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The 2018 Lunar New Year is Soon!

February 14, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Graphic by Harlow Berny

By Harlow Berny

Hello, Palm Valley Students, and Happy Valentine’s Day! As many of you know, the Lunar New Year/Spring Festival/Seollal is this Friday and will mark the start of the 2018 Year of the Dog. There will be an Advisory presentation and activities based around it today. Have a good day!

Editor: Claire Jenkins

FYI: For those interested in the personality and characteristics of those born in a Dog year, chinesenewyear2018.com says,

Men born in the Dog year are straightforward and genuine. They are energetic, though they’re more pessimistic inside. . . .

Women born in the Dog year are very cautious. They are indifferent towards people they don’t like, and don’t trust easily. But once they do, it’s permanent. They are intensely protective of their friends and family.

 

Filed Under: Culture, School Events, The World Tagged With: 2018, Year of the Dog

Be Careful Out There

February 14, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

Advice of the Week from “Dear Claire”

According to Medical Daily, 24,000 people per year die from being struck by lightning, so obviously you should consider carefully before leaving your house. A BuzzFeedYellow article says 450 people die per year falling out of bed. So, the risks of getting out of bed should also be considered carefully–maybe just stay there and hide from whatever objects could kill you. Our day-to-day activities clearly are an adventure in living dangerously. Claire’s compiled some interesting, unexpected, and worrying ways to die. Watch out for the following.

(A list of “Unexpected Ways to Die” on Valentine’s Day? “Dear Claire” says, “Death can be romantic. Haven’t you read Romeo and Juliet? Thanks, Mr. Griffin.”)

Top 5 Unexpected Ways to Die:

  1. Eating a cherry pit: The inside of the cherry pit is lethal! Don’t eat it!
  2. Elevator crash (cdc.gov says 30 people die annually by elevator): If the elevator seems unstable or old, maybe don’t get in it!
  3. Vending machine falling on you: Even if a bag of chips is stuck on the other side, do not rock the machine; it may fall, and you will DIE.
  4. Electrocuted by a toaster: Don’t touch a toaster with wet hands; it increases your chances of getting electrocuted. Also, don’t put any metal in the toaster to fish out your toast (forks, knives, etc).
  5. Hippo attack (bbc.com says 500 people per year die in Africa via hippo attack): Hippos are more aggressive than they appear, and they are known for charging at smaller boats and capsizing them.

Editor: Brennan Nick

*Medical Daily referenced.

Filed Under: Advice, Letters, The World Tagged With: It's to die for., Watch for falling coconuts

A Performance on Puns . . . . A Play on Words

February 14, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

Compiled by Shelby Armor and Bella Bier

It’s the last week of school before February Break. If you’re dragging–not that you’re counting the days,–here are some puns to brighten your day. Puns make us giggle. Just ask Holden.

  • Yesterday I accidentally swallowed some food coloring. The doctor says I’m okay, but I feel like I’ve dyed a little inside.
  • I wasn’t originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind.
  • Why don’t some couples go to the gym? Because some relationships don’t work out.
  • A friend of mine tried to annoy me with bird puns, but I soon realized that toucan play at that game.
  • I’d tell you a chemistry joke, but I know I wouldn’t get a reaction.
  • Did you hear about the guy who got hit in the head with a can of soda? He was lucky it was just a soft drink.
  • When notes get in treble, bass-ically they get put behind bars. The alto-nate punishment is to push them off a clef and hope they land flat on sharp objects.
  • I once got into so much debt that I couldn’t even afford my electricity bills, they were the darkest times of my life.
  • Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I’ll show you A-flat minor.
  • When William joined the army he disliked the phrase “fire at will.”
  • Claustrophobic people are more productive thinking outside the box.
  • Why don’t programmers like nature? It has too many bugs.
  • Atheists don’t solve exponential equations because they don’t believe in higher powers.
  • Police were called to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
  • A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, “No change yet.”
  • My friend’s bakery burned down last night. Now his business is toast.
  • I got a job working in a hayfield. After one day I bailed.
  • Have you ever tried to eat a clock? It’s very time consuming!
  • What does a clock do when it’s hungry? It goes back four seconds.
  • Two windmills stood in a field. One asked the the other, “What type of music do you listen to?” The other replied with “I’m a big metal fan.”
  • What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.
  • A girl said she knew me from the Vegetarian club, but I had never met herbivore.
  • Broken pencils are pointless.
  • Did you hear about the cartoonist who died alone in his apartment? Details are sketchy.
  • I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.
  • There were two ships. One was painted red; the other was painted purple. They collided. At last report, survivors were marooned.
  • Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job? She couldn’t control her pupils.
  • Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
  • I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can’t put it down.
  • I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.
  • I used to work in a blanket factory, but it folded.
  • I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.
  • Bakers trade recipes on a knead-to-dough basis.
  • What do you give a sick horse? Cough stirrup and neighsel spray.
  • I stayed up all night wondering where the sun went. Then it dawned on me.
  • Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
  • What did the mummy do for the talent show? She wrapped.
  • What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frostbite.
  • Without geometry, life is pointless.
  • Someone just stole my Thesaurus! I’m at a loss for words.–Brennan

Do you have a pun to share? Reply in the “Comment” section.

