Author: adviser

  • Girls Soccer Looks Ahead After Loss To Mustangs

    On February 27, 2019, the Poly Girl’s Varsity Soccer Team played the Mira Costa Mustangs away and lost 4-2. Despite starting off with a convincing 1-0 lead in the first half, the Jackrabbits were unable to maintain their lead and allowed the opposition to score twice.
    Senior Allanah Cutler defended well, preventing the Mustangs from scoring a third goal. Fellow senior forward Ella Hiveley said that Cutler “was on fire, you could tell that her heart was in it.” Cutler stopped the potential goal with her head.
    She was not alone in her strong performance. Freshman Olivia D’Anna scored the final goal of the game in an attempt to bring back the game to a tie. With only two minutes left in the game, however, there was no time to tie it up.
    The Mustangs were a strong team, beating out an ambitious team looking to climb the ladder in California soccer. They pulled ahead at the 63rd minute despite a fiery effort by Poly. Forward Brittney Watkins said that they had become “too comfortable” during the first half and let the game slide out of control.
    The Jackrabbits have several strong underclassmen players that could potentially create a leading team years down the line. Even though Poly was unable to win, they’ve succeeded built a progressively better team each year.

  • Meet the Addams Family

    Meet the Addams Family

    As you know, The Addams Family Musical took place in the auditorium on February 22, 23, and 24. The showing I reviewed took place on Friday 22 at 6:30 PM .

    For those who don’t know what The Addams Family is about, it’s based off of a family consisting of: a father named Gomez (played by Andy Martinez), mother named Morticia (played by Aiyanna Johns), and their children Wednesday and Pugsley (played by Amanda Angeles and Gabby Kaiser), along with a few family members in the household.

    Such as Grandma (played by Mika Dyo), Lurch (played by Chase McPherson), and Fester (Ben Rifkin). The play centers on this odd family and their peculiar home life, considered normal to them, but weird to outsiders.

    A new family called the Beinekes, visit the Addams family due to their son, Lucas (played by Caleb Marsh) being involved with Wednesday, romantically. Their romance seems to be a complication between the two families. Overall the play had a focus on love, which is fitting for the month of February.

    On opening night, a line of people stood to buy their tickets. As people entered the first thing noticed while entering is the orchestra. The play started with the curtains opening and the cast emerging from behind. The cast started with the opening song “When You’re an Addams” along with Gomez and Morticia dancing, with the family members doing solos and dancing as well.

    Emerging from within the side doors, actors dressed as ghost flooded into the audience up onto stage. They were considered the Ancestors and often showed up a lot throughout the production, such as changing the scenes and often being in the background of scenes.

    The most shocking detail is Wednesday changing from her usually mean demeanor to a more softer approach due to being in love. Of course the family find it strange as to Wednesday wanting things to be normal, when if fact there’s nothing normal about the Addams. The Beinekes as well question Lucas on how he found his partner and find their encounter strange.

    Secrets were kept and differences made, these were almost enough to split the families as they venture on their own paths, reflecting on their struggles. But by the end of the play, all was resolved and both families were able to coexist as one.

  • Things The Trackrabbits Did: That!

