Author: adviser

  • The Signs as christmas episodes

    Aries: The Office: “Dwight     Christmas”

    Taurus: Parks And Recreation : “Citizen Knope”

    Gemini: The X-Files: “How The Ghost Stole Christmas”

    Cancer: Full House: “Our Very First Christmas Show”

    Leo: South Park: “Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo”

    Virgo: The Simpsons: “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire”

    Libra: Black Mirror: “White Christmas”

    Scorpio: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: “Amends”

    Sagittarius: Supernatural: “A Very Supernatural Christmas”

    Capricorn: Will And Grace: “A Little Christmas Queer”

    Aquarius: Sherlock: “The Abominable Bride”

    Pisces: Friends: “The One With The Routine”

  • Dueling Pianos

    On November 29, Long Beach Poly’s Advanced 3-8 Piano class had a recital. The performances were from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m in the auditorium. The students performed in duets with songs that each person and their partner picked. Freshman Andres Flores played “Habanera” with his partner Nicolaniello Buono, also a ninth grader.

    Although he would have performed any other song chosen, Flores felt a comfort with this particular one.

    “I picked the song because it sounded familiar,” Flores said. “I feel like I could have played a little more accurately.”

    Freshman Daniel Garcia Hernandez and his partner, senior Kayshawn Soung, performed “Village Dance.”  Hernandez  described the challenges of playing with partner: “A duet you have to know you can rely on each other and you have to practice with each other or else it is going to sound kind of weird or off. A solo you really have to think about it for yourself.”

    Sophomore Makayla Roberts performed “Go Tell It On The Mountains” with her partner Julia Gustafson, Poly’s piano teacher. Roberts has been playing piano for about a year.

    There was no specific theme in this recital, however, there will be another recital on December 20, 2018 and the theme is Christmas music. For this recital different students will be performing, but only in the advanced class and some students from the November recital will be performing again. The recital will be at Poly in the auditorium, starting at 6:30 p.m. and will last for an hour. It is a free recital and everyone is welcome.

  • PSA To Freshmen’s: Live A Little!

    It seems recently a lot of changes have been made in the 2018-2019 school year. This might seem a bit unfair to seniors, as they’ve been around a lot longer than the freshman. Incoming freshman experience the new changes for the first time, and have no prior knowledge about the previous years. Which is great, but for us seniors this is our last year and will be our first and last time to experience the new events and changes. The first ever homecoming happened this year, why was there not one since my freshman year? It also seems that school spirit has not been as alive this year as freshman seem to have an “I don’t care” attitude about most things.

    Seniors eagerly have been trying their best to be involved with games, dances, dress up days, and most school events. It seems as more incoming students come in year after year they seem to lose the motivation for school and school spirit. But hey, who am I to know? This is just what it seems on a bigger scale. It seems freshman are quick to call some things lame or not even give it a chance. And for the very few freshman that do participate and give things a chance, this is not at all for you. In fact, good for you being involved.

    As for the rest of you, what’s up? I just want to know why you act as if everything is too cool for you? Or as if you don’t have an interest in anything? Live a little.

  • CREED 2

    1985, the iconic movie ‘’Rocky IV’’ where Apollo Creed fought up against the strongest fighter in the world: ‘’Ivan Drago.’’ Though Apollo’s was confident, it wasn’t enough to take on the Drago and sadly he was killed in the fight. 33 years later Apollo’s son Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan, is challenged by Ivan Drago’s son Viktor, played by actor/boxer Florian Munteanu, and gladly agrees to seek not revenge but the respect that his father truly deserved. Adonis can’t do it by himself so he is trained by his father’s former friend Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, who puts Adonis through a series of difficult workout routines and training to get him ready for the biggest fight of his life. Director Steven Caple Jr. really put his best into this picture, in which Adonis Creed finishes what his father started. If you haven’t seen the movie it is played at pretty much any local movie theater near you. I recommend it with a rating of 2.5 out of 4 stars.

  • Poly Musicians Perform Holiday Concert

    On December 18, the Poly Instrumental Music Program hosted their annual winter concert featuring all of their orchestras, Symphonic Winds, and their top two jazz bands. The concert was in the auditorium and started at 6:30 p.m.

