the bird on fire

The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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Best of Blog ‘22-23

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By Junior Luke Sonderman

It is the end of the school year, and we have written a lot of interesting blog articles. We have had returning blog writers, new blog writers, and even some guest bloggers throughout this school year. I am excited to bring to you my personal rating of this year’s blog articles! 

1. “Teacher Madlib Video” by Levi Kassinove and Luke Sonderman

As much as I hate to nominate my own blog article out as the #1 of the year, I have to give the #1 spot the “Teacher Madlib Video” I did with Levi. This video blog consisted of nearly 100 videos of teachers saying random adjectives, nouns, and verbs that all fit into a Madlib-style story created by Levi and me. When this video launched from The Bird on Fire, the viewership was hot. Everyone was talking about the outrageous story we created using the words of Palm Valley’s very own teachers. If you want to see this video, visit thebirdonfire.org. 

2. “Stop Taking Your Pets Everywhere!” by Indy Behr

My selection for the second best blog article of the year goes to Indy Behr for “Stop Taking Your Pets Everywhere!” This blog article started an absolute riot in the comment section, and anyone who has read my articles knows that I am one for chaos and controversy. In this article, Indy discusses the dangers of allowing emotional support animals in public spaces. In a lengthy evidence-supported response to Indy’s article, Palm Valley Alumnus Luke Langlois said, “You use anecdotal evidence and buzzwords like scientific evidence to deny the one true motivation behind this post: you are a dog HATER.” In defense, Indy responded to Luke saying, “For the record, its[sic] pretty clear your argument is shaky when you attack my motivation and falsely accuse me, someone who very much appreciates dogs, of being a dog hater.” As tensions and tempers arise, Blogger Levi Kassinove responds to Indy’s comment with “*It’s” to correct Indy’s improper grammar. The comment section was almost more entertaining than the article! If you want to read the article and the battle in the comments, visit thebirdonfire.org.

3. “Steak of the Gods–Wagyu” by Levi Kassinove

One of the most popular articles of the year is my #3 choice, “Steak of the Gods–Wagyu,” by Levi Kassinove. I, myself, have never tried Wagyu, but after reading this article I almost feel like I have. Levi says that when you take a bite “it’s like a hedonist party in your mouth.” And, yes, he used the right form of “it’s.” Aside from making my mouth water, this article was a hit in student life! Walking through campus, I would hear Wagyu this, Wagyu that. I had never even heard of Wagyu until Levi told me about it! Even teachers were asking Levi about Wagyu during class! If you want to have a “hedonist party in your mouth,” visit thebirdonfire.org. 

4. “Dear Marley” by Jess Billimore

Although this article is what I consider a “cop out” (a minimal effort article that scores a good grade with Ms. Zachik, our blog advisor), I have put it on this list because of its widespread popularity. In this article, Jess gathered questions that various staff and students had for her chihuahua, Marley, and answered them from the point of view of her dog. So when you read this article, realize that Marley isn’t actually a talking dog, and, no, she didn’t actually answer these questions. Marley was a hit in the Upper, Middle, and even Lower School! The mother of Palm Valley 1st grader Natalie responded to the article saying, “Our Natalie loved reading this 🙂 thank you.” To view Marley (not actually) respond to Palm Valley’s questions, visit thebirdonfire.org. 

5. “An Ode To Levi’s Hoodie” by Indy Behr

Last but not least, my #5 pick again goes to Indy Behr–this time with “An Ode To Levi’s Hoodie.” In this article Indy discusses Levi’s treasured $139 hoodie made from alpaca fur. Indy even quoted me as I nicknamed Levi “Princess Levi” for his outrageous bougieness that was only topped off by this ridiculous hoodie. I mean come on, the guy eats $100+ Wagyu steaks. Like most of the articles on this list, it was a hit in the Middle and Upper School. Levi was getting questions left and right about his hoodie that Indy discussed in the article. After a week of Levi getting away with wearing this out-of-dress-code hoodie, Head of School Dr. Sherman told Levi to go back to wearing a school sweatshirt. To hear more about Indy’s obsession with Levi, visit thebirdonfire.org. 

It has been a fun year in Blog, full of great articles by our various blog writers, but it is time to say goodbye. Hopefully, you will hear more from me next year if I return to the blog staff, but until then… adios, 再見, au revoir, הֱיה שלום, さようなら, ลาก่อน, до свидания, and goodbye.

