Author: adviser

  • Poly North: From a Counselors Perspective

    Poly North is an opportunity for sophomores to gain experience in the woods that will dramatically change their lives forever.

    The origin of Poly North started 4 decades ago. It is focused on supporting the students on a more personal level. Anyone can say that the activities, for instance, the mountain hikes and seminars that are introduced to the students, impact everyone including the staff, senior counselors, and students.

    At Poly North, students interact with each other through seminars about topics or problems that Poly or society has and focuses in on solutions that could benefits students on a personal level.

    For instance, Vincent. Puth (Activities Director/Mentor/Poly Alumni/etc) shared his story of the time he went to Poly North and how he went from wanting to do bad things to being Student Body President. His story contributes to the meaning behind Poly North. This opportunity is a life changing experience that Poly believes every sophomore should endure.

    The first camp took place on October 26-28. Once the bus landed at approximately 3:00 pm, the sophomores eagerly waited to be grouped into their seminar groups. Once the seminar meeting ended, both senior counselors and staff members handed out meal cards for the hungry campers.

    In the dining hall, group activities called Warm Fuzzies took place. The game was to pass a softball from one person without using hands. The purpose of Warm Fuzzies was for the sophomores to get close and comfortable with close interactions. Staff members then performed skits in front of the sophomores.

    The last activity on the first day, was the night hike. Temperatures at lowest reached 38 degrees whilst on the night hike, as the hikers looked upon the starry night. Finally, the campers participated in their own cabin talks.

    On Saturday, the second day, campers rose bright and early at 7:30 to breakfast. After eating, seminar groups met up again for a seminar talk and to participate in several outdoor activities. Some activities included rock climbing, hiking, low ropes, and co-op games working their seminar groups.

    The sophomores then headed back to the dining hall for another round of Warm Fuzzies, this time passing a lifesaver between toothpicks held in the mouth.

    After all activities and seminar talks, the sophomores and seniors were then ready to perform their own skits for the staff and everyone else.

    After all the skits were performed by each seminar group and senior counselors, the usual night hike took place and short dance happened.

    On the final day, the seminar groups met up one last time as everyone said their goodbyes. Free time was then administer as the sophomores chose what they wanted to do, such as archery, volleyball, or just hanging out. Senior counselor took the traditional route and all jumped into the freezing lake together.

    After lunch, were the goodbyes. With the cabins all packed up, everyone who attended camp said their final goodbyes and bittersweet farewells.

    The committee for Poly North can  aided with donations – which can be accessed on Long Beach Poly’s school website.

  • Underrated Michael Jackson Songs

    1. “Loving You”

    2. “Butterflies”

    3. “Give into Me”

    4. “Streetwalker”

    5. “I Can’t Help It “

    6. “The Lady in My Life”

    7. “Take Me Back”

    8. “Maybe Tomorrow”

    9. “Lookin’ Through The Windows”

    10. “Lovely One”

  • Teachers you can trust

    Poly is known for being diverse and making friends is an easy task, with the majority of students being very warm and welcoming towards each other. However, only a certain percentage of those students spread that kindness onto their teachers.

    For the most part students usually interact with teachers when it regards classwork and homework, then each new school year upgrading to a new group of adults who also assign similar classwork and homework.

    For most years it’s the same story, cycling through a batch of students each fall.  Most students don’t usually take the time or interest to form bonds with the adults on campus, while very few others do. We went ahead and interviewed a few students and asked if they had an adult they trusted and why, or why not?

    Senior Guadalupe Bonilla said that she did have a teacher she could trust and confide in, 11th grade English teacher and softball coach Elizabeth Sanches. Bonilla said, “She cares about what’s going on in a student’s life.” Although Bonilla may not visit her as often, she considers Mrs. Sanches to be someone she can count on and talk to.

    Senior Destiny Oropeza has multiple teachers she considers trustworthy, specifically Danielle Sawyer and Daryl Holmlund. Oropeza stated that she can “talk about anything” with them at any given moment.

    Senior Elizabeth Velazquez-Rodriguez’s teacher that she trusts is English teacher Stephany Garcia. Velazquez often visits Garcia, and is a “teacher’s aid for her” currently and has known her throughout her high school experience, since her freshman year. Velazquez has grown to be comfortable around her and often visits Garcia’s class.

