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The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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Harli’s Senior Spotlight

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By Alyna Rei

This week, the seniors are being showcased for their success in getting through high school. I interviewed longtime Firebird Harliana Otto and asked questions about her high school career.

Harli and her mother, Gina Otto, after Harli won this year’s Riverside County Poetry Out Loud competition

How would you describe yourself?: “I am ambitious. I  like to think of myself as someone who takes on more than I can handle.”

What was your favorite memory in school?: “My favorite memory in school is Scarefest in 9th grade. We spent the night watching movies, playing board games, a 12 am game of glow-in-the-dark basketball, a 2 am game of tag, a 4 am game of twister, and falling asleep around 5 am.”

What was your least favorite memory in school? “My least favorite memory happened in 7th grade watching someone, who shall not be named, drink from the water fountain as the water turned from clear to brown.”

Are you excited to graduate? Nervous? Scared?: “I am excited to graduate. I feel like I am ready for this next chapter of my life. I am however nervous as well ’cause I am saying goodbye to my childhood and friends and the safety/comfort of my home.”

What are your plans for the future?: “My plans for the future… well, I don’t really got it figured out at the moment. All I know is that I am going to UCI in the fall and gonna continue the hobbies that I have.”

Where/what is your dream school?: “My favorite hobby is competing on my horse and I enjoy completing puzzles. It’s cringe but my dream school is somewhere in California where I can drive home, a place that will set me up well for future jobs, and where I can explore many interests with many opportunities. So according to that UCI fits into my dream school.”

How was your high school experience?: “My high school experience was good but stressful.”

Do you have a favorite subject? Why or why not?: “My favorite subject is science. I enjoy Chemistry and physics. I like being able to constantly be discovering more and more.”

What are you planning on majoring in?: “I will be majoring in Engineering. I am going into the School of Engineering undecided, with hopes of going into Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.”

Any advice for students right now?: “My advice to students is to never lose your sense of humor. It can get you through the toughest of times.”

Good luck, Harliana!

Senior Spotlight: Alyna Llapitan 

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Alyna Rei is featured as second in our Blog series on Graduating Seniors and Returning Alumni. Penny interviewed fellow blogger Alyna on her longtime PVS Firebird experience.

By Penny Andreas

This week, our blog post theme is focusing on seniors. I chose to have an interview with Alyna Llapitan. Alyna has been here at Palm Valley for six years, or since she was in 6th grade. Here are some of the questions I asked her. 

 How would you describe your overall school experience? 

“I would say pretty eventful; I experienced many opportunities in my life that I’ve never thought of myself doing.”

What opportunities?

“I joined a group called CSF (California Scholarship Federation) in high school and there were events such ice skating and volunteering that helped me break out of my comfort zone.”

What was your favorite part?

“I liked working and hanging out with my friends Christina Lam and Cole Robinson. They are the ones who put me in a better mood everyday. I’ve been friends with them since middle school.”

What was your least favorite part? 

“The stress. When I get stressed, I build anxiety and bad expectations in my head.”

What are some pros and cons of school for you?

Pros:

– “you gain friends that help you even outside of school”

– “there are teachers that are great even outside of class”

– “the lessons you learn that actually help” 

Cons:

– “lots of homework can be stressful”

– “bad days can bring your self esteem down”

– “cramming the night before an important day”

And, finally, is there any advice you would give to other students?

“There are always going to be ups and downs at school, but you just have to accept that it will be fine in the end. :)”

Alyna actually turns out to be graduating a year earlier than her peers. She plans to attend the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, studying pre med coursework. The reason that she graduated early is “I plan on going to medical school which can take a long time and I wanted to start a little earlier.” 

Maya Karpaty: An Interview with a Senior

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Our seniors are graduating. It happens every year. We take this week to sit down and discuss senior memories, profiles, hopes, futures, and words of wisdom.

By Middle-School Blogger Louisa Richardson

This week I had the privilege of sitting down with one of Palm Valley’s very own–Maya Karpaty. I interviewed her about her upcoming graduation and life after high school. The interview mainly focused on her personal life, but the interview did include some pieces of advice for our new high schoolers and some advice for the high school.

