the bird on fire

The Dangerous Landscape of Roblox

March 12, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Feature Post

By 8th-Grade Blogger Jackie Pretorius

Roblox is a platform that has loads of games built by different creators on the site. The games are usually multiplayer–meaning that you can see other avatars in whatever game you choose to play. Some games require players to use the in-game chatting system. However, recently Roblox changed its guidelines to allow people to chat with each other only if they were in the same age groups. They did this because Roblox was getting sued regarding child safety. Even as recently as the 19th of February 2026, Roblox was sued by Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA). DCBA accused Roblox of failing “to implement adequate safeguards to protect children from predatory behavior and inappropriate content” (lacounty.gov).

When you see this box within a box within a box, you are looking at the Roblox logo. Graphic Source: https://www.youtube.com/roblox

Why exactly is Roblox so dangerous? It’s literally just a ton of “experiences” to have fun in. Well, according to the Los Angeles County DCBA, some people on the site have exposed children to sexual content, abuse such as grooming, or even assault! About 75 percent of children in the United States ages 9-12 play Roblox on a daily basis, and safety measures couldn’t have been worse (lacounty.gov)!

The Los Angeles County of Department of Consumer and Business Affairs has locked horns with Roblox over child safety. Graphic Source: https://lacounty.gov/

This brings us to why Roblox implemented this group chatting system. Although this is the best they’ve done so far, Roblox chatting system still has some flaws. First off, it makes servers feel like a ghost town since people are quiet because of age restrictions; sometimes the system lags, still allowing inappropriate things to be said, and it ruins the social aspect of Roblox. However, Roblox is taking a step for child safety and will hopefully get better as time progresses.

Source Referenced: https://lacounty.gov/2026/02/25/la-county-files-lawsuit-against-roblox-dcba-urges-parents-to-report-complaints/

The Power of Journaling

March 12, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Feature Post

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

Believe it or not, journaling has a big effect on your mental health as it reduces stress and anxiety, giving you a safe space to compile your thoughts. I started journaling when I started gymnastics. Journaling has helped me to alleviate the stress I endure everyday at practice. I open my book, pen in hand, and write whatever comes to mind; this could be as little as a sentence or even a page. Once I close the book, I no longer focus on the negatives or overstimulating thoughts that stress me out. This way I am able to write about whatever troubles me in a safe space while not dwelling upon what happened that day. I think it is important for everyone to journal; you don’t have to be an amazing writer to do it; you don’t even have to write about big dramatic events, just something that impacts your daily life. Personally, I think everyone should journal, and there are many studies on how it benefits your mental health.

Bloomington Meadows Hospital discovered that journaling can help you in taking a step back to reflect on all the thoughts and emotions you could be feeling (bloomingtommeadows.com). By writing down your experiences you are able to gain better insight into your feelings and behaviors. This can help you to identify patterns and triggers that could be affecting your mental health, and you can track your progress to see how far you’ve come. They have also realized that writing down your thoughts on paper can help you to gain a sense of control over all your emotions and assist you in feeling empowered to manage them (bloomingtommeadows.com)

Journaling becomes a healthy habit in bringing out the positives in our lives by just writing about some things that really impact our lives. It’s a safe space where you can put your thoughts with no judgement. You can also use journaling to track your sleep, exercise, dreams, etc., just like an Oura Ring can. For example, if you write down when you went to bed and how long you sleep, you can identify patterns and habits.

Mr. Jowett, one of Palm Valley’s admired teachers of science and wellness, tells us how journaling benefits his mental health.

“Putting pen to paper allows me the freedom to be my genuine self. Mentally, it helps me to identify my thoughts and feelings and to clarify their associations. Spiritually journaling allows my spirit to creativ[ely] express my opportunities of growth and where to align my energy each day. By prioritizing the use of my energy I can be more responsible to myself and more reliable to achieve my soul’s desire.”

Overall there are so many benefits to journaling, and I think it would be very good for everyone to try it.

Journaling is meant to be calming. Graphic Source: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_iYQRGa4kTrfCUehvJlj2DM4WaNXsaYu7lcEhkcU23vBt7g/viewform?pli=1

Palm Valley School’s Academic Achievers

March 11, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

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

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

This spring semester our Palm Valley students put in their application for CSF (California Scholarship Federation) and CJSF (California Junior Scholarship Federation). These are our state secondary-school honor societies. It is our second year of CJSF, which is only for 7th and 8th graders, and our 28th year of CSF, which is for grades 9th through 12th. The application process is different for both, but, for both, it is based off their academic grades.

