the bird on fire

The Palm Valley School Student Blog

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Music

by Leave a Comment

In keeping with our theme on “Welcome Back” or “What Did You Do Over the Summer?” Katelin submits a post on her favorite summertime (anytime) pastime–K-pop.

By Katelin Mei

Over the recent years, there has been a spike in popularity of K-pop, most likely because BTS and BLACKPINK have introduced the North American public to this genre of music. They have very eye-catching videos, and the members of every group tend to have a cute look. 

Image result for sana twice

My favorite groups

6. BTS – This was the second group that introduced me to K-pop. I like this group because I like their older songs like “RUN” and “Save Me.” I also like Min Yoongi because I find him cute.

Image result for bts

5. NCT – This is a very confusing K-pop group. They have many different sub-groups, like NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV. The different sub-groups release different music, but they are all under the brand name “NCT.” I like this group mostly because the people in NCT have fun and unique personalities. 

4. Red Velvet – This group is unique because of its varied musical concepts that they can pull off very well. They transition from having a “girl crush” concept in their song “Bad Boy” to a summery cute theme in their song “Power Up.” Unlike many other artists, they are never limited to one topic.

3. Dreamcatcher – I found this amazing group because of their latest comeback song “Piri.” They have a unique rock/anime style rarely seen in K-pop girl groups. My favourite song of theirs is “You and I.” They are releasing a new album soon, which I am extremely excited for.

Image result for dreamcatcher kpop

2. Momoland – MOMOLAND broke into the market with their song “BBoom BBoom.” Since they come from a small company, they once did not have many fans and were planning to disband after they released “BBoom BBoom.” The song blew up and brought MOMOLAND the followers and fans they needed, including me. They are a very attractive group, and JooE is especially pretty.

Image result for momoland

1. BLACKPINK/Twice – These two groups are tied because I love them equally, even though they contrast each other in concept. While BLACKPINK has a girl crush concept, TWICE’s aesthetic is very appealing and well done (see second photo). BLACKPINK has a special place in my heart because they were the group that introduced me to K-pop. Hopefully, they can do the same for you.

Image result for blackpink
Image result for twice kpop

Editor: Luke Langlois

Forever Youth

by Leave a Comment


As we “welcome” everyone back, Quintus poetically reminds us time is fleeting and ephemeral. Enjoy the daily life of your adolescence because . . . it will be over soon.

By Quintus Ni

Time flies like flowing water

Youth departs with the water

You can’t catch

The steps of time

Like the sunlight that vanishes in the far

That cannot be chased

When

Wrinkles creep up on your face

When gray hair grows

Looking back

Youth is a river flowing forever

Searching in a daze

Chasing at a loss

In the distance

Is the paradise of dreams

Ethereal

And hazy

Cheap if you say it is beautiful

Far from being expressed in words

Unpredictable

Untouchable

It’s a mirage

Like passing time

The youth fades away

when you least expect it to

Desiring all the time

To meet each other

Saying goodbye

Turn around

And enter the lingering light

Of the setting sun

Everyone has his or her own youth, but youth is fleeting. Time flies! It fades away at every moment whether you catch or not!–Quintus

Editor: Luke Langlois

Summer-Send-Off Cupcakes

by Leave a Comment

By Renée 

Have you ever baked a dozen cupcakes, and then when you left to go get some stuff–say, pick up people, or browse a thrift shop–they were all mysteriously gone?? No? Just me? Last week, I had intended to make apricot cupcakes to share with the Blog and PVS schoolyard friends. I did make those cupcakes, but my family ate them! If this happens to you as well,  look around and use the ingredients you have to make more! I happened to have plenty of apricots and oranges lying around the kitchen. That’s what I did. And, Summer-Send-Off Cupcakes were born. What better way to send off the summer than to take advantage of its delicious seasonal ingredients–like apricots and citrus! 

