the bird on fire

Music To My Ears

April 29, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Middle-School Blogger Soleil Antle

Music, a harmony of emotion in which people listen to escape their lives and be free, often brings comfort. Music comes in many forms, enough to fit anyone’s personality. From the intense beats of hip hop to the soft melodies of classical symphony, music soothes and moves. I’ve asked my fellow seventh graders about what soothes and moves them.

PVS 7th-graders Emmy Kaminsky, Max Pretorius, and Ben Rouche have music tastes as varied and eclectic as they are.

What is your favorite song?

Morgan:

Right now I’m loving “Revolving door” by Tate McRae.

Max:

I need to think about that for a little. . . . “California Gurls” by Katy Perry.

Gavin:

Uhhhhh, it would be “Quarentine” by Tim Montana.

Grace:

Right now “Mrs. Whitman” by Bhad Bhabie.

Sarah:

Uh, what’s it called . . . . ”Luther” by SZA.

Julian:

“Heather” by Conan Grey.

Calum:

My favorite song is “on one tonight” by Gunna.

Ivana:

“Boomerang” by Jojo Siwa!

Silvanita:

I don’t really have one, but if I had to choose one it would be “Chess Type Beat.”

Jaxon:

“Peppa Pig” theme song.

Emerson Dunn:

Ummm, “Notion” by The Rare Occasions.

Millie:

“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Ellish.

Ben:

I don’t really have one, but if I had to choose it would be “Billie Jean,” by Michael Jackson.

Mason:

“Veggietales” theme song!!!!

Devlin:

“Immortal” by Fall Out Boy; it’s a good song.

Emmy:

”Noah” by Megan Moroney, for surezies.

Peter:

Idk, “Fireball” by Pitbull.

Jackie:

I like the Happy Birthday song.

These answers were nothing short of what was expected of the crazy, chaotic, and lively seventh grade class. All students of the graduating year of 2030 have personality and aren’t afraid to speak their mind. Maxwell Pretorius was jamming out early that day to the sounds of his favorite song “California Gurls.” Katy Perry definitely made him smile. My favorite song is anything by Tate McRae, but if I had to narrow to one, I’d have to choose “Siren Sounds (bonus).” I’ve linked the song “Siren Sounds (bonus)” below. Give it a listen. At the end of the day everyone is different, but music is a thing everyone can enjoy.

The Favorite Things Museum

April 17, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Blog Staff has set out to log some of Palm Valley School’s favorite things. It’s what we talk about, think about, dream of, hoard, share, give to one another. 6th-grade Mark shares here his favorite things.

A Google Drawing created by Middle-School Blogger Mark Huber

In the parallel universe of pigs, there is a house that belongs to the pig version of Mark Huber. You’ll see that Pig Mark has created an addition to his house, and that addition is a relatively small museum of all of Mark’s favorite things. The Google Drawing below is a picture of Pig Mark and his brother, Pig David, in the museum studying the things in it.

The paint bucket and paintbrush representing the color green were copied from a Google Slides presentation that thanked Human Mark’s dad for bringing his Chromebook to school when he had forgotten it at home. The two pigs studying the things in the museum, Pig Mark (left) and Pig David (right) are the two main characters in any fictional story Human Mark writes, Pig Mark being the mainest character of the two.

What’s the Best Starbucks Drink?

April 10, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By 6th-Grade Bloggers Reagan Kaminsky and Greenlee Bartley

I would say that we have the most boring Starbucks orders on the planet, so we decided to ask other PVS students what drinks they like. If you were wondering, we both regularly order a Strawberry Açai Refresher, with no strawberries. We will be going to Starbucks ourselves and trying three of the drinks we think will taste the best. Then, hopefully we will each have a new favorite order!

For those of you who don’t know, Starbucks has odd names for their sizes. The smallest size is a “Short,” which is 8 oz. The next-smallest size is a “Tall,” which is 12 oz. The next size is the “Grande,” which is 16 oz. The next size is a “Venti,” which is 20 oz. Finally, a “Trenta” is 31 oz.

