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What’s the Best Starbucks Drink?

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By 6th-Grade Bloggers Reagan Kaminsky and Greenlee Bartley

I would say that we have the most boring Starbucks orders on the planet, so we decided to ask other PVS students what drinks they like. If you were wondering, we both regularly order a Strawberry Açai Refresher, with no strawberries. We will be going to Starbucks ourselves and trying three of the drinks we think will taste the best. Then, hopefully we will each have a new favorite order!

For those of you who don’t know, Starbucks has odd names for their sizes. The smallest size is a “Short,” which is 8 oz. The next-smallest size is a “Tall,” which is 12 oz. The next size is the “Grande,” which is 16 oz. The next size is a “Venti,” which is 20 oz. Finally, a “Trenta” is 31 oz.

The first person we interviewed was Ms. Melissa in the US Office, and she said the best Starbucks drink is a Green Tea Lemonade with extra peach juice, in the Grande size. Next, we interviewed PVS teacher Ms. Maguire. She said that the best Starbucks drink is a Venti Mango Dragon Fruit Lemonade. Then, we interviewed 8th-grader Zoey. She said a Venti Strawberry Açai Refresher, with no berries. Next, we interviewed Ms. Emma at the MS Office, and she said that the best Starbucks order is a Venti shaken Espresso. 

10th-grader Rylie said the best Starbucks drink was a Tall Vanilla Frappuccino. 10th-grader Evan claims the best Starbucks order is a Trenta Java Chip Frappuccino. Then, we interviewed 10th-grader Brooklyn. Brooklyn said the best Starbucks order is the new Blackberry Sage Refresher in the Tall size. Next, we interviewed fellow blogger Sophia Nayfack. She said the best Starbucks drink is the new Cherry Chai. We also interviewed a fellow blogger, Elizabeth. Brace yourself: this one’s complicated! According to Elizabeth, the best Starbucks order is a Grande Strawberry Açai Refresher, with no inclusions, water instead of lemonade, light ice, a splash of extra base, 1 pump of cane sugar, 1 pump of classic, in a tall cup with a dome lid. After that, we interviewed another fellow blogger, Mason. He says the best Starbucks order is a Trenta with oat milk base, 27 pumps of caramel, 16 pumps of ube (which doesn’t exist at Starbucks), cookie crumble, lemonade, olive oil, 11 pumps of cane sugar, and finally 20 pumps of mocha. Next, we interviewed PVS Spanish teacher Ms. Bartosik. She said to get the Cranmerry Lemonade Refresher. Then, we interviewed another fellow blogger, Soleil. She said the best Starbucks order is a Venti Strawberry Açai Refresher, with extra berries and cherry. Lastly, we interviewed PVS Coach Erenberg. He comes in with the most complicated answer yet: he says the best Starbucks drink is Water (in the grande size).

In this picture you will see the Blackberry Sage Refresher (Far Left), the Green Tea Lemonade (Middle Left), the Cherry Chai (Middle Right), and lastly the Water (Far Right). Photo Credit: Greenlee Bartley

Now comes the fun part: we try them! We tried Ms. Melissa’s drink (Green Tea Lemonade with extra peach juice), Sophia N.’s drink (Cherry Chai), and Brooklyn’s drink (Blackberry Sage Refresher). Special credit to our guest judge, (Reagan’s sister) Emmy Kaminsky! First, we tried the Cherry Chai. We all thought it was great, and it was incredibly hard to beat. Then, we tried the Blackberry Sage Refresher, and it was not our favorite. It was still amazing, just not our kind of flavors. Lastly, we tried the Green Tea Lemonade with extra peach juice. This one was also great, but it didn’t quite compare to the Cherry Chai. 

Here you will see the winner, the Cherry Chai Tea Latte.

In conclusion, all of these drinks were great, but there must be a winner. According to Emmy and Greenlee, the Cherry Chai was the best. However, Reagan thought the Green Tea Lemonade was the true winner. (Now, it’s her new favorite order!) Although there were different opinions, the majority always wins. That means the Cherry Chai came in first! 

What is Y2K Fashion, and Why Has It Come Back?

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By Middle-School Blogger Sophia Bottine

What is Y2K Fashion?

