the bird on fire

The Palm Valley School Student Blog

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How the PVS Morning Soar is Created

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Part of our What’s New in the PVS Neighborhood series

By  8th-Grade Blogger Sami Alnabelsi

Every Monday morning, the high school ASB conducts morning meetings, more popularly known as “The Morning Soar.” The Morning Soar is very helpful to us students; it gives us a little insight on what happens in the week and makes it fun and entertaining for us all to enjoy. For example, a typical “Morning Soar” includes the weather forecast for the week, scheduled club meetings, ASB events, sports announcements, and Nevan Owsley’s special nefarious weekly updates on his “Super Villain” club. In today’s PSA post, I asked the master of it all, ASB leader Evan Wang–the writer of every Monday morning meeting–how he goes about creating The Soar. He told me that every Sunday night he begins the process. It starts with looking at the schedule for the week ahead. He then just writes. I asked him if there was any sort of process, and he said, “No”– he just writes away and lets his mind take over. Finally, he sends the work over to the selected speakers for that Monday. Then, it is read to the entire Middle and Upper School, and history is made. 

Evan says that every Sunday night about 11 p.m. it dawns on him that a “Morning Soar” needs to be prepared for Monday, 8:45 a.m. Photo Credit: Evan Wang

Celebration Of Life

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Part of our What’s New in the PVS Neighborhood series

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

This past year, we lost retired Palm Valley teacher Mr. Ray Smythe. He was one of Palm Valley’s favorite history teachers. Last Sunday, loved ones hosted a Celebration of Life for Mr. Smythe. In The Desert Sun, it was noted that Mr. Smythe’s years as a teacher extended through middle and high school history teaching “for 39 years in Washington, Oregon and California.” Mr. Smythe wrote seven books on personal experiences like the loss of his partner and what the journey after felt like. Some of his books include Coping with Grief, Tips to Improve Your Retirement Experience, Creating a Positive Life one Column at a Time, and more. He was known at our school for printing out cards with quotes and giving them to people at grocery stores or really any public setting. He wrote a column for The Desert Sun. He was an Oregon Teacher of the Year. We mourn the loss of Mr. Smythe while also cherishing all the memories we had with him. 

Mr. Ray Smythe lived by the quotable quotes he often handed out on business cards. Ms. Zachik picked up one such card at Sunday’s Celebration of Ray Smythe’s life:  “The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.”–Hubert H. Humphrey 

What’s Your Favorite Candy?

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By Middle-School Bloggers Calum Webster and Mason Conway

Candy is a seemingly innocent topic, but it is heavily debated. Do you like Mounds Bars or Almond Joy? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or Nerds Gummy Clusters? Whoppers or Milk Duds? The topic about what candy is best gets talked about often. In order to get to the bottom of people’s opinions here at Palm Valley, 7th-graders Mason and Calum went out interviewing to discover the best candy to chomp on.

7th-grader Julian says of candy, “My favorite candies are Sweet Tarts, and Twizzlers are my least favorite.”

7th-grader Silvanita says she dislikes “Snickers because I do not like the peanuts in it, and I love Nerds because of the sweet flavor.”   

8th-grader Edward replies, “Hi-Chews taste amazing, and Milky Ways . . . too sweet.” 

10th-grader Rylie says she likes “Haribo Raspberry because they are crunchy on the outside, sweet in the middle; . . . she hates “black licorice because it tastes horrible.” 

Teacher Mr. Killeen recommends Godiva because “it’s pretty high quality and consistent quality. He hates “Werthers.” He says, “It is blah and too sweet.”

7th-grader Sami says, “Elephant Poop Chocolate” is his favorite because of its nice texture. “This is a real thing!” Sami adds. “Dubai Chocolate” is his least favorite because he says it “tastes like grass.”

7th-grader Jaxon’s favorite candy is the “Kinder Bueno bars/eggs because they have a creamy hazelnut filling,” and he says his least favorite candies are “Milk Duds because they look and taste like over baked cookies.”

7th-grader Emmy says she likes “The lollipops from the kids’ meal at the sushi place in Mammoth,” and she doesn’t have a least favorite candy.