The first person we interviewed was Ms. Melissa in the US Office, and she said the best Starbucks drink is a Green Tea Lemonade with extra peach juice, in the Grande size. Next, we interviewed PVS teacher Ms. Maguire. She said that the best Starbucks drink is a Venti Mango Dragon Fruit Lemonade. Then, we interviewed 8th-grader Zoey. She said a Venti Strawberry Açai Refresher, with no berries. Next, we interviewed Ms. Emma at the MS Office, and she said that the best Starbucks order is a Venti shaken Espresso.

10th-grader Rylie said the best Starbucks drink was a Tall Vanilla Frappuccino. 10th-grader Evan claims the best Starbucks order is a Trenta Java Chip Frappuccino. Then, we interviewed 10th-grader Brooklyn. Brooklyn said the best Starbucks order is the new Blackberry Sage Refresher in the Tall size. Next, we interviewed fellow blogger Sophia Nayfack. She said the best Starbucks drink is the new Cherry Chai. We also interviewed a fellow blogger, Elizabeth. Brace yourself: this one’s complicated! According to Elizabeth, the best Starbucks order is a Grande Strawberry Açai Refresher, with no inclusions, water instead of lemonade, light ice, a splash of extra base, 1 pump of cane sugar, 1 pump of classic, in a tall cup with a dome lid. After that, we interviewed another fellow blogger, Mason. He says the best Starbucks order is a Trenta with oat milk base, 27 pumps of caramel, 16 pumps of ube (which doesn’t exist at Starbucks), cookie crumble, lemonade, olive oil, 11 pumps of cane sugar, and finally 20 pumps of mocha. Next, we interviewed PVS Spanish teacher Ms. Bartosik. She said to get the Cranmerry Lemonade Refresher. Then, we interviewed another fellow blogger, Soleil. She said the best Starbucks order is a Venti Strawberry Açai Refresher, with extra berries and cherry. Lastly, we interviewed PVS Coach Erenberg. He comes in with the most complicated answer yet: he says the best Starbucks drink is Water (in the grande size).

In this picture you will see the Blackberry Sage Refresher (Far Left), the Green Tea Lemonade (Middle Left), the Cherry Chai (Middle Right), and lastly the Water (Far Right). Photo Credit: Greenlee Bartley

Now comes the fun part: we try them! We tried Ms. Melissa’s drink (Green Tea Lemonade with extra peach juice), Sophia N.’s drink (Cherry Chai), and Brooklyn’s drink (Blackberry Sage Refresher). Special credit to our guest judge, (Reagan’s sister) Emmy Kaminsky! First, we tried the Cherry Chai. We all thought it was great, and it was incredibly hard to beat. Then, we tried the Blackberry Sage Refresher, and it was not our favorite. It was still amazing, just not our kind of flavors. Lastly, we tried the Green Tea Lemonade with extra peach juice. This one was also great, but it didn’t quite compare to the Cherry Chai.

Here you will see the winner, the Cherry Chai Tea Latte.

In conclusion, all of these drinks were great, but there must be a winner. According to Emmy and Greenlee, the Cherry Chai was the best. However, Reagan thought the Green Tea Lemonade was the true winner. (Now, it’s her new favorite order!) Although there were different opinions, the majority always wins. That means the Cherry Chai came in first!

What I Do After School

April 8, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 4 Comments

By Sixth-Grade Blogger Dior Halum

After a long day of learning and sitting and listening, Dior Halum jumps into extra-curricular activities. Like many of us, Dior embraces activities that make her move. Dior does Soccer and Dance after school. In Soccer, she plays left forward. In Dance, she studies different genres: such as Jazz, Hip Hop, and Ballet. She’s busy.