The Most Successful Unemployed Political Commentator in The History of Television News

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If you’ve been asking, “Where’s Tucker Carlson?” Luke has something to say about that.

By Junior Luke Sonderman

Photo Source: The Advocate

“Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson is  an American television host, conservative political commentator and author who has hosted the nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News since 2016” (imdb.com). On Monday, April 24th, Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News, fired Tucker Carlson from Fox News only one week after the Dominion Voting System settlement which made Fox News responsible for over $700 million in damages (latimes.com). So who is Tucker Carlson? Why did he get fired? And, why is he in the news headlines?

Tucker Carlson Tonight averaged over 3.25 million views per night in 2023 (thehill.com). That is over double CNN’s total nightly viewership (forbes.com). According to Britannica, “Carlson was known for his extreme positions on a range of political and social issues” (britannica.com). Time Magazine refers to Tucker Carlson’s style of journalism as “Tuckerism,” saying that he “sanitizes and legitimizes right-wing conspiratorial thinking, dodges when you try to nail him down on the specifics, then wraps it all in an argument about censorship and free speech” (time.com). His massive fanbase is full of millions of Americans “who are already suspicious of everything he questions” (time.com). Carlson gained traction amongst the far right by televising theories that challenged mainstream media reports on subjects as varied as immigration, George Floyd, and masks (time.com). After Carlson and Fox parted ways on April 21st, Fox’s market value dropped by a whopping 800 million dollars (cbsnews.com). 

Although Carlson’s removal coincidentally came a week after the 700-million-dollar Dominion lawsuit, The Guardian attributes his removal from the company to “a lawsuit filed by his former senior booking producer Abby Grossberg, who claimed she faced sexism and a hostile work environment” (theguardian.com). 

Personally, I attribute his removal to a more long-term plan for credibility on Fox’s part. There is no doubt that Carlson’s removal has hurt the finances of Fox, but removing extreme far-right commentators on Fox News will only help their long-term credibility, especially once conspiracy-theory breeders fall out of the limelight. I think Fox wants to leave the conspiracy theories to sources like Newsmax and Info Wars. It suits them better. 

It’s a bird? No. It’s a plane? No. It’s Jocelynn Montoya!!! 

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Luke continues our senior profile spotlights with a look at Jocelynn (Joss) Montoya–master kayaker, big fan of extra-credit Jeopardy, and AP Calculus lyricist.

By Junior Luke Sonderman

Joss, Class of 2023, has recently committed to the University of California Irvine (UCI). There’s a lot you may not know about Joss, so let’s take a brief moment to talk a little bit about her.

Joss Montoya was born in Glendale, California, in 2005. Joss spent most of her childhood in Los Angeles, moving to the desert and enrolling in Palm Valley during 10th grade. Joss’s favorite part about moving to the desert has been “the better school and better friends.” 

Throughout her time at Palm Valley, Joss has been a member of the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team and the Varsity Baseball Team. She achieved an athletic award for her dedication to the sports program at Palm Valley. “I’ve made lots of friends through the sports teams I’ve been a part of . . . . The athletics I’ve participated in have helped keep me active throughout the school year,” said Joss.

Graduating Senior Joss Montoya will head off to UC Irvine.

Aside from her sports career at Palm Valley, in her senior year, Joss held the position of Vice President in Student Government. Her leadership helped coordinate successful events over the course of this year such as the 2022 Upper School Homecoming, the Middle and Upper School Winter Dream Dance, the 2023 Upper School Prom at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Resort, and many others. She even, on occasion, dressed up as the school mascot Phineas the Firebird during school activities! Joss joined student government because “she wanted to make student life more fun, bringing more events for students in the Middle and Upper Schools.”

In the fall of 2023, Joss will be attending UC Irvine, planning to major in medicine. Joss intends on pursuing a career in dermatology. “I want to attend UCI because it is a great school and has a great campus,” said Joss. Some of Joss’s other college acceptances included Hawaii Pacific University with a full tuition scholarship, University of Arizona with a $30,000 per year scholarship, Oregon University with a $10,000 per year scholarship, and Azusa Pacific University with a $20,000 per year scholarship. Must be some genius, huh. 