7th-grader Max says, “My favorite candy is chocolate-covered pretzels,” and he adds, “My least favorite candy is Vegemite.”

7th-grader Ben says, “My favorite candy is Twix because of the carmel,” and he adds, “My least favorite is Dots because they taste artificial.”

8th-grader Moses says his favorite candy is “Reese’s Pieces because the peanut butter tastes good,” and he says, “I hate Almond Joy because it tastes so bad.”

7th-grader Devlin says, “My favorite candy is og Hershey’s,” and adds “my least favorite is Whoppers because they suck.”  

7th-grader Gavin says he does not have a favorite candy, but he has a favorite place to get candy–”it is by far See’s Candy.” And, he says that his least favorite is “Dots because they don’t taste like anything, but they have a weird factory taste to them.”

8th-grader Addison says she likes “Nerds Gummy Clusters or Watermelon Sour Patch Kids,” and she says my “least favorite is probably black licorice because it is gross.”  

Candy sells. PVS middle schoolers mixed and matched their favorites at the CJSF candy “salad” bar.

This has been a really fun project searching for the best candy, but the PVS community has not decided upon a clear winner.

Calum and Mason received a lot of great answers–from Dubai chocolate to Vegemite–but logged no clear consensus. However, Ms. Zachik adds, “Judging from the rush for Nerds Clusters at the CJSF Candy Salad Wednesdays, I’d say Nerds are a courtyard favorite.”

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 I Do After School 

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By Sixth-Grade Blogger Dior Halum

After a long day of learning and sitting and listening, Dior Halum jumps into extra-curricular activities. Like many of us, Dior embraces activities that make her move. Dior does Soccer and Dance after school. In Soccer, she plays left forward. In Dance, she studies different genres: such as Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ballet. She’s busy.

You can see Dior hip hoppin’ in the bottom left corner. Photo Credit: Dance Dimensions

Dance

I study at Dance Dimensions in Palm Desert, California. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have rehearsals for our winter and summer performances. We start in August to practice for the first performance which is called the Winter Show. We perform at the Civic Center in Palm Desert, California, in December. In the new year, our dance instructors make a new dance that we perform at Agua Caliente in early summer. On Tuesdays, I have ballet rehearsal from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with ballet teacher Mr. Tiron. After ballet, I have Jazz from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with teacher Ms. Maddie. On Thursdays, I have Hip Hop from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. again with Ms. Maddie. Then, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., I have  ballet again with Mr. Tiron. My ultimate favorite dance genre is Ballet because I have been taking it since I was four years old. Another reason Ballet is my favorite is because it helps a lot with technique. It helps with technique because as you do more stuff, the better it gets, and you learn from your mistakes. So, as you can see, I’m pretty busy with dancing, but there’s more . . . 

Soccer

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I practice Soccer from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hovley Soccer Park. From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., I have personal training with Coach Rafael. We work on tricks, goal shots, and many other things to help me in my games on Saturdays. From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., I go to practice with my team. Last season’s coach was Coach Collins. Last season we had 13 players on the team. I play left forward and enjoy scoring very much. 

As you can see my days are pretty full, but for me it’s better than sitting around and doing nothing. Doing homework is pretty hard given how much is going on, but I still get it done either before or after sports. Same with eating, I usually do it before or after. What are your days like outside of PVS?

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.”

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 

Didn’t Have to be a Love Song

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Congratulations to Valentine’s Day Open Mic winners, sophomore Shayan Habibipour and senior Kristina Panagiotaros! PVS’s California Scholarship Federation hosted its annual Valentine’s Day Open Mic. A full slate of talent performed before a lunchtime crowd in the Upper-School Courtyard. Two-time winner Kristina Panagiotaros paired with Shayan Habibipour for a duet. They swept. The two walk home with a Valentine’s Day Basket o’ Goodies–donated by Lily Jones and family.

Winners Kristina Panagiotaros and Shayan Habibipour sang a duet accompanied by Shayan on guitar.

Second Place went to the slam poetry duo of sophomores Rylie Conway and Leah Ferreira. Cue cards scripted by Louisa Richardson were a key part of the performance. The trio won a Starbucks gift card.