Ex: From Peter, “We’re getting so many suggestions for headlines, kinda like a ‘title wave.'”

Editor: Brennan Nick

*Punoftheday.com referenced.

Filed Under: Humor, Letters, Uncategorized Tagged With: punny, punny day

PVS Trip to USC!

February 12, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Shelby Armor

On January 28, PVS California Scholarship Federation students and friends took a trip to the University of Southern California to watch the Trojan men’s basketball team beat the Cal Berkeley Bears. Along the way, they got a campus tour from PVS Alumni Nick Kaufmann and lunch at USC’s new multi-function Village.

PVS students pose in front of USC’s iconic “Tommy Trojan” for a photo. Can you spot alumnus Nick Kaufmann? Chaperones Mr. Zuniga and Mr. Killeen?

PVS students pay rapt attention to USC freshman and PVS alumnus Nick Kaufmann as he leads a campus tour. Note senior Sydney Scheck’s intense interest.

Filed Under: School Events, Travel Tagged With: CSF, PVS, USC

Thinking of Love

February 9, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Thinking of love? Valentine’s Day is on its way. “Anne” has some ruminations on the subject for you.

 

By Anne

 

It’s as if you’ve turned my heart into an ocean

at the same time you’ve lit it on fire.

It seems to slosh around with every motion;

I can feel its weight, its infinite depth.

There is no limit to its flow.

The fiery tongues dance inside me,

engulfing everything they see.

I feel the warmth of both comfort and anxiety.

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Filed Under: Poetry, Uncategorized Tagged With: Anne, love, Valentine's Day

She

February 9, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Makena Behnke

 

she lives in a kingdom she created by herself

no one had the courage to climb the walls she built

and when one did

she

shot

him

down.

–whether she wanted to or not.

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: Blog Poet, Makena poems, She speaks

Trial and Error

February 8, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Brennan Nick, Blogger and Lawyer for the PVS Mock Trial Team

Many of our high schoolers, nearly 15 in fact, are competing in the California Mock Trial Competition. Our first competition is today, Thursday, February 8, at the Indio Courthouse. Mock Trial is, as the name entails, pretend court. This year’s case involves defendant Casey Davidson who is accused of murdering victim Alex Thompson. Today, we role-play as prosecution against the team from Indio High School who will litigate against us as the defense. Our job? To prove beyond reasonable doubt Casey Davidson is guilty of murder. Wish us luck!

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins

Filed Under: Current News, School Events Tagged With: Beyond a shadow of a doubt

Upper School Cultural Potluck

February 8, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Graphic by Harlow Berny

By Harlow Berny

Hello, Palm Valley Community! This is an announcement to the Upper School teachers and students for the 2nd annual PVS Cultural Potluck this Friday! Over 25 people have signed up to bring a dish to the Potluck that either comes from their family, nationality, or religion. Just as a reminder for those bringing food, you need to 1) send an email to Jordan Dinerman confirming that you will bring a dish, 2) bring enough to serve small portions to at least 15 people, and 3) attach a piece of paper with your name, the name of the food you brought, a list of ingredients (since some people may have allergies), and where the food is from (family recipes, culture, religion, etc.). If you bring food for the Potluck, then you will be at the front of the line to eat.

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Filed Under: Culture, Current News, Food, School Events Tagged With: Cultural Potluck, This Friday!, yummy

Fundamental Love

February 7, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

We welcome Leo Milmet to the Blog Staff. Previously, Leo contributed as guest reviewer. More Leo reviews are to come. Today, he debuts with a poem. Leo says of the topic “Giving Back,” This is really something I believe in. The poem also serves as a submission to the Desert Youth Town Hall poetry contest honoring upcoming speaker Caroline Kennedy. The contest’s theme is “Giving Back,” named for Ms. Kennedy and her extended family who exemplify a dedication to public service and its impact on individual citizens.

 

By Leo Milmet

 

Why give back? Not because you should but for

Love of your fellow humans. Helping those

in need makes me feel good. I love all people.

All should be helped. Why? Imagine you were

a person in grave terrible need, then helped by one with a golden heart,

who clothed you, fed you, generously gave you enough to survive just one more day.

You would be happy. You would be grateful for their generosity.

Why? Maybe because they saved you from something,

or at least tried to. The golden-hearted person showed love for a fellow

Human being, a beautiful person inside,  like all of us are.

 

Empathy. Life. Humanity. Compassion. Love

for your contemporaries on this planet.

You don’t want them to leave forever, so help them.

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Filed Under: Letters, Poetry Tagged With: Caroline Kennedy, Fundamental Love, Giving Back, Youth Town Hall

Dear Future Me

February 7, 2018 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Anonymous

 

Dear future me,

I hope that you’re okay.

I hope that you haven’t given up

and that you’re still alive.

I hope that you’ve started living,

rather than just surviving.

I hope that you keep your imagination,

but you change the things that it conjures.

I hope that when you look in the mirror

you see something beautiful.

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: Dear Future Me

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About

We are the Palm Valley Firebirds of Rancho Mirage, California. Join us in our endeavors. Venture through the school year with us, perusing the artwork of our students, community, and staff. Our goal is to share the poems, stories, drawings and photographs, essays and parodies that come out of our school. Welcome aboard!