Joss’s parting words for Palm Valley staff and students are, “I know school won’t be the same without me, but try to have some fun.”

The Largest Health Crisis in the History of the World

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Luke is serious. While the rest of us explored food from around the world–British biscuits, New York’s French restaurants, sushi, Luke considered the health of our relationship with the food we eat.

By Upper-School Blogger Luke Sonderman

“Obesity is the leading cause of death in the United States,” declares The Big Think (bigthink.com). Obesity contributes to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and gallbladder disease (cdc.gov). In a day and age where acknowledging the dangers of obesity creates labels such as “fatphobic” and “fat shaming,” the rate of obesity exponentially and tragically increases (bluezones.com). 

What is obesity?

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is defined as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health” (who.int). Obesity is measured through the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is measured by taking a person’s body weight in kilograms, and dividing it by their height squared (cdc.gov). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), people with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese (cdc.gov ).

Weight gain is “caused [by] extra calories . . . being stored in the body as fat” (nhs.uk). This being said, the most effective way to lose weight for people with a fast or slow metabolism is eating less food and exercising more, says Harvard Medical School  (harvard.edu). With a caloric deficit and more calories burned, weight can be lost and a normal BMI can be maintained (nhlbi.nih.gov). However, sources like England’s National Health Service says the causes and solutions can be complicated by the particulars of diet, exercise, genetics, and underlying medical conditions (nhs.uk). 

Dangers of Obesity

As of 2020, 41.9% of Americans are obese (cdc.gov). There is a difference between being overweight and obese. On the BMI scale, one must be between 25-30 BMI to be overweight, and 30+ to be obese (who.int). Being overweight simply means that someone weighs more than what is medically recommended for their weight and to get back to their recommended weight it is recommended that they reduce their food intake (as advised by their physician) and exercise more (diffen.com). Obesity is actually a disease which comes with the major health risks mentioned above. Recently, we saw 50.2 percent of hospitalized Covid patients suffered from obesity (beckershospitalreview.com). 

2.8 million people die every year because of obesity (who.int 2021). That is more deaths than four and a half US Civil Wars (nps.gov). According to the World Health Organization, 46% of abdominal obesity in the world could be caused by fast food (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In the United States on any given day, ⅓ of adults eat fast food (cdc.gov). According to Harvard University, some common causes of obesity are “the ready availability of food at all hours of the day and in places that once did not sell food, such as gas stations, pharmacies, and office supply stores; a dramatic decrease in physical activity during work, domestic activities, and leisure time, especially among children; increased time spent watching television, using computers, and performing other sedentary activities; the influx of highly processed foods, fast food, and sugar-sweetened beverages, along with the ubiquitous marketing campaigns that promote them” (harvard.edu). 

How does culture in the United States influence the growth of obesity?

According to Dr. Nancy Trout, “[O]ur American culture promotes obesity. Environmental influences steer us to choose unhealthy foods and eat portion sizes that are far too large” (advancingkids.org). Recent “Robert Wood Johnson State of Childhood Obesity data shows that 19.3% of children between the ages of 2-19 in the United States have obesity” (advancingkids.org). Dr. Trout goes on to say that staples of many of her child patients include “hot ranch Cheetos or Doritos, Oreos, sugary cereals such as Frosted Flakes or Fruit Loops, Lunchables, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, . . . pizza, . . . sweetened iced teas, juices, sports drinks, sodas and chocolate milk” and even says that since the Covid-19 pandemic, many child patients reported that they are “not engaging in any physical activity” (advancingkids.org). Unlike other countries, in the United States, high fructose corn syrup is used in many products such as Heinz Ketchup, Quaker Oatmeal, and soda (ronproject.com). Obesity is affecting children, adults, and senior citizens.

Conclusion

It has become apparent that the Obesity Crisis in the United States is being fueled by American Culture. Physical well being needs to be taught in schools, and parents need to be held accountable for what they feed their children. If people don’t know how to combat the problem, then how are we as a nation supposed to fight the epidemic? We, as a nation, need to educate ourselves on the dangers of being obese and how to maintain a healthy body weight. 

