The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice
The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice
The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice
Tara Kapoor

Tara Kapoor, Editor-in-Chief

Tara Kapoor (Class of 2022) joined The Voice her sophomore year and loves baking vegan banana bread, playing with her dog, and dancing.
All content by Tara Kapoor
Spirit Week Vlog (Day 1 & 2): Paly enthusiasm shines in first Spirit Week in two years

Spirit Week Vlog (Day 1 & 2): Paly enthusiasm shines in first Spirit Week in two years

October 12, 2021
No outdoor mask mandate to come in high schools, says Supt. Austin

No outdoor mask mandate to come in high schools, says Supt. Austin

September 7, 2021

Forced June AP exams scrapped, Paly offers all in May

April 7, 2021
Recruitment in a pandemic: athletes perspective on college sports recruitment

Recruitment in a pandemic: athletes’ perspective on college sports recruitment

March 26, 2021
Students prize social interaction from in-person return

Students prize social interaction from in-person return

March 24, 2021
Paly Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson observes students eating during lunch break to ensure that those on campus follow safety protocols. Berkson said students have a broad range of emotional responses to the pandemic, and he says he hopes that reopening and socialization will help address the mental health needs of all students. “I think different people are affected in different ways [with] their mental health through this whole thing [pandemic],” Berkson said. “I have two kids, and I would say they werent affected at all.” [[is there a better quote you can use here? maybe something that actually has to do w/campus and what the picture is about]] [[also if the picture was originally higher res, you should crop in more i think]] Photo: Daniel Garepis-Holland.

Admin applauds campus return, eager for more students

March 12, 2021
Last month, parents protested outside of the Palo Alto Unified School District office demanding reopening of schools for student education, mental health, and normalcy. After Santa Clara County gave the go-ahead for an in-person return for grades 7-12 once the county enters red tier, PAUSD secondary reopening preparations launched once again. While some students are hesitant about safety and feel online class from the classroom will not be beneficial, nearly half of students surveyed plan to return immediately for peer and student-teacher interaction. “I would like to try it out and see if its a model that works for me,” School Board representative and Paly senior Medha Atla said. “Open campus would be really nice, but I understand that safety comes first. In an ideal world, everybody would be vaccinated and/or we wouldnt have a lot of exposure.” Photo: Daniel Garepis-Holland.

Schoolwide survey shows students conflicted on reopening

February 25, 2021
An empty Palo Alto High School quad. With over half of this year spent in virtual schooling, the Paly community lacks in-person connection. Brent Kline, Paly’s new prinicipal. Im just talking about ideas and trying to achieve something thats going to accommodate everyone, Principal Brent Kline said. We need to bring life back. 

Despite constraints, principal highlights students’ need for interaction and secondary reopening

February 23, 2021
Many parents say they look forward to their children receiving an in-person middle school experience, from classroom teaching away from a screen to learning to bike to campus independently. Following mounting pressure from parents, the Palo Alto Unified School District announced last week that sixth grade will reopen in March with permitting county guidelines. Safety regulations outlined by the district in addition to their success in maintaining safe in-person cohorts for elementary school students helped to alleviate health concerns, according to Greene Middle School parent Jenny Dixon. “I think the district has shown they can do it successfully in the elementary school,” Dixon said. “Theyre just doing a really good job with all of the cleaning and health screening. The PP, the smaller classrooms, the air purifiers … weve just shown that it can be done safely.”

Parents applaud sixth grade return to campus

February 15, 2021
Title IX policy alteration unlikely; admin look to support students in other ways

Title IX policy alteration unlikely; admin look to support students in other ways

February 6, 2021
Subject tests axed; students, colleges largely shrug

Subject tests axed; students, colleges largely shrug

January 27, 2021
As Paly students begin thinking about classes to take next year, Palo Alto Unified District and Palo Alto High School administrators alike gear up amidst uncertainty surrounding a possible in person return for next year. While PAUSD Superintendent Don Austin said that class signups are unlikely to happen in the next few weeks, Paly Principal Brent Kline stated in a message to The Paly Voice that “our course selection process will continue through February and is separate from the learning/teaching model and bell schedule that will be used in the fall.”