    Cristina Clemons’ go-to teacher would be Javier Llamas as she can “talk to him about any problems.”

    It seems most students have a teacher they can talk to easily and carry a conversation with them about almost anything. But there are still some students who feel differently towards teachers.

    Nancy Melena said she does not have an adult she can trust as she “[does not] interact with teachers”.

    For some students, teachers are people you can rely on, and for others, they are only the people who grade your tests.

    Some students have adults they can communicate with or hang in their classes, and hold those relationships close, while others see only other students as proper companions and only view their teachers as just that and nothing else.

  • Jazz Ready for Thursday Concert

    On November 1, the Poly Jazz Bands will have their first concert of the year in the Poly Auditorium. Each of the four bands will perform four songs, and each song will feature several improvisational soloists.

    Band director Chris Stevens said during Jazz “A” band rehearsal on Monday that he has been “looking forward to the concert for months”  and that the bands are “well prepared.” After several weeks of intense practice, he believes that each band is off to a “great start.”

    The concert will open with the “C” band, an ensemble of freshman musicians that are brand new to the Poly music scene and to jazz music. As the concert progresses, the age and experience of the players increases and culminates at the “A” band. Senior Jazz A trumpeter Adam Traut said that the band is able play “with lots of energy.” He’s proud to have made it to the top level for two years and will be a featured soloist tomorrow evening.

    While programming the concert, Stevens found a 1939 big band chart by the name of “The Bouncing Ball” tucked away in the Poly music library. As he unearthed it, he found the paper records from when the chart was last inventoried in 1940. Stevens handed it out to Jazz A and they will be performing it at the concert as a nostalgic nod to Poly’s long history of musical excellence.

    Junior trombonist Evan Hoover said that the piece would be a “great trip down memory lane” for the audience.

    Everyone in the Poly Jazz program is looking forward to another year playing in one of Southern California’s premier high school music ensembles.

    The concert will start at 7 p.m. in the Poly Auditorium and will run to approximately 9:30.

  • Hopes Legacies

    Hopes Legacies

    A new T.V. series Legacies premiered October 25 on The CW. It is a spinoff of the hit T.V. show The Originals. Legacies was created by Julie Plec, the creator of The Originals and co-creator of The Vampire Diaries.

    It stars Hope Mikaelson, portrayed by actress Danielle Rose Russell, known as the daughter of Klaus Mikaelson and Hayley Marshall. It also features characters from The Vampire Diaries such as; Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis), Jeremy Gilbert (Steven R. McQueen), and Matt Donovan (Zach Roerig).

    The show focuses on Hope who attends school at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted. The school is a safe place for kids who descend from the bloodlines of vampires, witches, werewolves, and any other supernatural creature. The school is a place where all the students can be themselves and not have to hide their differences from the outside world. The Salvatore Boarding school appears in the show The Vampire Diaries, where vampires, Stefan Salvatore and Damon Salvatore live.

    So far only the pilot has aired but there are scheduled to be 3 more episodes coming out. The next episodes will come out November 1, 8, and 15 at 9 PM on The CW, Thursday nights.

  • Halloween Returns

    Halloween is a slasher horror movie that came out October 19, directed and written by David Gordon Green. It stars Nick Castle, reprising his role as the silent, ruthless killer Michael Myers, and Jamie Lee Curtis, reprising her role as survivor Laurie Strode, who suffers from PTSD as a result of the Halloween killings that took place in the original 1978 film of the same name.

    Going into this new movie, I was not expecting much. I thought, “This Michael Myers, he is just a normal dude, right? Can’t be that scary, right?” I was wrong. The killer’s humanity really adds to the horror, knowing that the person behind all the evil, gruesome killings is a human being. It grounds the horror and makes it feel real, like this is something that could happen. The deep dark evil desires that lie within certain individuals: that is real horror.

