Year end/New Beginnings Archives

One Chapter Ends: Another Begins

May 20, 2026 by ehesson@pvs.org 3 Comments

Feature Post

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

We are nearing the end of a school year and venturing into the summer. It’s bittersweet, our 5th graders are going into middle school, our 8th graders are going into high school, and our seniors are going to university. These are big steps for all of these people. Today, I focus on the 8th graders because I want to know how they feel moving into high school. Most of our Palm Valley 8th-Grade class I have had the pleasure of watching grow up over the last eight years, and they are all wonderful people. Let’s get an inside scoop on what some of them think of the future.

Julian says, “I’m nervous but also excited for the next step. I’m sad I won’t get to see everyone every day, but this is just a reminder of how college is just around the corner.”

Ben says, “I know it’s going to be very different from what I’m used to, but I’m excited for it.”

Sarah says, “I’m honestly sad but happy at the same time for all the memories I’ve made over the last ten years.”

Silvanita says, “After all the years I’ve been here, I feel like I have improved in many skills at Palm Valley. I’m ambitious about the future and am ready to take on the role of high school.”

Calum says, “It’s sad because I’m moving and won’t get to see my friends anymore.”

Emmy says, “I’m super excited to leave, but I’m going to miss PVS. I’ve made so many lifelong friendships here, and will forever cherish the memories I’ve created. I will miss everyone so much!”

In celebration of Emmy Kaminsky’s birthday, Emerson Dunn, Soleil, Chase Krein, and Julian Berumen joined her at a Firebirds’ hockey game.

Chase says, “It’s calm; I feel calm. It’s been a chill year.”

Morgan says, “I’m going to miss my old teachers like Ms. Zachik because she really made the school sparkle. I also love my friends.”

Mason says, “It was fun. I’ve made good friendships over the years and am ready to move on.”

Millie says, “I’m looking forward to high school, but I’ll miss all of the days I got to play volleyball with Julian or share laughs with my peers. It’s almost bittersweet that I’ve been at PVS for so long and now I’m moving on into a new chapter in my life.”

Karsen says, “Everyone has been really welcoming and caring. I can’t wait for high school.”

Sophia says, “I am really happy to leave 8th grade and meet new people and get to experience new things. Palm Valley has been a whirlwind of emotions and memories.”

Ms. Dean orders Jaxon Pacilio and Calum Webster to PUT SAMI DOWN. Peter Collier, an innocent bystander, hurries to French class.

As you can see our eighth graders are eager to move into high school but are going to miss the home Palm Valley is for them. I feel the same. My childhood is spread throughout this campus, and I will miss it so much, but I can’t wait for the next chapter of my life.

The Yearbook is on Sale!

April 29, 2026 by ehesson@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Part of The Bird on Fire’s What’s in the News

By 8th Grade Blogger Max Pretorius

Yearbooks are something that every school has. They are important parts of American school culture. Yearbooks are books made by a group of students meant to capture the people, events, and activities that happen throughout the year. As described by Editor In Chief Olivia Puetz, “The yearbook is full of fun memories.” Zoey Guess, a part of the yearbook staff, also describes the yearbook as being “a whole-year photo dump.” You can now buy this amazing Palm Valley School yearbook for only $95! You can buy the yearbook here or at the front office.

Yearbook Staff

The yearbook has plenty of staff–tireless students and teachers working hard on the yearbook. There are four teachers that have worked on the yearbook: Mr. Gil, Mr. Jue, Mrs. Nayfack, and Mrs. Torres. In addition, there are also many students who work on the yearbook, taking photos and writing: Calum Webster, Jaxon Pacilio, Ivana Vega, Ryder Gardner, Zoey Guess, Olivia Puetz, Rylie Conway, Peter Collier, Sami Alnabelsi, and Chase Krein. Rylie Conway made the illustrations, and Olivia Puetz is the Editor in Chief.

While the 2025-26 yearbook student staff is responsible for documenting images and events for all of PVS, it is made up of Middle and Upper-School students. (Image source: Mr.Gill)

Specialty Pages

The yearbook has a total of 172 pages, many of which are specialty pages. Most of the specialty pages are for the grades going up to the next big step–these being the 5th grade going to middle school, the 8th grade going to high school, and the seniors going to college. These pages have some extra things related to that grade; for example, the 8th grade has a page with our baby pictures. It’s an extra special book for those classes promoting to a new level. So, if you’re in 5th grade, 8th grade, or are a senior, now is the best time to buy a yearbook.

New Year, New You–Is that really true?

