The Smoke Signal

First time voters reflect on upcoming election

October 30, 2020

A handful of Pascack Valley seniors have cast their ballots for the upcoming presidential election. U.S. citizens must be 18 years old in order to vote, and being that ballets are due on November 3, only a small percentage of seniors are eligible for this opportunity. Seniors Alexis Kalil, Antoinette...

What’s in a Name?

A PV student wears an Indian headdress during a football game in the 1963 yearbook. A group of staff writers created a package looking into the history behind PV's mascot and the use of Native American imagery.

Ellie Kim, Editor in Chief

October 20, 2020

This is the first article in a series we are calling “What’s in a Name?,” which explores the history behind our mascot and the use of Native American imagery and nicknames. This serves as an intro to the package and explains our nearly year-long exploration of our school's mascot, the Indians.

Goodbye Smoke Signal, thanks for the best four years

Rachel Cohen, Editor in Chief

June 15, 2020

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‘Fangirl’: Another masterpiece for young adults

Minche Kim, Staff Writer

June 9, 2020

In only 427 pages, Rainbow Rowell succeeds in conveying a complicated story of an everyday college freshman. While other authors prefer eye-catching characters to go along with their dramatic plots, Rowell, a bestselling author, chooses to catch the readers’ attention with an ordinary main character...

‘It was a key to her livelihood’

Norma Torres Mendoza grew up in the United States as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico and went on to become a D.A.C.A. recipient. She shared her struggles and experiences though a virtual interview with students of the AP Spanish class.

Olivia Jones, Isabella Tjan, and Mel Brentall

June 8, 2020

Following the abrupt leave from school on March 13 per New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s orders, our AP Spanish class — like every other class — was forced to adapt to a new digital learning environment. This presented particular challenges for language classes, which emphasize constant practi...

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ season seven trumps the sequel trilogy

Danielle Braune, Staff Writer

June 3, 2020

The first episode of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” aired on Cartoon Network on Oct. 3, 2008. It aired for six years before Disney purchased Lucasfilm and cancelled it before it could get its final, seventh season. Star Wars fans were outraged, enough so to create a hashtag: #SavetheCloneWars. To fa...

The arrest of CNN journalists is an affront to the First Amendment

Omar Jimenez, a CNN journalist, and his crew were arrested Friday morning while covering the Minneapolis protests. Editor in Chief Rachel Cohen sees this as a violation of reporters' First Amendment rights.

Rachel Cohen, Editor in Chief

May 29, 2020

As a journalist, I stand with Omar Jimenez. Jimenez, a CNN correspondent, was arrested by state police on live television early Friday morning at a site of protests in Minneapolis, despite identifying himself to police officers and saying he would be happy to move. His crew, producer Bill Kirkos and photojournalist Leonel Mendez, were also taken in...

SAT, ACT tests cancelled poses problems for juniors

SAT exam administrations were cancelled for the months of March, May, and June due to the coronavirus. Students who have yet to take the exam or are unsatisfied with their score must take the exam at a later date.

BJ McGrane, Sports Editor

May 25, 2020

Many people consider junior year to be the most challenging year of high school. Along with the increased academic rigor and the search for the right college, juniors also need to worry about standardized testing. Standardized tests have an immense impact on a student’s chances to be accepted into...

Community shares opinions on country’s eventual reopening

Millions of Americans have found themselves stuck at home due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has forced the closing of schools and non-essential businesses. Pascack Valley has been holding virtual school days since Mar. 16.

Spencer Goldstein, Sports Editor

May 20, 2020

Millions of Americans have been stuck in quarantine for weeks due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, sparking a debate regarding the right time to reopen the country. While many people believe it is best to wait for the coronavirus to run its course, others feel the country should reopen as soon as possib...

‘Cheer’: More than just a sport

Ava DeVincenzo, Staff Editor

May 19, 2020

“Cheer” on Netflix is everything that I look for in a show to binge during the virtual days: captivating, emotional, entertaining, and addicting. This documentary series focuses on the world of competitive cheerleading at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, and shows the mental and physical stress...

Put an end to pandemic shaming

Many have started to criticize and shame others on social media for not following social distancing guidelines or wearing masks and gloves. However, freshman Sarah Buttikofer believes that education is the only way to end the spread of the pandemic.

Sarah Buttikofer, Staff Writer

May 12, 2020

Pascack Valley and other schools throughout the country have been shut down due to something that we all have grown to know so well — the coronavirus. As many of us are staying home and have a lot of time on our hands due to the coronavirus, the pandemic has brought out the best, and in some ca...

Seniors reflect on school year cut short

Rachel Cohen and Katie Mullaney

May 10, 2020

As New Jersey high schools have been shut down for the remainder of the academic year due to the coronavirus, the Class of 2020 is awaiting a decision regarding graduation and other senior activities. Below are the perspectives of Editors in Chief Rachel Cohen and Katie Mullaney on the end of their senio...