Dance

I study at Dance Dimensions in Palm Desert, California. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have rehearsals for our winter and summer performances. We start in August to practice for the first performance which is called the Winter Show. We perform at the Civic Center in Palm Desert, California, in December. In the new year, our dance instructors make a new dance that we perform at Agua Caliente in early summer. On Tuesdays, I have ballet rehearsal from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with ballet teacher Mr. Tiron. After ballet, I have Jazz from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with teacher Ms. Maddie. On Thursdays, I have Hip Hop from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. again with Ms. Maddie. Then, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., I have ballet again with Mr. Tiron. My ultimate favorite dance genre is Ballet because I have been taking it since I was four years old. Another reason Ballet is my favorite is because it helps a lot with technique. It helps with technique because as you do more stuff, the better it gets, and you learn from your mistakes. So, as you can see, I’m pretty busy with dancing, but there’s more . . .

Soccer

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I practice Soccer from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hovley Soccer Park. From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., I have personal training with Coach Rafael. We work on tricks, goal shots, and many other things to help me in my games on Saturdays. From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., I go to practice with my team. Last season’s coach was Coach Collins. Last season we had 13 players on the team. I play left forward and enjoy scoring very much.

As you can see my days are pretty full, but for me it’s better than sitting around and doing nothing. Doing homework is pretty hard given how much is going on, but I still get it done either before or after sports. Same with eating, I usually do it before or after. What are your days like outside of PVS?

What’s the Hardest Sport and Why?

April 4, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Middle-School Bloggers Mason Conway, Calum Webster, and Elizabeth Greenwood

Here at thebirdonfire.org, we argue over everything–including Why my sport is harder than your sport! We thought we’d take it to the Palm Valley sidewalks. We asked people what they believe is the hardest sport and why. We know what the hardest sport is (Water Polo!), and we know everyone else is wrong, but wanted to hear their insights. Their answers surprised us, displaying a wide range of perspectives on the physical and mental challenges involved in different sports.

**John Webster, What’s the hardest sport?** “Formula 1 or rock climbing. F1 is difficult because you are driving at a high speed and you risk your life, but rock climbing is also difficult because there is a demanding mix of physical strength and balance.”

Mr. Kisling : “Open water swimming because if you stop, you drown.”

Ms. Maguire: “I think that decathlon is the hardest because you have to be able to run a marathon and do all of those sports really well, and I think that is really hard.”

Devlin Roosevelt: “Soccer because sometimes the refs are blind.”

Mateo Omier: “I think boxing or wrestling because you get beat up every single time.”

Maxwell Pretorius: “Boxing because you can get hurt.”

Ivana Vega: “I would say wrestling because you can genuinely die.”

**Addison Uhlhorn, What’s the hardest sport?** “Hockey because it’s physically demanding on multiple different levels.”

Emmy Kaminsky: “Hockey because you have to skate while you are fighting while holding a stick while moving a puck.”

Jaden Ramer: “Ice Skating because you have to be precise.”

Brooklyn Hatrak: “I agree with Jaden because you have to be flexible.”

Sami Alnabelsi: “The hardest sport and why? I don’t know soccer because the refs are blind.”

Grace Ghaly: “Soccer because the coaches in soccer are mean.”

Ryder Gardner: “Hardest sport? Football because you have to do conditioning.”

**Jaxon Pacilio, What’s the hardest sport?** “Football because you get get hit really hard.” Photo Credit: Mason Conway

Sarah Alnabelsi: “Soccer because it has a lot of running.”

Zoe Groendyke: “Ice Skating.”

Mr. Killeen: “F1 because you have to be short.”

Riley Jorgensen: “Football because it’s the most physical sport possible.”

Coach Jake: “I would personally say football.”

Julian Berumen: “Volleyball”

Cindy Wang: “Volleyball’’

Silvinita Garcia:” Volleyball or basketball.”

Now, Elizabeth says…

As you can see from the wide range of answers, everyone has a different opinion on what makes a sport difficult. Whether it’s the physical demands of hockey or the precision of figure skating. It’s clear that all sports require hard work and dedication.