    That concert is one of the only concerts a year where nearly all of the groups perform on the same night, allowing parents to get a sense of the large scope of Poly’s music program. The concert is renowned across Poly musicians as “a marathon,” in the words of  junior trumpeter Gabriel Ochoa. Ochoa, who performs in Symphonic Winds, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz A2, where he is lead trumpet.

    The concert covered a variety of Christmas music, including Tchaikovsky’s iconic Nutcracker Suite and a jazz interpretation of the Christmas standard “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Because this is the only holiday instrumental concert of the year, each ensemble centers their program around a seasonal favorite in addition to a non-seasonal classical or jazz piece.

    Each group performed two compositions to showcase versatility in musicianship as well as to maintain the concert’s forward motion. There were over seven ensembles playing, and each got their chance in the spotlight. For some freshman, that was their first chance to shine in front of a large audience. Veterans like junior flautist  Abigail Farmer are used to the spotlight and “enjoy the privilege of performing in front of their peers.”

    Everyone in the program was looking forward to the concert and being able to show the community their great progress.

  • I’m Sick of Christmas

    It feels like every year, Christmas season is being pushed earlier and earlier by businesses. Over the radio, through shop windows, and television screens.  The relentless corporations are taking Christmas “spirit” and shoving it deep down our throats, attempting to take our money on the way out. It’s disgusting and so very exhausting.

    Thanksgiving hadn’t even passed yet when I first started hearing Christmas music on the radio. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas music, but there are a few problematic things with it being played so early. First of all, during the week of Thanksgiving, I’m in Thanksgiving mode, not Christmas mode. I don’t want to be thinking about gift-giving and Jesus’ birth; that stuff is a month away. Let me focus on stuffing my face and being thankful. Having all the Christmas stuff  pushed so early kills my Thanksgiving vibes. On top of this, having a whole straight month of Christmas music is tiring. I like Christmas music, but there isn’t a whole lot of variety, which would be fine if radio stations didn’t start playing it as early as before Thanksgiving. Hearing the same stupid songs for over four weeks makes them incredibly unenjoyable, and by the time Christmas rolls around, I’m already sick of it.

    What makes all this worse is the sinister intentions behind all of it. The corporate pigs have Christmas season start early so that people buy all their Christmas gifts earlier, and when Christmas comes around, these people are more likely to go ahead and buy some more Christmas stuff anyways. It’s an evil, greedy practice that we ought to protest and hopefully put an end to.

  • The Lion King Live

    Disney released the original movie, The Lion King, on June 24, 1994. They are now releasing a live-action version of The Lion King is being released July 19, 2019. Now, all I can say that I’m seriously excited for the new live-action version that is being released next year! Although, I am pretty confused as to why they called it “live-action”? The trailer still looks pretty animated and I find it quite hard to believe that they taught ALL of those animals, to talk, sing, etc. Nonetheless, I am very excited because Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino,is playing Simba! Not only that, but Beyonce is playing Nala! I am super excited for the celebrity features that will be present in the remakes.

  • Return of the Reboots

    Reboots have been around since basically the start of entertainment, from TV shows, to movies, to comics and finally, even video games.

    The debate of reboots is that sometimes they do a good job and other times not so much.

    As of recently there has been a lot of Disney movies transforming from cartoons to live action, a classic movie revised into the mainstream.

    Obsessed fans often times demand more, which leads to the birth of reboots.

    Directors might even feel the need to bring back old fan favorites.

    This choice of reboots can either be to make profit or reel in new fans.

    An example of a reboot would be Riverdale, as it uses characters based off the Archies Comics but yet has a completely different plotline.

    The issue with some reboots is the production of it is often times take place in a different era.

    Most recently Doctor Who has added a woman as the new portrayal of the doctor’s vessel. Some fans were upset with the fact that the show is adapting into the views of today, instead of its traditional ways.

    Despite the reputation that reboots might carry, good or bad, that reputation still catches the attention of viewers.

  • Snow in Love

    Snow in Love is a holiday themed collection of short young adult love stories, written by Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, Kasie West, and Nic Stone.

    The book was highly anticipated as all the authors are admired within the young adult genre. Released on October 30, it gained critical success, bringing people out of the spooky season and into the Christmas festivities.

    There are four stories in total within the anthology. The first follows Amalie as she tries to hurry home with the help from a handsome face.

    Another young girl, Kelsey, searches  for the perfect gift for her boyfriend.