February 10, 2026 by ehesson@pvs.org 1 Comment

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

It’s the start of 2026, but to me it still feels like 2025. When I think of the saying new year, new you, I wonder if that’s really true. I believe that people can change but not because of the tick of a clock. I think that no matter how hard one tries, the same things they hold onto get carried into the next year–that could be romance, a feeling, a memory, an item. I don’t think that a new year really defines a new personality for someone. This is an original poem based on my experiences with the passing of time.


A New Chapter?

I count down the minutes as the clock ticks. 
I watch the uneven hands move slowly,
Wondering what this new year has for me.
I hear loud chanting as the fireworks rip
Across the dark night sky, 
The smell of tacos in the air.
The clocks finally change.
It’s now a new year.
I see others’ smiles big and content,
But the same thoughts still circle my head. 
A new year has come, 
Though I still hold on to the past 
Where memories arose, and emotions lapsed. 
Days go by quickly, 
yet I still write with a five at the end. 
I turn to my resolutions,
Which I have yet to begin.
People act differently but are entirely the same.
New year, new you – is that really true?
For some reason I believe that a change of a clock
Doesn’t define who you are, or who you want to be. 
People seem as if everything is okay,
As if nothing bothers them. 
But I bet they are just trying to fit in.
We shield what’s on our face, all for what? 
Our true feelings and thoughts are the ones that matter.
I still carry things from the past:
How is that so bad? New year, new you?
It isn’t true for me.

Why Do Things Fall Out of the News Cycle?

February 3, 2026 by ehesson@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Spring semester blogger Melina Brodeur asks, “Why do things fall out of the news cycle?” She did some research. Here’s what she found.

By 12th-Grader Melina Brodeur

News doesn’t stay “news” for long, and the main reason is the extremely fast pace of the 24-hour news cycle. The 24-hour news cycle is the constant reporting of issues, events, and updates around the clock across many platforms. This is a competition for attention between different news channels. Every news cycle wants to be the fastest to deliver information and stories. The new cycle pushes older topics out of the public eye, even if the issue persists. Everything in the news is constantly reviewed to see if it is still relevant to the times. In most 24-hour news cycles, according to KSL Executive Producer Kiera Farrimond, producers decide whether stories are worthy of broadcast; producers weigh whether audiences want to engage with stories or not. If a story cannot meet those requirements, it will be replaced by a new story. Journalists filter data because of either time, impact, or the ability to attract audiences, which causes newer stories to appear and old stories to disappear. In one case, the Coldplay concert was a controversy about a cheating scandal between a woman and her boss, caught on camera during a concert, and was aired online everywhere. But, today, we hear little about this situation; this controversy disappeared like a speck in the wind.

Research shows that audience behavior on a repeated topic can lead to boredom and news avoidance (International Journal of Communication, 2023). So many of us become psychologically exhausted looking at the news; there is too much information all at once. Studies show that as news consumption increases, adults feel overwhelmed. Many of us limit how much news we follow. A great example of news avoidance is my mom; she tends to hate constantly hearing the news blare in her ears about all the horrible things happening. It brings down her mood, and she gets incredibly annoyed. That’s why news outlets stop running stories that aren’t gaining any traction anymore.

News organizations rely on audience attention to gain revenue. When stories stop attracting attention, they are replaced with different ones that will bring views. Views bring advertisers. Advertisers bring money. All these issues combined can make it seem like ongoing stories, many quite serious issues, seem too old to cover. Ukraine is an example of a serious situation with many fatalities, and many people have lost their homes, a situation that persists, which we barely hear about as much as we used to. The news algorithm’s favorite is what is newest and trending, which pushes the old stories out of public view. So, stories don’t disappear because they stop being important, but more because the media wants newer news.

My Favorite Musical – Mary Poppins

January 29, 2026 by ehesson@pvs.org 1 Comment

Written by 7th-Grade Blogger Reagan Kaminsky

Everyone has a favorite musical, and whether it’s Hamilton, Newsies or The Sound of Music, there’s always one that just sticks. For me, however, I can’t think of just one. I have done Musical Theater since the age of 7. I have been in countless productions, and it’s impossible to choose a favorite. Still, the first lead I ever played will always have a special place in my heart. In winter of last year, I was fortunate enough to be cast as Jane Banks in a production of Mary Poppins at the Palm Canyon Theatre.

Let’s go back to the beginning– when I auditioned. I was attending the Palm Canyon Theatre Summer Camp, when the director expressed that she wanted me to audition. I prepared a monologue and went to my audition, and let’s just say I was terrified. I waited and waited. Then, finally, I heard back from the director. I got the role!

