Author: adviser

  • What Happened To Driver’s Ed?

    Everyone drives. Driving is essential for transportation. Driving is essential for living in LA. But when do you have time to learn how to drive? When are you going to set aside your studies and focus on operating a whole different entity aside from yourself?

    Driver’s education is the first step in learning how to drive. But why is such an essential set of skills not learned in schools? Driver’s ed should be taught in school so it allows students to equally improve their academic and their life skills. Years ago, most districts canceled driver’s ed classes as a victim of budget cuts or because of an increased emphasis on college admission requirements. The behind-the-wheel portion was eliminated mostly because of liability reasons. A few might still offer online classes.

    Poly used to offer driver’s ed as a class, however The Varsity Driving Academy (VDA) of Long Beach Poly officially closed its physical location and transferred to Irvine, California. Now they only offer online courses. How are we supposed to learn to drive if Poly’s driving academy moved to Irvine? Drive to Irvine? I don’t think so. For students of Polytechnic High School, the VDA does in fact offer free pick-up and drop-off for behind-the-wheel training sessions with direct pick up from school, study groups, practices, you name it. This has allowed some students to complete their driver’s ed, but  it has been limited to students with online access. What about the ones without? Or students who learn better in person?

    In some schools, driver’s education is required to be offered, but the local school district governing board may, according to the California Education Code (EC) Section 51225.3, determine if it is a required course for graduation. A driver’s education elective course may be applied toward meeting minimum graduation credits without requiring driver’s education for graduation.

    For living in the state of California, where driving is a vital skill, driver’s ed should not only be offered at Poly, but should be emphasized. Many students complain that school does not teach effective life skills. Well, here you go— an everyday skill every student should have access to.

    Poly hasn’t had driver’s ed in the curriculum for some ten years due to budget cuts. Adding in driver’s ed as an elective to Poly’s curriculum will only ensure a safer highway for everyone. The state law suggests that driver’s education as a course should be offered in grades nine to twelve, seeing that this is the range for students’ licensing age. Many districts are offering driver’s education instruction along with health education, since some course topics, such as alcohol, drugs, and driver fatigue, are discussed in both courses. Understanding this interrelationship is important since the leading health and safety issue among teens is associated with traffic collisions; the number one killer of teens in the state.

    Any opportunity we have to educate students about the responsibilities of driving, we should take. Hands-on experience will only benefit your skills in the long run.

  • Pathway Equality

    I absolutely hate the way that a lot of PACE and CIC kids can be treated completely different than kids in other academies. Because I am in PACE, I’m going to mostly focus on that for this article. I remember when I was a freshman in PE, hearing that PACE kids who didn’t dress didn’t have to worry about getting picked up by ACE.

    PACE kids usually end up being more informed about college and APs than other kids. Once there was a non-PACE senior in my AP Spanish class who had never heard of the AP test until the teacher explained it to him. Once when I was talking about college to a friend, another friend asked us, “How do you guys know so much about college?”

    It also bothers me to my soul the way that I see many PACE kids treat and talk to non-PACE kids. I remember one student in my PE class saying, “Honestly, if you aren’t in PACE or CIC you aren’t smart,” or another kid once saying, “PACE kids deserve to have their own building because they are the smart ones.” I remember freshman year I had a BEACH girl in my group of friends and one of the PACE girls made a comment to her telling her that she wasn’t smart.

    I have never been stopped when I was walking around school without a pass during class. I feel like in my classes with non-PACE kids I get preferential treatment.

  • The Bachelor: Season Finale

    The Bachelor: Season Finale

    On March 13, the Bachelor Nation eagerly awaited who Nick chose to give his final rose to and if he was going to propose.

    We were all hopeful that Nick would FINALLY find love on his fourth go around on reality TV. The finale was shown live when it was actually filmed a while ago, so whoever was actually proposed to had to keep it lowkey.

    The final date took place in Finland where the two final contestants, Vanessa Grimaldi and Raven Gates, officially met his family and got to have one-on-one time with them. Raven did so well with his family, she just fit in and it had nothing to do with the fact that she had already met them briefly. His parents said she seemed genuine, which I 1000% agree with.