For CJSF, students must meet the following guidelines to qualify:

“Honor students qualify based on CJSF state rules. For spring-semester qualification, Fall semester grades are used. Students must earn twice the number of points than courses in which they are enrolled. No points are earned for P.E., a repeated course, or work experience. An “A” is worth 3 points, a “B” 1. Two weighted grades are allowed. No “D” or “F” grades.”
csf-cjsf.org

This semester’s CJSF members include 8th graders Sami Alnabelsi, Sarah Alnabelsi, Soleil Antle, Julian Berumen, Sophia Bottine, Peter Collier, Mason Conway, Emerson Dunn, Millie Flemings, Silvanita Garcia, Emerson Kaminsky, Jaxon Pacilio, Jackie Pretorius, Maxwell Pretorius, Benjamin Rouche, Ivana Vega, and Calum Webster and 7th graders Cleo Antle, Miller Bacal, Daniel Bagheri, Greenlee Bartley, Cash Brasfield, Mark Huber, Lina Kakoussian, Reagan Kaminsky, Mikel Lomsky, Roman Magallanes, Remington Rice, Savannah Sanchez, and Logan Sanders.

For CSF qualification in the Upper School . . .

“Students earn a membership in CSF if they apply and have earned 10 points. Points are earned on grades from the previous semester according to the following scale.

A = 3 CSF points

B = 1 CSF point

C = 0 CSF points

D or F in any course, even if not counted for CSF, disqualifies the student from membership.

*Students earn 1 extra point for an A or a B in an AP, IB or Honors-designated course, not to exceed two such points per semester.

*Academic courses are prioritized first, then elective courses. Only five courses may be used.” (csf-cjsf.org)

Keep in mind that courses such as P.E., teacher assistant, office aide, or repeated courses do not earn any CSF points. Poor citizenship may also disqualify students from membership.

This semester’s CSF members and associate members include Isolde Junge, Matteo Lam, Oliver Martinez, Gabe Rodriguez-Portugues, Elijah Berliner, Rylie Conway, Zander Eaton, Leah Ferreira, Shayan Habibipour, Shibo “Tom” Hong, Ace Mendoza, Olivia Puetz, Lousia Richardson, Evan Wang, Phillip Pip Watson, John Webster, Moses Gizaw, Zoey Guess, Lincoln Johnson, Steven Liu, and Sam West.

CSF and CJSF host activities for fun and service in the PVS community. CSF Junior Zander Eaton emceed the CSF Winter Open Mic contest.

As you can see, it is challenging to become an honor-society member, so it’s important we congratulate all the students who have qualified!

CSF Vice President Shayan Habibipour meets with his kindergarten buddy once a month. Have you seen those distinctive blue sweatshirts on campus? Those are CSF sweatshirts. Shayan’s is vintage as it harkens back to the days his older sister walked on campus.

Vexillology: The Art of Flag Design

March 5, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Feature Post

By 8th-Grade Blogger Max Pretorius

Whether it be a flag of a state, nation, town, or a school, flags are used everywhere. Having a flag lets your community be represented in a recognizable banner. Though making a flag seems simple, it is very complicated, and making a good flag can take a very long time. To help with this, vexillologists and designers have created certain guidelines for making flags. The main guidelines were made in a collaboration between the North American Vexillological Association and the UK’s Flag Institute and can be found in “The Commissioner’s Report on the Guiding Principles of Flag Design” (https://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Flag_Design_Commission_Report.pdf). These guidelines can help you make an amazing flag of your own!

Rule 1: Keep It Simple

One of the most important things about flag design is simplicity. Your flag should be easy enough for a child to draw. You have to remember that flags are seen from a distance, so they must be simple. The line between flags that are too complex and not too complex would be something like the United States’ flag. Simplicity is important in flags because, again, you are likely looking at them from a distance. Complexity could muddy up what you’re seeing. You should not have seals on a flag, as they are far too complex and minute to be seen.

The new Minnesota flag is a simple, great flag, easily drawn by any child (Graphic Source: https://www.sos.mn.gov/media/4k3o50q2/2023-state-emblem-redesign-commission-report.pdf ).

The old Minnesota flag is a horrible, mess of a flag, with an overcomplicated design (Graphic Source:https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Minnesota ).

Rule 2: No Text

One of the most important, yet commonly broken rules, is that there should be no text on a flag. A flag is not an essay. A flag is NOT a note card. A flag is a design, a design that lets you convey messages and ideas through it. Text completely ruins the point of having a flag and is far too complicated to be seen from a distance.

Iowa’s flag is a mess, with it using a lot of over-complicated text (Graphic Source: https://www.customflagcompany.com/product/iowa-state-flag/?srsltid=AfmBOooZKlP9P-4bX0NezujB38CD8TNC44ewWfbczxC3tRhbF1u9pDe8).

