the bird on fire

The Palm Valley School Student Blog

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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

Winter Sing 2025

by Leave a Comment

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

By 8th-Grade Blogger Sarah Alnabelsi 

Palm Valley School’s annual Winter Sing was the main event on the last day of school, Friday, December 19th, right before we headed off to Winter break. The whole school came together to watch and perform for this event. Unlike previous formal-dress-day events, we didn’t have to wear ties, and instead wore our favorite holiday accessories. Some came with reindeer ears, elf hats, festive-colored ribbons and tinsel and more. Sami Alnabelsi, a fellow blogger, wore a “Santa hat.” Silvanita Garcia, an 8th-grade student who has been at PVS for years, said her favorite part about the Winter Sing is any “piano solo.” 

The event was led, coordinated by, and dreamed up by Ms. Delegans, PVS music teacher extraordinaire. Junior Louisa Richardson and sophomore Nevan Owsley sang, danced, and joked as emcees. There were bells, drums, snow flakes, pre-schoolers, lower and middle-school carolers, and applause-inducing soloists. By the final number, Kenny Loggins’ “Celebrate Me Home,” several PVS teachers were seen wiping away tears.

A Look Back at the PVS Pep Rally

by Leave a Comment

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

By 8th-Grade blogger Sarah Alnabelsi

In the background, students are shown playing a round of tug of war. Photo Credit: Sarah Alnabelsi.

On Friday, December 5, PVS held a pep rally with a fun bunch of activities. There was an elephant game, tug of war, and several important sports and Nest announcements. The gym was loud, and everyone was invested in this memorable event. One thing that made this pep rally different from our previous ones is that the lower schoolers were invited to join the Nests. While usually the Nests are only for Middle and Upper-School students, having the Lower Schoolers “made the event feel more energetic,” 8th-grader Ivana Vega said. Overall, it was a great way for the school to come together and show school spirit. 

      

Mr. Jue’s Journey as an Art Teacher

by Leave a Comment

Part of thebirdonfire.org feature series on Art Live!

By Middle-School Bloggers Sarah Alnabelsi and Morgan Richardson

Our art teacher Mr. Jue this year joined the PVS community. Inspired by our art topic in Blog class, we decided to learn more about our new faculty member Mr. Zack Jue. After all, I, Morgan, have taken part in his art class for almost a full semester. Mr. Jue teaches lower, middle, and high-school students. We each interviewed Mr. Jue about his experiences and journey that led him to be an art teacher at PVS.

Mr. Jue’s education led him through a path in art. “I took Art and Psychology at Claremont Graduate University,” said Mr. Jue. This key decision increased his knowledge of the arts. Mr. Jue tends to lean towards the region of “Lowbrow art” as well as 3D sculptures and street art. Lowbrow, as Mr. Jue explained, is “what people tend to call cartoonists and people who aren’t considered fancy.” 

Mr. Jue had a childhood full of art: “My mom is an art teacher, and my uncle was a relatively popular Chicano artist.” Mr. Jue’s sister also has a similar passion for art. She currently teaches at College of the Desert and paints realistic abstract portraits. Mr. Jue was inspired by many artists growing up and continues to be inspired. When naming his favorite artists, Mr. Jue includes, “David Cho” and “Doze Green from reading his magazine, Juxtapoz.”

After graduating from College of the Desert, Mr. Jue went on to California State University San Bernardino to earn a Bachelors in Psychology. He continued his education at Claremont University where he obtained a Masters degree in Fine Art (pvs.org). Mr. Jue had many career paths to choose from. He decided to pursue his art path. And here he is, sharing his art passion with the people at Palm Valley School. “This is home to me,” he says. Mr. Jue wants to give back to his “community.”  He adds, “I feel I have to.” Why is art his contribution? What was his path to art? Mr. Jue said, “I went to high school, graduated early and then went to college and took art classes for easy A’s.” Then, he added, “I fell into it” and loved art.