    Michael Myers’ stalking of his victims throughout the movie builds a constant tense, uneasy feeling. The audience almost always feels uncomfortable, like they have got this feeling in their gut that is telling them something is not right. Almost everyone has felt that way that way at some point in their normal lives, like when they are taking the trash out at night or walking home alone. You get that irrational, paranoid fear that something or someone is lurking in the shadows, watching you. The movie preys on this fear that most of us have, and that is pretty neat.

    The movie has a strong female protagonist (representation is always nice) while avoiding turning her into a cliched invincible, battled-hardened veteran. She is relatable. She shows vulnerability and fear. But she chooses to confront and fight the killer anyways, and that is what real courage is: being intimidated by some challenge but choosing to confront it anyways. So that was nice.

    The ending of the movie is pretty cliche and almost eye-rolling-ly predictable, the kind that makes you go, “Alright, c’mon. Really?” That left a sour taste in my mouth going out of the theater, but overall, while this movie isn’t exactly high art, I had a fun, frightening time. I’d recommend to anyone just looking for a fun scary movie to watch.

  • The Signs as Thanksgiving Episodes

    Aries: The Boondocks season 1, episode 10: ‘The Itis’

    Scorpio:  The Simpsons season 2, episode 20: ‘Bart vs. Thanksgiving’

    Pisces: Cheers season 5, episode 9: ‘Thanksgiving Orphans’

    Sagittarius: George Lopez season 2, episode 9: ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,

    Honey?’

    Leo: Friends season 5, episode 8: ‘The One With All the Thanksgiving Flashbacks’

    Taurus: That 70s Show season 1, episode 9: ‘Thanksgiving’

    Gemini: How I Met Your Mother season 3, episode 9: ‘Slapsgiving’

    Cancer: Bewitched season 4, episode 12: ‘ Samantha’s Thanksgiving to Remember

    Virgo: Gilmore Girls season 3, episode 9: ‘A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving’

    Libra: Modern Family season 6, episode 8: ‘Three Turkeys’

    Capricorn: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

    Aquarius: The Office season 7, episode 9: ‘WUPHF.com’

  • New Lock Blocks on Classroom Doors

    There was a new lock switch system called Lock Block installed into the Poly high school classroom doors, after a suspect went onto campus armed a few weeks ago, leaving students and teachers in classrooms on campus lockdown. The Lock Block is a stopper device that allows you to keep the door locked but ajar during the school day. Students are able to easily enter or exit the classroom without disturbing others. During an emergency, the door can be closed by simply moving the stopper and allowing the door latch to engage. The Lock Block also allows teachers to have the door locked but open with the lock block when they go do other things.

    This new Lock Block system can help the school be safer during emergencies like lockdowns, and it will also help with other things like coming into the classroom without the teacher or student having to get up and open the door causing disturbance. Different teachers had their own views on this new Lock Block system.

    Poly Pace Coordinator Samantha Lawrence liked the Lock Block. She said this about the Lock Block, “ It’s good because kids can come in while its locked, Also if there is a emergency such as a lockdown we can lock the door from the inside.” Counselor Samantha Lawrence liked the Lock Block and thinks that it’s a good investment for the school and that it will help us in emergencies.

    Poly Geometry teacher Mr. Ly said some things about the Lock Block and does not like the new Lock Block system, stating, “I think it’s stupid, worthless, and a waste of our money.”

    Others felt that the addition was a good idea. Teacher Janice Valentine, takes comfort in the new system. “I think it is awesome, I can go grab some coffee downstairs without me getting locked out but still have my door locked and open with the Lock Block. It prevents us to go outside of the room and lock or unlock the door,” she said.

  • Library Renamed after former Principal

    Library Renamed after former Principal

    Poly’s library has been named after Bob Ellis-July 26, 1924-February 6, 201-, a former student and principal, at a ceremony honoring him. The ceremony was held on September, 11 headed by Mr. Brett Alexander, a teacher here at Poly. Ellis graduated in 1941, a letterman of the debate team. After high school he attended Long Beach City College, Cal State Long Beach, and the University of Missouri. He also served in the navy in WWII and the Korean War. After his service he came back to Poly and became a teacher, counselor, and head counselor, until he became the principal from 1978-1980 to 1985-1986.

