The Best Advice in the World on How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

February 29, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

We’re approaching Quarter 4 and nearing the end of the school year. Classes are getting more difficult. There are more tests, and extracurricular activities are becoming more demanding–all of which can result in a struggle to get a good night’s sleep. So, here I have compiled some ways of getting a good night’s sleep in order to be rested and ready for school the next day. First, I’ve compiled some scientifically proven facts by reliable sources about restful sleep. Second, you get my own anecdotal advice on how I manage to get a good night’s sleep.

Scientifically Proven Facts

Don’t drink coffee at night.

As we all know, coffee is used to stay awake. So, it makes sense that if you’re going to sleep, do not drink coffee as it will keep you awake. According to sleepfoundation, “Caffeine promotes wakefulness by blocking adenosine, a sleep-inducing chemical.” Staff Writer Danielle Pacheco and Dr. Dustin Cotliar, Sleep Medicine Physician, also advise you to “avoid caffeine at least 8 hours before bedtime to ensure better sleep quality” (sleepfoundation).

No electronic devices at night.

So, according to cdc.gov, it is recommended that you “Remove electronic devices, such as TVs, computers, and smart phones, from the bedroom.” I don’t know if I really agree with this, it sounds kind of lame. But the reason why is because “Tempting as it might be to use your computer or phone before bed, studies have shown these devices can interfere with sleep by suppressing the production of melatonin, a natural hormone released in the evening to help you feel tired. . . . This leads to neurophysiologic arousals that increase feelings of alertness when you should be winding down instead” (sleepfoundation). Honestly, the use of technology helps me wind down faster, but I can’t go against the science, I guess.

Exercise.

Exercise naturally makes us tired. And, according to cdc.gov, getting “some exercise [. . . and] being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep more easily at night.” This suggestion makes a lot of sense. Sometimes I go play basketball with my friends, and when I come back, I’m so tired the first thing I do is go straight to bed and get a great night’s sleep. Getting exercise to help with sleep I 1000% agree with, and I would recommend.

My Own “Totally” Accurate Advice

Choose the perfect position to sleep.

The position in which you sleep is very important and most definitely affects how you wake up the next day. Here is a picture, for your reference, of the different sleeping positions:

There are endless possibilities for how you can sleep. I personally prefer #2. However, #1, 6, 15, and 16 are kind of lame but aren’t the worst. #3, 4, 5, 8, 12, and 14 will make you wake up with horrible back or neck pain. #13 just looks ridiculous. I wouldn’t want to sleep like #18 because I feel like I would die due to lack of oxygen. Anyway, the point is that you need to pick a good sleeping position to ensure a good night’s sleep.

DON’T go to sleep early….

I know this sounds like it doesn’t make sense, but whenever I go to sleep at like 8:30 p.m. and wake up the next morning at 7 a.m., I genuinely feel more tired than when I went to sleep the night before. I recommend going to sleep at 10:30 p.m. and waking up at 6:30-7:00 a.m. the next morning. It’s the perfect eight hours of sleep. I think the only occasion when it’s fine to sleep 10+ hours is when you’re sick.

Chug Water.

For my last piece of advice, I recommend you drink tons of water before going to bed. It may be a little dangerous in case you need to use the restroom, but honestly chugging water just makes me fall asleep faster. The reason why is that it refreshes you, and it also makes my throat not be dry which helps me breathe better, and that’s why it helps me fall asleep faster. Also, if you wake up in the middle of the night, drink more water. And, drink again when you wake up the next morning, too. Chugging water is risky but most definitely worth the healthy hydration in my opinion.

There it is, a compilation of advice from proven facts that you should most definitely use and my awesome advice that obviously works and definitely will help you have a better night’s sleep. Finals and APs are coming. You’ll need good nights of rest. Do you have any advice of your own? Let me know in the comments!

Things Jess is Bringing into 2024

February 27, 2024 by szachik@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?

Mirabelle Lee is Riverside County Poetry Out Loud Champion!

February 15, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org 5 Comments

On Thursday, February 8th, junior Mirabelle Lee, her parents, the family dog, Ms. Zachik, and Mr. Koehler traveled to downtown Riverside where the Riverside Arts Council hosted the Riverside County Poetry Out Loud Competition. On stage, Mirabelle recited, in Round I, “My Dad and Sardines” by Toi Derricotte. She followed up with “To The Ladies” by Lady Mary Chudleigh in Round II. Before a panel of four judges, Mirabelle won! She advances to State Poetry Out Loud on March 17 and 18 in Sacramento. If Mirabelle wins there, she heads to Washington, D.C., for national Poetry Out Loud competition.