Photo Credit: Morgan Richardson and Sarah Alnabelsi

Is it AI? Or, Sarah?

by 3 Comments

Feature Post under The Bird on Fire’s Technology theme

By 8th-Grade Blogger Sarah Alnabelsi

Have you scrolled online and been met with a post that makes you wonder if it’s real or fake? Artificial Intelligence app platforms like Chat GPT and Sora AI have made AI creations seem very human made, which is something that has been causing much skepticism in social media. Now, more than ever, social media has become a major source of information. However, since Artificial Intelligence’s growth, it has become very difficult to determine if the information you are getting is true or not. To challenge AI’s realistic style of writing, I wrote a poem, and then I asked Chat GPT to write a poem on the same topic to show the differences and to see how difficult it is to tell which is real or fake. Here is what happened.

My poem:

A Bright Night

Whistles of the winds,
In the darkness of the night, 
The moon lies silent.
The stars radiate blue,
In its bright white hues,
Like snow or doves, or even 
Clouds or shrouds.
Closer up, dark spots lie bare.
Some big, some small,
Scattered them all.
Stars pulse, moving closer,
Hundreds and thousands, 
Intricately placed, 
Like a holy book
perfectly made.
The orb moves astray, 
as the light turns away.
Then, the night loses its light,
No longer is it bright.

Sarah Alnabelsi

Next,  I told Chat GPT, “Write a poem about the moon,” and this is what it did:

The Moon’s Observation 🌙

The moon drifts across the silent sky,
Its light touches trees as it passes by.
It watches quietly every night,
Each scene unfolding in gentle light.

It sees humans walking, sitting, asleep,
Observing moments, memories to keep.
Night after night, it follows the same way,
A steady presence until the day.

The world moves on, yet it remains,
A quiet witness to joys and pains.
It glows above, neither loud nor bright,
Always present, always in sight.

Having read this without knowing which is real or AI, I think you could still figure out which is which by simply analyzing them. Surfer Blog brings up several points that you should look at to help determine if something is artificially made (Surferseo.com). I will go over some main points that are evident in the AI-generated poem to make it easier for you to find patterns of AI-made literature.

First of all, let’s look at the format and tone of the poem–

Each line is almost the same length, and each stanza has exactly four lines. The tone is also very bare and doesn’t have much expression to it; whereas, my poem at least includes some comparison and imagery in it: “Intricately placed, like a holy book, perfectly made.” AI’s poem lacks an analogy, and instead brings up things that are obviously known and not original.

Another clue in the AI-generated poem is its absence of personal experience. In the beginning, it flows normally, then randomly it says, “Each scene unfolding in gentle light.” Having read the parts of the poem before it, I feel like it’s very out of the blue. Also, I’ve never really heard a human say, “Each scene unfolding…” or anything along these lines. I think AI was trying to have humor or relate to humans, but failed. 

AI has changed the way of many things, especially making information untrustworthy. Whether you are reading a poem, or reading an informative post, I hope these tips can help you not fall for deceitful information online.

Original graphic penned by the real Sarah.

Source Referenced:

https://surferseo.com/blog/detect-ai-content

Halloween Door Decorating at PVS

by Leave a Comment

Our Newest Addition to The Bird on Fire

The Bird on Fire introduces our very own weekly PSA (Public service announcement) as part of a series making our blog unique, outgoing, and service-minded. We plan to do this weekly as a way to inform our viewers on what is actually happening in our local community. As fellow blogger Mason Conway notes, “It’s nice to inform our readers on what is happening in our school.” Blogger Sarah Alnabelsi adds, “I find it . . . helpful.” Opinions are great, but sometimes we just need to know what’s going on.

–Blogger Sami Alnabelsi

Public Service Announcement by 8th-Grade Blogger Sarah Alnabelsi

And the winners of the 2025 PVS Halloween Door-Decorating Contest were . . .
Grand Prize: Ms. Bajaj’s Grade 4!
MUS Prize: Mr. Jowett’s Advisory 11!
LS Prize: Ms. Bianchi’s Grade 2!
PS Prize: Ms. Ristaino’s PK2s!

Advisory 11, MUS Door Winners, highlighted puppet-master Jowett–the man pulling all the strings.