In the fall, Maya is going to the University of Puget Sound. She received admission offers from many other schools, including scholarships to places like UC Santa Cruz and the University of Puget Sound. Puget Sound is located in northwestern Washington, specifically in Tacoma. Maya is excited to try Washington, but she isn’t sure she wants to move there when she is all done with college. 

Maya is a double major in songwriting and literature, but she says that she values songwriting a little bit more. Maya says that her dream is to travel the world touring with her guitar. Maya sings about relationships and universal truths. Her inspiration is Phoebe Bridgers. You can find Maya’s music on Maya’s soundcloud. 

Maya Karpaty says Ms. Schapiro, Ms. Bassanelli, and her parents have been a very big help in getting her to where she is today. Although Maya is currently dead set on attending Puget Sound, her views on college have changed since she was a kid. Maya says, “When I was little, I was totally oblivious to college, and the way that people had their dream schools.” She continues, “This mindset was a big help later because I didn’t have one school I wanted to go to or one major path.”  

Speaking of dream schools, Maya’s favorite thing about Palm Valley is how the teachers care less about grades and more about the individual students. She states, “I got here in junior year, from a public school. The school [there] was great, but the teachers didn’t have as good of a support system as they do here; in comparison to my last school the teachers show support and I can also get to know my teachers; it feels more . . . that they are on your side rather than just throwing papers at you.” However, as great of a school as Palm Valley is, she does have some ways it can improve! She says, “Make things more fun for students because we’re still kids and we need school to be more than just constant work.”  

All in all, Maya Karpaty is a great person. She was extremely kind and very honest in her interview. She seems to know what she is doing when it comes to college. She encourages us all to not stress about what we’re doing in the future. She says focus on ourselves and our good health. In short, Maya is a great influence on our youth here at PVS and an impressive graduate. 

Is Our Uniform Dress Code Only Making Things Harder? 

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Sophomores Zachary Kazmouz and Enzo Lomsky demonstrate PVS dress code.

By Middle-School Blogger Louisa Richardson

Our school’s current student dress code is something that many students have been debating about. People had such strong opinions about it that a few kids even made slideshows that included additional suggested clothing–with images–and  evidence of over-the-top current pricing of our uniforms. They did a lot of research. I tried my best to help with that slideshow. I think that the uniform is ridiculous. It is great to try and make our school more professional. Professional-looking students make a great impression, but the teachers don’t enforce the dress code consistently. Kids are walking around wearing open-toed shoes, inappropriate jewelry, and shirts that are two sizes too big. That is not professional; it is messy. I think that if we want to change the dress code, then let’s really commit to it. Not only that, but only reprimanding a few kids out of dozens who aren’t wearing school uniforms is going to get more and more pushback! I figured it may be a good idea to go around and ask a few kids what they think, and the results were actually quite surprising.

Junior Indiana Behr stated:

 “I love the dress code. It is perfect as is. I do not think there are any issues with it.”

So that would be the first vote that is for the school dress code as it is.

Junior Jess Billimore said:

 “I personally don’t mind the dress code/uniform here at Palm Valley. Compared to uniforms I’ve had in the past, it isn’t bad at all. Plus, it saves me from choosing an outfit everyday. The only thing that does bug me is that we should be allowed to wear a plain crew neck or hoodie of school color! Teachers pick and choose when they care and want to enforce it.” 

Jess, I couldn’t agree more; I am going to put this opinion as mixed.

Junior Levi Kassinove has a fun story:

 “Last year, every free dress day, I would come to school in my pajamas. They banned that. So much for ‘free’ dress day.”

 I am going to count this as having a problem with the dress code.

Fellow Eighth Grader Pip Watson responded with: 

“With the current level of enforcement, I don’t see an issue. More flexibility towards outerwear during extreme weather conditions would be helpful. The dress code as a whole is a lot more flexible than when I was in sixth grade and especially more flexible than it was when I was in elementary school. I know others have had worse experiences than I have with the current dress code, but I haven’t had any issues.”

