Payton Anderson (Class of 2023) joined The Voice her junior year and likes to drink coffee, go on long hikes with her dog, and watch Gilmore Girls.
![The Palo Alto High School Girls and Boys Swim and Dive team are preparing for the California Interscholastic Federation state championships following their second Central Coast Section win in a row Saturday and Sunday at the Santa Clara Swim Club. According to sophomore Blake Wang, the supportive environment at CCS provides motivation in advancing and doing well. “I went to CCS last year as well, and it was a really competitive atmosphere,” Wang said. “There are faster swimmers to race compared to dual meets [swim meets between two teams]. CCS is all about the team, everyone cheers and hypes each other up before races [and] I also get to see many of my friends from club swimming there.” (Photo: Caleb Wong)](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/52877179553_e630b47df9_o-900x600.jpg)
![Students gathered during lunch in the Big Gym on Sept. 28 for the first rally of the year as part of the fall Spirit Week. Students will reconvene during lunch on Tuesday in the Big Gym and Thursday on the football field as part of the first Spring Spirit Week, according to Evie Kramer, spirit commissioner for the school's Associated Student Body. Kramer said tomorrow's rally will include a staff-versus-students volleyball game to emphasize student unity. "I think it [the rally activities] are a really great way for a bunch of people to get involved and get to play the game," Kramer said. (Photo: Daniel Garepis-Holland)](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/907A1685-2-900x600.jpg)
![Muwekma Ohlone Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh speaks to students during sixth period in Palo Alto High School's Performing Arts Center on her initiative to get federal re-recognition. According to Nijmeh, the tribe's efforts thus far have not been well received by government officials. “Politicians are creating this system where we [the Muwekma and other tribes] are pitted against each other for economic development," Nijmeh said.](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/364A9648-e1681541446312-900x645.jpg)
![As Palo Alto continues to struggle through a storm that began Monday night, neighborhoods throughout the city, including scenes on Emerson Street, are suffering from the damage of fallen trees and powerlines caused by the storm. Students across the Palo Alto High School campus, including junior Rori Escudero, faced a power outage as a result of the harsh storm, forcing many classrooms to adapt to their new environment without Internet and light. “I was in AP Lang and we [Escudero’s class] had to change our plans because of the power outage,” Escudero said. “We have hand sanitizer on every table so we put our flashlights under the hand sanitizer for light.” (Photo: Kristine Lin)](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-14-at-9.44.50-PM-900x503.png)
![Volunteers hand out apple and pumpkin pie to students during lunch on Friday on the Quad. Charu Gupta, president of the Palo Alto High School Parent Teacher Student Association, said she was determined to organize the Turkey Feast despite some difficulties. “There's a shortage of supplies out there, but we really, really wanted to make this happen for our students,” Gupta said. “This is one of the most fun events I know — students and staff [will] all remember this.” (Photo: Jonathan Chen)](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/film-10-900x625.jpg)
![Junior Arial Hong collects candy from a teacher’s classroom during Palo Alto High School’s Trick-or-Treat activity during lunch on Friday to promote Halloween spirit as well as the Mental Health Matters program. Many underclassmen have yet to experience spirit on Paly campus, including Halloween festivities. Freshman Clara Thestlemire said she appreciated the handout of stickers from the Wellness Center as well as being able to collect candy as an early Halloween treat. “It's been fun,” Thestelmire said. “The classes had a lot of candy, and we also just got [mental health] stickers and quotes, it's really good to have these things happening on campus.”](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DSC_4289-900x600.jpg)
![Assembly Bill 104 passed in the state of California to remove the numerical value grades usually have during a normal school year. Paly’s College Counselor, Sandra Cernobori, has witnessed many Paly students wishing to alter sufficient grades to build a better GPA-based college application. Although, Cernobori believes many students overlook what actually goes on during the admissions process, “[Colleges] do something called a holistic review,” said Cernobori, “And so they’re looking, not only high school, courses, grades, GPA, they ask for a whole activity list.” Graphic: Arati Periyannan](https://palyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_4604-900x675.png)