Author: adviser

  • Valentine’s Day forecast

     

    This Valentine’s Day shapes your romantic desires and expectations. Expect great things to happen on romantic front as Jupiter is walking with you giving you boosts as and when you require. Become sure of your own wants and what you want out of your life. Start expressing your feelings without even a penny of doubt in your mind. So, all in all it will be a great learning opportunity for you.

    Congratulations you have immense luck in matter of relationships. Venus in your chart which paves the way for a romantic encounter which comes after decades. Come February and you will start experiencing the hypnosis of love. In fact, a wonderful planetary combination will take your love life to an altogether different level. The good news is that if you tread on the path with an honest and true heart you will ultimately reach your destination in flying colors. So, just hop in, love wants to take you on a long drive.

    Pisces, the dreamers of the zodiac will definitely feel the need for fighting for what they want and fighting for what they do not want. You are likely to develop an aggressive tone and a very fierce approach towards your partner, so you need to keep a check on your temper and behavior as sometimes even your silence can hurt somebody very badly. The forces in your zodiac chart will press you to focus on your love life as it needs a great deal of attention and care from your side or things may turn awry.

    Aries you will have a roller coaster ride in your relationship. This day brings a fresh wave of romance, love and commitment in your life. Your relationship will remain strong, all thanks to a new moon which is going to settle in your zodiac .However before this you will be have to take some crucial decisions of whether to continue your current relationship or just let it go. Singles will meet someone they have been waiting for. Mercury and Sun in your zodiac chart will put your best foot forward in matters of heart.

    Taurus descendants are going to have a time of their life this Valentine’s day. Relationships, Romance, Roses are waiting for you. You will be given a chance to relive some lost opportunities and even you

    will reap huge benefits as you get unlimited chances to take a plunge and find true love. There are very strong chances of a romantic encounter this whole valentine month and there will be a major turning point in your life on the relationships front so keep your heart open.

    You need to make final decisions about your relationship. The day will prove instrumental in defining your romantic expectations as you will be much clearer of what you want. You need to take your love life to an altogether different level which will give you immensely fulfilling and satisfactory experience. 2011 was a year when you defined your relationship agenda and the same person stays through this year. Just have patience and stop behaving restless.

    You need to make final decisions about your relationship. The day will prove instrumental in defining your romantic expectations as you will be much clearer of what you want. You need to take your love life to an altogether different level which will give you immensely fulfilling and satisfactory experience. 2011 was a year when you defined your relationship agenda and the same person stays through this year. Just have patience and stop behaving restless.

    This Valentine’s Day is a mixed bag for you. You’d be posed with direct issues on the relationship front .It would be quite a task for you to come out of this situation. Though the romantic front seems bit dry but things will fall in place with time. Relationships not a priority right now. Though there are some sweet surprises in your life which keep your spirit going. The days oozing with lots of planetary activity instrumental in changing the way you see relationships.

    Virgo, the most sensitive of the whole zodiac, well to tell you there is not much exciting and thrilling for you this Valentine’s day. As in your zodiac chart there are no new moons so you can expect things to run on their own pace, Things on the relationship front can get a bit touchy and emotional and being the most delicate sign of the whole zodiac we advise you to be hopeful and to avoid cribbing over pity things. Your nagging and impulsive attitude at times can lead to some tensions.

    There is a lot of activity indicated on the romantic front. February is very crucial for taking the plunge and taking your life back on track as you start your year with romantic Venus and dreamy Neptune in your romance sector. You can expect lots of drama this month. Regarding finding your true love this day is going to be special. You will meet him/her but make sure you don’t mess up things. Learn to juggle between your career and your love life.

    For Scorpions this is an auspicious day for love, relationships and it will cultivate the potential of becoming a steady romantic partner, who will literally take you to the other side which is more green and full of happiness. Something big is going to happen. With the favorable Jupiter residing in your chart you are likely to have some heavy dose of luck on the romantic front. But, the stubborn and sometimes arrogant behavior of scorpions can cause problems for them so they need to keep a check on their emotional attributes.

     

    It is a golden year for the archer of the zodiac. There lies immense opportunities in relationships and you will break the shackles of an old fling and head straight towards your own garden of dreams where you will find your soul mate. Life will give you innumerable reason to smile as far as the relationship and romantic front is concerned. So, all in all rocking days ahead for the archer.