Thank you, Pip!  I am counting you as “for” the dress code.

Junior Christina Lam states that:

 “I think wearing a plain black jacket that’s not a school jacket should be ok because when it’s really cold the school jacket does not suffice.”

I enjoy the fact that you were specific. I am counting your vote as against the dress code.

A classmate shared their opinion about the dress code with us; they prefer to remain anonymous.

“Honestly I kinda do think it’s stupid; frankly I understand most of it, but I only have an issue with the pants. The school pants for girls that are provided are the worst; they never live up to their named size and are frankly very uncomfortable. It’s always too tight or too big in the wrong places; it’s never just right. As soon as the new dress code came out I tried on dozens of the school pants, but they never worked. It honestly looks like they took the boy’s pants and tightened it at the hips and just shrugged.”

I know quite a few other students that had the same problem.  I’m counting this vote as against the dress code.

If we count up all the votes it is a narrower margin than I estimated. I was surprised by this because the people who were against the dress code were a pretty wide variety of ages, the same goes for the people who were against it. A lot of folks who were against the dress code have the same issues with it. That makes me think it’s a pretty simple issue to fix. All we need to do is supply warmer jackets and clothes that actually fit the girls as well as the boys. Alas, I don’t think we have a fix for Levi Kassinove’s pajama issue, but maybe he can find a loophole. Once these changes are made, I don’t think that it will be that difficult to enforce the dress code, as not so many kids will have issues with it.

A Quiet Strength, Lindsay Anderson

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Profile by Ani Madanyan

In our continued look at the graduating Class of ‘22, we turn our gaze toward Lindsay Anderson. We all know her as a soft-voiced, thoughtful person who likes to observe more than speak. But, do we know the REAL her? I interviewed Lindsay and she has some sass… let’s dig in.

First question,

Do you choose to stay silent?

“In my opinion, I’m pretty talkative with my friends.”

Oh, would you consider yourself sassy?

“Sure.”

What is your dream university?

“USC.”

Who is your favorite friend?

“I can’t choose. I love all my friends.”

Just choose.

“No.”

I see the sass coming out.

What is your favorite food?

“Pizza.”

What type of pizza?

“Veggie pizza.”

Skinny queen.

Who is your celebrity inspo for your aesthetic?

“Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber.”

What do you do in your free time?

“Online shop.”

What is your favorite beverage?

“Sparkling water.”

Boujee!

What’s your favorite subject?

“English.”

Do you like to read? And if so, what’s your favorite book?

“Yes, the Great Gatsby.”

Who’s your favorite artist?

“Phoebe Bridgers or Harry Styles.”

What’s your favorite show and movie?

“My favorite movie is ‘Scream. My favorite show is The Vampire Diaries.

Period!”

Let’s wrap it up, what are you going to miss the most about Palm Valley?

“The close-knit community.”

Awww. Lindsay Anderson might be reserved, but when you get to know her, she is very sweet, and a little sassy. I don’t think there’s a single person who dislikes Lindsay. She is a queen, and we will miss you, Lindsay!

2022-23 New Head of Upper and Middle School

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By Luke Sonderman

After Mr. and Mrs. Coffey announced their departure from Palm Valley after the 2021-22 school year, a search looking for who would fill Mr. Coffey’s shoes began. After a thorough search, the school landed on Mr. Winter, a current history teacher at Palm Valley. 

Mr. Winter came to Palm Valley this school year (2021-22) teaching 8th grade US History, 9th grade Human Geography, and AP US History. He has a background in teaching history and in administration. In an email interview between Mr. Winter and myself, Mr. Winter said, “I believe that it is important [to continue to teach], so I can continue to connect with students in the classroom. In my previous administrative experience in public schools, continuing to teach was never an option, so I am grateful that I can do this. What it is I will be teaching hasn’t been solidified yet, so stay tuned!”