Being a cow is actually healthy

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By Junior Luke Sonderman

Photo Source: Steemit

Cows eat grass. Do you eat grass? You heard me correctly: I asked if you eat grass. Most people would probably say, No, I don’t eat grass! But, if you want to regulate your blood sugar, slow the growth of cancer, lose weight, and eat healthier, then you should be like a cow and add wheatgrass to your diet.

What is wheatgrass?

“Wheatgrass is the young grass of the wheat plant, Triticum Aestivum”(webmd). It is grown as a microgreen (to learn about how microgreens are grown visit my microgreens article on thebirdonfire.org). Wheatgrass has many proven health benefits. You may see wheatgrass sold at farmers markets and used as an ingredient in juices and juice-cleanses. Here’s what wheatgrass can do for you.

Slow the Growth of Cancer Cells

Wheatgrass has dozens of proven health benefits: one being slowing the growth of cancer cells. In a study conducted at the Sinhgad Dental College and Hospital on the effect of wheatgrass on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)–one of the most common forms of cancer, Professor Sangeeta Jayant Palaskar along with colleagues concluded that “the aqueous extract of wheatgrass has an inhibitory effect on the oral cancer cell line proliferation” (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Wheatgrass is known to increase oxygen levels in the blood, and since cancer cells grow best in oxygen deprived blood, wheatgrass will slow the growth of cancer cells by up to 65%, according to Dr. Alice Williams at the Origym Centre of Excellence (express.co.uk/life-style/health). 

Lose Weight

A study conducted in 2015 by Doctor Gil Bar-Sela and colleagues at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa showed that there may be promising evidence that wheatgrass can increase metabolism aiding in weight loss (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Studies have also shown that ingesting wheatgrass daily can reduce hunger and help patients maintain a healthy caloric deficit to safely lose weight (prevention.com/food-nutrition). 

Regulate Blood Sugar and Diabetes

According to the Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology, “[W]heatgrass is very effective in enhancing the levels of lipids and glucose, which in turn helps in controlling diabetes” (24mantra.com/blogs/health). According to a study at Pondicherry University, India, wheatgrass can increase the capacity in which insulin can bind to its receptors, increasing the efficiency of insulin in type II diabetes patients (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). 

Contribute to a Healthy Diet

Wheatgrass contains phytochemicals which help boost the immune system (health.clevelandclinic.org). Wheatgrass can also assist the gut in breaking down food because of its enzymes (webmd.com). Wheatgrass also contains Vitamin A, C, E, K, B, and Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium (webmd.com). 

Summary

In conclusion, there is no reason that you shouldn’t take wheatgrass!* It improves your gut health, slows the progression of cancer, aids type II diabetics, and helps you lose weight! It is a super potion. 

*Do adhere to medical guidelines if you have allergies.

What’s Love?

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By AI and Luke Sonderman

I asked bloggers to define that slippery concept “love.” Luke turned to AI. The result was “Blah.” Then, Luke went Luke-ish. His poem is not a love missive most want to receive, but it’s original.

Blog Advisor Zachik

Love according to AI: 

Love is a fire that burns within,

A force that knows no end or sin,

It binds two souls with gentle touch,

And fills their hearts with love so much.

Love is a melody sweetly sung,

A symphony that never becomes unsung,

It brings together hearts and minds,

And leaves all else far behind.

Love is a flower that blooms and grows,

A fragrance that always flows,

It lifts us up and makes us whole,

And warms the coldest, loneliest soul.

Love is a treasure that we hold,

A story that will always be told,

It’s the magic that lights up our days,

And forever in our hearts, it stays.

Love according to Luke:

Love is being right. 

There is nothing better than being right.

Whether being right makes someone else cry,

And especially when it makes someone else say “I am wrong,”

Love is being right.

Some people say “It’s not about being right, it’s about being nice.”

Those people are what I like to call LOSERS.

Do you want to be a loser?

No.

Be a winner.

Be Right.

If anyone knows what love feels like, it’s me. 

Because I am ALWAYS RIGHT.

Ask anyone, they’ll tell you. 

So the next time you feel down or lonely. Maybe unloved.

Scoot your way into an argument and WIN.

You can trust me. I am ALWAYS right.

I started a microgreenery in my friend’s backyard.

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By Luke Sonderman, Backyard Farmer

Microgreens. No, I’m not talking about broccoli and baby carrots. I am talking about microgreens. What are microgreens? I asked myself that same question before I spent a thousand dollars building a farm. 

