Kensie Pao (Class of 2026) joined Verde in her sophomore year. She enjoys playing softball, the drums, Roblox and taking photos in her free time.
![Teachers rally before entering the Palo Alto unified school district board meeting chanting “invest in education, not in reserves.” The Palo Alto Educators Association rallied to ask for a 5.5% teacher salary raise to compete with the cost of living in Palo Alto. “We’re asking to be paid and have equal benefits to a lot of the districts around us [and to help] the cost of living increase and those types of things”](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/P4230608-1200x900.jpg)
![TOWER TOUCHUP - With the tower building almost finished, little touchups regarding the furniture and the elevator are still needed. “I think theyre [construction workers] doing some finishing touches on the elevator,” Berkson said. “But now were just waiting for the furniture guy.”](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/P3180045-988x1200.jpg)
![CAPTURING CELEBRATION — Two friends pose for a picture in front of the haft-sin at the festival. The festival draws in hundreds of people every year. “This event [Nowruz festival and bazaar] happens every year,” event coordinator Gita Meshkat said. “This is like our Christmas.”](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/P3100302-900x1200.jpg)
![A large tree branch fell on top of the English building at Palo Alto High School after storms swept through Palo Alto and the Bay Area earlier this month. This however, has not been an uncommon event recently. Paly sophomore Satoshi Isayama noted some of the precautions he saw people taking. “Some of my neighbors even cut smaller branches off to prevent further [storm] damage,” Isayama said.](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-28-at-2.09.44-PM-1200x809.png)
![SAY CHOCOLATE!— Reine and Carine proudly display their freshly made chocolate-dipped fruit and ganache-filled chocolates. The mother-daughter duo collaborates to prepare for lessons. “If I’m planning a class, I’ll always ask for her [Reine’s] input,” Carine said.](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Both-Portrait-e1709003379433.jpg)
![AFTER-DARK DELICACIES — Various groups dine late at night inside an In-N-Out location, a chain restaurant specializing in burgers and other American-style food. Palo Alto High School junior Addison Pettyjohn dines there often. “I think it’s fun for after games,” Pettyjohn said. “The food is really cheap and...it’s [In-N-Out] not like Town and Country where it’s like $15 for a meal.”](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/P1190242-1200x900.jpg)
![Board members convene during an October meeting. If the board had chosen to leave it continue Zoom meetings, there was a fairly significant risk of further disruption further antisemitic comments that could have been really harmful to the community, Student Board representative Karthi Gottipatti said. So there is a strong argument to be made that we shouldnt be giving a platform to individuals who are going to make hurtful comments. That said, there are no good options. It [the ban] does come at the cost of some speech.](https://verdemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-11-17-2.29.01-PM-1.png)