the bird on fire

The Palm Valley School Student Blog

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Short Halloween Horror Story Competition

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By Harlow Berny

BOO! Halloween is only two weeks away, and in order to help people get in the spirit of things, thebirdonfire.org staff decided to hold a competition with a prize that any kid would dream of when out trick-or-treating: 12 ounces of chocolate! That’s right, the 1st-place winner will receive nearly a pound of milk chocolate in the form of a giant Hershey’s Kiss!* The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-place stories will also be published on thebirdonfire.org for everyone to see, as well as potential runner-ups.

In order to qualify for this competition, you must follow these rules and guidelines:

  1. You must be a student in Palm Valley Upper School, as we only have permission to give the absurd amount of chocolate to a student in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade. You many still submit a story and qualify as a runner-up if you’re in Middle School, but you will not be able to win the Hershey’s Kiss.
  2. Your real first and last name MUST be attached to the story you’re submitting so that we know who to give the prize to. If you wish to be anonymous or go by a pseudonym if you win, you must attach a note when submitting your story stating such (and you must provide your own pseudonym if you wish to go by one).
  3. While you may submit multiple stories, only one may be chosen as a winner/runner-up.
  4. All stories should have proper grammar and spelling. Errors will affect how you are judged.
  5. The story must not contain “adult” content or profanity.
  6. The main focus of the story must not be graphic violence or gore.
  7. All stories must be submitted to apatencio@pvs.org by Wednesday the 31st-Halloween! as the winners and runner-ups will be posted to thebirdonfire.org on Friday the 3rd–ScareFest!

Happy Hauntings!

 

*Note: This competition is not sponsored or endorsed by the Hershey’s company in any way, shape, or form. This competition is independently run by thebirdonfire.org blog staff.

 

Editor: Bella Bier

Passing on the Torch: The Freshman Retreat

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By Holden Hartle

Three years ago, in September of 2015, my freshman class hopped onto a bus for Lake Arrowhead for the Freshman Retreat. This is a three-day trip for the new high schoolers during which they get to know their classmates better through group activities, workshops, etc. They envision what will be and can be their high-school career and beyond.

Back then, the general consensus of the grade was split in half. Some thought that it was going to be a great experience for team building, making new friends, and just a simple getaway from the city. The other half were dreading it, fearing social interaction. But, nonetheless, the freshman class entered the bus and headed to Lake Arrowhead.

This year is no different. In mid September, the future class of 2022 traveled towards Lake Arrowhead. Though I went to the UCLA Conference Center and this year’s class went to a large cabin, and though we may have done different activities, the idea of bonding with fellow classmates was still present.

According to current freshman Kaiya, this was the “…best field trip so far.” I don’t want to spoil the activities of the Freshman Retreat in fear that it would ruin the surprise for the upcoming freshmen, but in a survey sent to the current freshman class, 75% said that it helped them learn more about their classmates, 100% said that they had fun, 100% said that they would recommend it for next year’s freshman class.

This tradition is something that I hope will continue for many years to come. This passing of the torch is how I made some of my best friends that I have today. The memories I made on that trip always make me smile. I remember our shared songs, games, and team projects. It is such a great way to not only learn about new students, but it is also a great way to learn more about students that you may have known your whole life.

Editor: AJ Patencio

Picture Day: A Poem

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By Leo Milmet

Picture day, when people try to look their best so they can have an unrealistic nostalgia trip in forty years.

Picture day, when you take a picture with EXACTLY the right amount of smile.

Picture day, when they rank kids from tallest to shortest so they can get in exactly the right place on an uncomfortable metallic bench.

Picture day, a day of hell for people who hate the word (and/or the food) “cheese.”

Picture day, a day that unapologetically and openly celebrates vanity, as opposed to other days which apologetically and subtextually celebrate vanity.

Picture day, the day when you sit out in the hotter-than-Hades desert sun, squinting in its radiating brightness, and waiting as the photographer perfects the camera settings.

Picture day, where you better remember to wear formal dress or you may not be in the class photo.

 

So, please, remember to wear formal dress on Picture Day at Palm Valley School, this Tuesday, September 18th, 2018.

Editor: Luke Langlois

Goodbye until next year!

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Hey, everyone! I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for sticking with us since the revival of our blog, The Bird on Fire, last September. It has been a really fun ride with everyone both in the blog class and our readers. This year you’ve seen posts from Blog Class members Claire, Renée, Peter, Makena, Shelby, Leo, Charles, AJ, Bella, and myself, Brennan. You’ve also seen posts from guest bloggers Holden Hartle, Jackson Dean, Daniel Romo, and Luke Langlois. Finally, you’ve seen posts from Harlow Berny and several anonymous bloggers. All of these people have contributed towards making the Blog what it is today. But, none of this would have been possible without Supreme Overlord Zachik. She has done more than what I can list here. I am speaking for the entire Blog Class when I say to her, “THANK YOU!!!”.

 

Now, we are at a point where our blog is going to be relatively inactive until the next school year and our constant stream of posts is going to be on pause. I would like to take this moment as our last post this year to say goodbye to both our readers and to our one senior, Peter. Peter has been with us the entire year to help with our shenanigans and now he goes on to live life in the big, wide world in college. Peter Nicholaus Kadel will be missed.

 

We will be excited to return in September, and you better believe that we will come back stronger than ever. Goodbye, until next year!