When asked about current policy change, Mr. Winter said, “One of the first things I will be doing before school is out for this year is to speak with as many staff and students about those things that really work well, those things that may need to be looked at closer, and any new ideas to enhance the experience here at PVS. From there, I will start to work closely with Dr. Sherman to then take what I have learned from staff and students to inform any new policies or procedures that will benefit everyone here.” He also commented on students’ voices saying, “Student voice is very important, and I want to be able to help bring those voices forward. This does not mean everything that students would love to see in place or to change will happen, but it does mean that I will not make all decisions on my own.”

After the administrative merger of the Middle and Upper School in the 2021-22 school year, I asked Mr. Winter what his plans were for either keeping them together or creating privileges and policies to separate the Middle and Upper School. He responded saying, “I believe there are certain things that should be reserved for Upper School, so that Middle Schoolers have something different to look forward to as they move into the upper school.” Mr. Winter also commented on the AP and Elective selection choice saying, “This is the time of year when those decisions are being made, but the bigger contributing factor in class and AP choices comes down to how we are staffed, and what each staff is able to teach. Our first priority is to ensure that required classes are for sure being taught. Then, based on the number of staff we have and the number of periods there are available, we can get an idea of what can truly be offered in the form of AP or elective offerings. Currently, we offer 6 AP classes, and a handful of various elective offerings. If we are able to expand these, again based on staff availability as well as budget, I agree that this would be one of those things that could expand the high school experience.”

In conclusion, it looks like Mr. Winter has a very open mind about new policies and ideas for the 2022-23 school year. It will be interesting to see what changes come next year, and if you have any suggestions or ideas for next year, Mr. Winter encourages you to reach out to him. 

 A Little Bit About Jesse

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By Luke Sonderman

Jesse Denyer, Class of 2022, has recently committed to University of Alabama after receiving an academic scholarship. There is a lot to Jesse (mostly good things), so let’s take a brief moment to talk a little bit about her. 

Jesse not only loves to play and watch sports, but she also loves coaching them. Jesse has been playing basketball, volleyball, and golf throughout high school as well as assistant coaching Middle School Flag Football. If you ever get into an argument about sports with Jesse, my best advice would be to run for your life. YOU WILL NOT WIN!!!

With this love for football and the Dallas Cowboys, you may have a hard time reaching Jesse on Sundays because she is probably in her favorite jersey watching the Cowboys’ game. When I asked Jesse who her favorite football player is, she said,

“All my favorite players are only my favorite cuz they’re hot (yes, Joe Burrow, I’m talking to you). Seriously though my favorite player last year had to be Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs. He was basically the light on the slowly sinking ship that is the Cowboys. I mean 11 interceptions in one season… come on. If you’re gonna watch your team lose it might as well be entertaining. Plus he went to Bama, so bonus points.”

Jesse

Recently, I have turned Jesse into a baseball fan by making her go to a San Diego Padres game and join a Fantasy Baseball league with me. She has become a very big fan of the Padres, specifically of Manny Machado and Joe Musgrove, and even has a Manny Machado jersey. Now, if you try to talk baseball with Jesse, she will school you about how her Padres are better than your team (especially if you’re a Dodgers fan). 

Jesse’s music taste is very broad to say the least. When I asked her who she likes to listen to, she said,

“I’ll listen to anything from Merle Haggard to Doja Cat. Peter Tosh to 50 Cent. Pink Floyd to Justin Timberlake. Linkin Park to Frank Ocean. You name it, and I probably jam to it. I do have a special spot for country, though (sorry, everyone). Anything going on in my life, there’s a country song for it. Some of my favorite memories have a country song attached to it. They just do it different.”

Jesse

If you have ever been to Stagecoach Festival, you weren’t alone. Jesse was right there beside you, singing her heart out, always in the front row trying to make eye contact with whoever is performing and maybe catch a souvenir guitar pic or set list. 