    At the Annual Trackrabbit Track Meet on Saturday, February 23rd, Poly hosted a huge track meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Long Beach City College.
    Poly’s annual Trackrabbit invitational brought out about 15-20 high schools from LA County to kick off the Track season. Schools such as Redondo Union and Citrus Valley came out to participate in this event.
    The head of girls athletics, and head of track and field, Ms.Irving, gathered many volunteers to help make this track meet possible. The long distance, short distance, and fields really showed out throughout the meet.
    According to Ab Tudayan, the long distance team, Long Distance Track Take Dubs at this annual event.
    Long Distance Track (LDT) is composed to several people from the tree of running. Majority of runners come from cross country season with a few runners from mid-distance track joining the party.
    Three events took place at the Track Rabbit Invitational which are the 4x1600m relays (1 mile), 4x800m relays (2 laps), and Distance medley relay races (DMR). Distance Medley Races are each runner in the relay run different distances, in order it is the 1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m.
    With dominating track runners from Wilson, Redondo Union, Milikan, Lakewood, Warren, and Citrus Valley High School, how did previous Poly boys and girls cross country runners fair in their new environment?
    Starting off with the 4x1600m relays, Poly LDT varsity dominated in both girls and boys varsity taking first place in that category.The girls came in striking with there varsity 4×1600 with runners Sydney Carlson, Olivia Boyce, Laura Yontz, and Ailene Rios. They finished with an overall time of 23:40:68, an average of a 6:15 1600 meter run per runner.
    The boys too replicated the girls success with runners Alex Matos, Danny Bautista, Aldo Kiev, and William Frankenfeld taking first in 4×1600 relays. The boys ran in a total time of 18:30:50 with an average of a 4:57 1600m. Boys dominated the field by gapping the following team Warren High School by 20 seconds. Both boys and girls runners received an blue Nike backpack for their performances.
    Aldo Kiev one of the 4×1600 varsity boys runners voiced that it was, “an exhilarating start,” to the season and that, “(the invitational) reminded what runners across all levels should expect in future races.”
    Ailene Rios the varsity 4x1600m runners states it was a, “phenomenal start,” to the season and is, “up and ready,” for the future races and events this semester. A good attitude to begin the new LDT season.
    Although Poly’s LDT did not place 3rd or higher in any other events through all levels, it is a mere rough start to the season and expect them to be striking back March 1st at the Griffin Relay races.
    As for the short distance, the varsity the star relay teams on both girls and boys won their sprint medley event. For the boys, :Kenyon Reed (senior), Anthony Johnson (junior), and Kejuan and Keon Markham (seniors), ran a 1:31:00. Their competitors had no chance against this dream team. The twins, Keon and Kejuan, remarked, “Hard work beats talent,” as they encourage the lower division athletes and future track runners.
    As far as varsity sprints team for girls, they won first place in their 4 x 200m relay and placed second, losing to the Wilson Bruins, in the sprint medley. This team consisted of Saundria Martin (senior), Zanae Wood (freshman), Qween Okoh (senior), and Kenya Payne (senior).
    The girls took another victory on varsity in the 4 x 400m with Saminah Haddad, Kenya Payne, Kennedy Butler, and Saundria Martin. Kenya Payne quotes, “hard work pays off and that’s all we do,” after the meet.

  • Snowing to a Theatre Near You

    Recently, a 2 minute trailer advertising the sequel to the Disney animation “Frozen” has been released. The trailer starts off with huge waves heading toward the land, Elsa tying her hair up and using her powers to freeze the water. The scene then transitions to Ana seeming extremely worried, and Kristoff determined to do something. We also see Elsa and Olaf together, with not much detail except for Elsa using her powers to fight back against something fierce. After that, the scenes become a bit confusing as we see what seem to be new characters, which then transitions to all the characters standing on top of a hilltop, viewing over what seems to be a bunch of trees. The trailer ends with Ana, Elsa and Kristoff walking. Something sneaking up behind them, and Ana bringing out Kristoff’s sword.

    What is noticed about the trailer is that the characters have a very different style and dress than what we saw in the first movie (this is not something very common among Disney continuations). Another thing that is noticed is that the setting throughout the trailer is taking place in the season of fall.

    From this trailer and information, my interpretations are that Frozen 2 will be sort of similar to the first movie; in which they try to bring back a season. In this case however, I assume that they are awaiting winter, but something (or someone) is stopping it from arriving. That would explain the meaning behind all of the leaves and what the protagonists are so determined to get, and why we see Elsa using her powers so often.

    Overall, the trailer itself was amazing. I really enjoyed the style of it, the way things were portrayed, and of course, the music.