     

     

     

  • Valentine’s Day

    Valentine’s Day

    Indie Films

    Indie films are not only better, but also cheaper. The Los Angeles Art Theatre charges about eight bucks a head, and seriously guys, you wouldn’t be paying 40 dollars at the movies if you didn’t see it in 3D and brought your own snacks. It’s not like they actually check bags. Besides, movies are the perfect first date– you get to spend time with your crush, without ever having to talk to them!

    Price Range: $16-$25 (if you do it right)

    Go on a picnic

    All you have to know is what kind of food your partner likes and to bring music, blankets, and pizza on a nice day outdoors to make a great date. It can be romantic or easily bromantic if you’re single and just want to spend time with your friends. Best of all, you only buy the food.

    Price Range= $5- $10

    Antique Shopping

    No lie, there are approximately three antique stores on every block out here, and it’s amazing. You and your date can glance around the store and buy each other one gift that you think the other would like, it’s great bonding, you get to see how much you really know each other, and who doesn’t love gifts?

    Price range: $7- $15 each

  • Remembering Reverend Smiles Eugene Walker

    Remembering Reverend Smiles Eugene Walker

    On Monday, February 6, 2017, Poly lost a beloved member of its family. Smiles Eugene Walker, known by all as “Rev,” may be gone in body, but the lasting imprint he has made on this school will stay longer after.

    Born on November 21, 1929, in Toledo, Ohio, Rev lived to 87 years old and shared 47 of those years with Poly. During his time in Ohio, Rev claimed a state title in table tennis.
    Graduating from high school in 1947, Rev moved on to receive his Bachelors of Science from UCLA in 1951 before enlisting in the army. Rev served in the military until 1956 after being released with honorable discharge. During his time in the army, Rev played on various basketball and track-and-field teams, as well as coached U.S. track teams.

    In addition to table tennis and military sports, Rev also played semi-pro basketball, a huge source of pride for him. But nothing brought Rev more pride than being a VIP at Poly. While working at Poly, Rev coached girls basketball to twenty-three championships and the track and field team to ten championships.
    He worked in the P.E. department, as a staff assistant, a book room assistant, and a locker room assistant. He also used to be in charge of transportation for staff of the basketball and track and field teams.

    From the time Rev settled into the Poly family, he was awarded recognition by the Poly P.T.A. and the Long Beach Press Telegram, and was awarded the Moore League Gold Pass in 1979. He also had the honor to be called “Mr. Poly” throughout the state.

    Nearly every day for 47 years, Rev walked without fail to Poly to volunteer as a Campus Security Officer (CSO). Up until the day he passed, he happily gave up his time to break up fights, end make-out sessions, and control the general bedlam outside the Student Store.

    Rev’s signature move when students misbehaved, CSO Ray Porter remembered, was to blow the whistle around his neck and yell, “Boy, I’m sending you to Jordan!”
    Two years ago, the High Life featured Rev in an extended Humans of Poly article. Rev spoke of how proud he was of the school that had become his home. “Poly has the top academics, the top sports, and the top music in the country,” he stated.

    He spoke about memories of when he first came to Poly and the sexism that he worked to combat. “When I was in high school, girls were ignored in class… I want girls to make something of themselves.”

    He remembered a specific time when the girls track team didn’t have any shoes: “I raised money to buy every single girl in track shoes. When I didn’t have the money, I’d call Nike and tell them they needed to donate money so these girls could run. It was the first time a company sponsored Poly sports.”

    Rev was more than dedicated to Poly, and he was a loved member of the Poly community. So many students knew him as just the friendly old man, and he was just fine with that. “People talk about love,” explained Porter, “but this man showed love.”

  • Song Squad gets a Big Break

    On January 22, the Long Beach Poly Varsity Song team and Mascots competed in the USA Regional Competition in order to qualify for Nationals. The Varsity Song squad is a small but powerful force, consisting of sophomore Kennedy Cofield and returning juniors Lily Brossus, Becca Gutierrez, and Megan Villaverde. The mascots were sophomores Coco Sanabria and Sandra Rosas.
    In order to prepare, Song’s Gutierrez  said, “We  practice almost every day throughout the week in order to prepare. These practices range from practices dedicated to conditioning in order to improve our stamina in the dance, or to working on our technique.”

    Mascot Sanabria added, “My partner Sandra and I worked with Coach Cynthia on choreography and made up the ending on our own.”
    The theme for the Song portion was “Teamwork,” so the song mix for the routine had to reflect that. High School Musical, “Everything is Awesome,” and Lorde’s “Team” were included.  The routine was choreographed by Cynthia Negrete and her daughter Marissa Negrete. Their fast-paced dance and cheerful facial expressions kept the audience intrigued.
    The girls were happy with their performance, but Villaverde said, “There is always room for improvement.”

