Motoko Iwata (Class of 2026) joined The Voice in her sophomore year. At Paly, she does badminton and debate. In her free time, Motoko enjoys spending time with her friends and reading about current events.
![Mike Stieren, a new assistant principal at Palo Alto High School, said he is feeling many different emotions joining the Paly staff this year. "It's equal parts nervousness and excitement because I get to learn about this place [Paly]," Stieren said. "The best way to learn is from you guys [students]."](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_6723-1200x900.jpg)
![Junior Scarlett Frick sails across her peers during the Rapid River relay race. Senior Sophia Ahn, who attended the rally, found Spirit Week as a fun break from school. "It [Spirit Week] has been so fun," Ahn said. "I've loved seeing everyone dress up, I love taking pictures and it's a really nice break form all the stress."](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/364A8696-2-1200x888.jpg)
![In the fourth period AP Calculus BC class at Palo Alto High School, senior Crystal Li places her phone in the “phone jail.” Starting July 2026, this may become a normal procedure across schools in California thanks to Governor Gavin Newsom signing the Phone-Free School Act into law last week. According to Li, there are often unnecessary complications that come with enforcing phone restrictions. "It becomes a hassle putting it [a phone] in [the phone jail] before class, and taking it out after class," Li said. "There have been multiple times where kids from other periods interrupt the teacher to come back in and pick up a phone they left."](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_7386-3-1200x900.jpg)