    As principal, he founded the Center for International Curriculum(CIC) program, was responsible for moving graduation from the crowded Terrace Theater to Veterans Stadium, built the rally stage, renamed 17th St to Jackrabbit Ln, and during his time here had a three year period where not a single teacher asking for a transfer to another school. At his time at LBCC he helped establish a program in which seniors could take classes at the college.

    He was also a principal at Jordan and Wilson High School, Hughes Middles School, and three elementary schools in the district.

  • 18k Homecoming Dance

    A tradition at high schools all over the country, the big homecoming game and the dance that usually follows is a source of excitement for many students. Despite this, one of the largest schools in the Long Beach school district, Poly High School, has not had a homecoming dance in 10-11 years – that is until Saturday, October 6, when Poly students flocked to the Big Gym to start the tradition up again.

    “It’s just not been something we’ve done in 10 to 11 years. The reason is that there was a low turnout in interest among the students, and I think that’s why we didn’t have one for a very long time,” said Vincent Puth, Poly’s Activities director. There was certainly interest this year.

    The dance theme, “18k Gold”, held a lot of significance for the organizers. “18k stands for eighteen-carat gold, and basically it’s gold and the year twenty eighteen combined,” Senior Senate homecoming dance organizer Dalavy Hak explained. Transforming the gym into the ultimate dance space, Senior Senate was able to snag a DJ, an ice cream truck, food, and of course, tons of people.

    Hak described the challenges of organizing the dance: “As it is our first homecoming dance in a really long time, and it was hard getting everything together. But it’s good preparation for us because the Senior Senate is going organizing prom later on in the year as well.” Hannah Samaniego, another member of Senior Senate, said that the hardest part was making the gym not look like the gym and make it look really pretty.

    “The gym was pitch black with lasers and a loud DJ. They had gold themed decorations such as streamers, gold balloons and a place to take pictures,” Poly freshman Samantha Victoria described.

    While the Senior Senate was preoccupied with planning, the talk around the entire school in the weeks leading up to the event was all about the dance, whether you had

    bought tickets yet, who were you going with, and what you were going to wear. During lunch almost every day leading up to the dance, you could hear the claps and cheers of fellow students as someone held up a poster asking another student to the dance. The line for the banker was long almost every day, as people were trying to buy tickets in advance.

    Samantha Victoria, who went to the dance, said that there were about six hundred or so people in attendance, and added, “Someone said that they sold 700 tickets, but most people showed up later.” Tickets sold out in advance, leaving some students disappointed and unable to attend.

    Poly freshman Sophia Graves said that while she would’ve loved to go because all of her friends went, she was unable. “The tickets sold out before I was able to get one, and I was also swamped with homework on the weekend,” she said, “but from what I heard, it sounded like a blast, and I’m disappointed I missed out.”

    The story was different for those who got their tickets early. Seniors seemed to be especially excited.

    “I was super excited for this years Homecoming Dance, Poly has never had one before so it feels great to be a senior and to experience this for the first time. The theme was also super cute!” Said PACE senior Sandra Berenice Rosas about the dance.

    “I’m happy that Poly finally had a Homecoming dance! I always wondered why we didn’t have one but I’m thrilled to go with my boyfriend. I had fun picking out my dress and getting ready with my friends,” said CIC senior Gladys Salamon Mora.

    “About time! Homecoming was like a breath of fresh air to Poly. It’s exciting to have something new brought to campus. I’ve been to all the dances at Poly and I was super ecstatic to learn that Homecoming was coming to Poly, and it just seems right since all other high schools have one,” said MEDS senior Ashley Salgado.

    It was a new experience for underclassmen, too.

    “I think that HOCO is a great way to bring school spirit, and it [would] probably be a really fun experience. I really liked the HOCO week, so I’m expecting to have fun at the dance too,” said CIC freshman Miya Yasumura before the dance.

    After the dance, Yasamura was somewhat disappointed but still kept a positive spirit. “I was bummed out because I had to pay for the ticket and pay for the food but nevertheless, I still had fun and I’m looking forward to going with my friends next year,” said Yasumura.

    Shafiq Amat, a freshman in PACE described his expectations before the dance: “I thought the HOCO dance was going to be like a regular Hughes dance where you just dance and stand in the corner after you get tired.”

