the bird on fire

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.”

Who Was the Best Dressed at the Valentine’s Dance?

March 19, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By 6th-Grade Fashion Correspondents Reagan Kaminsky, Greenlee Bartley, and Sophia Nayfack

Prom is right around the corner. Are you scouring the internet for that perfect dress? pant suit? tie? shoes? Let’s see how the attire stacked up at the previous PVS dance–the 2025 Valentine’s Dance. Our Blog Fashion Correspondents Greenlee, Reagan, and Sophia lined up on the red carpet to observe dance attendees and their fashion choices. Our Fashion-on-the-Go team documented with photographs. Then, they surveyed the Palm Valley School community asking which outfits “worked” best. PVS voted.

There were many outfits in contention . . . .

Seniors Riley Jorgensen and Bianca Torres stepped out in classic black.

Freshman Nevan Owsley embraced the dance theme.

Junior Oliver Martinez sported a clean, trustworthy look.

Junior Melina Brodeur and Sophomore Shayan Habibipour complemented via opposite palettes.

The Groendycke sisters adopted festive flair.

Seniors, and dance coordinators, Lily Jones and Abigail Assefa still managed to look like they’d lounged all day, resting up to dance the night away.

But, the PVS community voted as Best Dressed at the Valentine’s Day Dance . . .

. . . 8th-grader Elizabeth Greenwood!

Elizabeth wore a stunning red velvet Catherine of Aragon inspired ensemble.

Here, Elizabeth (left) is seen with one of our other contestants, 8th-grader Lorelei Behr, at the Valentine’s Dance. Photo Credit: Greenlee Bartley

Elizabeth tells us her outfit was inspired by England’s King Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was seen wearing a similar outfit in the movie Anne Of 1000 Days which caught Elizabeth’s eye. Catherine was wearing a dark red velvet dress with beautiful gold trim, and an amber necklace. For those of you wondering, Elizabeth got her dress and necklace from Windsor.

“I choose what I believe, and say nothing. For I am not as simple as I may seem.”
Catherine of Aragon

As mentioned earlier, Catherine of Aragon was King Henry VIII’s first wife. However, Henry was her second husband after King Arthur, Henry VII’s eldest son, who died the year after he married Catherine (Historic Royal Palaces). She was born near Madrid in 1487 and died in 1536 from heart cancer (Britannica). Catherine was the youngest daughter of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile (Britannica). When she was queen, she acted as regent while Henry was away and even oversaw an attempted invasion (Historic Royal Palaces).

In conclusion, even though everyone else’s outfits at the dance were amazing, there is nothing more interesting than an outfit with a backstory. Elizabeth Greenwood showed us just that while bringing us back to the history of England in the process.

What’s New for Tennis in Indian Wells?

March 14, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By 7th-grade blogger Morgan Richardson

The BNP Paribas Open is running now from March 2nd to March 16th in my home town of Indian Wells. The event brings in huge crowds and will hopefully break last year’s record of 493,440 guests (bnpparibasopen.com). The streets of Palm Springs and Palm Desert are filled with visitors eager to attend this annual tennis tournament in our very own tennis paradise. In the past, many celebrities including Tom Holland, Zendaya, P!nk, Bill Gates, Will Ferrell, and Patrick Mahomes have attended, and who knows what stars will surprise us at this year’s BNP. Rumors are Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner have been in this year’s crowds. One of the main attractions, outside of world class tennis, are the many high-end restaurant options like Nobu, Porta Via, Molé, and Ristorante Mamma Gina. Many local favorites including J’s Deli, Tanya’s Kitchen, and even Coachella Coffee in case you need to hide from any bad weather are available at the BNP. To kick off the BNP, a family day is also available for free with face painting, yoga, crafts, and tennis lessons included.

Fun Facts

The BNP has the second biggest outdoor tennis court in the world!
The BNP has held the event at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden since 2009.
It is the best attended tournament outside of all four Grand Slams, which is why it is often called the fifth Grand Slam.