These particular cupcakes are pretty easy to make, and I used a ridiculously simple frosting recipe that’s actually not mine. But, as repayment to the poor soul I stole it from, I have named this frosting recipe after her. This recipe serves about 12 cupcakes and takes about 30 minutes to an hour, but the bake time is only 15 minutes. So, without further ado, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Softened butter — 1/2 cup
  • Confectioners sugar — 1 cup
  • Orange zest — 1 large orange (or to taste, really any citrus will do)
  • Large eggs — 2
  • Diced dried apricots — 1 cup
  • Apricot jam — 1-2 tbsps (or to taste)
  • Sea salt — 1 pinch
  • Cake flour — 3 cups
  • Baking powder — 3 tsp
  • Whole milk —  2 cups
  • Carla’s Frosting: 
    • Softened butter — 1/2 cup 
    • Confectioners sugar — 1 cup
    • Whole milk — 1/2 cup
    • Vanilla extract — 1 tsp

Procedure for baking cupcakes: 

  1. Preheat oven to 380-400°F 
  2. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cupcake cases 
  3. Mix flour, baking powder, dried apricot, and orange zest. Add half the sugar, and mix well
  4. Cream together the butter and the rest of the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well; then mix in the milk
  5. Add the wet mixture into dry mixture, adding in the apricot jam and salt. Mix until the batter is thick but not overworked. *Optional: white chocolate chips can be added into batter*  
  6. Spoon into the lined tin. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown
  7. Leave it to cool to room temperature

Procedure for Carla’s Frosting:

  • Add butter, sugar, and vanilla to a bowl and mix until desired consistency
  • Scrape bowl down with a spatula, and spoon into a frosting bag
  • Frost to your heart’s content

Editor: Luke Langlois

THE BIRD ON FIRE STRIKES BACK

by 2 Comments


By Luke Langlois

This week, the Palm Valley School booted up its classes once again and welcomed back its wondrous array of red-hot Firebirds. But… something’s missing. There’s this unmistakable dread that fills the hearts, minds, and very SOULS of our students. Could it be the stress of a new year with new teachers? Could it be the pressure of college application ominously looming over the seniors? No, that would be ridiculous. All our lives are missing sophisticated schoolyard shenanigans…

thebirdonfire.org

My ears are ringing with an orchestral fanfare. Spirits are restored. After a lengthy and unbearable summer hiatus, the staff of thebirdonfire.org is back in action. This year’s blog staff currently includes seasoned veterans like myself, Renée Vazquez, and James Zheng. New to the staff this year are Doreen Yuan, Chelsea Xu, Katelin Slosky, and Emily Castro. You may have noticed that I wrote “currently” before listing our staff members. That means you can still JOIN OUR STAFF–unless you are from the future. There has never been a better time to join us! We are fast approaching half a decade of The Bird On Fire, with its birthday coming up in December. Even if a transition to our staff is not in your stars, please enjoy the show! 

Editor: Renée Vazquez

Goodbye until next year!

by 1 Comment

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

Pete’s Declassified School Survival Guide: The Morning Routine

by 1 Comment

By Peter Kadel, Senior Survival Scout

*Episode 1 in an ongoing series.

As we slowly acclimate to the total system shock of returning to school, I’ve noticed that many students are struggling with many aspects of everyday life here at Palm Valley. So since I enjoy helping others, I’ve put together a handy guide to school, drawing on my four years of experience and expertise for anybody who needs a helping hand to use. While many people will sugarcoat the truth or tell you lies to keep you ignorant and complacent, my guide will contain only factual truths.

 

The Morning:

One significant change that everyone struggles with when returning to school is adjusting to the change in sleep schedules and having to wake up early while also staying up late to do homework. This change is often a cause of struggle and stress for students. To prevent this stress, I fall asleep as soon as I get home. I strictly enforce a bedtime of 5:00 pm and always, religiously, wake up at exactly 2:00 am. This allows me to have nine blissful hours of sleep. Upon waking up, I proceed to run to the top of the tramway for a bit of fresh air. Now that I have reached the sweet spot of being wide awake after my run and refreshed due to my restful sleeping schedule, I am ready to tackle the assignments that I neglected to do the day before.