    Cofield, first-year Songleader, said, “I feel that I did great for my first competition, but there is always something I can improve on for the next competition.” Cofield has been working on her aerial since summer and she executed it perfectly at the competition which made her and her team proud.
    The mascot routine has to have a storyline that is conveyed to the audience and gets the audience participating in supporting their team. The theme was “Create a Lover,” and Jonathan Rabbit was a mad scientist who decided to make his own perfect lover. It had songs including “Somebody to Love” by Queen.

    Song and Mascot both placed second overall in their divisions. Their scores were high enough to qualify for Nationals, which will take place March 24-26 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Cynthia Negrete commented, “I am proud of the girls. The goal of the day was to beat the score in order to qualify for Nationals and we did.”

  • Solve the Valentine’s Day Riddles

    1. Where does Easter come before Valentine’s Day?
    2. You see me as one but I am made by two. What am I and what made me what I am?
    3. Where is this qoute from?
    “Love is heavy and light, bright and dark, hot and cold, sick and healthy, asleep and awake — its everything except what it is!”
    4. I represent love.
    I’m the daughter of Heaven and Sea.
    You may find me in the sky above,
    And many envy my beauty.
    My love belongs to fire,
    But if I said I was true to him
    I would be a liar,
    But I have no shame for my whims.
    My son taught many to love.
    To me the only earthly items of worth
    Are myrtle, sparrow, swan, and dove.
    And no one remembers my birth.
    Who am I?
    5. I am one of three who make you “fall in love” but I melt away around 121

    Win Two AMC Movie tickets

    Students who correctly complete the Valentine’s Day riddles will be entered in a drawing for free AMC movie tickets. Please return completed puzzles to Mr. Holmlund in room 202.

  • Poly’s Run of the Century

    This past Saturday April 23, Poly’s JROTC participated in the CSULB ROTC Centennial 5K run. The National Guard, and Army Reserve also participated in this event, celebrating 100 years of leadership and excellence. It took place on the CSULB Jack Rose Track on Bellflower Blvd. It began at 8 A.M. and lasted till 11 A.M. Poly’s JROTC arrived at seven wearing their JROTC PT shirts and shorts with running  shoes. In order to participate, you had to register there at the event. Before the event began one of the CSULB members had everyone take a moment of silence for one of the past ROTC members, Chad Hang, who past away this spring break. His memorial service was that same day from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. and everyone was welcomed to show their love and support for the family. Meanwhile one of the Senior Army Instructors was at the event while the other was at the memorial. “Anytime someone loses a life so young it is very tragic for a family and community. Losing a life to an act of gang violence – and honest I don’t believe in gang violence – I thought it was just heartless. Chad will be missed by Long Beach Poly JROTC,” said Sergeant Major Andrea Wright. The National Anthem was sung, and after a guest speaker spoke, Professor of Military Science LTD Justin Chezem gave a brief notice on safety and where water bottles would be located throughout the run. There were free prizes for the top five fastest runners and the fastest was 20 minutes. A CSULB ROTC student won it and received an Army bag. “That morning was a good challenge for me because I tend to get a bit competitive but besides that it was a beautiful morning for a run,” said freshman Cadet Private Javier Alcala. After the race they handed out T-shirts, hats, and stickers. They also had a table with beverages and snacks such as water bottles, candy, and granola bars for everyone. The run was a big success for everyone that attended and showed how hardworking and motivated Poly’s JROTC was.

  • Badminton Slays Moore League

    On Thursday, April 21, the Poly Jackrabbit’s Badminton Team faced off against the Lakewood Lancers in their last Moore League game.
    They seemed to reach their goal of ending the last game sharp, as they won big games and decimated the Lakewood Lancers by a wide margin of 20-1.
    Two girl’s doubles, Sydney Hernandez and Cassandra Mullen, pulled off great victories against other double pairs that had previously defeated them.
    “It was very nice, but they went strong and won in definite fashion. They put a stamp on it, and that to me was the highlight,” head coach Steve Meckna said. With a record of 12-0 in the Moore League and momentum on their side, the Jackrabbits seemed to be in great shape for their championship games.
    The Jackrabbits did an amazing job, placing both first and second in girls’ and boys’ singles. Seniors Mary Nguyen and Kristine Nguyen were able to take these places as they had last year. Senior Sambo Kim took first for boys, and junior Eric Lam took second.
    As for doubles, junior Eric Shu and senior took first place, while sophomore Jonathan Ly and junior Ryan Keo took third. The girls pair of senior Sydney Fernandez and junior Cassandra Mullen did overwhelmingly well. Although they came in at 4th place, they were able to defeat their opponents in all their games to come out on top at first place.
    The Rabbits now have CIF on the road ahead of them, but they are off to a great start. As long as they stay sharp and consistent, the future for them looks very bright.

