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
Ava Knapp

Ava Knapp, News Editor

Ava Knapp (Class of 2026) joined The Paly Voice her sophomore year. She does cross country/track and field and plays the piano.

All content by Ava Knapp
Students shelter beneath desks after a lockdown was issued at 11:24 a.m. for Palo Alto High School. According to Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson, a similar lockdown occurred at Gunn two minutes before the order to lockdown at Paly. “We got a call from a violence hotline that informed us that someone had mentioned in a chat that they were going to commit violence at our school,” Berkson said.

School issues all-clear after lockdown

Celina Lee and Ava Knapp
November 12, 2024

Spirit Week 2024 Timeline

Ava Knapp and Celina Lee
October 28, 2024
UNAFF posters line University Avenue advertising the upcoming festival Thursday through Saturday in Palo Alto and Stanford. According to film director Yuriko Gamo Romer, last year's festival was a great experience for her film to be showcased. "Jasmina does a beautiful job collecting local films and presenting them to the Bay Area," Romer said. "I attended a filmmaker lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the screening and a couple of other films. Our film won Best Cinematography award and that is always a nice bonus."

International film festival seeks to inspire younger generation

Ava Knapp, News Editor
October 20, 2024
Following the senior class dance, the Class of 2025 rushes towards the bleachers, running through their green sign. Sophomore Kane Do commended the seniors performance. "They did really well and I hope they have a nice farewell," Do said.

Class dances, floats take Spirit Week to finish line

Ava Knapp and Augustus Soedarmono
October 20, 2024
Kicker Lara Saslow, a junior on palo Alto High School boys' football team, looks towards her team, waiting to jump into a drill. Saslow needs to not only juggle her multiple classes, but at the same time, dedicate time and energy into her two sports -- boys' football and girls' flag football. "It's pretty stressful balancing flag, tackle, and school, "A big part of it is being on varsity and having to go to morning practice."

Football player forges path for future female athletes

Ava Knapp and Joy Tan
September 26, 2024
United States Representative Anna Eshoo in red stands with the leaders who made the electric Caltrain possible this weekend at the Palo Alto University train station. According to Eshoo, the team effort was the only way this achievement was possible, "I had to have my colleagues with me; this wouldn't have happened without everyone's support and effort," Eshoo said.

Caltrain enters electric era with launch party

Ava Knapp, News Editor
September 22, 2024
The new Wellness Center in the Tower Building at Palo Alto High School offers crafts and relaxing games for students during lunch time. According to Wellness Coordinator Andy Barker, many students have already taken advantage of the space. "A lot of students have used the space already to get the services they need, or to talk to someone else,” Barker said.

Tower Building Wellness Center welcomes students

Sophie Zhang and Ava Knapp
September 10, 2024
The Tower Learning Center in the Tower Building is set to open Monday. According to intervention specialist, math teacher and temporary supervisor YJ Lee, many students are looking forward to the new area. "I have had a lot of students come in asking about the space or how to get tutored or be a tutor," Lee said. "A lot of people are curious and we're really excited."

Tower Learning Center opens, a timeless space for modern learning

Ava Knapp and Sophie Zhang
August 25, 2024
Principal Brent Kline speaks Tuesday afternoon to freshmen and other new students at orientation on the Quad at Palo Alto High School. Kline set expectations for the culture at Paly. "We hope you take advantage and ask questions of our upperclassmen who put this together and that you follow our values of learn, connect and respect," Kline said.

Freshman orientation marks start of school

Ava Knapp, News Editor
August 13, 2024
The Palo Alto High School Class of 2024 prepares to graduate in Viking Stadium on Thursday in a ceremony accompanied by music and speeches. Senior Sid Senn spoke to the Class of 2024's work ethic. "Either we let our hopes and dreams slide by or we grit our teeth and pull through," Senn said. "For Paly's Class of 2024, I know it's often the latter."

ConGRADulations, Class of 2024

Ava Knapp and Kristine Lin
May 30, 2024
The Palo Alto Fire Department arrives on scene due to fire alarms going off in the Palo Alto High School Performing Arts Center at 4:45 this afternoon. Eric Holm, Palo Alto Unified School District facilities director, said that the issue was due to smoke in the basement. "A motor on a pump was smoking, and we are still investigating the cause of that," Holm said.

Smoke delays choir concert, fire department arrives

Ava Knapp, News Editor
May 21, 2024
Police prepare for the arrival of President Joe Biden with tents and barricades around former Google and Yahoo executive Marissa Mayer's house. According to Palo Alto High School Principal Brent Kline, students will be barred from leaving campus to go to lunch at Town and Country Village shopping center because of protestors marching in response to how Biden is addressing the Israel and Gaza conflict.

Protests over Biden visit, campus closed for lunch

Ava Knapp, News Editor
May 10, 2024
Teachers from the PAEA stand on the sidewalk to gather in support before a board meeting with the district. Hunter Reardon, an English teacher at Palo Alto High School, said that PAUSD is known to have top schools and is the reason many families settle in Palo Alto. “If we want that to continue to be the reality through the next generation,” Reardon said, “then we need to respect teachers by paying them a fair wage and a livable wage in this area.”

Sidewalk “impasse-able” as PAEA protests over teacher pay and funding

Ava Knapp and Veronica Qiu
April 25, 2024
The Tower Building at Palo Alto High School will is open. Students all around campus are excited with the reveal including sophomore Bella Gertsch who eats lunch near the tower building. "I am looking forward to being able to sit down on the stairs for lunch," Gertsch said. "I am so excited for the new improvements inside of the tower building."