    Raven is the sweetest and most deserving gal ever. Vanessa just seemed guarded and awkward the whole time. On Vanessa’s last date, they went horseback riding, then she got to meet Santa, and she voiced some of her concerns with Nick where she just annoyed me. She questioned if it would work while Raven was confident and sure of their relationship. I would kill for a date like Raven had. Nick and her went ice skating, then he brought her three, I repeat, THREE husky puppies. I wanted to snatch them right out of the screen.

    At last, the long anticipated decision time had come. Raven was positive that Nick was going to propose and Vanessa was weary and unsure. Nick had a tough decision to make, especially since he has felt three times how devastating it is to make it all the way to the end just to get turned down.

    He ended up choosing Vanessa, but it pisses me off that he led Raven on the way he did. He probably broke up with her in the worst way. He kept saying, “I’m not IN love with you” which probably ripped her to shreds. In all honesty, I’m glad to be done with this stupid season and excited to watch Rachel as the new Bachelorette and watch Raven have another chance at “love” at “Bachelor in Paradise.”

    At least Vanessa and Nick had adorable engagement photos together and I hope they do stay together, which is totally unrealistic for most Bachelor/Bachelorette couples with all but probably two exceptions.

  • Cartoon Corner

    Cartoon by Ahmad Ali
  • Poly Students Participate in C-SPAN Documentary Competition

    Poly Students Participate in C-SPAN Documentary Competition

    This year many of our Poly freshmen participated in the StudentCam 2017 competition. After long hours of researching, interviews, downloads, and editing many students who submitted their films were awarded for all of their hard work.

    StudentCam, an annual competition of video documentaries, was started by C-Span. It encourages all students from grades six through twelve to create a short five to seven minute film on an analyzed topic. “Your message to Washington” was the StudentCam theme, each video had to answer the question “What is the most urgent issue for the new president and congress to address in 2017?”

    This year, Poly students thought critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation, in order to properly address the theme. PACE Freshman made over 70 documentaries ranging in topics from The Farm Bill to Ocean Pollution to Voting Rights.

    “The recording process took so many takes and retakes, and cropping each error was so tiring, I had to tape my phone to the ceiling to get the perfect recording angle,” commented freshman Kassandra Khieve, when she was asked how stressful the project was.

    Films like “Plastic Ocean Pollution,” “Affordable Housing: The Solution to the Homelessness Crisis,” “Atmosphere of Denial,” “What’s the Catch?” and “Underwater Noise Pollution,” from our freshmen were awarded as Honorable Freshmen, each receiving $250.

    Lucy Nottonson and Heather Davis and their piece, “The Importance of Wetlands” won third place,and they received $750. Megan Dines, a part of the team including Elizabeth Requejo and Bailey Cervana who created, “Underwater Noise Pollution,”  said, “it was interesting to learn and research about my topic, it also raised my grade, I liked it.”

  • Poly’s JROTC Competition

    Poly’s JROTC Competition

    On Saturday, March 18, from 7 A.M. – 3 P.M. Poly’s first Battalion Army JROTC program, a leadership program whose mission is, had their annual Army Navy Competition against Cabrillo and Lakewood on our school’s campus both have a Marine and Navy junior JROTC. The schools compete in sit-ups and push-ups, drill, and rifle-twirling. Students in JROTC were ranked in these activities and were rewarded for their participation in this event. The Jackrabbits also tried to win back the big trophy from the Cabrillo Jaguars. The Cabrillo Jaguars had won the trophy from the Jackrabbits for the past two years.

    All students
    participate in some sort of fashion, there were many pads which are specific areas in which activities take place. The ninth graders during the whole day were judged by their cadets. The cadets are usually seniors for the fact that thse students are more experienced than other new students in JROTC.

    Master Sergeant Denmark had great confidence that Poly’s JROTC would have the chance to win back the trophy from Cabrillo, which they had won since 2010. As she stated “We have been preparing

     

    the students to do their best in the competitions, so I have hope that we will win back our title.” However, things did not go as planned, the jackrabbits did not win back the big trophy, but they did get some rewards for their great participation in the Saturday event.