I was first introduced to the BNP by my father, who attends religiously each year. And, if my father isn’t at the Gardens, he’ll be keeping up with matches via television. My mother is fortunate enough to see the finals every year with Dad, for this reason she’s become smitten with Carlos Alcarez, who has moved up in the ranks recently beating previous champion Novac Djokovic twice at Indian Wells. Some say that Carlos Alcarez is the GOAT of tennis.

I turned to my fellow classmates and asked who their favorite player or former player at the BNP is?

7th-grader Gavin had to go to Google to get an answer:

“Simone Bolelli is my favorite tennis player.”

Ms. Maguire gives a shout out to her hometown Buffalo girl:

“Jessica Pegula is the best tennis player out there.”

Mr. Satterfield, with little to no tennis knowledge, puts a historic player at the top of his tennis pyramid:

“My favorite tennis player is Roger Federer.”

Elizabeth Greenwood answers with a popular tennis favorite:

“My favorite tennis player is by far Serena Williams.”

My favorite tennis player is Novac Djokavic, though at a losing streak he has become my tennis inspiration. Winning or losing and still getting back on the court is one of the many valuable life lessons tennis has taught me.

Sources:

https://bnpparibasopen.com › history

desertsun.com

What Does Valentine’s Day Mean to You?

March 13, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By 7th-Grade Poet Morgan Richardson

When wondering how to describe our recent Valentine’s Day, I turned to my classmates for a fresh opinion. I struggled with how to put Valentine’s day/love into one word? Many of the responses were negative and spoke of things such as “Jealousy,” and “Materialistism” ; everyone had a different viewpoint. As I went on interviewing, I kept asking myself the same question: How do you talk about love in one word? I came to the conclusion that Valentine’s Day is celebratory despite what others say. It’s not negative. These poems are inspired by the many opinions and views shared with me on the subject of Valentine’s Day.

Love.

People say it’s an illusion,

Short time comfort

Filled with jealousy and envy.

Others say it’s materialistic:

Chocolates and candies,

Red roses and jellycat stuffies,

Store bought cards and flowers.

But I think it’s more than that:

A saving grace

Filled with poetic words,

Showing love to the people who matter.

Love–

The meaning of happiness, joy and heartbreak.

II.

Cupid’s arrow shot right through my heart,

Blushing and butterflies that’s just the start.

The size of my heart has gone off the charts.

The hair, the face, the voice speak to me like art.

Sweet at first then it’s all tart.

Now it all restarts.

I found someone just my type.

My heart flies like a kite.

This might be the one I really do like.

But there’s a small dislike, tiny and slight;

I know someone better who doesn’t nail-bite.

This one’s not screwed on quite right.

Each one after the next,

None of them passed my test.

I fear it’s time to reflect.

All this time I’ve spent

Too many regrets.

Now I’ll settle down,

If I can find someone I won’t repent.

My Cabin

March 13, 2025 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

When we mused about favorite places and dream houses, Sophia turned to her cabin in Big Bear.

By Middle-School Blogger Sophia Bottine

You drive through the gated neighborhood

And find my house

You park in front of the driveway.

As you get out, you notice how beautiful it looks,

The sunlight shines on the top of the brown, sleek roof

And hits the nearby trees

To the left and to the right there are trees, scrub, and overgrown plants.

There are not many though as the snow has frozen all of them away.

You then go towards the front door

It’s on a platform

With a lounging chair in front of a sliding door on the right

When you go up the short stairs

You see a “Welcome” rug in front of a door

–a large, beautiful, wooden door

There is another “Welcome” sign above the door with a cartoon bear,

This time, it’s in French.