    In another story, two old friends reunite by chance during a holiday scavenger hunt.

    The collection includes holiday diversity, with Aimee Friedman’s Hanukkah story about a young Jewish girl, working as a department store elf who surprisingly finds love.

    These stories do the job, offering that warm familiar feeling similar to that of a cheesy hallmark film. Each of these stories can be deemed relatable and enjoyable.

    Snow in Love is a recommended holiday gift for any love sick teen – or someone of any age can read this book with a nice warm cup of tea, under the blanket.

  • Spirit Spendings

    Holidays are meant to be spent with family and loved ones, but in reality, there is actually more spending on family rather than with family. From November to December, there’s an average of more than one thousand dollars spent on gifts.

    During November from Thanksgiving dinner, to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, over $900 alone are spent. Moving onto December, there is both Christmas and New Years. The spendings here are also sky high, with buying Christmas and New Years decorations and meals, and holiday gifts.

    The real question is: Is spending all of this money for these holidays really worth it?

    I would say it is. In the end, you spend time with family, sharing new memories, laughing and growing a stronger bond with one another.

    As for gifts, it’s always nice to see a smile on someone’s face. It’s even nicer when you’re the reason for it. It doesn’t even have to be family. Seeing your friends happy for receiving something they like is also a good feeling when you’re the one who gave it to them. Teachers too, can leave a wonderful feeling when they give you a warm smile or a kind ‘thank you’ for a simple gift.

    Christmas time is also known for charity and donations, it is one of the best ways anyone can spend their money. We’re lucky to still have generous people who love to give back.

  • Poly Choir Lights Up the Night

    On November 27, Poly’s Jazz Choir performed carols for the Long Beach Christmas tree lighting event held at the Terrace Plaza, also known as, the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.

    The choir consisted of six boys and six girls: Caroline Wolfson, Christine Nguyen, Lauren Wynne, Aiyanna Johns, Caitlyn Song, Caleb Marsh, Dane Camacho, Jay Kumar, Justin Greenwood, Gabriel Vasquez, Jovanni Pham, and Angelo Vano.

    They performed two popular holiday hits, “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

    Caleb Marsh, a sophomore, in the choir said it felt “festive,” and “rewarding to perform in front of a large audience.” Although the performance was about eight minutes, they were paid which goes straight to the Poly Choir program for the items and materials needed such as choir attire.

    The impressive thing is that this is the second time the city has welcomed the Poly Choir to the Long Beach Christmas tree lighting because, they were in the exact same spot last year. Other than the spectacular carols sang by the choir, the place was fully decorated with Christmas lights and littered with children wanting to take a picture with Mr. Claus and Mrs. Claus.

    Jazz and Poly’s other choirs also had a holiday performance December 6  in the Poly auditorium.

  • A Christmas Movie to Die (Hard) For

    Die Hard (1988), a film about a single cop trapped in a skyscraper with twelve terrorists, still remains one of the best Christmas movies of all time, for good reason. It has fun for the whole family.

    The movie begins with a love story of NYPD detective, John McClane (played by Bruce Willis), trying to reconcile with his ex-wife whom he still loves, (something many of us can relate to), flying out to Los Angeles around Christmas time to attend a party with her at this skyscraper where she works. There is plenty of enjoyment to be had in this very relatable story of liking someone who does not like you back.

    On top of the romance, at the heart of this movie is plenty of high-octane action.

    When terrorists take over the building and holds everyone (including John McClane’s wife) hostage, McClane slips away and starts taking out the twelve terrorists one by one in a series of intense, adrenaline-filled action sequences.

    Using hit-and-run guerilla tactics, McClane attacks the bad guys then retreats and hides somewhere in the 40-story skyscraper while the bad guys hunt him down. Unlike most typical action movie heroes, McClane is not invincible; the odds are stacked against him. He gets seriously injured, and at multiple points in the movie, the audience is uncertain if he will succeed or not. His vulnerability grounds his character and makes him believable, and his perseverance to save everyone is admirable, makes the audience root for him. What makes him even more likable is all the sharp, witty one – liners he makes (like most 80s action movie heroes do), providing some comedic relief but without killing the immersion.

    With a little bit of romance, plenty of exciting action, and more than a few comedic  moments, Die Hard provides fun for almost any audience, which is why it’s still one of the best Christmas movies ever and definitely worth checking out.