Y2K fashion started in the late 90s and ran to the early 2000s. It was made most famous by the movie The Matrix Reloaded (2003), starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Gloria Foster. In the movie, Carrie-Anne Moss wore a white shirt and dark pants topped with a black metallic leather trench coat (http://lovehappensmag.com). Other movies like Mean Girls and The Simple Life also promoted Y2K fashion, sparking this new style and marking a new fashion trend in history. An example of a Y2K outfit from Mean Girls is when Amanda Seyfried, who plays Karen Smith in the movie, wears a black “Bling Bling” shirt, white with red hearts skirt, with black, open heels. 

The cast of Mean Girls sport iconic Y2K outfits (Alamy Stock).

Celebrities like Rihanna, who in 2018 wore a The Matrix Reloaded-inspired outfit to an event in London and Missy Elliot in her “Supa Dupa Fly” music video where she wore a black blow-up jumpsuit with matching shoes, gloves, a glitter helmet, and sunglasses influenced Y2K fashion even more. 

 Rihanna wears a “Matrix” style all black, leather outfit (W Magazine).

Other famous artists like Jay Z, Nelly, Snoop Dog, Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Paris Hilton quickly caught up on this new trend wearing low-slung denim jeans with velour tracksuits, flip-flops (for a little bold touch) and Von Dutch trucker hats, jackets or tracksuits, baggy jeans, and bandanas (http://lovehappensmag.com). 

Destiny’s Child made famous the 2000s Y2K Fit (Fashion Gone Rogue).

Y2K Fashion Comes Back!

Y2K fashion started to resurface in 2020 thanks to social media trends, music videos, and movies. Celebrities like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton, and Bella Hadid also greatly influenced the restart of this trend. But, you might be thinking, “I’ve never seen Bella Hadid wear this fashion trend before?” Well, you’re right, Bella Hadid did not wear Y2K in the 2000s as she was still a child. And, while Bella Hadid wasn’t one of the original icons of early Y2K fashion, she now is, wearing low-rise jeans to tiny sunglasses and chunky sneakers. 

You know what else helped bring back Y2K fashion? A little sense of nostalgia. Many people, like Bella Hadid, were still children when Y2K first started up. But now that they have grown up, they want to wear Y2K. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s a bright, fun, and edgy fashion trend. 

Storm Reid wears a modern Y2K look (Fashion Gone Rogue).

Sources: 

  1. https://www.lovehappensmag.com/blog/2022/09/30/who-started-y2k-fashion-and-is-the-trend-circling-back/
  2. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion/style-advice/a46719165/how-to-wear-y2k-fashion/
  3. https://www.fashiongonerogue.com/y2k-fashion-trends/#:~:text=Y2K%20fashion%20reflects%20a%20unique,technological%20 advancements%20of%20the%20 era.
  4. https://blog.waveplm.com/the-revival-of-y2k-fashion-a-blast-from-the-past/#:~:text=Pop%20culture%20played%20a%20crucial,that%20would%20define%20the%20era.
  5. https://www.vogue.com/article/y2k-style-celebrity-runway-trend

School Uniform Debate: Necessary or Restrictive?

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By Middle-School Bloggers Mason Conway, Calum Webster, and Elizabeth Greenwood

Should we wear uniforms? Many schools, such as PVS, require strict attire. Most are private schools, but some public school students wear uniforms. It seems everybody’s got an opinion on whether we should switch back to no uniforms or keep them. Mason, Calum, and Elizabeth have something to say on that:

Mason says . . .

It can be a good idea to reinforce wearing uniforms as it could limit bullying and reduce distractions, but other people argue that it could limit creativity and make families struggle to buy more expensive uniform clothing. I personally believe that we should have no uniforms as in the morning I waste time trying to find my khaki shorts and my polo, which sometimes makes me late for school. 

Calum says . . .

One point that Mason said is requiring uniforms can reduce bullying. I believe this is a fair point; everybody is wearing the same thing, so you can’t bully people on what they are wearing. On the other hand, you have to spend more money on uniforms, and most people are not going to wear them outside of school. In my opinion, I don’t think there should be uniforms, but there should be a dress code. First, a dress code lets people wear what they want. Choosing their own clothes will make kids feel more comfortable and relaxed during the day. They will also not have to go through the struggle of getting ready in the morning–looking for those lost khaki shorts and polos. I believe that it is easier to find my casual clothing in the morning than it is to find my uniform.