And, Calum adds…

In my opinion, water polo is the hardest sport for a couple of reasons. First, you have to be treading water for a long period of time. The game is 50 minutes long with only 13 players and 7 playing at a time, and you can only get subbed out after a goal or a time out. So you are for sure going to be tired after the game. Secondly, you can only use one hand at a time. You can not pass in from hand to hand. You either have to dribble it or drop it in the water. This can be really hard because you are going to have to have a really good grip on the ball. The ball is constantly in the water, which means it is going to be wet and slippery. In addition to that, you can only shoot from 5 meters or farther. Finally, it can be a very physical sport. There is a lot of fighting that goes on under water that the ref doesn’t see. That is why water polo is the hardest sport.

Finally, Mason concludes…

I’m going to agree with Calum on this one, I can barely swim, so imagine swimming for that long. If I was to try to play water polo, I would be at the bottom of the regulation 20-feet deep pool. Some people like to drag the players when the refs are not looking, which sounds terrifying; I’d die. I also believe lacrosse is one of the hardest sports solely because you’re allowed to break your stick over someone; the sticks they use are made out of carbon fiber and hard plastic, which I imagine would hurt a lot.

Figure Skating vs. Hockey: Which Sport is Harder?

April 2, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By 6th-Grade Bloggers Greenlee Bartley and Reagan Kaminsky

Reagan is a figure skater; Greenlee is a devoted hockey fan. They have had many disagreements on which sport is harder: Figure Skating or Ice Hockey. They have decided to each make their claim on what they think, then get a few people who have experience in both sports to make the final judgement. They, for one, were very surprised with the results, and they think you will be, too.

Reagan says . . .

Personally, I think that figure skating is much harder than ice hockey. Although I have no experience in hockey, I have figure skated for over a year now, and I can confirm that it is not an easy sport. Arguably, to me hockey is much easier than figure skating because you are not required to do jumps, spins, and more while being incredibly dizzy at the same time. Look at professional figure skaters; they are doing “Triple Axels” and “Double Salchows,” while hockey players are simply skating around trying to put a small object into a goal. Personally, I can’t do any of these crazy figure skating tricks, but I do get very dizzy while skating and performing my routines. Also, hockey players even get breaks in between playing time and get to wear special padding and warm clothing. Figure skaters, however, have to wear thin tights and short dresses while skating. Once again, I think that figure skating is much harder than hockey.

Reagan (Right) and Greenlee (Left) at a hockey game, snapping a picture with Coachella Valley Firebirds player Luke Henman.

Greenlee says . . .

I think that ice hockey is harder than figure skating. Although I have not much experience in figure skating or hockey, I do watch hockey a lot, and I have season tickets at Acrisure Arena. I go to almost every hockey game. Reagan claims that hockey is easier because “you are not required to do jumps, spins, and more while being incredibly dizzy at the same time”–which is untrue because hockey players get very dizzy because they are going so fast while sticks are being shoved at them. Also they get thrown into the glass; they fall, and sometimes they get in very bad fistfights that can make them very very badly hurt! Also, hockey players have no choice sometimes but to fight or just accept defeat! Hockey players get to wear padding and more clothes than figure skaters for a reason! It’s not only to keep warm; it’s because, like I said, they get in bad fights and need the padding. Also the goalies need way more padding because they have a hard puck of rubber coming at them at top speed, and hockey is rated #2 Hardest Sport in the World! (ESPN) Once again, I think that hockey is way harder than figure skating.

So, unable to agree, we interviewed three people with experience in these sports to see what the final result would be. First, we interviewed a fellow blogger, and hockey player, Mark Huber. We asked him, “Which sport is harder, figure skating or hockey, and why?” Mark said: “Hockey, because it challenges every single part of your body, even your brain. Also, you have to make decisions in like 0.5 seconds or something, and you wear all this equipment that makes you super sweaty which is annoying.”

Next, we interviewed a PVS Science Teacher, and also hockey player, Mr. Killeen. We asked him “Which sport is harder, figure skating or hockey, and why?” Mr. Killeen responded, “Figure Skating because… as a hockey player, you just have to skate one way until you run into something, but when you are figure skating you have to be graceful, and you don’t have a team to support you.”