Palm Valley has been fortunate. We’ve sent half a dozen recitators to Poetry Out Loud State Competition. Jackson Dean (Class of ’19) went so far as to place 3rd in the state. Mirabelle continues this fine tradition.

Valentine’s Day. What’s the Point?

February 14, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By 8th-Grader Jackie Padgett

Lots of people associate Valentine’s day with love, hearts, chocolate, and those little candy hearts everyone gets. But what’s the backstory of it? Surprisingly it is as happy and candy associated.

How did this start?

Valentine’s Day has been around for a long time and has been celebrated in many different ways. It includes a mix of Christian and ancient Roman history. Some say Canterbury Tales author Geoffrey Chaucer gets credit. If you didn’t know (surprisingly not everyone did) the full name of the holiday is Saint Valentine’s Day. Who is Saint Valentine? Well, the Catholic Church has multiple martyr saints who go by the name Valentine (Britannica). One of the stories says that Valentine was a priest who worked during the 3rd century when Claudius II of Rome ruled. Cladius II thought that men who didn’t have families or wives were better soldiers, so he banned young men from getting married. Valentine thought this wasn’t right, so he secretly helped young couples get married. He was soon ratted out and executed (History). Another story says that Valentine (another priest under Claudius, but this one was imprisoned), wrote letters to the jailer’s daughter and signed his name as “Your Valentine.” Other versions say he was an imprisoned bishop and healed the jailer’s daughter from blindness then wrote her letters (Britannica).

Traditions around the World

In America, people celebrate Valentine’s Day by gifting chocolates, writing letters/cards, making a nice flower bouquet, or going out to a nice dinner, sometimes even presenting a loved one with nice new jewelry. Celebrations of love occur around the world. Come with me to see the variety of love tokens. In Argentina, they don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day, but they do have a July “week of sweetness” (Travel Triangle). Couples go out on dates and give each other chocolates. In Korea, people celebrate days of love every 14th of the month, and every month has a different “ theme.” For example, December 14th is the day of hugs. Ghana decided to change Valentine’s Day to national chocolate day. They get tourists to come and visit the restaurants and performances all based on chocolate. In Bulgaria, they celebrate San Trifon Zartan (Day of Winemakers) on the 1st and 14th of February, where they enjoy a nice glass of wine with their loved ones. The men in Spain, for Saint Dionysus Day, will make their partner a macadora, a little figurine made out of marzipan. [Can you find a picture?] These figures get gifted on October 8th. If you’ve ever felt lonely on Valentine’s Day, Estonia has you covered. On February 14th they celebrate a friends and family version of Valentine’s Day. Don’t worry–couples are included as well. In Japan, the women have to buy all the gifts for their partner, and the partner can return the favor a couple months later. Finally, Wales celebrates in a very interesting way. On February 25th, couples exchange handcrafted wooden spoons as a gesture of love.

An example of handcrafted spoons related to the Wales tradition. (I absolutely love this. It’s strange but in a good way, it’s special.) Photo Source: Travel Triangle

Short and Sweet Surveys–

I was curious as to what our school thought of Valentine’s Day, so I asked a few Palm Valley teachers and students the following questions:

1. What are your opinions on Valentine’s day?

2. What do you think the “point” of Valentine’s Day is?

They surprisingly had very varied opinions.

Freshman Louisa Richardson is surprisingly suspicious of couples who join together right before Valentine’s Day.

“Valentine’s Day is impeccably overrated for couples who have just started dating a few weeks before. However, that is not always the case, but usually it is. For couples who have been dating more than a week, they can celebrate Valentine’s Day just fine. Buy the chocolate. Otherwise it makes me a little suspicious. It’s all a little too convenient.“
Louisa Richardson

Mr. Hesson, one of our math teachers, shares a very thoughtful answer.