Elizabeth says . . .

Personally, I believe that uniforms should be mandatory because they create a sense of uniformity among students. One reason uniforms should be mandatory is that they help students focus on their work rather than on their appearance. And, while I slightly agree with Mason and Calum that uniforms might reduce bullying, without uniforms, students may be pressured into wearing certain clothes–which can have a negative effect on younger students because they are pressured into wearing expensive clothing.  Another reason why uniforms should be mandatory is that uniforms are easier to find (way easier to find a pair shorts and a polo than putting a whole outfit together), and by wearing them it takes less time to get ready in the morning. 

And, finally, Mr. Koehler says . . .

“The main reason for school uniforms is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for students to thrive in.”

It seems school uniforms have some value. They create a sense of uniformity, reduce stress, and can make mornings easier (except for Mason). By wearing uniforms, students have more freedom to focus on their work and less on external distractions. Uniforms are not just for looks but are about inclusiveness.

Mason, showcasing the Palm Valley School uniform, tells us he’s doing his “model walk.”

Who Was the Best Dressed at the Valentine’s Dance?

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By 6th-Grade Fashion Correspondents Reagan Kaminsky, Greenlee Bartley, and Sophia Nayfack

Prom is right around the corner. Are you scouring the internet for that perfect dress? pant suit? tie? shoes? Let’s see how the attire stacked up at the previous PVS dance–the 2025 Valentine’s Dance. Our Blog Fashion Correspondents Greenlee, Reagan, and Sophia lined up on the red carpet to observe dance attendees and their fashion choices. Our Fashion-on-the-Go team documented with photographs. Then, they surveyed the Palm Valley School community asking which outfits “worked” best. PVS voted.

There were many outfits in contention . . . .

Seniors Riley Jorgensen and Bianca Torres stepped out in classic black.

Freshman Nevan Owsley embraced the dance theme.

Junior Oliver Martinez sported a clean, trustworthy look.

Junior Melina Brodeur and Sophomore Shayan Habibipour complemented via opposite palettes.

The Groendycke sisters adopted festive flair.

Seniors, and dance coordinators, Lily Jones and Abigail Assefa still managed to look like they’d lounged all day, resting up to dance the night away.

But, the PVS community voted as Best Dressed at the Valentine’s Day Dance . . .

. . . 8th-grader Elizabeth Greenwood!

Elizabeth wore a stunning red velvet Catherine of Aragon inspired ensemble.

Here, Elizabeth (left) is seen with one of our other contestants, 8th-grader Lorelei Behr, at the Valentine’s Dance. Photo Credit: Greenlee Bartley

Elizabeth tells us her outfit was inspired by England’s King Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was seen wearing a similar outfit in the movie Anne Of 1000 Days which caught Elizabeth’s eye. Catherine was wearing a dark red velvet dress with beautiful gold trim, and an amber necklace. For those of you wondering, Elizabeth got her dress and necklace from Windsor.

“I choose what I believe, and say nothing. For I am not as simple as I may seem.” 

Catherine of Aragon

As mentioned earlier, Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIII’s first wife. However, Henry was her second husband after King Arthur, Henry VII’s eldest son, who died the year after he married Catherine (Historic Royal Palaces). She was born near Madrid in 1487 and died in 1536 from heart cancer (Britannica). Catherine was the youngest daughter of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile (Britannica). When she was queen, she acted as regent while Henry was away and even oversaw an attempted invasion (Historic Royal Palaces).

In conclusion, even though everyone else’s outfits at the dance were amazing, there is nothing more interesting than an outfit with a backstory. Elizabeth Greenwood showed us just that while bringing us back to the history of England in the process. 

A Dream Valentine’s Day!

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A Survey Conducted by Soleil Antle 

Valentine’s Day is a special time once in a year to celebrate yourself, family and friends, no matter how far. On this day the air is filled with the magic of joy and appreciation as people send gifts and sweet messages of affection to their loved ones across the globe. Curious about Valentine’s Day celebrations close to home, seventh-grade blogger Soleil Antle asked the Palm Valley School faculty to describe their perfect Valentine’s Day. 

Ms. Patino from the Upper-School Office has a confident response!