For many years at Palm Valley School, we have had an annual “Halloween Door Decorating Contest” among the entire school. Each advisory/class decorates a door using things like paper, drawings, crafts, and much more to best fit the Halloween theme. Each division–the Upper School, Middle School, and Lower School–competes against other classes in their division until they have a victorious winner. This year we celebrated yet again another Halloween Door Decorating contest, but there were some questions that needed answers. I went to MUS Division Head Mr. Koehler with my questions.

  1. How were the doors judged? 
  • “The doors are judged based on the originality, creativity, and execution of the door theme, its appearance and “Halloweenness” and the collaborative nature and level of student-teacher input in the door decorating process and finished product.”
  1. What day was the actual contest on?
  • “The Contest runs from October 16-October 30 with the judging taking place on Thursday, October 30 after school.”
  1. Who were the judges?
  • “The door judging is done by the administrative team.  They view each door and discuss its appearance and impact. They then judge each “Door” based on the specific criteria mentioned and how it compares to other doors in the particular division and school wide.”
  1. What is the best advice you could give to future contestants regarding this contest?
  • “The best advice I could give to contestants is be collaborative, have fun, be imaginative, and “creep it real,” Firebirds!”    

Hopefully these answers can help your class win next year’s contest!

Ms. Maguire has been a top competitor in past years. This year, her 6th-grade advisory squared off with “Ultimate Werewolf.”

Deceptive Sea

by 2 Comments

By Sarah Alnabelsi

Everything, beautiful or not, has a “beast” in it. A mountain, a flower, a butterfly–all have some negative aspects: avalanches and landslides, carbon emissions, hurting plants, and more. When I think of the concept of beauty, I wonder, “What is the most beautiful thing?” The first thing that comes to mind is the sea. Its gorgeous look is captivating, yet it makes me think, “What could be negative about the ocean?” My poem answers this.

Deceptive Sea

Glistening water, 
Radiance of blue,
The smell of freshness,
What seems so pure,
Is just a trick.

Boundless miles of water,
The soft feel of sand,
Cool calm breeze,
The inevitable demise.

The deceptive beauty 
causes a catastrophe.

One second, peace.
The other, lethal destruction.

A single shake, 
an unfortunate fate.

A mountain of water 
Peering down at the shore.
Bound destiny–destruction.











Photo Credit:.onegreenplanet.org
This photo of the ocean depicts what our immense oceans are capable of. During a mega-tsunami in Greenland in 2023, a mountain of water was created. Something as small as a shake can cause something lethal. This tsunami specifically caused immense destruction across the nearby area and also caused “seismic” waves that splashed across the globe. While the stunning ocean is a spectacle to look at, we often overlook the “beast” and power it can hold.








How Pets Affect Your Mental Health 


 by  2 Comments 


By Middle-School Blogger Sarah Alnabelsi





Think of your favorite furry, scaly, or feathered friend. What seems so small actually means more to you than you think. A UC Davis Health article points out several mental health benefits that stem from pets: they “help reduce stress and anxiety, ease feelings of loneliness, provide unconditional love and support, create a calming presence, give a sense of purpose for pet parents.” In the moment, your best friend might be perceived as just a playmate–just a pet you have to feed and play with; in reality, they mean a lot more. They contribute to your mental health.





Animals and your mental wellness–this is what I found out:





The effects of pets on mental health–





    

  1. They decrease your stress and anxiety.
    2. 






The American Psychology Association says that in 2024, 70% of teens faced anxiety and depression in the US. That’s a high percentage, especially among teenagers and young adults. With a pet’s companionship and reassurance, you can feel happier, and therefore less anxious. For example, you feel better when your cat purrs. Inspira Health Network says that just listening to a purring cat can lower your blood pressure. It releases oxytocin, a hormone that promotes happiness and reduces stress (inspirahealthnetwork.org). The same happens when we see our dogs wagging their tails. This also releases oxytocin, which in turn makes you happier.





    

  1. Your pet makes you feel less lonely.
    2. 






Loneliness is something usually everyone will experience in their lifetime–whether it’s from lost friendships, being alone, or a move to a new place. Loneliness has become so normalized, but pets can alleviate this feeling. In a study conducted by Mental Health America, 85% of  people questioned in a national survey agree that pets can reduce loneliness. With pets, people feel more connected and supported; therefore, they feel less lonely. 