     

    BC Commander, Senior Ashley Huendo states, “I was pretty excited but it was also really terrifying and mostly for my cadets that had this experience for the first time.”

  • Intercultural Week

    Intercultural Week

    The Intercultural Fair is a long-standing Poly tradition. The fair follows a week filled with dress up days and fun activities. This year’s theme is “Poly Meets World.” Activities Director My Nyoc Nguyen described the theme, “It’s appropriate because we’re talking about cultural appreciation, kind of like a world vision.”

    Student clubs sell various cultural foods to represent the diversity of the world and this school. Some well known​ favorites include hots links from JROTC and cheesecake from Speech and Debate. Teacher Brett Alexander, supervisor of Speech and Debate explained the cheesecake tradition, “People like it, and I don’t have to fix it. Once you establish yourself, it’s something people get used to.”

    In addition to food, the fair also involves entertainment on the Rally Stage. The lineup includes performances from Seoul of K-Pop, T-Lost, DJ ME, Theatre Arts, and Jazz I, as well as many other student entertainment groups.

  • International News Tidbits

    20 Ghanainans Die After a Freak Accident

        In a popular waterfall spot in Kintampo, Ghana a tree fell over during a storm and killed those swimming in the water. About 20 Ghanians were killed, most of them being students and many more were injured. Kintempo is in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana.

    The site at Kintampo is one of the country’s top tourist destinations, drawing large numbers of local and foreign visitors. Emergency officials called the incident a “freak accident”.

    A representative for the Fire Service said that 18 students died at the scene,  two others later died in the hospital and 11 others were still receiving treatment. They are receiving treatment at the Kintampo Municipal hospital.

    US Man Held For Sending Flashing Tweet to Epileptic Twitter

          In December of last year John Rayne Rivello, a 29 year old from Maryland, sent a tweet to Kurt Eichenwald of an image with a flashing light

    The image contained text reading “You deserve a seizure for your post”.

    Eichenwald who is a senior writer at Newsweek magazine and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair is well-known to suffer with epilepsy. Rivello had sent messages to other Twitter users trying to coordinate a virtual attack. He allegedly said “I hope this sends him into a seizure” and “Let’s see if he dies”

    This is retaliation to Eichenwald frequently criticizing of President Donald Trump on Twitter.

    The case will be heard in Eichenwald’s state, Texas and Rivello has been charged with criminal cyberstalking and could face up to a 10-year sentence. Research is being done about virtual causes of epileptic seizures.

    Four Dead After Terrorist Attack Near the British House of Parliament

    Shortly before 15:00 GMT(8:00 AM PST) on March 22, a car was driven over Westminster Bridge. This car hit and injured multiple people.

    After this attack a man with a knife continued the attack and allegedly “tried to enter Parliament ”.

    Four people were killed and 40 more were injured.

    Eight victims are being treated at Kings College Hospital. Two of them are in critical condition while another two are in stable condition.

    Authorities have still not identified the attacker.

    The victims included London Metropolitan Police Constable Keith Palmer, 48, a 15-year veteran who was a husband and a father. Palmer was stabbed at the House of Commons and died despite the efforts of doctors and a passing government minister to save him.

  • Today Small Learning Communities, Tomorrow Pathways

     

     

     

    The buzz around campus is that the district has changed what used to be Small Learning Communities (SLCs): METS, BEACH, JUSTICE, CIC, Pacrim, MEDS and PACE into what will be called Pathways. Many students go into great detail describing their displeasure with the name change. Some, on the other hand, believe it should change into just a one word phrase rather than the “confusing” term “Small Learning Communities,” making it seem like they are separate parts of the school.


    When asked how about his feelings toward the change sophomore Jayden Nem in the MEDs pathway replied, “I think it’s kind of fine, but at the same time I don’t like it. They should leave it as Academies or Programs. The change is gonna be confusing considering this is like the third time they’ve changed the name. Keep it one word and it’ll be fine. I don’t really know the reason it’s being changed but it should stay as it is. Overall though, I don’t really think it matters, but it should stay one word instead of changing all the time and then them not informing the students.”