What are microgreens?

Microgreens are vegetables that are picked as young seedlings right as leaves begin to grow (integrisok.com). Microgreens are grown in many varieties and can be found at farmers markets and fancy boutique grocery stores. If the microgreens are grown hydroponically (grown in water with no soil), you can find them at stores and farmers markets still growing in the package!

How did I become a microgreen farmer?

I decided to go into business with my best friend Ethan after he pitched the idea of growing microgreens to me. I had no idea what microgreens were, but after researching microgreen business models, I discovered that it was a business venture with very little risk. Ethan found a business in Joshua Tree via Facebook Marketplace that was selling a 10ft x10ft microgreens grow tent, microgreen racks, microgreen grow trays, a grow tent ventilation fan, several LED grow lights, and booth decoration for farmers markets. After purchasing the equipment, we built the tent and set up the racks with lights. With our farm assembled, we began doing research into the most profitable microgreens to grow and the most popular microgreens at farmers markets. 

How microgreens are grown

After starting our farm, we had to make the big decision whether to grow our greens in soil or hydroponically. Hydroponically-grown microgreens are grown in water trays with no soil. This means that when you package them, if you put water into the container they will continue to live and grow as long as they stay in water. For simplicity, we grow our microgreens in soil. It is much easier. 

When can you buy our microgreens?

Since we are still in the testing and licensing phase of our farm, our microgreens are not yet for sale. In coordination with multiple local farmers markets, we plan to have multiple farmers market spots throughout the seasons where we will sell our microgreens, mixes, and microgreen beverages! So, in the next few months, when you are at your local Coachella Valley farmers market, look for the name Little Sprouts, and try some microgreens. Maybe you’ll get a little friends and family discount!

The Art of Bonsai

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By Luke Sonderman

You may have heard of tiny little trees that look like they are fully grown. And, no, I’m not talking about broccoli. Bonsai trees are trees whose roots have limited space to grow, which makes the tree grow in a miniature version. If you haven’t heard of bonsai, you may be living under a rock. I own three bonsais, so I know what I’m talking about. 

What does “bonsai” mean?

Bonsai is a Japanese word that literally means “planted in a container” (bonsaiempire.com). The larger a container you give a bonsai, the larger it will grow. According to the bonsaiempire.com, “This art form is derived from an ancient Chinese horticultural practice, part of which was then redeveloped under the influence of Japanese Zen Buddhism.” 

How to groom a bonsai?

You heard me right. As a bonsai owner, you also assume the role of a gardener who must groom their tree. It is important to groom your bonsai to make it keep its appearance as a mini-version of the full size tree. While grooming my bonsai, I like to start at the bottom of the trunk and work my way up by trimming off small branch off-shoots along the trunk. Once I make my way up to the large branches, I start to work on the shape of the tree. To do this, I groom the leaves into a visually pleasing shape. It is important to cut the leaves at the base of the stem or else they will quickly grow back. Finally, I search for any other dried-out or dead leaves and snip them off as well. If you don’t have an image in your head of what you want your tree to take the shape of, I would look up images of your tree and shape it accordingly. 

Are bonsai trees expensive?

The common misconception about bonsai trees is that they are all very expensive and take forever to grow. This is untrue. There are many affordable bonsais and even some bonsais that don’t take forever to grow. The most common bonsai to own is a juniper bonsai. Juniper bonsais flourish outdoors but can survive indoors if watered properly and exposed to lots of sunlight. A  five-year-old juniper bonsai will cost between 40 and 60 dollars. This will be a tree that is 3-5 inches tall. Even 50-year-old juniper bonsais will only cost between 800 and 1000 dollars (bonanza.com). So, yes, you may be able to find bonsais for $30,000, but there are plenty of affordable options. 

bonsaiempire.com

Why should you own a bonsai?

You should own a bonsai because it’s a mini tree. Who doesn’t like mini stuff? It’s like having a pet that doesn’t bite you or wee on your new carpet. Ready to start? My favorite bonsai dealer is brusselsbonsai.com. 