 

From, Brennan

Palm Valley School’s Junior State of America 2018-2019 Cabinet

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By Harlow Berny

Hello, fellow Palm Valley Students! On May 7, the PVS JSA chapter voted on the cabinet members for next school year. The voting took place in the student lounge during lunch, and any member of JSA who had previously attended at least one meeting was allowed to run and/or vote. The winners of the election were Hannah Hall as President, Elizabeth Shay as Vice President, Caroline Scheil as Secretary, Jake Soderman as Treasurer, and Marianne Capetz as Sergeant at Arms. They will be replacing this year’s cabinet of Chloe Sweeney as President, Jordan Dinnerman as Vice President, Brennan Nick as Secretary, Oliver Kaufmann as Treasurer, and Peter Kadel as Sergeant at Arms.

Editor: Brennan Nick

Destress your Distress

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By Claire Jenkins

 

Gentle reminders to take care of yourself and de-stress from the tests–AP’s and Semester Assessments. Here are some tips!

 

Pet a cat, for you feline lovers.

Pet a dog, for you canine lovers.

Ride a horse, for you equine lovers.

Eat some junk food, for you calorie lovers.

Drink some tea, for you herbal lovers.

Listen to some music, for you rhythm lovers.

Go on a hike, for you nature lovers.

Light some candles, for you scent lovers.

Play some video games, for you technology lovers.

Take a nap, for you sleep lovers.

Watch a movie, for you cinema lovers.

Take a deep breath, for you oxygen lovers.

 

Editor: Renée Vazquez

Fly Me to the Prom: I PROMise You’ll Love It

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Public Service Announcement by Brennan Nick, Blogger and ASB Member

Hey, Guys! As most of you already know, the Palm Valley School Prom is coming up on Saturday, May 26th. This year, prom is going to be better than ever! It’s going to take place at the Palm Springs Air Museum, and the theme is “Fly Me to the Moon.” Dessert will be served at the dance, including a candy bar and chocolate fountain. Now, if you’re wondering if you can bring a date or friend from outside of this school, you’re in luck because guests are allowed to come and enjoy our prom. Take note: guests must be vetted and approved by Ms. Steinman before May 18th. Also, please be sure to buy your tickets as soon as possible! Tickets are being sold before school and during lunch. Until Friday, May 18th, the tickets are $55 for a single and $90 for a pair. The week before prom (Monday, May 21st, to Friday, May 25th) the prices are $60 for a single and $100 for a pair. If you wait until the last minute, tickets sold at the door are $65 for a single and $110 for a pair. Thank you, and I hope to see you all there to enjoy a magical night.

 

Editor: Bella Bier

Prom!

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By Shelby Armor

The end of the year is fast approaching, which means so is Prom! This year our Prom is being held at the Palm Springs Air Museum with the theme of “Fly Me To The Moon.” We’ll be spending the evening among the stars in the sky, as Prom will be surrounded by airplanes! There will be dancing, desserts, a photo booth, a chocolate fountain, and more! May 26th is the date, and ASB will be selling tickets in the courtyard the second and third weeks of May ($55 for a single, $90 for a couple), so start getting excited for an unforgettable night!!

Editor: Leo Milmet

Denim Day

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By Claire Jenkins

Today, April 25th, Peace Over Violence has organized a Denim Day in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. This campaign was ignited by a ruling made in a Supreme Court in Italy, 1999. This ruling, known to Italian lawmakers as “denim defense” or “jeans alibi,” suggested that a woman cannot be raped if she is wearing jeans due to the idea that “they are impossible to remove unless she helps,” which, in the eyes of the court, suggests consent. This ruling brought on an even angrier debate about how judges (and societies) should view sexual assault and rape.    

The third division of the Supreme Court of Appeals in Rome released a statement from a November ruling that overturned a 34-month sentence for rape in Italy. They stated that ”jeans cannot be removed easily and certainly it is impossible to pull them off if the victim is fighting against her attacker with all her force.” This suggests that the victim was not fighting hard enough and takes the attention away from the wrongdoings of the attacker. This is known as victim-shaming. It is the same type of thought process as “Well, what was she wearing?” or “Her skirt was too short.” This type of mindset is dangerous.

After this ruling, women lawmakers across Italy showed their support for this victim and their resentment towards this ruling by going on a “jeans strike.” They said they will wear jeans to Parliament until the decision is changed. On April 25th we carry on this “jeans strike,” and the students of Palm Valley wear jeans after donating one dollar to Peace Over Violence. Students also signed a pair of jeans in solidarity with victims of sexual assault around the world.

25th of April: We wear jeans to show our support.

Editor: Bella Bier

GSA Day of Silence

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By Shelby Armor

On Friday, April 27, our school’s GSA (Gender and Sexuality Acceptance Club) is hosting a Day of Silence. This is an annual thing hosted by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network), a K-12 organization that seeks to give greater inclusion to LGBT+ students. Day of Silence is a day to recognize bullying (specifically, bullying of LGBT+ people). The way our school is carrying this out is by keeping the silence through Friday morning and breaking it at lunch time to present poetry. The poetry will be in the Student Lounge at lunch, and the poems will be regarding LGBT+ bullying. Everyone is encouraged to bring or recite poetry–original or found. And, if you found an amazing poem, but don’t feel quite comfortable presenting it, fear not. If you don’t feel comfortable presenting something, you don’t have to. You can show a video or have someone else read. The point of the day is to just get poetry out there and respect the cause. The National Day of Silence is a day to get everyone together to realize the problem of LGBT+ bullying throughout schools all over the country.

Editor: Leo Milmet