I asked some of Jesse’s classmates, friends, and teachers to describe Jesse with one word. This is what they said:

  • Ms. Zachik – Saucy
  • Mrs. Coffey – Efficient
  • Mr. Griffin – Confident
  • Ms. Castellano – Witty
  • Mr. Winter – Aggressive
  • Hambik – Depraved
  • Sara – Fierce-minded
  • Jane – Upbeat
  • Harli – Resilient
  • Roman – Realistic
  • Isabella – Blunt
  • Joss – Funny
  • Lilah – Bossy 

If I had to describe Jesse in one word, it would probably be fun as she always does something to stir the pot. In all honesty, Jesse is a very special person to me and to the many people who know her, so if you haven’t had a nice long talk about  literally the most random subjects with Jesse… definitely start up a conversation with her before the end of the school year. She will quite literally talk about anything with you!

Inside View of Basketball at PVS

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By Sienna Price, Palm Valley Middle-School News Reporter 

For Palm Valley, the season of basketball is over. The middle-school basketball teams both A and B placed very well. The middle-school basketball B team won the championship 42-29 over Sacred Heart. The team consisted of Shayan Habibipour, Walker Craven, Tal Maruvada, Dante Vega, Sherwin Hemmati, and Matteo Lam.

The A team came second in the championship after a close game against Sacred Heart. The team included Donavan Knott, Deshawn Tunmore, Nicholas Chavez, Evan Wang, Benjamin Langlois, Desmond Milner, and Timothy Reed. I interviewed the players to get their inside views about the team, the season, and their basketball experience. 

What is your position on the court? 

“Point guard, Shooting guard, Center.” -Sherwin Hemmati

“I would usually play Shooting Guard.” -Shayan Habibipour

“I play both forwards.” -Walker Craven 

“My position on the court is mainly power forward, but I can play center or point guard if needed. I also direct our defensive strategies by telling everyone where to go on defense.” -Deshawn Tunmore 

“pg/sg.” -Matteo lam 

“Guard.” -Donovan Knott 

“Small Forward.” -Timothy Reed

“ I play perimeter defense, usually on the other team’s shooter. On offense I switch from the point guard to the forward depending on who is on the court.” -Tal Maruvada 

“The positions I play are center, and power forward.” -Evan Wang 

“Center.” -Ben Langlois 

Middle-School Basketball Players Ben Langlois, Desmond Milner, and Donavan Knott

What was your favorite game?

“My favorite game . . . was against the Sacred Heart Second team. I loved this game because it was one of my highest scoring games, and we all played well as a team.” -Deshawn Tunmore

“My favorite game . . . was our first game against DCA at home where in just four minutes I scored four points for the A team. “ -Evan Wang 

Who in the team has improved the most in your eyes?

“Tal. I have seen Tal gaining confidence and improving a lot of skills in attacking the basket and on defense.” -Matteo Lam 

“The player that has improved the most is Shayan.” -Walker Craven 

“Someone on the team that has improved the most is Sherwin. His shot is more consistent and his defense has gotten a lot better.” -Deshawn Tunmore 

“I feel like I have.” -Donovan Knott 

How do you think you have improved this season?

“I’ve gotten better at dribbling and making more shots.” -Ben Langlois 

“My shooting is a lot better. . . . [I]n the first game we had, I missed six free throws out of six; now I can make some free throws. I also feel like I can run a lot longer.” -Evan Wang 

“I  have improved in shot selection and shooting.” -Tal Maruvada

Nicholas Chavez took time out from his baseball aspirations to play for PVS MS Basketball A-Team.

What was the hardest game you played?

“The hardest game we played was probably the game against DCA the second time we played them because they studied how we played and played up to it and eventually beat us. . . . they played amazingly.” -Shayan Habibipour

“The hardest game we . . . played this season was against the Sacred Heart first team. I fouled out of that game and we lost by six points.” -Deshawn Tunmore 

“Championship.” -Ben Langlois 

Let’s Talk About Sophie!

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Though it was very sad to say goodbye to our dear friend and fellow student Sophie Zhong last Thursday (she’s flying back to her family in Chong Qing), it is never too late to learn something new about someone cherished. Read on to learn about Sophie! For our ongoing Senior Profiles, Alyna Rei interviewed Sophie about her high school life and her future plans. Here’s Sophie in her own words!  

– How would you describe yourself?

I am a girl who loves life and cares about others. 