Then, the first day of rehearsals came. I met the cast and did a read-through, and it was starting to feel a bit more real. After countless hours of practicing choreography and harmony, before I knew it, Tech Week had begun. Tech Week is the last week of rehearsals when we begin to add lights, sound, and set. I pushed through the week of rehearsals, and then it was finally here–Opening Night. Before we knew it, the curtain dropped, and we got through the first show with ease. Weeks went by, and next thing I knew, it was Closing Night. As the final curtain drew down, let’s just say we were all devastated that the production came to a close.

Reagan (Right) poses with her co-stars in the finale of *Mary Poppins*. Photo Credit: Palm Canyon Theatre

In the end, acting in Mary Poppins was the most incredible and memorable experience. From perfect harmonies to barfing backstage, that show had it all. I may not have a favorite musical, but Mary Poppins will always hold a special place in my heart.

First we Bopl, Then we Battle

January 23, 2026 by ehesson@pvs.org 1 Comment

By 8th-Grade Blogger Max Pretorius

Bopl Battle is a game published by Zapray games. The game was first published on November 23, 2023, for Windows and Steam Deck. And, despite the simplicity of its nature, it is, in my opinion, the greatest game of all time, and everyone reading this post should give Bopl Battle a try!

Bopl Battle is a game that prides itself on simplicity. You, and 1-3 other people, go into a round–playing as little slime creatures with three abilities on a map that consists of oval-shaped platforms. You battle it out with those abilities. Despite being simple, the game is fun and addictive.

Bopls start a game with three abilities. The player chooses the abilities. Here I chose “grenade,” “blink gun,” and “air dash.” (Screenshot by Max)

The abilities in Bopl Battle are different tools/actions that the Bopls can use with “cooldowns” to help them be the last one standing. The abilities in Bopl Battle are also very intuitive, but they work because of the complexity added when you combine them with other abilities or the map itself. For example, you could just throw a grenade using the grenade ability, or you could combine it with “duplicate” to send four–instead of one–grenades flying towards your opponents. Or, you could just use a missile to explode your opponents, but you could also combine a missile ability with smoke in order to have larger explosions. Ability combos are what make Bopl Battle so re-playable.

To employ a grenade ability, you simply throw it. (Screenshot by Max)

But, this isn’t just my opinion; I asked some of my friends who play Bopl Battle what their favorite thing about this game was, and these were their responses:

Hunter Fossey: “Killing you.”

Mason Mello: Beating you (paraphrased).

Jaxon Pacilio: “That I can play multiplayer.”

Mason Conway: “I like how the devs abandoned the game because the abandonment makes it niche.”

These replies, though varied, show off the most popular part of the game, being the multiplayer between friends. When my friends and I play Bopl Battle, we are very competitive and have a lot of fun beating each other–so much to the point where we make rankings on how good we all are at the game. (I’m last.) Furthermore, if you want to play with your friends and family on the same device, you can! Bopl Battle supports a shared screen, meaning you can play with multiple people by connecting multiple controllers to a device.

Overall, Bopl Battle is a fun yet competitive game that you can play with your friends and family. So give it a shot!

Mason Mello, Hunter Fossey, and Max played Bopl Battle two weeks ago. Max compiled clips of the game.

Secret Santa

December 16, 2025 by ehesson@pvs.org Leave a Comment

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

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

It’s officially December which means Christmas is around the corner! This year the Palm Valley school’s eighth-grade students are doing a Secret Santa gift exchange! How it works is you put everyone’s name in a hat or random name generator and you blindly get chosen a name. You don’t tell anyone who you have until they open their presents on the day of the exchange. Emerson Dunn tells us why the eighth grade decided to host the exchange this year.

We decided to do a Secret Santa this year because we also did one in sixth grade with Mr. Killeen and Ms. Maguire, so we thought it would be fun to do another event where we could give our friends gifts. I think it’s a good way for us to come together more, and since we all randomly pulled one of our classmate’s names, it’s a good way for us to learn what they like . . . when we are gifting them. It’s also a good way to get into the holiday spirit! – Emerson Dunn

I can’t wait to see who pulled whose name!

Things Jess is Bringing into 2024

February 27, 2024 by ehesson@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Senior Jess Billimore

While she’s not yet working for Consumer Reports, we’ve got our own Jess Billimore with ratings, reviews, and advice on products she’s tried. Here are a few she liked so much in 2023, she’s gonna keep using them right on through 2024.

The new year is well into its second month! Everybody’s talked about new things in the new year, but there were so many great products that I found last year. I don’t want to leave them behind. So, here are the items I discovered and loved in 2023 that I am definitely bringing into 2024 with me.