Ohio’s flag is a great flag, with it hiding the O into design (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Ohio ).

Rule 3: Use Symbolism

Flags should have meaning. You don’t just want to make a flag with a couple colors you like; flags should represent something symbolic about its people. Symbolism on a flag should represent the entirety of the community it represents, as opposed to specific parts of it. Symbolism could be anything from a symbol, to a shape, to a color.

The flag of the United Kingdom has great symbolism. The Union Jack uses its design to reflect England, Scotland, and Ireland within the crosses (Graphic Source: https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/uk-flags/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/ ).

The French flag is a tri color. This means it has symbolism through the colors of the flag. Though it’s better to have designs to incorporate symbolism, this still works (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-France).

Rule 4: Be Careful with Colors

This is similar to the idea of not being too complex; flags need to not have too many colors. Too many colors can make flags complicated and expensive. When you use colors, you should try to contrast dark and light colors, so that if you were to create a grayscale image, they would still contrast.

The flag of the United States has three simple colors: red, white, and blue. These simple colors help make it a great flag (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-the-United-States-of-America ).

The flag of Dominica has a whopping seven colors. This makes the flag a lot worse, as it is an over-complicated mess, with each extra color having less and less symbolism (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Dominica).

Rule 5: Be Distinct

When designing your flag, being distinct is very important. If you have a flag that’s similar to other flags, it can hinder your flag’s meaning and symbolism. And, people might not recognize it. However, you can make your flag similar to another flag if it is relevant to the symbolism of your flag. For example, Liberia, a country in Africa, has a flag very similar to the flag of the United States. This choice was intentional as the country was founded by former slaves from the United States.

The flag of Liberia is intentionally similar to the flag of the United States due to Liberia’s history (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-the-United-States-of-America, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Liberia ).

The flag of Chad (above) is very similar to Romania (below), although they have completely different symbolism. This is an extreme example of why it’s important for your flag to be distinct (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Chad, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Romania ).

Rule 6: Flags Go on Flag Poles

When you make a flag, you need to recognize that it will be flown on a pole. This means that it needs to be distinct as said before, but it also needs to be distinct when there isn’t any wind. Try to avoid similar flags, especially on the right edges of the flag. A great example of a flag that recognizes this is that of Tennessee. Tennessee’s flag had a blue stripe on the right that helps it be distinct when flown on a pole, especially when the wind stops.

Uruguay and Greece have very similar flags, so that, when seen on a flag pole, their canton (the top left corner of the flag) is very hard to see. Thus, from a flagpole, they are easily confused (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Uruguay, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Greece ).

Tennessee’s flag is a great flag when on a pole due to its distinct blue stripe, which helps you spot it even when wind has gone down (Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Tennessee ).

The Exceptions

Just because these guidelines exist, doesn’t mean that you have to follow all of them. Sometimes, not listening to the guidelines can make your flag better. Usually, when you make a flag that doesn’t follow the guidelines, it’s to enhance a different part of the flag. Some flags might be very complicated but make themselves distinct to enhance their symbolism.

(Graphic Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-California, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-South-Africa, https://preservationmaryland.org/history-maryland-flag/, https://flagpedia.net/bhutan, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Colorado )

Overall, flags are great ways to represent a community and a people, and I hope you feel excited to learn more about the amazing world of Vexillology.

Who Was Best Dressed at the Cupid Winter Wonderland Dance?

February 26, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Feature Post

By 7th-Grade Blogger Reagan Kaminsky

Last February, I interviewed PVS students to see who was truly the best dressed at the Valentine’s Day Dance. When the Cupid Winter Wonderland Dance rolled around, I knew what I had to do. Last year’s champion was, now sophomore, Elizabeth Greenwood. Who will take the win this year?

Let’s introduce our contestants:

First, is Emmy Kaminsky (Left), Emerson Dunn (Center), and Soleil Antle (Right).

Next, we have Ivana Vega (Left) and Zoey Guess (Right).

Here we have (the DJ) Kayliee Augustine-Sails.

Lastly, we have Lincoln Johnson (Left), Steven Liu (Center), Charlie Cowley (Right), and Sam West (Bottom).

I interviewed 21 people in total, and we had very close results. However, one person particularly stood out to the crowd. This year’s “Who was best dressed at the Cupid Winter Wonderland Dance?” winner was Zoey Guess! According to Zoey, she got her dress from Windsor. She said she needed to get a red dress; it was the first one she saw, and it was perfect! Clearly, the other PVS students and staff agreed with her; her dress was definitely a crowd favorite. With the elegant maxi style and contrasting fabrics, Zoey’s outfit was the perfect blend of cute and formal.