“I’ve never much liked this holiday. When you’re single, it’s meaningless at best and miserable at worst. But even when you’re in a relationship, it tends to feel more like an obligation than a real reason to celebrate being in love. In my relationships, the anniversary was always the important day, the day when I would get excited about finding the perfect gift and planning the perfect day. Birthdays could be like this too. But on Valentine’s, the celebration was always pretty forgettable – a nice dinner, a fancy dessert, or some other bland pseudo-romantic indulgence.
“I believe that the purpose of holidays is deeply personal, and that each of us should enjoy whatever celebrations we find meaningful. If some people value Valentine’s and use it to celebrate love with genuine gratitude and joy, then it could be a great thing for them. But I would imagine for many it serves no real purpose.
People often decry this holiday for being overly commercialized too. And yeah, it is. They all are. It doesn’t really bother me in this case. It would be nice if more of our celebrations could be dislodged from the machinery of business and capital, but that’s difficult to achieve in this country, and V-day is no more egregious in its commercialization than any of the other major holidays.”
Mr. Hesson

6th Grader Millie Flemings answers simply:

“Personally I like Valentines, and I think of it more as a way to show your appreciation to people as a holiday for love.”
Millie Flemings

One of my favorite responses comes from one of our history teachers, Mr. Satterfield.

“Valentine’s Day, like any other holiday, is what you make of it. Critics will tell you that it is over-commercialized, that it puts pressure on those who are in relationships, and that it excludes those who are not. All of this is true, and the day can be a bleak one for many.

“Even so, you don’t have to go buy an overpriced gift of dubious utility. You don’t have to out-do last year. And you don’t have to wallow in loneliness. Instead, you can use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to show someone how much you love them in whatever way you see fit (even if that person is yourself). That doesn’t have to cost a cent — it simply requires a thoughtful assessment of what your special person wants. More often than we realize, what that person really wants is time — quality time, uninterrupted and undistracted — with you.”
Mr. Satterfield

I don’t have too many strong opinions on Valentine’s Day myself, but the raspberry milk chocolates that arrive from See’s Candies are something I look forward to every year. I might even add spoon making to my calendar now.

Fun fact– if you want to see Saint Valentines in person, you can! His skull is supposedly in a church in Cosmedin, Rome (National Geographic).

What do you think about this holiday? Tell me in the comments!

Movies I’m Excited to See in 2024

February 8, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By 8th-Grader Jackie Padgett

I absolutely love movies–especially movies in movie theaters. It’s always been a “tradition” in my family to go to the theaters, get popcorn and pretzels, and sit in those black (sometimes slightly uncomfortable) cushioned seats. So I compiled a list of movies I’m excited to go see in theaters in 2024.

#7: Inside Out 2

The bottom of this can’t-wait-to-see list is Inside Out 2. Trust me I’m as shocked as you that it made it to the top seven. The reason for this is because I can’t even count the number of times I watched the original Inside Out when I was younger, so the franchise has a special place in my heart. Surprisingly, we don’t know too much about it other than there are four new emotions. Anxiety is orange and has this kind of high ponytail feather hair and is voiced by Maya Hawke. The other ones are Embarrassment, Ennui (“a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.”– Oxford Dictionary), and Envy.

#6: Night Swim

I have a love-hate relationship with horror movies, and Night Swim is definitely on the love side of that. It’s my #6 because I don’t know if I’ll feel compelled to see it in theaters (‘cause I’m a little scared) or watch it at home. What stuck me in the trailers were the horror events. In one, you reach into the pool filter (the one by the side), and a monster grabs you and tries to pull you in. Terrifying, I know, but I’m sure we all thought this would happen to us when we were younger. I don’t know about you, but I feared the pool lights going out and a monster hanging around at the deep end of the pool ready to drown you. Some of the shots they show in the movie are really cool-looking–like blood floating in the chlorinated pool water. The reason I might not see this in theaters is because the monster they have looks terrifying, and it’s the same producers as M3GAN, so they definitely have the creepy doll monster thing under their belt.

#5: Wicked

Surprisingly for me, I put Wicked at #5. I really love the original musical, so you’d expect it to be higher on my list. I’m mostly worried that it isn’t going to be as “magical” as it was when I first watched it. (It was also the first musical I’d ever seen, and if you know me, you know I love musical theater.) I do really hope they keep the songs similar as movies tend to slow down some tempos, and most of the time the slow-down ruins the song.