  • The Signs as Songs During Spring

    Aries: Sun Afternoon –  The Kinks

    Taurus: It Might As Well  Be Spring –  Ella Fitzgerald

    Gemini: The Lullaby of Spring –  Donovan

    Cancer: Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles

    Leo: Waiting For The Sun –  The Doors

    Virgo: Spring In Manhattan –  Tony Bennett

    Libra: Spring Affair –  Donna Summer

    Scorpio: April Come She Will –  Simon & Garfunkle

    Sagittarius: Spring Vacation –  The Beach Boys

    Capricorn: April In Paris –  Ella Fitzgerald

    Aquarius: Spring Is Here –  Frank Sinatra

    Pisces: When It’s Springtime In Alaska –  Johnny Cash

  • Girls Swim Anticipating A strong Season

    Girls swim has started its season and just had its first meet on February 21. Our varsity team won 132 to 31.
    The team qualified for CIF for their Medley Relay and the 4 By 50. Their big meet will be on April 10 against Wilson “everything depends on Wilson” said coach Kalani Caldwell.
    Swimmers that are expected to stand out this season are Josie Liebzeit and Kate Cassiano. Liebzeit is a junior this year and has already qualified in CIF for the 200 Free and 100 Back.
    Cassiano is a sophomore who qualifies in CIF for the 100 Breast Strike. Both have said that they’re “really hoping to win Moore League and hope to become better swimmers overall.”
    The end goals for the team are to “become Moore League champions and to make individuals qualified for CIF and state team “ said Caldwell. They’ve already gotten players qualified for CIF so next up the state team. Here’s wishing good luck to all of them.

  • Jack Schwarz

    Senior captain of the water Polo team, Jack Schwarz began his passion for water polo at the age of 11 “I tried a bunch of sports. I tried soccer, baseball, football, karate for a little bit, nothing really stuck.” Schwarz explains that while the sports were fun he never really enjoyed them.
    He tried out a lot of different sports before he eventually settled on water polo. “When I finally went with water polo, I loved it, I just fell in love with the sport.”
    Finally being able to find a sport that was fun for him and he was good at was what sparked his passion for water polo.
    Enjoying the sport paid off. When Schwarz came to Poly he tried out for the water polo team. He explains that he had been playing for a while before he tried out so while he was nervous about trying out he had a feeling he was going to do well. He had the right feeling.
    Schwarz continued to play all throughout high school and was captain for both this and last year.
    Schwarz explains that becoming the team captain was a little difficult but he quickly adjusted and became really good at it. “Being a senior and a captain means that I have to be the one to lead people. The biggest thing is working with a team and being able to lead.”

  • No More Waiting in Line; Pay for AP Tests Online

    For the first time, students at Poly will have the option of paying online for their AP tests online.
    With the high number of students taking AP classes here at Poly, the line for the school banker gets longer and longer the closer we get to AP payment deadlines.
    Those who have taken APs before know ugly that line gets sometimes. Luckily, suffering through that endless torment is no longer required.
    Students can pay for their AP tests online through the Poly website (after they’ve already registered through studentvue to take the AP tests).
    On the homepage, students can access a link to the Poly Web Store, and from here, they can add whichever AP tests they’re taking to their cart and then pay for them.
    A 2.99% non-refundable surcharge is added to all purchases, so this means each AP test price will increase from $5.00 to $5.15.
    For more information, in case there’s any questions or confusion, students can go see AP coordinator, Mr. West, in Room 132 or email him at jwest@lbschools.net.

  • Consuming Meat is Bring in the Heat

    Currently the Social Work and Advocacy in Action classes that Michael Gray teaches are working on something big.
    The reducing of meat consumption, in order to make our environment in better living conditions for the future.
    What exactly is it that students do in the Social Work and Advocacy in Action class?
    Students are given the opportunity to make changes in their community through research and action.

    Students have done surveys, such as what people know about climate change and how they feel about sexual harassment.
    The assignment they are given this time is that of starting a small change that will hopefully spread across everywhere else.
    So far in the project they have conducted a survey in order to gather information.

    One of the questions asked on this survey was, “If you knew that how much meat we consume is making climate change/climate disruption worse, would you make a change in how much you eat?” 58% said yes while 42% said no.