Soleil: What is your perfect Valentine’s Day laid out?

Ms. Patino: Spend a day in Japan, exploring the city, and eating some Japanese food. Ending the day with my favorite donut (mochi donut) from Mr. Donut. 

Soleil: What gift would you want? 

Ms. Patino: Pink roses, and a Nintendo Switch. 

A short and sweet response from PVS Bookkeeper Alice Burkholder!

Soleil: What would you like to do on Valentine’s Day? 

Alice Burkholder: I would like a massage and a nice dinner.

Soleil: What is your dream gift? 

Alice Burkholder: A fully paid expense trip to Italy. 

A thoughtful reply from History teacher Mr. Satterfield. 

Soleil: What is your ideal Valentine’s Day?

Mr. Satterfield: I’d go on a nice walk with my wife and my dog, and we would go to our favorite restaurant, Talay Thai. Then we would go back home and watch a movie.

French teacher Ms. Brady has a great response! 

Soleil: What would you like to do on Valentine’s Day?

Ms. Brady: I’d like to have my nails done and get a facial, then get a new outfit at Bloomingdales (with new shoes). Then I want a candlelit dinner in a really nice restaurant, with crème brûlée  for dessert.

Soleil: What about the perfect gift?

Ms. Brady: An all-expense paid vacation to Paris, first class tickets. Hotel stay at the Georges V!

Ms. Maguire gives a humble response. 

Soleil: What is your perfect Valentine’s Day laid out?

Ms. Maguire: I would come to school in Valentine’s Day clothes and get free ice cream from Handels.

Soleil: What gift would you want?

Ms. Maguire: Somebody else makes my dinner and it tastes delicious and I don’t have to clean dishes. 

Mrs. Fisher answers fiercely!

Soleil: What would be your perfect Valentine’s Day?

Mrs. Fisher: My perfect Valentine’s Day would be a really delicious meal, in a romantic setting after having spent the day with my husband either golfing or having a massage. Then capping it off with a nice meal.

Mr. Killeen gives a lengthy response.

Soleil: How would you spend your Valentine’s Day?

Mr. Killeen: Get up early, and I mean real early before the sun rises. Then get in the car, get out to a trail, not just any trail though–one with a crazy view with either a waterfall-ending or a mountain-view ending. Hike up for an hour in the dark, stop for a cup of coffee, which I make over a small camp stove while watching the sun rise. Continue up the mountain till you reach the end. Have a wonderful picnic dinner there, with a hiking buddy. Camp overnight with companions. Then hike down the next day.

Soleil: The best gift would be? 

Mr. Killeen: The best gift would be to travel to Patagonia/Iceland with friends. 

These are very thorough answers from our Palm Valley School faculty, quite the variety. As I interviewed people, I have learned just how unrealistic these dreamed-of days are, but it’s all about the imagination. Whether you’re on a vacation in Paris or enjoying a massage, you are spending time with those special people. “Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is growing up.” James Baldwin

–Soleil Antle 

Fall Check-In: Palm Valley Class of ’25 Highlights

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We conclude our Fall check-in with the Palm Valley School Class of ’25 with a collage compilation of seniors Kyle Knight, Kiera Nash, Preston Pillard, Riley Jorgensen, and Bianca Torres.

Kyle, like Kristina Panagiotaros in a previous post, voted for the first time this last election. Here he’s pictured with some keepers of democracy, California poll workers.

On our birthdays, we get to do what we want. It’s our party. Kiera insists on going to the beach.

Seniors worked on retaining the title of #1 Halloween Door in the universe. A little bit sadly, but ultimately graciously, they passed the trophy to Mr. Spurlock’s class this year. It was a peaceful transition of power. They devoted after-school time to cutting, gluing, coloring, painting, taping. Above, we see Preston apparently supervising, Riley sketching, Kiera and Bianca coloring jack-o-lanterns.

Seniors on the Move

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PVS seniors have had a busy few months. They’ve been applying to colleges, voting, putting on dances and Nest events, eating crumbl cookies. Let’s check in with Enzo Lomsky, Anais Lee, and Alex Ratner, and see what they’ve been up to.

Enzo’s been up and down the West Coast, likely traveling with a little AP Lit Dostoevsky.

Not to be outdone by Lily’s trip to Rome, Anais went to London.