#4: Mean Girls

Mean Girls is my #4 most-anticipated movie of 2024. As with most of these remakes, I loved the originals, so they automatically get bumped up on the list. I was also in a high-school production version of Mean Girls with Musical Theatre University at Palm Canyon Theater, so seeing the play I was in not too long ago become a movie is very exciting. Sadly, the movie had to cut a lot of songs as the musical had 21 (the movie version only has 13), and they cut one of my favorites, “Where Do You Belong,” as it doesn’t really move the plot along. Another thing they did was exactly what I didn’t want them to do–slow down a song. They ended up having, in my opinion, weird background music to “World Burn” (one of Regina’s big solos) that was slower compared to the one on Broadway. I’m seeing this movie really soon, and I can’t wait to hear how the actors sing and how different or similar it is to Broadway versions.

#3: One Love

#3 on my wish list is One Love. I love these types of movies. I think they are called dramamentaries…? They did this with Elvis, and I thought that movie was pretty good. I really liked the Priscilla one, too. Well, this one is about Bob Marley, and I like his songs, but I don’t know that much about him, so I’m excited to learn. They apparently already made a movie called One Love back in 2003, which references Marley’s music but is not about his life. It still seems worth watching to compare. I really have no expectations for this movie. It just sounds really cool, and I love the poster.

#2: Dune Part 2

Dune Part 2 is #2 on my watch list. It took me a hilarious amount of time to fully watch through the first one with Timothée Chalamet. I watched the first 30 minutes of it then thought it was boring. Then I watched the last 30 minutes of it at a friend’s house. After that I got motivated to watch the full thing through but ran out of time as I rented the movie. Finally I re-rented it and watched the entire thing. During this saga of watching Dune, I really enjoyed the camera angles, so I’m excited to see more of that. I don’t remember loving the blue eyes in most shots, but maybe I’ll change my mind.

#1: Lisa Frankenstein

#1 I-can’t-wait-to-see is none other than Lisa Frankenstein. I think this movie just looks really cool. I really like the neon theme with the pinks and teals they have in the trailer and the poster. Though many people say romance movies are pretty cheesy, I still really like them. Lisa Frankenstein happens to have some romance, lots of comedy and a bit of horror. I think that makes a pretty rounded-out movie. Plus, it’s set in the 80s, so we get my personal favorite music style and really fun outfits and hair. The trailers do make Cole Sprouse’s makeup as Frankenstein’s monster a little bit weird looking, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for that.

Some of you may think I have “horrible movie taste” (Quote Louisa Richardson), but this is my opinion. If you are excited for any movies this year, tell me in the comments, I’d love to add them to my list.

A New Year’s Post for The Haters

February 6, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

By Freshman Louisa Richardson

I hate New Year’s resolutions. I hate everyone asking me about what my New Year’s resolution is. I misread the situation. I say something funny or realistic, and they say something that I think is a joke because it’s so unrealistic, BUT THEY ARE BEING SERIOUS. Another reason I hate New Year’s resolutions is that they are always given up on. When you fail, you feel bad.

Ever since I was a kid, my mother (whom I love) has asked me what my goal is in the summer, winter, and of course for the NEW YEAR. For several years, I got away with saying that I wanted to learn how to do a back handspring, until the fateful day that I quit gymnastics. So then after that, I started learning something called sarcasm. Essentially every time someone asks me my New Year’s resolution, I either lecture them about why established habits are better, or I say some rather odd response: my favorite being, “Chair,” but my go-to is “to high dive off of the sun.” Such replies are said, of course, with a completely straight face. I am sick of New Year’s resolutions. The thing is that other people aren’t. I have heard countless times, “My New Year’s resolution is to go to the gym and work out every day!” Fun fact the gym has the most membership cancellations right after the new year (70.4 percent to be exact) (New York Post). Which brings me to my next point, why New Year’s resolutions are unrealistic.

New Year’s resolutions have always been rather unattainable. The top resolutions in general are to save money and go to the gym (Massive entertainment). Despite the fact that only 9 percent of New Year’s resolutions last for more than a few months (OSU), I still hear so many people talking about these completely unrealistic expectations for themselves! Though these unrealistic expectations lead to frustration, disappointment, and sadness (Counseling), people still want to put themselves through the trial of New Year’s resolutions! According to a study in 2014, 35% of these resolutions are completely unrealistic, and 23% are forgotten (Face off). According to reclaim.ai, 80% of these resolutions are thrown out by the second Friday in January. Quitting your resolutions by the second Friday of January apparently is so common that the day is known as “Quitters Day.” Many people believe that the largest reason why resolutions fail is because we as humans set the expectation a little too high (Very Well Mind). I can’t help but agree. The thing we really should start doing is setting habits.