Starting off strong with the Owala water bottle–I got this as a Christmas gift, and I love it so much. Unlike many other water bottles I have tried, this is completely leak proof. It also keeps your water cold all day, which is great for school. Owala water bottles are super pretty and come in a huge variation of colors, so there is something for everyone.

Next we have a hair mask. Fino is a Japanese brand that I discovered on TikTok. I have tried several hair masks before, and this one really lives up to the hype. This mask makes your hair super soft and silky. I could see these results after just one use. Last year I damaged my hair with heat and frequent bleaching; incorporating this hair mask into my hair routine has helped massively, and I can see myself using this product for years to come.

Staying on the topic of hair moves me to my favorite curler ever, the Conair Curl Secret InfinitiPRO Curling Iron. I can’t express how much I love this. To begin, it’s so much more time efficient than a regular hair curler; I can finish my whole head within 10 minutes. I also no longer have to worry about burning myself as it has a protective guard and does all the work for you, so you don’t even need to know how to curl hair! I try to avoid using too much heat, which takes me to my final reason for loving this product, and that is the curls last for days!

Now, for one that surprised me, and that is the Hooga Red Light Therapy Wand. I had heard a lot of good things about red light therapy in general. I didn’t know if it was legit, but I did some of my own research and it totally is: “Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low wavelength red light to reportedly improve your skin’s appearance, such as reducing wrinkles, scars, redness and acne. It’s also touted to treat other medical conditions (my.clevelandclinic.org). You may be wondering, how does this work? As we age, our skin produces less collagen and what red light therapy does is penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating the cells that produce that collagen. Then, this new collagen moves up to your skin’s surface, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Now, a full-on red-light facemask is quite expensive, potentially a future investment for me. For now I just have the wand. I’ve had it for about two months, and I’m already seeing some of the benefits, such as brighter skin and reduced redness. This really has elevated my self-care routine. I would recommend the Hooga Red Light Therapy Wand.

Finally, the Miss Dior perfume! I know you are probably thinking, really, a perfume? But, this would have to be my all-time favorite scent. I love it so much and try to save it for special occasions, which could be a reason I like it as I associate it with good memories. As for the scent, it’s very fresh, floral, and light. I get so many compliments whenever I wear it!

That’s all for today! What would you most like to try?

PVS 2024 Resolutions

January 26, 2024 by ehesson@pvs.org 2 Comments

We welcome 8th-grader Jack Edelstein to The Bird on Fire stable of writers. This is Jack’s debut post.

By Jack Edelstein, 8th Grade

A New Year’s tradition many celebrate, but don’t necessarily fulfill, involves making resolutions. Typical resolutions involve vowing to work out or manage stress. A little history on New Year’s resolutions – according to History.com, “The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year…”

Although we aren’t ancient Babylonians, PVS staff and students make New Year’s resolutions. I went around the school and interviewed different people to see the resolutions they set for themselves.

7th Grader, Moses Gizaw

**“To be more athletic, I have got to get on the Middle School Basketball A team,” says Moses.**

I’ll see you there.

8th Grader, Jaden Ramer

**“Stop being mean because it does not benefit me.**”

Hard habit to break sometimes, I’ll admit.

Fellow Blogger and 8th Grader, Jackie Padgett

**“I guess I want to try new things this year because I don’t particularly like change.”**

And to be honest, who does?

Freshman, Evan Wang

**“Get Gold at my Jiu Jitsu tournament; I do not like losing.”**

True statement.

Sophomore, Matteo Lam

**“Work out more, be more disciplined; I’ve been trying to do it, and it’s nice to call it a New Year’s resolution.”**

Me too, me too.

Junior, Riley Jorgenson

**“Get better at baseball; I want to get a college scholarship.”**

I want a scholarship, too, Riley.

Senior, Arsh Rehman

**“Get better at baseball, so I can MAKE 30 million dollars a year.”**

I think the most relatable and greatest resolution by far.

Mr. Killeen, MUS Science

**“I usually plan on what I need to do, but I would say probably to keep my good grades at grad school. I am attending San Diego State.”**

I wish you good luck toward your studies.

Big Coach Erenberg, Athletic Director

**“I don’t have a New Year’s resolution. I always try to improve our programs and win.”**

Indubitably.

These are your PVS 2024 New Year’s Resolutions!

If you were wondering, my New Year’s resolution is to learn how to play guitar and walk my dog more. If you have any interesting or admirable resolutions let us know in the comments!

Maya Karpaty: An Interview with a Senior

May 9, 2023 by ehesson@pvs.org Leave a Comment

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.