    However, after the dance, he had some advice for those who would go next year. “When I actually went there it was kind of boring because I didn’t have a date. If you want to go to HOCO dance next year, make sure you have a date because you will feel left out. It was kind of fun though, the music was okay,” said Amat.

    Despite some students feeling less enthusiastic, when asked whether she thought the dance was a success, organizer Hannah Samaniego exclaimed with a huge grin on her face, ¨Yes, of course!¨

  • Clubs Sell Goods at Faire

    Clubs Sell Goods at Faire

    Students at Poly High School were dismissed from class 90 minutes early on Wednesday for this year’s Homecoming Faire.

    The faire was a great way for clubs to raise money as well as to boost morale in the students, who were all buzzing in anticipation and excitement for the school-wide event. Many clubs, such as Red Cross, color guard, Gender Sexuality Alliance, German, Chinese, and eSports showed up early to school to set up their booths and prepare for the upcoming event.

    Once the bell rang at 1:10

    Wednesday afternoon, students flooded into the quad, hurrying to get to the front of a line for a booth. A multitude of food, products, and games were offered: cookies, brownies (“sexually liberated brownies,” as the GSA club called them), ice cream, sodas, stickers, sausages, bean bag tosses, etc.

    Some groups had also prepared a dance performance to various rap, hip-hop, and pop songs. There were also two different photo booths available for students to use.

    “This is my 46th faire in a row; I’ve been selling cheesecake for years,” Mr. Brett Alexander, the administrator of the Speech and Debate club, said.

    One club, Model United Nations, had a very unusual service offered. The members had brought in corsages, a white flower bouquet, plastic gold rings, a veil, and fake marriage certificates to

    The event was huge, and many of the clubs were busy with all of the students wanting to participate. Business seemed to get even busier as time went on. The Red Cross club, which proved to serve a very popular booth, was struggling to keep up with

    supply. Team Pink+ reported having waves of students on and off. “It gets…sometimes packed and sometimes not,” Alejandra Nieto said. “I think [the faire is] too short – it’s like 30 minutes away from usual,” said Monse Nieto.

    Some clubs made signs to hold above the large crowd. Gabriel Elal stood next to the color guard booth and danced with a purple flag to advertise and draw in customers. “We’ve seen people have fun,” Yancy Roldan of the STATs club said. “They’re energetic…just having fun by playing the game.”

    “It always beats my expectations as far as, you know, how many people participating and how many people are interested,” said Mr. Puth, Poly’s activities director. “As an adult, you get to see…how creative the clubs are and how creative the students are. But you think you’ve seen it all, you think you’ve heard it all, and then all of a sudden, here they come, and they do something like a green tea boba…I’m excited because I see how the students have come together and put this together.”

    Poly’s commissioner of organization, Senior, Zoey DeYoung, played a huge role in the functionality and organization of the event, Puth says. “I don’t even want to make light of what I’m saying here…she’s spending like hours everyday for the past couple of weeks making sure that, you know, everybody’s needs are met, and then addressing issues that may arise. I’m just guiding her through the whole process.”

  • Drama Gives A Punch

    During the week of October 1, the beginner drama class of Linda Bon participated in a stage combat workshop by Doctor Stephen Grey. At his workshop, beginner students learned stage combat moves such as punches to the face, kicks to the stomach, and things you would usually see in Jackie Chan movies like Rush Hour or The Karate Kid.

    Stage combat also includes fight scenes in a live environment incorporating tools, weapons, or objects around the actors to make the scene even more realistic.

    One move Ms. Bon showed students personally was a punch across the cheek and a clap with her left hand to emulate the sound of the punch connecting to the face.

    To add on, Doctor Stephen Grey is qualified to teach these techniques as he has earned a Ph.D  from the Ohio State University and a Masters degree in at San Diego State, and a bachelor’s Degree from Cal State Long Beach. Not only that, but Dr. Stephen Grey taught stage combat workshops at La Jolla Playhouse, American Conservatory Theatre, and his home college Ohio State University.

    Bon hopes to use the workshop to potentially produce more action type plays for the people who are attracted to fight scenes in spring.