My New Year’s habit this year is to move my body for at least 45 minutes. It’s not a wish, or an unrealistic goal, but a simple walk. It helps lower blood pressure, build muscle, and even helps blood to flow a little easier (Honor Health). Movement is great for mental health! Walking for just 10 minutes a day can increase positive mood, alertness, and reduce stress and anxiety (Mental Health Foundation). Taking a walk with my mom, neighbor (and best friend) Kate, or even just calling some friends while I walk is my favorite pastime right now–that and climbing trees. If you need a little mental health and physical pick-me-up, try to get outside for at least 15 minutes every day. You will feel better. I highly recommend these New Year’s habits because they will help you in the future. Whether your habit is to get outside, walk, or wear more makeup, it’s always good to start a habit that invests in yourself, even if your need is catching up on your sleep. After all, in the words of our blog teacher herself, “Even humans need to hibernate–just like bears.”

As you can see, there have been studies upon studies for these sorts of resolutions and expectations, and . . . failures–which very much backs up my speculation that perhaps New Year’s resolutions aren’t so great after all. Perhaps next year, a resolution could be to start making good habits.

Oliver’s Totally Accurate Predictions for the NBA Season

January 31, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By 10th-Grader Oliver Martinez

We’re still somewhat early into the NBA season, and, now, with 2024 starting up, we have gotten a glimpse of what each team and individual players have to offer. So, here is my list of totally accurate predictions for the 23-24 NBA season.

Most Improved Player

I don’t think there’s a better answer for this section than Tyrese Maxey. Last season, I don’t remember hearing about him much. But, this season, he has been one of the spotlights for the 76ers. He has been averaging 26.2 points per game compared to last season’s 20.3 ppg; he has basically doubled his assists per game, now averaging 6.7 assists per game compared to last year’s 3.5, and this while playing 7.5 minutes less than last season (espn). There just isn’t anybody else who has improved as much as Maxey. I think the reason he has been improving so much is thanks to James Harden’s departure. He has gotten more chances, and since he is the point guard, he gets the ball more often.

Rookie of the Year (ROTY)

I firmly believe that Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs center, is going to win this award. The only other guy competing with Wemby for this award is Chet Holmgren, who isn’t actually a rookie as he was drafted last year. I find it ridiculous that the NBA is allowing Chet Holmgren to be in this contest since this is his second year in the League. I don’t think that’s fair since he has more experience than everyone else competing for this award. Even with Chet in the competition, I think Wemby will pull through and win Rookie of the Year; he’s been averaging a double-double with 19.2 pts, and 10.1 rebounds. This is subject to change, though, and I think Wemby is going to improve even more in the coming games (espn). He’s been the main man for the Spurs, and, for his first year, he looks really good.

Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY)

So this one is between Rudy Gobert (of the Minnesota Timberwolves) and Anthony Davis (of the Lakers) and Victor Wembanyama (Spurs). I really don’t want Rudy Gobert to win it because he would be setting the record for most DPOY (he’s won 3 times already), and I don’t think he is a better defender than Dwight Howard (who also has 3 DPOY). I kind of want Victor to win it, but I think it’s unlikely he’d win both ROTY and DPOY. So, my prediction is that Anthony Davis will win the DPOY. He’s been averaging 12.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.2 steals (espn), and thanks to his height (6 ’10’’), he’s able to defend the rim properly and not let shots in easily.

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

This is a hard one. Last year Joel Embiid (playing for the 76ers) won it, and everyone hated that. However, this season, so far, Embiid’s been averaging Wilt Chamberlain level stuff. The fact he averages more points than minutes per game is absolutely insane; he also is averaging a double-double (espn). He also scored like 70 points in 35 minutes just days ago. This, while playing for a team that was greatly weakened support-wise thanks to James Harden’s departure. I think this will be a close, hard-fought MVP battle between Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but I don’t see a way that the other two could take away the MVP with the way Embiid has been playing. I predict Embiid will be the MVP again.

Western Conference Regular Season Champion

This one is not that easy because there are some teams competing–the Timberwolves, Nuggets and Thunder–that are neck to neck currently. But, I think that the Nuggets will win their conference; they’re just so competitive, and their team is a perfect balance of talent and experience. I just can’t imagine the Thunder or the Timberwolves taking a conference win away from the Nuggets.