  • Boys To Take A Swing At CIF

    r the final stretch of the season, with Moore League individuals in the first week of May, and CIF the following week. The Jackrabbits are fresh off a team win against the Lakewood Lancers, and a previous loss against the cross-town rival Wilson Bruins.
    On Tuesday, April 26, Poly faced Lakewood High School in a 14-hole tournament. On the par 56 match, the Jackrabbits won 310-344. Jericho Betts shot an even par 56, while junior Andy Peterson and Jacob Betts both shot 61.
    On April 22, Poly faced the Wilson Bruins for the second time this season. The first match against the Bruins was much closer, but Poly still put up a fight, losing 405-365. Brothers Jericho and Jacob Betts shot scores of 76 and 77, respectively. Senior Jack Evans was third on the team with 80, followed by Peterson shooting 85 and Auggie Gvildys shooting 87.
    “It was a decent score for us. I just wish it would have been a bit better,” said head coach Bill Dodge.
    Overall, the team had a small   slump from the first match against Woodrow Wilson. The Bruins won the first match 358-389. Jericho Betts shot six better his first time, and Peterson shot 12 better. Peterson had difficulty coming back from his astounding first match score of 73, and shot 85 the second time.
    “Maybe the focus wasn’t there in our players for a few holes,” said Dodge.
    Finishing up the last two Moore League matches, the Jackrabbits finished second in the Moore League. The team had a league score of eight wins and two losses. The two losses were both to the powerhouse Bruins.
    “We had a great season this year. We came in second place alone for the first time in my four years of golf; we came in tied second years prior. We swept all teams in Moore League except Wilson,” said Jericho Betts.
    With Moore League matches over, the best individuals from Poly are getting ready for Moore League Individuals next week. The four-day individual tournament, taking place from Monday to Thursday, starts out with 28 league contestants and gets cut to 16 contestants. The following week is CIF Individuals and CIF team matches. Poly made CIF as a team.

  • Making Splashes In San Diego

    Poly swim has had a busy couple of weeks, dominating not only the Moore League competition but also caused some big splashes down in San Diego.
    This past weekend from Friday, April 22 to Sunday, April 24, a select group of swimmers traveled down to San Diego to participate in the annual Dick Draz’s Iron Man relays. This “Iron Man” style relays combine both boys and girls to swim the hardest of events ranging from the 100 meter freestyle to the killer 400 meter Medley.
    Being the outside team didn’t phase the Jackrabbits, as they dominated the meet winning first place overall.
    In addition to participating in the relays the Jackrabbits also toured San Diego colleges, including UC San Diego where the team met up with the school’s swim coach to connect with prospective student-athletes.
    Last week on Thursday April 21, the girls added yet another win as they glided right past the Millikan Rams. Unfortunately the boys team was not as successful going up against the Rams losing by with a close score of 89-81.
    It was a fairly easy victory for the Lady Jackrabbits, as they swept most of the events for a (124-46) victory. Typical for the girls, there were a wide range of great swims and even better times, including a 500 meter CIF consideration time of 5:28.70 for junior Isabella Magalong who was named swimmer of the meet.
    The Jackrabbits also had their second to last Moore league meet on April 27 against Cabrillo but could not be reported on due to press time restraints.
    As the Moore League comes to an end, both teams are preparing for Moore League finals next week. The girls will have their preliminaries and finals on Tuesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 5, respectively. Meanwhile, the boys will have their preliminaries on Wednesday, May 4 and finals on Friday, May 6. Both will be held at the Cabrillo Aquatic Complex.
    The girls, who as of now are undefeated in the league, look to completely reclaim the Moore League championship title after having to share the title with the Wilson Bruins for the last year. As for the boys, the young yet dynamic team is seen to be building momentum as they enter the final stretch of the season.

  • PUTTING RUMORS TO A REST.