Austin: District won’t exclude unvaccinated students, teachers from in-person school

January 24, 2021
As a deeply divided America heads into Inauguration Day, now more than ever is the time to address the growing political polarization. For all that has separated us over the past four years, our nations leaders must usher in a period of healing and unity. Sophomore Owen Kuwayti agreed, stating that recent politics were eye-opening in understanding presidential impact on each of us. “A president should act professionally as well as have strong morals as well as be qualified for the job,” Kuwayti said. “It [the past four years of leadership] made me realize how important it is to have a good person in office.

Column: A youth view of polarization in democracy

January 20, 2021
Principal Brent Kline communicates with Paly parents on the details of the modified reopening plan in the works and answers questions from community members. The plan has shifted significantly since the draft of a reopening plan was discussed by the school board on Nov. 10. Now, the possibility of reopening would take place earliest in February or March for smaller groups of students. “I would say this is more taking the online classes into a classroom supported by a certificated teacher and possibly another… assistant in the classroom,” Kline said. “We’re still working on the details but it’s not going to be the hybrid model that we were promoting earlier.”

School revises reopening plans after COVID-19 restrictions tighten

December 15, 2020
Gunn High School teachers wrote an open letter to the Palo Alto Unified School District requesting a reconsideration of the reopening plan unanimously passed by the school board. In addition to detailing misleading comments from the meeting, the letter discusses safety risks and damages to student education that could result from the plan. School board member Ken Dauber said the board remains firm on their stance on reopening, nevertheless. “It would be astonishing if we got through these complicated choices without there being disagreement,” Dauber said. “Doesnt mean that I dont understand the positions that people have or that Im not listening. Its just that … were looking, I think, at the total situation, and trying to achieve these outcomes, and serve these values.”

Petitioners against reopening likely to achieve goal, despite board plans

November 20, 2020
For the first time every, Palo Alto High School stage tech is behind the scenes of fully online theater productions. After weeks of preparation, stage tech team is hosting “Clue,” “Murder by Poe,” and “She Kills Monsters” via Zoom. The new virtual setting presents many challenges but also produces opportunities for creative adjustments, according to junior and assistant director Maya Mazer-Hoofien. “It was a little frustrating, but we made it work,” Mazer-Hoofien said. “We’re more confident with the virtual space, and we get so much input from each other.” Graphic: Kabir Advani.

Stage tech brings virtual performances to life

November 16, 2020
Following constantly flipping messages on second semester reopening as COVID-19 cases spiked and subsided, secondary schools plan to reopen later this spring, amid growing parent pressure for in-person experience.

Principal talks connection, community as Board reopening vote looms

November 10, 2020
As Palo Alto High Schools robotics coach in 2018, Kathleen Krier aimed to expand the diversity of the team. Almost two years after a series of conflicts with robotics students that led to her resignation in Oct. 2018, Krier has filed a set of lawsuits against the district and a group of robotics students and parents. The cases claim wrongful termination of Kriers employment as well as harassment and homophobic acts towards her. Defendants [Paly students and parents] intended to disrupt the performance of the agreement [of Kriers employment contract] by having the plaintiff [Krier] removed from her position as coach of the robotics team, court complaints state. Defendants engaged in such conduct with malice, oppression or fraud. Photo: Eleanor Krugler. Additional reporting: Tony Liao.

Former robotics coach sues for wrongful termination, ‘discrimination,’ ‘harassment’

October 25, 2020
Orange apocalypse for the fall? Following dozens of major fires across California, the atmosphere filled with smoke and left red-orange light to filter through and tint in the sky for multiple days in mid-September. The abnormal weather was not only a sign of the danger of nearby fires, but also a wake-up call to the severity of climate change. Palo Alto High School science teacher Nicole Loomis emphasized the need to shift towards renewables. “Carbon concentration in the atmosphere will continue to increase at a rate that was faster than it would otherwise,” Loomis said, adding that the nation should “reduce reliance on coal.” Photo: Ethan Chen.

Column: Vote for the planet

October 21, 2020
The Palo Alto Board of Education met Tuesday night to finalize discussion of and approve a plan that would start to bring students back to school. The first wave of elementary students are slated to return on Oct. 12, though many teachers indicated that they felt uncomfortable returning so soon to in-person teaching as the global pandemic rages on. “I feel confident that we have a safe plan, and that staff has worked really hard to make sure that it is safe,” Board member Shounak Dharap said. “The issues raised by the PAEA have been answered to my ear, with respect to PPE and safety measures.” Photo: Ethan Hwang.