Lastly, we interviewed Benjamin Rouche, a figure skater and hockey player, and also a PVS student. He answered, “It’s hard to say, but I think it would be hockey because you have to be able to shoot, control the puck, and sometimes get physical.”

In conclusion, we got many different opinions from students, staff, and even bloggers about which sport is harder: figure skating or hockey. Hockey came out as the number one answer with 3 votes, while figure skating had 2. Despite the controversy, we think that each sport has its easy and hard parts. Even though the votes say otherwise, both sports are hard!

How Not to Ski, with Mark and David

April 1, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 5 Comments

By Middle-School Blogger and Graphic Artist Mark Huber

Part 1

“Hey, Mark, you okay?” David, my brother, asked me. My name is Mark, obviously, because that’s what David had called me. Anyway, I had just crashed into a tree while skiing, and I had hit it so hard that the snow on the leaves fell off and buried me.

I shook the snow off and did a thumbs-up, then put my skis back on.

“Whoa, Mark, look at that!” said David. There was a guy on a snowboard who had just slid on a railing and stuck his landing.

“That’s great,” I said. I now said that so often, that my parents thought of it as “my new catchphrase.”

We hopped back onto the trail, and I was heading straight for a ramp. I raced onto it, and then promptly veered off of the left side of the ramp, and into the forest (veering off the trail was a huge accident). I was still on my skis, and was still going fast. I had to dodge trees, boulders, and dead bushes. I had no idea where in the ski resort I was, or if I was still in it at all. Then, I saw a clearing, and darted toward it. Then, I fell into a ravine.

“AAAAAAAHHHHNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!” I screamed, and tumbled into who-knows-where. I could no longer see any light, and when I finally stopped tumbling, I hurt all over my body.

“Ow, I huurt aallll oooovvvvveeeeee…” I said, my words slurring.

And then I passed out.

I woke up in a hospital. I had all sorts of things attached to me, and my family was next to me, and they looked really worried.

“Hey, Mark, you okay?” David said, but less casual and much more worriedly than the last time he said it.

“Aye, aye, captain,” I said. David giggled the tiniest bit.

“What time is it?” David asked Mom.

“1:04,” she said.

“That’s great,” I said. Then, I looked out the window, and finally processed what Mom had said.

“WHAT?!?! You guys are 4 hours from home at one in the morning all because of ME?!?!” I said, worried about everyone’s sleep.

“Shhhh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shhhhhhhhh!!!” said Mom. “Be quiet, there’s other people.”

“Oh, it looks like Mark is ready to get out!” said a doctor. Then, he and the other doctors removed all the thingamajigs from my body, and I went to sleep.

I woke up in our hotel room inside the ski resort’s hotel. I was on the nice, comfy bed in the corner of the room. Then I fell off the bed. The people who had rescued me had apparently grabbed my skis along with me out of the ravine, so I saw them leaning against the wall.

I put a beanie on, grabbed my skis, and headed for the door.

“Where are you going, Mark?” asked Dad.

“Ski,” I mumbled sleepily.

“Wait, what? Nonononononono-” said David. Then I closed the door, and went down to the ski trails to ski. I picked a really steep one, and went down it. I gained speed pretty quickly, and soon everything next to me was a big blur.

“AAAAAAAAAHHHHWWWWWWWWHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed, feeling really happy.

I saw a hill, with a sign saying “DO NOT ENTER.” I needed to take a tight turn, but I knew that if I did, I’d wipe out, big-time. Besides, I couldn’t control myself anymore. I would go on the hill, fly off, and land in who-knows-where. And that was exactly what I did.

I could make out the hotel that my family was in. Oh, no, I thought realizing that I would crash. Right before the impact, I saw David turn around towards the window, and make a very surprised face.

THUMP.