So, make sure to pick a great outfit when next year’s Valentine’s dance rolls around. You never know if there will be another competition!

A Grade Ahead

February 25, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

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

By Middle-School Blogger Jackie Pretorius

Once every year we have this thing called Move-up Day, where everyone goes to the next grade level. That means that the 5th graders get a sneak peek into middle school.

The 5th graders joined us for Morning Soar on Move-Up Day. Photo credit: PVS Facebook.

This year’s Move-Up Day started off with Morning Soar, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, doing what we normally do in assembly. We introduced the Middle-Upper School to the 5th graders and the 5th graders to the Middle-Upper School.

The schedule was different from a usual Friday, having all the periods from one to seven in order. This meant that students got to meet new teachers as well as revisit old ones. The classes showed us concepts we were going to do once we got to the next grade, while the electives stayed the same. The 12th graders went to college. Just kidding–they got a free day off, but they could also talk to the juniors and sophomores about the college-application process if they chose to during lunch.

PVS alumnus Sara Habibipour, now at UCLA, Facetimed with the Juniors and Sophomores, explaining the demands of the quarter system and midterms, and joys of college extracurriculars. Photo credit: PVS Facebook.

Let’s look at some quotes about Move-Up day.

Max (fellow blogger): I remember my first Move-up Day. It was a day like any other. My Move-Up Day buddy was Louisa Richardson, and she did an act of kindness that I’ll never forget. She bought me a bag of Cheetos at the vending machine for a dollar. I savored every last Cheeto.

7th-Grade Savannah had some words of wisdom for the 5th graders: “Don’t be nervous. Be yourself.”

Ms. Schapiro added, “Good advice.”

Sophomore John, after interacting with current college students, observed, I can see “hard work goes a long way.”

Overall, Move-Up Day was an exciting day as everyone got the chance to explore a bit of what the next grade has to offer.

New Year, New You–Is that really true?

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

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

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


A New Chapter?

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

A Dream that Continues Today

February 6, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

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

By 12th-grader Melina Brodeur

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day off from school, celebrated on the third Monday of January each year, even if it falls on a different day from his actual birthday. MLK Day is scheduled this way under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which places federal holidays on Mondays to lengthen the weekends. The importance of this day is to celebrate the legacy of a civil rights leader and to promote equality. Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader most known for his nonviolent protests to fight for racial equality and justice. My favorite quote from Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This quote is a call to action to stop oppression and injustice. He helped lead and advocate for civil rights movements, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which legislated an end to segregation. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is significant because it honors the life and the achievements of a leader who fought for equal rights and justice for everyone. Recognizing this day allows people to see the progress made toward racial equality and the work that remains.

Photo Credit: “The Art of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr” by the National Endowment for the Arts

Your Canadian Friends are Back!

February 5, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

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

By 8th-Grade Blogger Soleil Antle

Have you wondered why this time of year there is always so much traffic? Why the valley is so over populated?

That would be because your Canadian friends have returned. In Canada, during our warm spring months, it is absolutely freezing. There are so many blizzards, so much rain, and it’s difficult to get places because of the backlog of traffic, so a lot of Canadians use those months to travel. The estimated number of Canadian snowbirds that come to visit California annually is 1,600,000 (Canada to the USA).

I took a larger look and discovered many Canadians don’t just visit Palm Springs but they invest in it too and are among the top foreign buyers of property in our area. These snowbirds own 7% of homes in the Coachella Valley (Canada to USA). According to the LA Times, 303,600 Canadians visited the Palm Springs area, in 2017, spending roughly $236 million dollars!

“California has always been one of the prime winter-living locations for many Canadians. [They are] attracted by the reliable weather, the vibrant economy, and the engaging culture within the Coachella Valley. It’s a small pocket of paradise!” said Paul Antle, a long-time resident in both the Coachella Valley and Canada. He is also a board member of the school and my father.

Seriously, how beautiful is this view from Rancho Mirage’s Mission Hills? Photo credit: Soleil Antle

A Year Since The LA Fires

February 4, 2026 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

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

By Blogger Max Pretorius

Over a year ago, on the seventh of January, 2025, Southern California was shocked as Los Angeles was consumed by fire. By the time the dust settled on the 30th of January, according to The LA Times, an estimated 31 people died with an estimated damage cost of $250 billion, and, according to NBC News, 13,000 homes were destroyed.

A year later, we still see the effects of the fire. Despite a year having passed, according to NBC news, “fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt in Los Angeles County since Jan. 7, 2025.” Furthermore, NPR’s Capradio states that “insurance companies have paid $22.4 billion of the expected $40 billion in total claims from the L.A. fires.” We hope that in the future, LA can finally be rebuilt and that people can return to their homes.