Eastern Conference Regular Season Champion

This is a quick one–it’s between the Celtics and Bucks. As good as the Bucks are, I think the Celtics will remain at first place in the regular season thanks to their plethora of talent and depth around their team. They also are very consistent. They have improved massively since last season, and they are definitely contenders for the NBA Championship.

NBA Champion

It’s really hard to decide who will win the championship because there are some teams that turn up during the regular season, but their presence is little to none during the playoffs. A perfect example are the Clippers, who always do well during the regular season but continuously fumble during the playoffs. Considering this, I’m going to predict the NBA finals will be the Bucks (from the East) vs the Nuggets (from the West). And, I think that the Bucks will come out victorious. I think this because they have an elite duo with power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and point guard Damian Lillard.

The truth is, there just isn’t anyone that threatening during the playoffs in the West apart from the Nuggets and maybe the Lakers. I’m almost sure the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Clippers will just be invisible during the playoffs.

That’s it, that’s my list of My totally accurate predictions for the end of the NBA season; obviously, I didn’t cover all of the sections, but I did the most important ones. If you think I forgot any important sections or you disagree with any of my takes, let me know in the comments!

PVS 2024 Resolutions

January 26, 2024 by szachik@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!

Still Afraid of the Dark? There’s More To Be Afraid Of – According to PVS Lower Schoolers

January 23, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Freshman Louisa Richardson

If you’ve read my colleague Jackie Padgett’s post about phobias, some people are afraid of clowns, some of tight spaces, some of balloons. I was always afraid of heights. However, something I never feared was cheese–which appears a rampant fear on the Palm Valley campus. Believe it or not, there are Firebird Scholars afraid of cheese on their hamburgers. Fear depends on the person, and, in many cases, their stage of life. I thought that it might be nice to give the middle/upper schoolers a break from my interviewing persistence. So, I took my investigative journalism to the Lower School (with Ms. Spurlock’s permission, of course). Over the course of my surveying, I tried to get as much Lower-School representation as possible, and, in the end, it was revealed what the overall greatest fear in the Lower School is.

In first grade, ten kids stated that, yes, their greatest fear was cheese on their hamburger though they never really specified why; they were too busy screaming over cheese on their hamburger. They were all afraid of roller coasters (to some degree). And, a few of them were afraid of spiders and snakes.

Second grader Theo is NOT afraid of cheese on his hamburgers.

In the 2nd grade, almost every student was afraid of losing their parents. Others were afraid of losing their spine. However, there were still a few of them who were afraid of snakes and spiders.

In the 4th grade, the number one fear of students was meeting their exes and being depressed. One student, Sheldon Kirsh, is afraid of facing all 15 of his exes. The #2 fear was “a skibidi toilet” (stated by student Thomas Washington–then they all jumped in agreeing). I have no idea what that means, but I have been told I don’t want to know. . . .

The 4th-Grade: Can you guess which one has 15 exes?

In the 5th grade, there were many surprising fears, from “being decapitated” to “being unarmed and busted.” The most votes went for small holes, spiders, and snakes. One student shared the idea that she is scared of the holes in the beach. “I hate the little holes that the critters come out of,” said Lena Kakoussian.

Overall, there were around 30 Lower-School students afraid of spiders and snakes (it is a package deal apparently); ten kids afraid of cheese on their hamburger (all in first grade); and every single one of them (except the 1st graders) was afraid of losing their parents to some degree. In my opinion, this should be the greatest fear as many of the kids my age and older are also afraid of this.

Note: I will say that a lot of these kids were afraid of not being able to medal in their sport or were afraid of bad grades. I won’t name these kids, but parents please let your elementary-school children know that your whole life shouldn’t revolve around a sport or a grade.

*No Lower Schoolers were scared in the gathering of this “fearful” information. Louisa, however, was quite scared.

My Favorite Dog Breeds and Why They Might Be Good For You

January 17, 2024 by szachik@pvs.org 5 Comments

Louisa is Ziggy’s very first dog sitter.

By Freshman Louisa Richardson

One New Year’s resolution easy to keep would be spending more time with my dog this year. Louisa is a dog lover as well, even something of a professional in the world of dogs. Are you looking to bring a dog into the family this year? Louisa’s got some match-making tips.

