the bird on fire

The Palm Valley School Student Blog

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We met Caroline Kennedy

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By Shelby Armor

On Thursday, March 8, a team of our Upper School students went to see former US Ambassador to Japan and daughter to John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy. Desert Youth Town Hall hosts four such events each year at Indian Wells’s Renaissance Esmeralda. Leo Milmet, Shelby Armor, Andrew Zhu, Renée Vazquez, and Jordan King were all in attendance and enjoyed a great night of talk on foreign policy with Japan, Caroline Kennedy’s life, and JFK!

Renée, Andrew, Jordan, Leo, and Shelby all pose for a photo before they go to see Caroline Kennedy.

Caroline Kennedy addresses Coachella Valley high school students before she enters the main ballroom at the Renaissance. She welcomed questions from the crowd.

Leo Milmet, at the request of Caroline Kennedy, shares inspiration for his poem he wrote for the “Giving Back Poetry Contest.” The contest was a tribute to Kennedy, to her love of poetry, and to her family’s dedication to service.

Next Wednesday, the Town Hall Forum hosts the final speaker of the 2017-18 series, journalist Chris Wallace. Our own Jordan King is tasked with introducing the Fox News commentator.

Editor: Makena Behnke

Trial and Error: The Verdict

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By Brennan Nick, Blogger and Mock Trial Defense Attorney

Hey, I’m back with news about Mock Trial! To recap, nearly fifteen Palm Valley Upper School students competed together in the California Mock Trial Competition, and now that it’s over, here’s the news on how it went. Out of four competitions this season we went 2-2. Our first two competitions were against Indio High School and Great Oaks High School. We lost but by very slim margins. After that, we came back and narrowly beat Xavier in our third competition, and we won our last competition by a large margin against Amistad High School.

Palm Valley 2017-18 Mock Trial Team

Editor: Claire Jenkins

Go Climb a Mountain

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By Hiker and Blogger Claire Jenkins

On the 17th of February, right before the February Break, the Outdoors Club went on a hike up to the Palm Desert cross. The Outdoors Club, advised by Ms. Clark, hosts hikes monthly. All are welcome.

Happy hikers Sydney Armor, Sarah Jefferson, Claire Jenkins, and Hannah Makkai pose for a quick photo session and water break before climbing back down the mountain.

Ms. Clark and Hannah make interesting (“ahem” weird) shapes while Sydney and Sarah watch confusedly and Claire backs awkwardly away.

What’s happening? Possibly a playful pagan ritual? Actually, Ms. Clark was looking for an “interesting” photo op.

Ms. Clark smiles happily as her students dance like heathens.

PVS hikers rest in harmony with the view above Palm Desert from the yin-yang sign by the cross.

Editor: Renée Vazquez

Over 10,000 Views!

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Shelby Armor marks our milestone.

Our blog, The Bird On Fire, recently reached a huge milestone. For the first time ever, we reached 10,000 views! The Bird On Fire was formed in 2014 as a Winterim course on how to create a blog. The first post was on December 18, 2014, stating how we have many fun posts to come. When Blog became an elective offering in 2015, we landed on our motto: “Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans” (Thank you, Gaige Griffin). Now look how far the blog has come! As we hit 10,000 views, we go back and remember the fun times that have happened since its formation. Who could forget Brennan’s exposé on the Doomsday Clock? Or Makena’s comforting poem on “Comfort”? Or Gaven Li’s famous recorded Blog-sponsored ping-pong competition? (280 views on YouTube!) We thank each and every reader for coming back time and time again to read our posts. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, and we are excited about where we’ll go in the future.

Pictured above is the very first post of the blog.

Editor: Claire Jenkins

The 2018 Lunar New Year is Soon!

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Graphic by Harlow Berny

By Harlow Berny

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

Editor: Claire Jenkins

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

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

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

 

PVS Trip to USC!

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By Shelby Armor

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

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

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

Trial and Error

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

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

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins

Upper School Cultural Potluck

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Graphic by Harlow Berny

By Harlow Berny

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

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Get Your Candy Grams!

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By Claire Jenkins

 

The Upper School ASB is selling Candy Grams all week (February 5th-9th) at $2 for one bag of candy or $5 for three. ASB representatives are also selling–for the first time available this year–Barbershop Quartet songs. You can send a Barbershop Quartet song to a friend, romantic interest, or yourself. The song is just $5, and you can send a friendship or romance song. All proceeds go to your Upper School ASB!

 

Edited By: Brennan Nick

Cali-Pizza Party!

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Graphic by Harlow Berny

By Harlow Berny

 

Hello, fellow PVS students! Today from 11 am-10 pm there will be a Pizza with a Purpose fundraiser at the California Pizza Kitchen* on El Paseo**. In order to participate, you need to bring in a flyer–which you can get from either your Advisory teacher, the front desk, or online***–and present it to your server/cashier. When you do, 20% of your check will be donated to the school. Remember to write your Advisory teacher’s name on the flyer, as the Advisory class that has the most participation will have a pizza party!

 

Editor: Brennan Nick

*Phone Number: 760-776-5036

**California Pizza Kitchen 73-080 El Paseo Suite #8 Palm Desert, Ca 92260

***https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VPXscFvXAuMrsHk0bW1qUJEMTh3szJnL/view