    There was several other questions regarding the choices students make, in order to make them think and chose more carefully.
    Other questions were asking if students knew facts, like how it takes 1,800 gallons of water to make a Quarter Pound hamburger.
    Besides asking if students knew statistics, the survey also asked, if knowing the information you have now, would you choose to switch up your way of eating to benefit our world.

    A small percentage said they would continue their ways.
    Based on the information gathered for the survey, Gray’s classes decided to take it to the next step.
    They decided to contact Long Beach City Council and Food Network to see if either of them are willing to showcase these new changes in order to impact society’s ways on a wider scale.

    Students are helping in different aspects of the project such as: video production, coming up with scripts, sending letters to both the council and tv networks and promoting this issue through advertisement.

    All of this is in the works, and have yet to be set in motion and completed.

  • Is This Weather Ok?

    El Nino has officially arrived, according to National Weather Service, switching the usual warm weather to rainy and cold weather.

    El Nino is the shift of weather patterns and winds that bring warm oceans and much rain to the Pacific Ocean. This weather is unusual and hated by most Southern Californians.

    This change in weather has affected many sports and the capability to perform everyday things.
    Poly Beach Volleyball player Ellie Requejo said, “Practices have been cancelled all week due to the rain and much of our team is unprepared for our first match on Saturday.”

    These inconveniences not only affect sports but just the basic ability to walk around school.
    Sophomore Tomas Hertzog said, “Walking around Poly is almost impossible because the only places that cover the rain are the catwalks, and they are usually full.”
    Many students across campus hate this new weather and can’t wait, now more than ever, for spring and summer to come.

    Much of Long Beach and Poly have been flooded due to the extreme amounts of rain. This flooding makes driving very dangerous especially in large vehicles.
    Due to the fact of heavy rains, the dirt roads near the YMCA Camp Oakes in Big Bear, CA (location of the Poly North) have been deemed unsafe for driving.
    To ensure safety and enjoyment for the Sophomore class, Poly North has been rescheduled for March 22-24.
    There have been cancellations, so their are limited spots are open for $60 at the banker.

  • Kenya Payne

    Kenya Payne, a senior, on the varsity sprints team, recently committed to the University of Southern California (USC). She has showed her dedication in track all four years of high school and plans to forward those dreams in her college athletic career.
    She has said that she will pursue a career in “medical industry.” As far as her last high school season at Poly, she wants to “ return to CIF and win state.” With this attitude, greatness is destined in her future. Kenya has received multiple awards for the 400m and 4 x 100m relays and she aspires to achieve a “41 second PR [Personal Record]” before graduating high school.
    Not only has Kanye excelled in track, she is doing very well academically. She has committed to pursue her dreams in the medical field as a nurse.
    She is currently in the medical program her at Poly. She is in the MEDS academy and has received multiple awards for honor roll. She is a smart young individual that says, “I am ready for college…for the experience and for the freedom.”
    This girl is one of the fastest runners in her Division along with many other runners at Long Beach Poly. She has won 2nd place in her 400m last year in CIF and at Moore League Finals. This year she wants to keep her titles and advance to state championships with her team with all of the support from the coaches, staff, and fellow athletes here at Poly.

  • Lady Jackrabbits Jump All The way To CIF

    The Lady Jackrabbit basketball team made it to the second round of CIF against Martin Luther King High School. Unfortunately, the girls lost by three points to King. The game took place away at the Riverside location.
    The Jackrabbits fought hard until the very end. They maintained their defense and tried to succeed as much as possible offensively. Deja Williams made most of the points as the team continued, Kalaya Buggs, showed out, moving the ball to find openings in MLK’s defense.
    The lose was the unfortunate fate of the game, although they were fighting hard for a win. One of the players commented, “our mindsets were the problem for the game.” She felt as though the team weren’t at there best, but they had the potential of winning the game.
    They will continue to the third round of CIF against Chaminade on Tuesday, February 26th. If the girls win this round they will be the runner-ups of CIF for their division.