You should’ve seen me in that window when I hit it. Speaking of which, you can make something showing me in that window with Google Drawings, and online drawing tool that…

No. I am not telling you about this blog post’s sponsor in the middle of the story. But, here’s the picture anyway:

“Mom, mom! Open the window, Mark’s back!” I heard David say, muffled through the glass.

Mom opened the window, and I told her what happened.

“Wow, that’s COOL, Mark! You really skied up a hill and flew off onto the window?” said David in awe.

“Yeah, I did. Now, I’m gonna rest because my head hurts,” I said.

And then I went to sleep.

Part 2

“Rise and shine, buds!” said Dad.

“Aayyy, let’s go skiin’!” I said.

I put on my skis, and waited for everyone to put on theirs. Then, we went to the trail where I had flown off that hill and back to the hotel room. When we got there, David gulped.

“Uh, Mark, are you sure about this?” David said, a bit of fear in his voice.

“Yeah, totally!” I said. “I’ll lead the way.”

We headed down, and we all went cautiously slow down the trail. When we saw the hill ahead, I told my family to go the normal way, and I’d go on the hill again. They were very unsure of this, despite my telling them that I’d go slower, and I finally convinced them to let me go.

What I was thinking was that because the trail goes around the hill, taking the hill would be like a shortcut.

I was in the air, having a great time, and I could see the surprised faces of my family watching me fall with style towards the ground, when I got shot by a missile.

Who would do that? Chris Ideeyowt, whose life mission is to destroy me because I got him expelled from my school (to be fair, he was the biggest bully at my school and was feared by all the kids).

“Darn you, Chris!!!” I yelled, and me and my flaming butt fell way off the trail, into the snow, where fortunately my butt was extinguished. I saw a helicopter above me, and a little orange dot inside of it. Then, I saw the helicopter shoot more missiles at me. I opened my mouth wide enough to let a missile through, and the missiles went into my mouth. I spit them, rapid-fire, at Chris’s helicopter, and it blew up.

In reaction to this, Chris said some very bad words. I got back on the trail, and met with my family again.

“Sorry, had to attend to some Chris problems,” I said.

“Err, Mark… you’re crispy on one side, and your butt is charred,” commented David.

“Great,” I said.

“Uh-oh, Chris comes to town,” said David. That was what we said when Chris was around. I got a banana out of my snout storage and threw it at Chris. (Chris hates bananas for some reason.)

“Enjoy!” I said to Chris, just to annoy him even more.

Epilogue

We went back to the hotel, and took our skis off after a long day of skiing. I made a joke that the last three days of skiing should be called “How NOT to Ski, with Mark and David” in the hotel room.

When we got back home, I decided to write a Google Doc about what we did at the ski resort. My parents and David really liked it, and I decided to post it on my school blog.

And that is the long story that you just read.

The end

The Truth About Gymnastics: Benefits and Risks

March 27, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

By Middle-School Blogger Soleil Antle

Whether you’re tumbling across a floor or swinging on the bars, you’re doing the unimaginable. Soleil Antle, an aspiring gymnast, writes about the benefits and risks of gymnastics, and she argues why gymnastics truly is the hardest and most worthwhile sport. Gymnastics isn’t one level with a bunch of thrown-in skills; it’s divided into levels 1-10 with the exception of an excel program which gives you more variety in the skills you do. The WAG program (women’s artistic gymnastics) has a code of points, and you must have a certain amount of rating skills for your routine to be eligible. All gymnasts compete in the four events: vault, bars, beam, and floor. To get broader perspective, Soleil extends the discussion to the insights of her teammates Lindsay Soulier and Ava Pryor.

Lindsay Soulier has been practicing gymnastics for ten years. She is a member of Cygnus gymnastics training center and competes level 7 of 10.

Soleil: If you could wrap up gymnastics into two words what would they be?

Lindsay: Hard work and perseverance.

Soleil: What are the benefits and risks of the sport?

Lindsay: I think a huge benefit of gymnastics is I have a lot of amazing friendships, and I’m surrounded and supported by so many people who I wouldn’t know if it weren’t for the sport.