    

  1. Pets bring love and support.
    2. 






Having a companion that supports you no matter what is something that everybody should have. You can’t get into arguments with pets, which is something that makes them so much greater. Given you treat them with respect, they will always love you the same. My cat Papaya has her highs and lows. However, even when I leave her home all alone, she’s always happy to see me coming back from school. Leaving  might be perceived as betrayal, yet my cat responds to me with nothing but unconditional love.






Sarah posed Papaya for a photo shoot for The Bird on Fire. Papaya came into Sarah’s life three months ago. While Papaya lives with the whole Alnabelsi family, Sarah says Papaya is closest to her.






    

  1. Pets create a calming presence.
    2. 






While pets have their burst of energy or periods of time where you can’t seem to catch a break from their zoomies, a big percentage of the time they are either sleeping or not doing anything at all. With their calm presence, with them sitting or lying beside you, you are more eased and relaxed. For instance, think of coming back home from a long day of school. You’d want something calm to relax beside when you get home, and your pet does exactly that.





    

  1. Animals give pet parents a purpose. 
    2. 






Having pets requires lots of care and attention. Some might think that this much work is bad; however, having a sense of purpose is something that helps people immensely when it comes to mental health. The American Psychiatric Association says that people with a great purpose in life were facing less stress. Having this feeling that someone–your pet–relies on you, provides a reason for someone to get up, even when they don’t want to. Knowing that your pet needs you for food, water, basically to live, is something that people find very helpful for their mental stability, physical agility, and emotional engagement.









While it’s true that their time with us is limited, the impact they have on you is more impactful than the inevitable loss–which is true for most relationships. You might have not even known it, but your pet’s influence on your life is something that can brighten up your day, or for others might even be their will to live.  







“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
Anatole France





Sources: 







    

  1. https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/health-benefits-of-pets-how-your-furry-friend-improves-your-mental-and-physical-health/2024/04
    2. 




  2. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.stress.org/who-gets-stressed/teens-young-adults/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1758260885730477&usg=AOvVaw0o-M_Q07PS0Nz7UZGVKYwU
    3. 




  3. https://mhanational.org/resources/how-pets-help-ease-loneliness-and-social-isolation/#:~:text=Animal%20connection%20reduces%20loneliness,pets%20can%20help%20reduce%20loneliness.
    4. 




  4. Quote: https://www.petsecure.com.au/pet-care/favourite-inspirational-quotes-pets/
    5. 




  5. https://www.inspirahealthnetwork.org/news/healthy-living/healing-power-your-cats-purr-can-it-improve-your-health
    6. 




  6. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/purpose-in-life-less-stress-better-mental-health
    7. 



What It Takes to be a Good Leader


 by  4 Comments 


By Sarah Alnabelsi, 8th Grade





Have you ever wondered, “I’ve never heard of this person, why do they have so much power?” You might think being a leader is just having authority and appearing tough, but there are many more aspects to it. The Center for Creative Leadership says being a leader requires “…integrity, self-awareness, courage, respect, compassion, and resilience.” Let’s break down these leadership qualities.





Necessities to Being a Good Leader:





    

  1. Lead with integrity.
    2. 






The Cambridge Dictionary defines integrity as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change.” Being honest and standing up for what you believe in is one of the most important qualities of being a leader. For example, think of the Lorax from the movie The Lorax. The Lorax sticks to his beliefs, one in particular – no one should cut down the trees. That’s how he gets all the bar-ba-loots and animals to look up to him as their leader. If he were to switch up his beliefs and start cutting down the trees, he would be letting all his followers down; therefore, he’d be a bad leader.





    

  1. Have self-awareness.
    2. 






Self-awareness is when you understand yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses. If you know your strengths and weaknesses, the more effective you can be as a leader. For example, maybe you are really good at making people laugh, but get distracted easily. A self-aware leader would understand that they should focus during serious situations, while still taking advantage of making people laugh.





