop running stories that aren’t gaining any traction anymore.

News organizations rely on audience attention to gain revenue. When stories stop attracting attention, they are replaced with different ones that will bring views. Views bring advertisers. Advertisers bring money. All these issues combined can make it seem like ongoing stories, many quite serious issues, seem too old to cover. Ukraine is an example of a serious situation with many fatalities, and many people have lost their homes, a situation that persists, which we barely hear about as much as we used to. The news algorithm’s favorite is what is newest and trending, which pushes the old stories out of public view. So, stories don’t disappear because they stop being important, but more because the media wants newer news.

My Favorite Musical – Mary Poppins

January 29, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Written by 7th-Grade Blogger Reagan Kaminsky

Everyone has a favorite musical, and whether it’s Hamilton, Newsies or The Sound of Music, there’s always one that just sticks. For me, however, I can’t think of just one. I have done Musical Theater since the age of 7. I have been in countless productions, and it’s impossible to choose a favorite. Still, the first lead I ever played will always have a special place in my heart. In winter of last year, I was fortunate enough to be cast as Jane Banks in a production of Mary Poppins at the Palm Canyon Theatre.

Let’s go back to the beginning– when I auditioned. I was attending the Palm Canyon Theatre Summer Camp, when the director expressed that she wanted me to audition. I prepared a monologue and went to my audition, and let’s just say I was terrified. I waited and waited. Then, finally, I heard back from the director. I got the role!

Then, the first day of rehearsals came. I met the cast and did a read-through, and it was starting to feel a bit more real. After countless hours of practicing choreography and harmony, before I knew it, Tech Week had begun. Tech Week is the last week of rehearsals when we begin to add lights, sound, and set. I pushed through the week of rehearsals, and then it was finally here–Opening Night. Before we knew it, the curtain dropped, and we got through the first show with ease. Weeks went by, and next thing I knew, it was Closing Night. As the final curtain drew down, let’s just say we were all devastated that the production came to a close.

Reagan (Right) poses with her co-stars in the finale of *Mary Poppins*. Photo Credit: Palm Canyon Theatre

In the end, acting in Mary Poppins was the most incredible and memorable experience. From perfect harmonies to barfing backstage, that show had it all. I may not have a favorite musical, but Mary Poppins will always hold a special place in my heart.