Second-Place Winners Leah Ferreira and Rylie Conway slammed some poetry “Timber” while Louisa Richardson got busy with the cue cards.

Third Place went to freshman Nevan Owsley, who sang, of course, Sinatra. What’s a Valentine’s Day without Sinatra? He won Starbucks as well.

Third-Place Winner Nevan Owsley added a little Sinatra to the day.

The crowd cheered and sang and happily slurped their Parents Association-gifted Handel’s ice cream. The talent included joke-telling, dancing, poetry, singing, middle-school performers and high school. Senior Abby Assefa served as emcee. The California Scholarship Federation officers were judges.

Open Mic AND ice cream–What could be better?!

How to Create a Better Relationship with your Cat and Dog

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By 6th-Grade Bloggers Lina Kakoussian and Greenlee Bartley

You might be wondering, how can I make a better relationship with my dog or cat? If you ever asked yourself that, then you are at the perfect place. We will inform you about some things that dogs and cats love and enjoy so that they will love you even more!

How to make a better relationship with your cat 

I own a cat named Archie, who is a little boy who can be sleepy and hyper in the same hour. I have a great relationship with my cat, especially because I have always wanted one! Something that cats love are soft surfaces like blankets, beds, and  sofas. So, if you want your cat to have a comfortable place to sleep, give them a soft bed. A lot of the time they like to sleep on your bed because they feel secure when they are around you and they know someone is with them. Cats love to be scratched under their chin. You can tell if they like the chin scratching if they close their eyes and lie down while they get petted. Make sure to teach your cat the sound of their treat bag if you want them to come to you. They will know that you are the person that gives them treats, and they will like that. They also love to be in a place where they feel covered up, like a tiny fort with a blanket on them. – Lina

Archie was three months old when this photo was taken. He is a Domestic Longhair Mix.

How to make a better relationship with your dog 

I have a cute big dog named Remy. I love my dog because I have known her since I was three. Over that time period I have figured out some things that all dogs love! The first step you have to do to create a better relationship with your dog is you have to know how to pet them. If you don’t pet them correctly, they might get mad and walk away. One way you can pet your dog that many dogs enjoy is being pet on their ears and their chin–just like cats! You can tell if they like the spot you are petting them in if they start to lie down, put their paw on you, or become more comfortable. Dogs and cats are very similar! The only difference about them is that some dogs can be very big in size. Dogs also love treats and food. Most dogs know the sound of the treat bag, so if you don’t want your dog to run over to you then be careful shaking the treat bag! Also, make sure they feel safe and comfortable. To do that you can get them a bed, or let them sleep on your bed–like my dog! – Greenlee

Remy is a puppy in this picture. Now, she’s nine. Remy is a Boxer.

We hope that this information helps you and your pets’ relationship. Make sure to tell all your friends and family with dogs and cats to check our post out. Thank you!

Mark’s Advice for Brotherly Love

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By Mark Huber, 6th Grader

Meet Mark’s little brother, David. He is in Mr. Spurlock’s 3rd grade class. Mark said he chose to interview David because “I see him all the time.” Recently Mark and David and the whole family went to Niagara Falls, Canada, for a hockey tournament. David is pictured here after the semi-finals. Photo Credit: Judith Ebbin Yee.

2 Questions for my Brother

Q: We do a lot of things together. What are the things that we do together that other brothers should do with their little brothers?

A: Play with LEGOS together, ride bicycles in the park, and play chess.

Q: When I get sad, you always try to comfort me. How do you think other little brothers should comfort their big brothers when they get sad?

A: Give them a popsicle, sing “Ode to Joy” to them, and do what they want for them.

3 Silly Quotes From my Brother

  1. “I love you with all my bean!”
  2. “May your path be littered with nothing but flowers!”
  3. “Give them a turtledove!”

My OWN Advice For Friendship

If you want a good, strong friendship–especially with your brother–you need to be nice to your friend and they need to be nice to you. Otherwise, your friendship will be weak, and you won’t be friends for long.

If you want to get to know your friends better, you should hang out with them more, and that kind of stuff could double as bonding experiences.