New Tower Building provides more space, additional features

Ava Knapp and Kristine Lin
April 23, 2024
Alicia Szebert discusses the assigned chemistry problems with sophomore Jake Liu during work time. Szebert, a Palo Alto High School chemistry teacher and PAEA member, supports the union’s efforts to increase teachers’ pay. Daniel Nguyen, a math teacher and site representative for the PAEA, shares Szebert's perspective. "I think it's important that teachers get paid," Nguyen said. "We want to work with the best and to recruit the best."

Teachers union and district file for impasse, board rally tomorrow

Ava Knapp and Motoko Iwata
April 22, 2024
A mathematical sciences professor speaks to students about his vision for future math education Thursday at Palo Alto High School. According to Po-Shen Loh, he is exercising experiments with actors to find a solution for more emotive interactions on online Zoom calls, "It's not just about students hearing the information, but their eyes and their energy level are all things that they [actors] look for in Zoom meetings," Loh said.

Mathematical sciences professor speaks about AI

Veronica Qiu and Ava Knapp
April 12, 2024
Unleashing the beats at Quadchella, Spring Spirit Week

Unleashing the beats at Quadchella, Spring Spirit Week

Ava Knapp and Joy Tan
March 29, 2024
Sophomores Lara Saslow (left) and Sophie Oshige (right) do their homework using school-issued Chromebooks in the Library. Loaner Chromebook check-outs stopped from the Palo Alto High School library starting March 18. Saslow said she relies on Chromebooks for schoolwork. "Chromebooks are crucial for Paly students," Saslow said. "I get all my work done on my Chromebook both in and out of school."

Library loaner Chromebooks temporarily unavailable

Ava Knapp and Veronica Qiu
March 26, 2024
During last year's Spring Spirit Week, Palo Alto High School students flaunted bold colors and glittery accessories in accordance to the "Pop and Rock" theme. This year's Spring Spirit Week will be kicking off on Monday. According to Associated Student Body President Julian Hong, the events will include Quadchella concerts, where students can showcase their musical talents during lunch on the Quad. "Last year, we didn't integrate Quadchella, but this year, it's an addition that we're doing because we want to fill up some more time and get student bands involved," Hong said. (Photo: Nathan Jiang)

Spring Spirit Week offers excitement, new activities

Kristine Lin and Ava Knapp
March 24, 2024
Apryl-Joy Pascua, special education teacher, poses in her roller derby gear. Pascua has secured a spot on the USA roller derby team. "It really is the best feeling to just be able to show up and not have any doubts in your mind of your abilities," Pascua said.

Teacher qualifies for national roller derby team

Motoko Iwata and Ava Knapp
March 14, 2024
Strength and conditioning coach Anthony Thomas sets up the weight room in preparation for another session with the Paly Football Team. According to Athletic Instructional Leader Peter Diepenbrock, Palo Alto High School is late to the game in implementing a conditioning program. "Most, if not all of the top athletic teams in the area have had a strength and conditioning program for many, many years," said Diepenbrock. "We are very, very late."(Photo: Joy Tan)

Viking athletics enters new era with a game-changing program, coach

Ava Knapp and Joy Tan
March 13, 2024
Verbatim: Students react to Super Bowl outcome

Verbatim: Students react to Super Bowl outcome

Ava Knapp and Motoko Iwata
February 21, 2024
Teachers take attendance during the fire alarm today at 11:35 a.m. at Palo Alto High School's Centennial Plaza. Despite the interruption, sophomore Annika Chu said her class was able to quickly adapt to the situation. “We all evacuated and got into our lines pretty quickly,” Chu said. “Our school handled it pretty well.” (Photo: Celina Lee)

Admin says fire alarm triggered in gym, cause unknown

Anna Feng, Kristine Lin, and Ava Knapp
February 15, 2024
Palo Alto High School Viking senior midfielder Richard Ogawa defends the ball from a Homestead High School Mustangs defender during the boys' varsity soccer game on Tuesday. The Vikings defeated the Mustangs, 4-0, keeping their chance to qualify for the Central Coast Championship alive. According to Mustang head coach Adam Clarke, both teams were extra eager to win given what was at stake. “Tonight was brutal," Clarke said. "We needed to win to make the playoffs, and we also knew that Paly also had to win. There was a lot at stake coming into the match”. (Photo: Joy Tan)

Boys’ soccer dominates Mustangs

Joy Tan and Ava Knapp
February 8, 2024
Senior Rori Escudero waves towards the crowd during rehearsal in preparation for the Palo Alto High School Choirs' Pops Concert. Paly Choirs will perform their annual concert to the theme of "Make-up/Break-up” at 7 p.m. today and tomorrow in the Performing Arts Center. Escudero said she is excited to hear her classmates sing. “I am looking forward to hearing everyone's solos, especially the underclassmen and people who haven't had solos before,” Escudero said. “It's cool getting to hear people have their big moment for the first time on stage.” (Photo: Celina Lee)

Choirs to perform ‘Make-up/Break-up’ Pops Concert

Celina Lee and Ava Knapp
February 8, 2024
This past weekend's storm caused power outages and property damage, including a fallen tree that dented a car on High Street. According to junior Rebecca Doran, this morning, the streets she normally biked along were littered with broken branches, which made it difficult for her to get to school. “In my usual bike path, which goes through Greene Middle School, there were a bunch of really big tree branches,” Doran said. “I could see all the branches on the street and they were obstructing my path.” (Photo: Kristine Lin)

Heavy storm causes fallen trees, power outages

Kristine Lin and Ava Knapp
February 5, 2024
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