Alex may not be on the move (okay, so actually he’s checking out USC and UCLA today); but, he is “moving” in the kitchen. How many different ways do you think Alex can prepare chicken?

What’s Going on with our Senior Class?

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Good stuff!

The seniors in Advisory made collages summing up fall events and feelings. Last post, you saw Zach happily eating crumbl cookies, Lily making future plans for a life in Rome, and Mirabelle taking time for fun and friends. Now, let’s take a peek at how seniors Kristina Panagiotaros, Abby Assefa, and Cindy Wang assess the first quarter of their last year of high school at Palm Valley.

Kristina, along with several of our seniors, turned 18 just in time to vote–first time ever–in November’s elections. They displayed proudly their “I voted” stickers.
ASB President Abby is on top of everything, but she also makes time for the fun, the music, the family, and the fun. It’s important.
Cindy nailed it. The seniors have expressed immense relief at submitting those college applications. Being done with that stress apparently feels like a vibrant sunset at the end of a very long day.

Seniors Say . . .

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We asked members of our Class of ’25 to sum up how their senior year is going so far. They created collages. We’ll start with seniors Zachary Kazmouz, Mirabelle Lee, and Lily Jones.

Zachary is all about the Crumbl right now.
Despite working assiduously on everything academic, writing supplement essay after supplement essay for college admissions, AND supporting her non-profits, Mirabelle makes time for fun and friends.
Lily‘s still basking in the glow of summer travel with the family. She is smitten with Rome.

Stay tuned for more updates from our PVS Senior Class of ’25.

Don’t Forget

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A compilation of “Forget-me-nots” by 8th-Grader Jackie Padgett

I find it very difficult to remember things, especially things from when I was younger, so I decided I wanted to do a “Don’t forget” or “Remember you said this” type of blog. I was also interested in what people of different ages wanted to remember. So, I asked two questions of two kids from every grade:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?
  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

Starting us off is…

6th-Grader Calum Webster with an indecisive response:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“My dog, I think.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

“I don’t know, umm, I don’t know… oh, uh, I’m good at basketball, wait, no, actually sure.”

6th-Grader Grace Ghaly has a confident reply:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“I never wanna forget my friends.” 

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

“My attitude.”

7th-Grader Sam West quickly mutters out a reply while getting ready for his soccer game:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

”When I ate that breakfast burrito from the gas station it kinda hurt if you know what I mean.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

”That I hold the record for the fastest unrecorded time of solving the Rubik’s Cube. Joking.”

7th-Grader Lorelei Behr says something very thoughtful:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“I don’t want to ever forget about my friends, even when they move away.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

“I don’t want people to forget the things we laughed and cried about together.”

8th-Grader Hudson Fossey replies with a simple answer:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“The time I built a trailer for a gokart with my cousin and then having him shoot a bow and arrow off of it.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

“I don’t really care if people forget about me.”

8th-Grader Ava Kerber shares a silly, but real, response:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“Umm, when I was born.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

“Umm, that I was alive and a human on this planet.”

9th-Grader Zander Eaton replies with a math-focused answer:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“My times tables.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

”That I remembered my times tables.”

9th-Grader Louisa Richardson gives an imaginative reply: 

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“I don’t want to forget my imagination. I love that I have a sense of, um, creativity.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

“Ugh. I guess I hope people don’t forget that I care about them.”

10th-Grader Rory O’Kane shares a sports-related answer:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“Sports.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

”Sports.”

10th-Grader Melina Brodeur gets some help with her response from Louisa Richardson:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“What got me to where I am.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

Louisa inserted, ”Your sparkle!”

11th-Grader Alex Ratner:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“My friends and family.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

”My gaming abilities.”

11th-Grader Kristina Panagiotaros:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“My friends.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

”Me altogether.”

12th-Grader Sawyer Falzone says:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“My I.D. and glasses.”

2. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

”That I’m not a horrible person.”

12th-Grader Landon Elder a quick but significant response:

  1. What is something you don’t want to forget?

“My lovely experiences.”

  1. What is something you don’t want people to forget about you?

”That I existed.”

I was actually surprised to get a few serious answers. I really thought most of them would be jokes. Since the way I chose people was completely at random (and whomever I saw first), if I didn’t get to you, leave a comment of something you don’t want to forget.