I Saved A Turtle

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By Junior Luke Sonderman

By the title you may think I’m one of those paper straws, anti-plastic, and save-the-turtles-shirt type of guy. You’re 100% wrong. I don’t do anything small. I go big. Instead of picking up trash on the beach and posting those little save-the-turtle squares on Instagram, I did the real thing and I saved an actual turtle. You may be wondering what I mean by “I saved a turtle.“

It all started at the Tamale Festival in November. I did my usual thing… eat tamales and drink horchata, but as I wandered the fair grounds I noticed a small easy-up with those little plastic aquariums. What I saw inside the aquariums was absolutely mind boggling. THEY WERE GIVING AWAY TURTLES TO CHILDREN WHO WON THE CARNIVAL GAME. I had to get one of the turtles and save him from the wrath of young children with little dirty fingers. 

It’s Demetry–Luke’s turtle.

My turtle’s name is Demetrious or Demetry. Whatever you prefer. He is a Red-Eared Slider who is around 2.5 inches long. Most people think that owning a turtle is a high maintenance job, but it is actually pretty easy.

Every day, I like to start my morning by getting up and turning on Demetry’s UV light. This is his source of sunlight and vitamin D. This usually wakes him up in the morning. One important thing you have to put in sub-aquatic turtle tanks is a basking platform. This can be any dry platform above the water with sunlight pointed at it. This is where they dry off and absorb sunlight. This is also where I feed my turtle Demetry. My basking platform is a floating styrofoam rock structure. 

When it comes to feeding my turtle, I used to like to put his turtle pellets on the basking platform. Demetry, smart little fellow, kept knocking the pellets in the water. The reason–turtles only eat underwater. I also learned turtles mostly poop while they’re eating. So as a shortcut to cleanliness, I feed Demetry in a plastic container full of water. When he’s done eating, I put him back in the untainted tank and clean the soiled container.

The one pain that comes with having a turtle is replacing the water and cleaning the tank. I replace half of the water in his tank every two weeks or sooner depending on how musty the tank looks. Once the rocks at the bottom of the tank collect enough sludge and grime, I empty the whole tank and clean off the rocks in the tank. It is important to keep the water clean, and there are chemicals I put in the water weekly that reduce the amount of sludge, grime, and murkiness in the water. I also clean off Demetry when I replace the water because his shell will get sludge from the water on it. 

I highly recommend getting a lil turtle like mine. He is very cute and isn’t susceptible to the ocean threat of plastic straws. A turtle is a very easy pet to own and very lovable. Demetry and I play a game of hide and seek. Since I’m bigger, he swims to the other side of the tank when I walk towards the aquarium. But, I sense I’m winning him over.

Student-Led Conferences Are Dumb: A Luke Rant

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Student-Led Conferences are scheduled for Monday, November 7. Luke has lived through several of these bi-annual conferences. And, he has an opinion about them . . .

By Junior Luke Sonderman

This is going to sound like a bit of a rant, but hear me out. I think that the Palm Valley student-led conferences do no good for most students, and there isn’t much of a reason to have them in place. Let me explain.

The Problem

End results are all that matter. Who cares how you get there? As long as you produce solid end results there is no reason for parents to stay updated on their child’s academic progress. Don’t taste the dish before you cut the onions. Don’t eat the burger before you cook the meat. Don’t fry the eggs before you crack them. Don’t drink the milk right from the cow. Don’t cook the chicken before you pluck the feathers. Anywho, students read off of a script that asks for pieces of work that students are proud of. Hold up… why do parents need to see what their kid is proud of at a conference? Students can show their parents work they’re proud of at any time. If they’re really proud of it, then they shouldn’t need a script to get them to show their parents. 

Also, student-led conferences should really only be about what needs improvement. If I’m getting a 4.5 GPA, then why should my parents have to leave work to come to a conference about my progress? That’s what PROGRESS reports are for. 

Honestly, I feel kinda bad for the teachers. Imagine having to sit at school all day talking to parents of High Honor Roll students on what they need to do to improve. Just take your A+ and be happy with it. 

The Solution

I think that student-led conferences should only be held for students that are in significant need of academic improvement. Maybe a better solution would be to have a set GPA threshold that determined which students are in need of a conference, or advisors could decide which students really needed a group conference with the teacher and parents. 

Students prepare for the Student-Led Conference where the discuss their classes, their academic strengths, and their challenges.

I mean when everything is said and done, I am cool with the day off of school. If I have to spend a half hour of my day talking about what I need to do to improve my academic performance then so be it.