– Are you excited to graduate from PVS? Nervous? Scared?

I feel both excited and sad to graduate.

– What is your dream school?

My dream school is Princeton University, but I actually didn’t apply there. I plan to go there for a master’s degree.

– What are your plans for the future?

I want to start my own business and be a part-time freediving coach. 

– How was your high school experience?

I definitely had a wonderful experience in PVS. Although Covid-19 affects us a lot, I feel the kindness from my teachers and friends. The memories I made here are absolutely precious. 

Sophie Zhong, Class of ’22

– Do you have any favorite memories in high school?

Yes, I joined the golf team for my junior and senior year. I love it so much! I really enjoy practicing and having matches with teams from other schools. Also, I joined cross country for the first time in my life in my senior year. Mr. Winter and my teammates went to so many places to compete. I got one medal in my first three-mile race. 

– What are you most excited about in the future?

I am most excited to arrange my life in college and . . . achieve my dream. 

– Do you have a favorite subject?

Yes, it is PE.

– What are you planning on majoring in?

I am planning on majoring in business administration.

– What are your favorite hobbies?

I have lots of hobbies. I don’t know which one is my favorite, but I really enjoy horseback riding, golfing, and playing the piano.

– What are some great tips to get through a school day?

My tips are to always be positive and never give up. 

Have fun in the future Sophie! Wish you the best!

Senior Spotlight: Sara Habibipour

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By Abigail Horwitt

thebirdonfire continues its ongoing spotlight of the Class of ‘22. Here is the PVS 2022 Class Valedictorian, Sara Habibipour. 

Graduating senior Sara Habibipour is a person of countless talents. She has accomplished numerous things inside and outside school and has won many awards for her achievements. Sara is currently the Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, Associated Student Body Co-President, California Scholarship Federation President, and Academic World Quest Co-Captain. She is also an active member in the community, helping around local areas, and coordinating community events. Sara’s favorite subject is Biology and when she goes to college, she plans on majoring in either Human Biology, Molecular Cell/Biology, or Microbiology/Immunology/Molecular Genetics. Outside of school, she founded an online platform called MedSoc Talk where she talks with other students, physicians, Nobel Laureates, and scientists about topics relating to the intersection of medicine. To go along with that she’s also done internships to help her get a feel for the career that she wants to pursue.

“I’ve always had a dream to build hospitals and deliver medical care to developing countries while learning about different cultures and that’s something I strive to pursue in the future.”

Sara Habibipour

A fun fact about Sara is that over the summer she researched HIV and presented her work at a university symposium. While she was there she produced her own abstract (a summary of a research study that allows readers to quickly learn about the important aspects of a study) and got the opportunity to shadow multiple operating rooms that included seeing an open heart surgery. 

Sara Habibipour, Class of ’22
Photo Credit: Jessica Denyer

Sara’s hobbies outside of school include dance, music, and Shotokan Karate. She has been dancing for 14 years, has a second-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate, and knows how to play the classical piano. She enjoys listening to music, too. Her favorite music includes Chopin, Peruvian pan flute music, Hozier (which Sara especially enjoys), and the most important to her Def Leppard. She also has a few other favorites which are CCR, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and many more. A fun fact about Sara is that she has her own collection of rock band t-shirts. 

Her parents are from two different cultures and perspectives: her dad, who is from Iran, and her mom is from Arkansas. Being interested in culture and traveling the world, Sara would like to one day travel to undeveloped countries where she delivers medical services like Doctors Without Borders (an international humanitarian non-governmental organization). 

Recently, Sara has become interested in earrings and collecting them. It started when her dance teacher took her and a friend to get their ears pierced. Ever since she’s been obsessed with collecting all different kinds of earrings. When Sara goes out on an adventure, she particularly likes to find really abstract and funky earrings. Her latest findings were when she came across a random vintage thrift store in the middle of nowhere and discovered a pair of huge, shining, cactus earrings, which she was able to grab for 5 bucks. Want to know more about Sara? Go ask Jesse or Ms. Coffey what “Serving Sara” means.