You go through the front door

And immediately enter a long hallway

With a neither narrow or wide flight of stairs to the left

A large dog bed under the stairs

And a medium-sized bedroom

That bedroom is mine

Inside it, there is a bed in the middle

And a brown desk in the back right corner

There are bedside tables next to the bed

With books filling them and a large lamp on top

On the left, there is a closet with a small window above the clothes

There aren’t many clothes, it’s quite empty

And there are spiders crawling and hiding in corners

You get the chills and go out and into the bathroom

It has a green, glossy, counter on the right

A shower on the left

And a toilet behind the shower

It’s a very minimalist bathroom, pretty but kind of empty.

You’ve seen enough so you go back out into the hallway

Further down the hallway, there are washing machines to the left

A garden in front of you

And a master bedroom to the right

You decide to go into the master bedroom first.

As you enter it, you notice how big it is

There is a small TV in front of you

A fireplace in the far right corner of the room

And a sliding door leading outside,

A large bed to the left

And once again, two bedside tables accompanying it,

As all bedrooms should

There is a walk-in closet

With a large wardrobe carrying all the pants and belts,

You get out of the closet and to the room right next to it,

The bathroom.

It has two sinks with a fake orchid on top,

A shower and a bathtub to the left

A small window near the ceiling

And yet again, another fireplace at the end of the bathtub

You leave the master bedroom and head outside

You open the glass door and step through

You’re now on another platform

There are many chairs to the right for no reason at all

A dart-throwing game, covered in dust from the lack of use

And a jacuzzi with a cover on top around a corner

There is another small staircase leading to the garden

You don’t go down, there isn’t much to see

Just a few mounds of dirt and very few patches of grass.

You decide to go back inside and go up the large flight of stairs

There are a few pictures on the wall, depicting a family

Finally, you reach the top of the stairs

You’ve now entered the living room

A large, grey, “L” shaped couch sits in front of you,

A fireplace with burnt wood inside

And a large stack of wood next to it,

On top, a large TV

And a lengthy, wooden hanging shelf with candles under it.

To the right there is a billiard table,

Near the window, an aesthetic lounge area

And behind the billiard table a green countertop with a few pictures

And a printing machine

You notice a bedroom that you hadn’t seen before

There is a powder room next to it

You head towards the bedroom and open the door

The first thing you see is a bunk bed with a ton of stuffed animals

And a large, homemade Barbie house in a corner

A blue desk stands next to it

With a closet close by.

You open the closet door

And immediately notice that it hasn’t been cleaned in a while.

There are piles of clothes in a corner

And there’s no way to tell the dirty from the clean.

You then go into the bathroom

This too, is dirty, but there are no clothes on the ground

Just a few splashes of paint and nail polish on the countertop.

You get out of this bedroom

And go near the kitchen

There is a large dining table to the left

With a wooden chandelier in the shape of antlers

A bench surrounds one side of the table

With three chairs where it doesn’t reach.

There’s another lounging area to your right

And a dog bed, next to the kitchen countertop

You go into the kitchen

It’s like any other cabin kitchen

Green tiles on top of wooden counters

A sink near yet another window

And a pantry to the left

The pantry is filled with snacks and spices

And a small refrigerator carries all the drinks.

The big refrigerator is near the stove and the oven

You get out of the kitchen and living room

And go outside, through another sliding door and onto another balcony.

This one has a barbecue on it

With sunbathing chairs, dog toys,

And some tall chairs with a round table in between them

A flight of stairs leads down to the garden.

You’ve now seen all the parts of the house.

You go back inside and lock the door

You go to the bedroom and close everything you opened

Then, you go downstairs and lock the doors leading outside

And close the downstairs bedroom’s door

Finally, you open the front door once more, lock it behind you

Head down the small stairs and down the driveway

Past all the scrub and overgrown plants

And into your car

You think about the house,

It’s cozy, calming, with a touch of nostalgia in it

You can see that it’s dear to the owners

And how much they love it

The sun barely hits the top of the roof

It’s almost sunset

You take a final look at the house before driving away…