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
PAUSD to drop mask requirement

PAUSD to drop mask requirement

Payton Anderson, Editor-In-Chief
March 2, 2022
Despite cases surging over the past week and an expected surge in the coming weeks, Palo Alto Unified School District Superintendent Don Austin affirmed that schools would not close. In an email to The Paly Voice, he explained that he understood a hybrid or distanced learning model as prohibited by California Law. In his video speech, Austin compared the current situation to the play It’s a Wonderful Life, which he said inspired his recent decision. “In the end, George Bailey needed the help of the entire community to help him to survive and they did epically,” Austin said. “Well, Bedford Falls, its that time and we need you.” (Photo: Jeffrey Tu)

Austin rallies volunteer army to keep schools open

Jeffrey Tu and Payton Anderson
January 10, 2022
The Viking boys basketball team plays at one of its first home games of the season last semester against Overfelt high school. In lieu of the surge of Omicron cases starting this semester, Athletes are now forced to follow increased precautions, such as weekly Covid Testing, in order to slow the transmission of the virus. According to girls’ basketball coach Scott Peters, with COVID cases having risen before the first lockdown in 2020 at around this time, the athletic community must continue to be careful. “If we look at the past you know up till January 14th and 15th we’re going to have to keep dealing with the big surge, but hopefully it will get better,” Peters said.

Athletes, coaches react to Omicron threat to sports

Avi Srinivasan and Leena Hussein
January 9, 2022
Students line up to receive free lunch from the cafeteria in the Student Center at Palo Alto High School. The Palo Alto Unified School District has been offering lunch for free to students due to a requirement from the state government. Freshman Divij Motwani, who eats free lunch on a daily basis, said the option helps those in need. “It [free lunch] wouldnt really have changed [things] to me, but I think its good for everyone else, especially because theres some people who cant afford lunch,” Motwani said. (Photo: Neil Rathi)

Students react to Palo Alto High School’s free lunch program

Jeffrey Tu and Neil Rathi
September 14, 2021
Wildfires in California are causing poor air quality throughout the Bay Area throughout the warmer seasons. Palo Alto Unified School District recently announced air quality protocols, stating that indoor COVID procedures will be temporarily suspended when the air quality index reaches 151. [[i think bc this photo was from that one day last year that was crazy it might be either a little weird to have it here or a little weird that its not mentioned that this was from one of the days last year when the smoke was similarly bad, i would recommend finding a way to solve one of those 2 issues? lmk if u need more guidance on it]] Some community members, including Palo Alto Educators Association President Teri Baldwin, have expressed concerns about COVID safety on smoky days. We worry about the situation of students in a room with doors and windows closed and no masks when eating, Baldwin stated. We don’t believe that the ventilation system will keep students safe from spreading and/or contracting COVID inside without a mask. [[i think this quote was earlier on in the story so id recommend finding and using a different one]] Photo: Ethan Chen

PAEA revises calendar as smoke complicates COVID protocol

Sofie Zalatimo and Benjamin Grimes
September 13, 2021
Supt. Austin: Were going to stay open

Supt. Austin: “We’re going to stay open”

Brennen Ho and Daniel Garepis-Holland
September 9, 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

Tara Kapoor and Maia Johnsson
September 7, 2021
PAUSD announces secondary bell schedule amid mixed community response

PAUSD announces secondary bell schedule amid mixed community response

Sofie Zalatimo, Jeffrey Tu, and Benjamin Grimes
May 23, 2021
Many students hesitant to return in-person to secondary schools

Many students hesitant to return in-person to secondary schools

Emily Yun and Arohi Bhattacharya
March 4, 2021
The COVID-19 data tracker from John Hopkins University shows that Santa Clara County has recently topped 106,000 COVID-19 cases. Since Santa Clara County is now in red tier, Palo Alto Unified School District is set to reopen schools. The board held a meeting Feb. 9 where community members expressed opinions over plans to bring secondary students back on March 9. This is going to prolong the pandemic even longer, parent Jenna Mark said. Bragging about being a part of this is not something to be proud of, and community members are dying. Credit: John-Hopkins University

Column: First is the worst — why we should delay reopening

Jeffrey Tu, Senior Staff Writer
March 3, 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

Ryan Lee and Tara Kapoor
February 15, 2021
Student reps press Austin on 7-12 reopening plan

Student reps press Austin on 7-12 reopening plan

Avi Srinivasan, Managing Editor
February 10, 2021
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