 

The key to effectively finishing your assignments before the start of school is speed; errors don’t matter. High school is supposed to be the best 5 ½ years of your life, but they won’t be if you worry about silly academic stuff. Just get it done as quickly as you can so you can focus on the important task of flirting with people your age and getting tattoos or piercings.

 

That is how I tackle the mornings. Stay tuned for the next installment to Pete’s Declassified School Survival Guide!

Editor: Brennan Nick

Meet International Student Rosa Gillet

by 5 Comments

–by Gaven Li

Rosa has been a Firebird for a month now. She hails from Germany, near Frankfort, and she’s with us for a semester. Here’s her unique German perspective on life at PVS.

Q: Simply introduce yourself please, Rosa.
A: My name is Rosa Gillet. I’m 15 years old, and I’m from Germany, near Frankfort, and I’m here for only one semester…..ah….I have two older siblings? (Laughing)

Q: So, is this your first time coming to America?
A: As an exchange student, yes. But, I was here four times with my family for vacations.

Q: Oh. How do you feel here?
A: I don’t know. At first I was very excited, and then it was like… Okay, I’m here. And,…most of the people here are very nice. So, that’s good.

Q: I heard that you’re living with the other exchange student Nick. How is it? I mean, your new life, your host family and everything…?
A: My host family is nice, but sometimes they forget everything. (Laughing) That’s alright…And with Nick, everything is good cause it’s really cool to talk to him sometimes.

Q: Do you prefer German food or American food?
A: American food! Because in Germany, the food depends on the region. And the food in the region where I live is like…I don’t like it. And I like fast food!

Q: Are you on any team?
A: Yeah, I’m on volleyball (team).

Q: How’s it going?
A: Um…..First, I wasn’t very good. But, I’m getting better I think… I hope so.

Q: You will! How about the school? What’s the difference between Palm Valley and the school in Germany?
A: Everything! In Germany, we don’t need to walk to different classrooms every class. We just stay in the same classroom and have the same classmates everyday. Also our grades are like 1,2,3 instead of A,B,C. There are more teachers [in Germany] and…the campus too! We don’t have a big campus; we only have two buildings and two gyms.

Q: Okay. What’s your favorite class? And the class you find difficult?
A: I love P.E. And English! Algebra is…not difficult, but I can’t understand the expressions because they are much different from in Germany.

Gaven: I think this is it! Thank you so much, Rosa.
Rosa: You’re welcome!

Meet Our New International Students . . .

by Leave a Comment

by Gaven Li

TODAY, . . . MEET NIKOLOZ (NICK) TSIKARISHVILI

We have many new international students this year in the Palm Valley Upper School. They come from Georgia, China, Germany, etc. Today, meet Nick from Georgia (and . . . not the Georgia next to Alabama).

Q: Tell us something about yourself, Nick.
A: Hi, my name is Nikoloz Tsikarishvili. I’m a junior, and I come from Georgia [the country off the Black Sea]; now I live in Palm Springs.

Q: So, what do you think about America?
A: I like it here, so far… I think it’s great, and the people are really nice here.

Q: What about Palm Valley? Is there any difference between Palm Valley and the school you went to before?
A: Yes! There are so many different classes, and….Wow, I don’t know. I mean, pretty much everything is different from my previous school.

Q: Okay. Did you join any team or club?
A: Yeah, I joined the football team.

Q: And how’s that going?
A: We haven’t played our first game yet. We are still preparing for it, and we practice very hard. I hope this season will be great for our team.

Q: Great. It’s not easy to get used to a brand new lifestyle, right? What do you do over the weekend?
A: Emmmmm… I do my homework, exercise a little, rest, and get ready for Monday.

Q: Cool! What’s your favorite class? And, the class you find the most difficult?
A: I think Math is really difficult, and AP biology is difficult too, but I like it–that’s my favorite class

Q: Do you have any trouble at school so far?
A: Oh yeah, I had trouble with my locker… I couldn’t open it. And, Christian helped me out.

Gaven: Alright, thanks Nick; let’s go to practice.
Nick: Okay.