    Sophomore Juan Camarena in the BEACH pathway gave his opinion on the matter saying he felt that it was unnecessary to change the name, “When I applied for Poly they asked me what academy I wanted to be in. Then later they called them Learning Communities or something [and] now they’re Pathways. I think it’s very confusing and dumb, to be honest, because they aren’t telling us when they change it, they just kinda spring it on us, as if it doesn’t affect us.”

    METS counselor Charles Acosta stepped in to shed some light on the situation and clarify on why they have changed the name from Small Learning Communities (SLC) to Academies to Pathways saying, “They changed the name of the now Pathways from Small Learning Communities or SLC because the theme changed. Before, they were based off preparing for college [and] A-G courses, but now we know not everyone wants to go to college and not everyone is interested in colleges; they don’t want to be in school another four years or pay those college debts, so they changed them to Career Pathways.”

    There continues to be confusion, but also indifference about the name change. Just remember whatever the name, students still come to school to get an education and socialize.

  • HEADS UP! WATCH FOR TRAINS.

  • R-Word Gets Re-evaluated

    R-Word Gets Re-evaluated

    Currently, Poly’s intensive studies program and Best Buddies club are making changes to the terminology and protesting against current government policies in special education. Tonia Schwichtenberg, an intensive studies teacher, explained that the new Secretary of Education, Betsy Devos, has revealed plans to repeal bills and programs that place a large importance on least restrictive environments.

    As Schwichtenberg explained, least restrictive environments are climates where students are “able to participate in general ed classes and being able to be with their typically developing peers.” Potential policy is threatening these rights and opportunities.

    In special education, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA, guarantees the rights Schwichtenberg stated and protects schoolchildren with any kind of disability.  Thus with more researching, it was found that current President Trump and Devos, do not realize the importance of IDEA and are willing to repeal it, replacing it with something else, possibly for personal gain. Poly’s special education programs are making it a priority to speak out against these potential repeals.

    As for the Poly community, special education classes are standing up for all students with disabilities in the “spread the word to end the word” movement. Schwichtenberg explained, “We don’t want to use the word ‘retarded.’ ‘Special needs’ or ‘intellectual disabilities’ is what we say to spread the word to end the word.”

    The main purpose of the movement, explained the Best Buddies club vice president and senior Zephyr Zimmerman, is to “raise awareness of our societies’ use of the r-word and educate people that it is an offensive term used to label people with IDD, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

    In the future, Poly’s RSP teacher of strategies for success, Mr. Smith said, “When we hear students saying the ‘r-word,’ we say ‘hey we don’t say that, it’s not nice to say,’ and just keep preaching that message.”

    Overall, the inspiring triumph of the “spread the word to end the word” movement is successfully impacting and leading the fight for Poly’s special education community.

  • Softball Takes Easy Win

    Softball Takes Easy Win

    The Long Beach Poly softball team made a comeback with a 3-4 record after facing Cabrillo last Thursday March 16, resulting in a win for the jackrabbits. the score was 11-0 which is a mercy, a mercy rule is when a team is up by 10 before the 5th inning.

    The team played well and were working together, on the defense and the offense. The jackrabbits bats were starting to come alive, when 3 year varsity player, Evelyn Sablan hit a game changing 3 run Homerun. Which sparked a hitting streak Evelyn states after hitting the home run, “I had to work on my swing this game and as soon as I saw that pitch I knew I had to take the best hack I could at it.”

    After the home run the jackrabbits began to hit the ball like crazy to bring the game to 8-0. When senior Jaclyn Pangelinan got up to bat eager to hit, she states, “ After being hit by a pitch my first two at bats, I was eager to do more for my team. So when she gave me my pitch I swung with a purpose and it worked.” This resulted in an inside the park solo home run, bringing the jackrabbits even more alive than they already were.

    Cabrillo wasn’t ready for the jackrabbits. Although it was a good game, they still have to face Jordan on Tuesday March 21 in preparation for their rival Wilson on Thursday March 23. As Wilson being the rivals it will be an exciting game. In past years both teams have shared their share of wins and loses, with two good teams facing each other on the field it will be a good game, but the jackrabbits are ready to face their rivals with no problem.

    Devin Linares
    Senior Jaclyn Pangelinan preparing for a hit before she scores another home run for her team.