Board unanimously approves reopening plan

October 2, 2020
Teachers urge Board to put brakes on reopening plan

Teachers urge Board to put brakes on reopening plan

September 24, 2020
Current PAUSD parent and attorney Karna Nisewaner is running for the Palo Alto Board of Education this fall. She highlights district transparency, clear and flexible plans and as some of her main campaign issues. With decades of experience balancing the needs of different agencies, personal connection to school policies effects on her children and a position as a PACCC board member, Nisewaner looks to bring the community together. “I think I can be an effective voice for many people who do not currently feel heard,” Nisewaner said.

School Board Profile: Karna Nisewaner

September 15, 2020
School Board Profile: Jesse Ladomirak

School Board Profile: Jesse Ladomirak

September 11, 2020
Katie Causey, an alumnus of Ohlone Elementary School, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School and Palo Alto High School, is running for the Palo Alto Board of Education. She looks to focus district efforts on student well-being and empowerment if elected. Along these lines, a handful of her main campaign issues include lowering the voting age and amplifying student voices through student committees. “Ive spent half my life as a student in this district, and since I was a teenager have worked hands on to support our community, Causey said. That is what our district needs right now. And Im here to help.”

School Board Profile: Katie Causey

September 7, 2020
Admin: PAUSD will not host PSAT in October

Admin: PAUSD will not host PSAT in October

August 27, 2020
Column: The friendliest gesture is to stay away

Column: The friendliest gesture is to stay away

May 28, 2020
Graphic by Margaret Li

Students reflect on virtual Advanced Placement Exams

May 25, 2020
Student Activities Director Matt Hall departs Paly to pursue lifelong goal

Student Activities Director Matt Hall departs Paly to pursue lifelong goal

April 17, 2020
Activities director to leave in June

Activities director to leave in June

April 13, 2020
BREAKING: Shelter-in-place order extended until May 3

BREAKING: Shelter-in-place order extended until May 3

March 31, 2020
BREAKING: AP exams to be open note

BREAKING: AP exams to be “open note”

March 28, 2020
Column: Underclassmen, lets beat the pandemic gloom

Column: Underclassmen, let’s beat the pandemic gloom

March 24, 2020
Opinion: Stop panic-buying during COVID-19

Opinion: Stop panic-buying during COVID-19

March 19, 2020
District to eschew online learning in event of shutdown

District to eschew online learning in event of shutdown

March 12, 2020
Prom, CAASPP testing ‘postponed,’ many events canceled, amid new Coronavirus precautions

Prom, CAASPP testing ‘postponed,’ many events canceled, amid new Coronavirus precautions

March 9, 2020
Student discussions aim to combat vaping culture

Student discussions aim to combat vaping culture

March 1, 2020
Voting for the first time? We’ve got you covered.

Voting for the first time? We’ve got you covered.

March 1, 2020
Anti-vaping campaign kicks off tomorrow with student discussion

Anti-vaping campaign kicks off tomorrow with student discussion

February 24, 2020
Senior Leila Khan fights to keep the ball moving forward as she pushes her way past a Homestead defender. Photo: Tara Kapoor

Girls’ soccer on edge of elimination after senior night loss

February 10, 2020
Photo: Sony Pictures and Columbia Pictures

‘Little Women’: breathtaking screenplay but lacks connection

February 6, 2020
Director of Human Resources Lisa Hickey (left), Deputy Superintendent Karen Hendricks, and Associate Superintendent Sharon Ofek speak with students at the Needs Assessment meeting on Tuesday in the Media Arts Center. Students brought up what they wanted in a new Paly principal, including one-on-one connection between students and administration, and improving student wellness. Hendricks said the Needs Assessment meetings are instrumental to gain community insight on the principal search. “This gathering of thinking is an extremely important part of the recruiting and hiring process,” Hendricks said.

Students look for connection, transparency in new principal

February 6, 2020
Photo by: Amy Lin

District to hear community priorities, concerns for principal search

January 30, 2020
Verbatim: Paly students and staff discuss current impeachment trial

Verbatim: Paly students and staff discuss current impeachment trial

January 25, 2020
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