    

  1. Demonstrate courage.
    2. 






Being courageous is essential to getting your point across, especially when you’re a leader. For example, sharing a new idea or making a point on something might be scary, but a good leader would use courage to be able to speak freely with no worry. 





    

  1. Show respect.
    2. 






Showing respect may sound simple, but it’s very important. Being a leader may require upsetting scenarios. For example, you might have a scenario where someone says something that you disagree with. It’s important to always be kind no matter what someone says; show respect. A good leader would not let someone’s words distract them and make them defensive or angry. A good leader, instead, will be mature about it and continue to be respectful and focused. 





    

  1. Have compassion.
    2. 






Compassion in any scenario will make people see you as a good person. As a good leader, it’s important to always listen thoughtfully and compassionately to what someone has to say. You should acknowledge that it probably took lots of courage on their part to be able to say something, and, in return, you as leader should give feedback or even take action on it. 





    

  1. Demonstrate resilience.
    2. 






Resilience, in simple words, means being able to push through challenges; not letting anything stop you from fulfilling what you want to do. This is a necessity, especially as a leader where you are met with many challenges. If you let mishaps get in the way of your leadership, it shows weakness and inability to fulfill your job. People would prefer a strong leader rather than one that gets irritated easily.









In conclusion, a good leader doesn’t just appear tough. It requires being a good person, and not letting things get to you. The Center for Creative Leadership points out that being a good leader requires “intentional effort,” meaning you can’t expect it to come naturally, you have to have an objective–being a good leader. The article also says that “…leaders are made, not born.” This means that you aren’t born with leadership, it’s a skill that you should grow with and learn. 






Graphic created with Canva AI






     





Sources:






https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/integrity








12 Essential Qualities of Effective Leadership




Volleyball at Palm Valley School: More Than Just A Game


 by  1 Comment 


By Sarah Alnabelsi, 8th Grade 





Volleyball is the best sport to play, no matter what level team you join. Volleyball at Palm Valley School is especially exciting with Coach Erenberg. With his help, volleyball has been a big part of the Palm Valley School community. You may have noticed the banners hanging from the gym, or frequent practices or games happening. “Coach” makes every practice fun, even if it seems difficult. Games are also even more lively with Coach on the sidelines, cheering us on and occasionally yelling. Whether on the A or B team, varsity or middle school, Coach Ken Erenberg pushes you to give your best and ensures everyone feels part of the team. Volleyball at Palm Valley isn’t just about winning games (although we win a lot); it’s about learning, improving, and having fun.





I asked some Palm Valley School volleyball players what the best lesson Coach Erenberg has taught them. Here’s what they said:





Coach taught 8th-grader Silvanita “how to serve the ball.” She also thanked her teammates for helping her along the way.





8th-grade Morgan finds it a helpful reminder when Coach calls out: “TALK!” and “GET LOW!”





8th-grade Emmy says, “Coach taught me that sports aren’t all about skill; they’re also about dedication and effort.”





8th-grade Sophia says Coach tells her, “Don’t be scared of the ball.” 





Coach tells 8th-grader Emerson, “It’s better to be learning than to be sorry.” This means it’s okay if you make mistakes; learning from mistakes will help you in the future, and you shouldn’t be upset.





8th-grade Millie finds it helpful when Coach reminds the team, “Don’t lean back!” When you’re going for a bump, don’t lean back, or the ball will go backwards.





8th-grade Ivana likes when Coach says, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”





Senior Matteo appreciates Coach reminding him to “have court presence.”





And, me, I personally find it very helpful when Coach says to “Keep my arms straight.” I think this is one of the most helpful lessons because keeping your arms straight will let the ball go straight–a fundamental skill in volleyball.





Finally, I asked Coach Erenberg himself what he thought the best lesson he could give someone is. Here’s what he said: 





“The best way to learn is by repetition.”





–Coach Erenberg





Overall, volleyball at Palm Valley is more than just a game. It not only teaches helpful skills for the sport, but also teaches helpful lifestyle skills such as teamwork, dedication, patience and much more. Thanks, Coach.






Coach Erenberg shepherded in a lot of volleyball banners that hang now in the PVS gym. Can you count how many?