As some of you readers may know already, I have been dog walking and sitting for the last few years, and it’s been going great! I met a whole lot of wonderful people, and even better dogs, plus a few kids. Although I always say that I love all the dogs that I walk equally, I do have a lot of dog breeds that make my experience with pups more enjoyable. Perhaps I do have a favorite dog, but you will have to stick around until the end to find out which dog wins my heart. Over the years, I have developed a love for five dog breeds due to the wonderful experiences I have had walking them. If you are looking to adopt a dog (as everyone should), I have many recommendations–so many in fact, that I had to narrow it down to five. So here it is, my top five dog breeds, and why they might be good for you.

Golden Retriever

These dogs are friendly, funny, and great family dogs! I have met my fair share of dogs, but my favorites have always been Goldens because they are great to play fetch with; they are great with other dogs, and great with kids of all ages. The Golden Retrievers that I walk are usually very perky and excited to see me. When they get home, they usually want to play more, which is one of the only downsides–they are impossible to wear out. As puppies, they are either the sleepiest or the most energetic dogs. This means that they are great for families! Having a couple kids to wear out a puppy, or vice versa can be a blessing. Goldens are very cuddly dogs, and they live a decently long time–about 12 years. Note: they are prone to hip problems in old age. I love Golden Retrievers, and I think you should, too.

Lab

My grandmother had a variety of Labs and loved all of them. She still has pictures of them up all over her house. Though I only met two of them (one of which I don’t remember), I do know that they were very good dogs. Labs tend to be a bit more laid back then Golden Retrievers but still have the old-age hip problems. Labs have always been one of my favorite dog breeds because of the good memories I have with them, but even now when I dog-sit one, they are always good dogs. They are great for families (for the same reason as Goldens), but they are also very good guard dogs. Labs make for amazing hiking buddies, too. Labs also come in a variety of colors (black, brown, yellow, and white), which makes them very cute colorful floof balls.

April the Lab was Louisa’s grandmother’s dog for 13 years.

Labradoodle

I love Labradoodles. I have one, and dog-sit for multiple. I love the way they look (if they’re not cut like poodles). I love their personality. And, I like that they require a good amount of exercise. Walking them is easy because they are very flexible in their adaptability. I walk my dog anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour and a half. She is always happy to walk, just hard to harness. The Doodles that I have walked and sat for are all very good. They are pretty easy to get to know, and although a little hostile at first, they become your best friend within a few minutes (this means they aren’t so great as guard dogs). For the most part, they have great personalities. They are very intelligent and cuddly dogs. The only big downside is that they love to counter-surf. For those of you who don’t know what that means, I will give a brief example. Labradoodles are tall dogs. I cannot leave anything on the counter or table without it being gone within seconds. It doesn’t matter the type of Doodle, they are ALL like this. It can be a great reminder to wash the dishes, or clean up after yourself. To others, counter-surf-ing can be a total deal breaker.

Husky

Huskies are some of the cutest, most annoying dogs ever. They really like to erm… vocalize their opinions on the most random things outside. Despite this, they are great dogs. They shed a lot, but they are super fluffy. They require a lot of exercise, so it can get you out of the house. Though some people view a lot of exercise as a bad thing, I think that says more about you than your dog. They are great farm dogs, family dogs, and guard dogs. They require a lot of exercise and love, but so do most other dogs. Huskies are great dogs for kids as they love to play and love, but are still kid friendly. Huskies have a really bad reputation as being loud and obnoxious, but under all that they are such good pups, and I really love them. I have never met a bad Husky.

Australian Shepard

I have a lot of experience with Australian Shepherds, and they are amazing dogs. They are super cute, good with other dogs, and good with (most) humans. They do have a pretty big downside though. They are big herding dogs. If you are running with one, or if they are playing with other dogs, chances are they will start barking and trying to herd you in a particular direction. You can’t blame them; it’s in their DNA. This can be hard to deal with if you have kids constantly running around the house. Of course the dogs will never hurt you, or at least they haven’t in MY EXPERIENCE. But it can be a pretty big hassle telling your kids not to run around because they’ll upset the dog. Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? Sometimes. Are they good farm dogs? Always. They are also the cutest dogs in the world, but require a decent amount of exercise. If you like exercise, they’re a good fit for you. They are decently good guard dogs, too. I love Australian Shepherds and walk one quite frequently. (He is my favorite).

Of course the breed of dog doesn’t always reflect an individual dog’s personality (unless it’s a Chihuahua). But, I’ve found that usually the dog’s looks and personality are reflected well in the breed itself.