I think the risks of gymnastics are injuries. You might do something and get injured if you don’t do it right, which adds a huge risk factor to the sport. Gymnastics puts a lot of strain on your body, which can also overuse different muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues. . . . A key thing with gymnastics is to listen to your body and don’t overdo things if you feel pain.

Soleil: Why do you think it is the hardest sport?

Lindsay: I think gymnastics is the hardest sport because although it looks cool and it is so fun; most people don’t realize it’s way more than that. You have to have really good cardio and strength and be able to maintain it. Gymnastics is a sport that requires a lot of commitment, drive, and determination, and if you can’t stay committed, it is probably not the sport for you.

Gymnastics is a great sport and has taught me how to persevere and handle situations–not just in the gym but outside of the gym in my daily life. I’m forever grateful to be in the sport as it has given me mental and physical toughness, and it is something I look forward to and truly enjoy.

Lindsay salutes the judges after her 2025 Gymnix beam routine.

Ava Pryor has been a gymnast since she was 18 months old. She is now 13. She is also a member of Cygnus gymnastics training center and competes at a level 8.

Soleil: What does gymnastics mean to you?

Ava: Gymnastics means so much to me. I have spent my whole life in a gym to become the best version of myself in this sport. Gymnastics is really my happy place. I get to be with the people I love most, and I get to make memories along my journey through gymnastics. It’s truly the one thing that will always make me smile. That’s what gymnastics means to me.

Soleil: Why do you think it is harder than any other sport?

Ava: Personally, I think that gymnastics is harder than any sport because of both the physical and mental aspect of it. Gymnastics can be very challenging on the body from taking so many turns over and over again. They say practice makes perfect, but it can hurt the body so much to the point where injuries can occur . . . . The mental aspect of it is also very challenging; there is a lot of stress that you have to deal with from a very young age. You have the fear of falling all the time. You compare yourself to others, and you have mental blocks that you have to get over, but learning how to deal with these are the things that make gymnastics one of the greatest sports of all time.

Soleil: What are the benefits of gymnastics?

Ava: There may be a lot of risks in gymnastics, but there are many benefits as well, as it teaches you confidence, bravery to work hard, achieve balance, and more. It also teaches you determination to never give up. For example, if you have a bad meet–say you fell off the beam–you keep going. You don’t think about that one thing you did wrong; you think about what you did right. A positive mind is key.

In my opinion gymnastics is definitely the hardest sport because it isn’t always happy and perfect. There is a huge mental aspect that goes with it, and it’s very mentally draining and frustrating at times. It’s incredibly hard because you have to have the strength to hold on but the courage to let go. And that’s not easy. You don’t know how the next move is going to go, so you have to trust in yourself and your training.

I just got injured myself and am out for most of the season; it’s hard not being able to do everything. I’m walking around in a boot, and trying to keep up with my strength is a challenge. I’m able to learn from this though; if I’m positive, it helps move the process along faster. Gymnastics doesn’t just teach you skills in the gym but in your daily life as well. In order to do your best, you have to step out of your comfort zone, even if you don’t want to. It’s all about the mental mindset.

–Soleil

What is Y2K Fashion, and Why Has It Come Back?

March 25, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Middle-School Blogger Sophia Bottine

What is Y2K Fashion?

Y2K fashion started in the late 90s and ran to the early 2000s. It was made most famous by the movie The Matrix Reloaded (2003), starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Gloria Foster. In the movie, Carrie-Anne Moss wore a white shirt and dark pants topped with a black metallic leather trench coat (http://lovehappensmag.com). Other movies like Mean Girls and The Simple Life also promoted Y2K fashion, sparking this new style and marking a new fashion trend in history. An example of a Y2K outfit from Mean Girls is when Amanda Seyfried, who plays Karen Smith in the movie, wears a black “Bling Bling” shirt, white with red hearts skirt, with black, open heels.

*The cast of Mean Girls sport iconic Y2K outfits (Alamy Stock).*

Celebrities like Rihanna, who in 2018 wore a The Matrix Reloaded-inspired outfit to an event in London and Missy Elliot in her “Supa Dupa Fly” music video where she wore a black blow-up jumpsuit with matching shoes, gloves, a glitter helmet, and sunglasses influenced Y2K fashion even more.

*Rihanna wears a “Matrix” style all black, leather outfit (W Magazine).*

Other famous artists like Jay Z, Nelly, Snoop Dog, Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Paris Hilton quickly caught up on this new trend wearing low-slung denim jeans with velour tracksuits, flip-flops (for a little bold touch) and Von Dutch trucker hats, jackets or tracksuits, baggy jeans, and bandanas (http://lovehappensmag.com).

*Destiny’s Child made famous the 2000s Y2K Fit (Fashion Gone Rogue).*

Y2K Fashion Comes Back!

Y2K fashion started to resurface in 2020 thanks to social media trends, music videos, and movies. Celebrities like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton, and Bella Hadid also greatly influenced the restart of this trend. But, you might be thinking, “I’ve never seen Bella Hadid wear this fashion trend before?” Well, you’re right, Bella Hadid did not wear Y2K in the 2000s as she was still a child. And, while Bella Hadid wasn’t one of the original icons of early Y2K fashion, she now is, wearing low-rise jeans to tiny sunglasses and chunky sneakers.

You know what else helped bring back Y2K fashion? A little sense of nostalgia. Many people, like Bella Hadid, were still children when Y2K first started up. But now that they have grown up, they want to wear Y2K. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s a bright, fun, and edgy fashion trend.

*Storm Reid wears a modern Y2K look (Fashion Gone Rogue).*

Sources:

School Uniform Debate: Necessary or Restrictive?

March 20, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Middle-School Bloggers Mason Conway, Calum Webster, and Elizabeth Greenwood

Should we wear uniforms? Many schools, such as PVS, require strict attire. Most are private schools, but some public school students wear uniforms. It seems everybody’s got an opinion on whether we should switch back to no uniforms or keep them. Mason, Calum, and Elizabeth have something to say on that:

Mason says . . .

It can be a good idea to reinforce wearing uniforms as it could limit bullying and reduce distractions, but other people argue that it could limit creativity and make families struggle to buy more expensive uniform clothing. I personally believe that we should have no uniforms as in the morning I waste time trying to find my khaki shorts and my polo, which sometimes makes me late for school.

Calum says . . .

One point that Mason said is requiring uniforms can reduce bullying. I believe this is a fair point; everybody is wearing the same thing, so you can’t bully people on what they are wearing. On the other hand, you have to spend more money on uniforms, and most people are not going to wear them outside of school. In my opinion, I don’t think there should be uniforms, but there should be a dress code. First, a dress code lets people wear what they want. Choosing their own clothes will make kids feel more comfortable and relaxed during the day. They will also not have to go through the struggle of getting ready in the morning–looking for those lost khaki shorts and polos. I believe that it is easier to find my casual clothing in the morning than it is to find my uniform.

Elizabeth says . . .

Personally, I believe that uniforms should be mandatory because they create a sense of uniformity among students. One reason uniforms should be mandatory is that they help students focus on their work rather than on their appearance. And, while I slightly agree with Mason and Calum that uniforms might reduce bullying, without uniforms, students may be pressured into wearing certain clothes–which can have a negative effect on younger students because they are pressured into wearing expensive clothing. Another reason why uniforms should be mandatory is that uniforms are easier to find (way easier to find a pair shorts and a polo than putting a whole outfit together), and by wearing them it takes less time to get ready in the morning.

And, finally, Mr. Koehler says . . .

“The main reason for school uniforms is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for students to thrive in.”

It seems school uniforms have some value. They create a sense of uniformity, reduce stress, and can make mornings easier (except for Mason). By wearing uniforms, students have more freedom to focus on their work and less on external distractions. Uniforms are not just for looks but are about inclusiveness.

Mason, showcasing the Palm Valley School uniform, tells us he’s doing his “model walk.”

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