    On Friday, April 22, participating clubs joined together to share and expose students to the various cultures at Polytechnic High School for the annual Intercultural Faire—thus ending Poly’s annual Intercultural Week. Long-standing clubs including Red Cross, Key Club, and JROTC participate every year, though new clubs such as Kendama Club contributing to this faire was a refreshing treat. Every year, clubs have the opportunity to submit an application to participate in the Intercultural Faire, whether it be through a booth to sell food, or through a live performance on the rally stage. Clubs performing consisted of Drama Club’s Carrying the Banner performance, meant to promote the upcoming musical The Millennium Musical. Staff Band performed rock music, Fellow Christian Athletes performing jazz music, METS/Patrick Duong with a musical interpretation, Black Student Union’s Ode to Africa, The First Bite musical dance performances, Soul of K-Pop’s musical dance performances, and Pacific Islander Club’s dances from the islands of the Pacific. The point of the faire is to share Poly’s unique and varying cultures. “We didn’t publicize the performances enough, and they’re what people enjoy the most. Many people didn’t even know there were performances,” said Tiger Khou, member of Student Commission. Immediately after the bell rang for the faire to start, a massive line formed at the main entrance for students that had an “early-out” slip to leave school early. “When I walked into school and saw the line at the attendance office, I thought the new iPhone dropped or something. I think some of the people getting early outs didn’t want to attend the faire because of financial constrictions. The school might have to find a way to make the faire enjoyable for people who don’t want to buy tickets,” said senior Jeffery Akuamoah-Boateng. An anonymous student stated, “We thought it’d be better to spend money on outside food. Being seniors, we weren’t too interested anymore. Plus, we had plans to work on a poster for prom.” That’s not to say that the Intercultural Faire is losing its charm. Akuamoah-Boateng argued, “I decided to stay at the faire because it has been an enriching and rewarding experience for the last four years here at Poly. It may seem like the “cool” thing to do to leave, but I think it’s even cooler to be exposed to different cultures and foods, and enjoy the experience with your friends.” There are rumors spreading around campus that this is the last Intercultural Faire. Khou stated, “They’re just rumors. We just discussed the possibility of making the faire open to outsiders.” Overall, the students and staff that helped make this annual event happen should be recognized for their help—Student Commission specially recognizes ROTC for being a major help that day.

    Pacific Islanders club performing a traditional cutural dance that has gained popularity every consecutive year at Intercultural Faire.
    Pacific Islanders club performing a traditional cutural dance that has gained popularity every consecutive year at Intercultural Faire.
    A Korean Pop dance trio performs at Intercultural Faire led by Eddie Valencia picture farthest left withtin the image.
    Photo courtesy of Monineath A. Ray
    A Korean Pop dance trio performs at Intercultural Faire led by Eddie Valencia picture farthest left withtin the image.

     

  • Bruins Leave Jackrabbits in Ruins

    On April 19 and 21, the Poly Softball and Baseball teams played against the Cabrillo Jaguars and the Wilson Bruins. Both teams had massive statements to make as they both had to follow up on their previous match-ups against the Wilson Bruins.
    For the baseball team, the game against the Jaguars didn’t seem to be much of a challenge. They had a well-played game, winning by a margin of 13-1. Six of the 13 runs came in the first inning, allowing the Rabbits to gain momentum at the very beginning of the game.
    “Our team was very solid that day. We didn’t play down to our opponent and we were able to get an early lead and then were able to cruise on from there,” said junior Gavin Palagonia.
    As for the next game against the Bruins, the Jackrabbits were looking to get a victory after taking a loss in their previous match-up. The game was intense, with pitchers on both teams playing great. However, Poly was not able to capitalize on their opportunities, and Wilson was able to score twice in the second inning. As a result, Poly would take another loss against the Bruins with a score of 2-0.
    The pattern would end up being the same for the Lady Jackrabbits as well. The first game was predicted to be an easy one, since the Jaguars had lost to weaker opponents in the Moore League and have an overall record of 6-12.Also, because Poly was playing on their home turf, they did not have very much to worry about. Poly ended up beating Cabrillo by a wide margin of 18-2. Although Poly played  fantastic, they were still preoccupied with playing Wilson next.
    Every year, Poly and Wilson have had very close games. With the two teams evenly matched each year, they have come to share a rivalry. The Rabbits have always aimed to defeat the Bruins, and were finally able to achieve this goal in the last game on March 22. This was the first time that they had beaten the Wilson Bruins since 2007. However, this following game turned out to have a completely different outcome.
    While Poly came to get another big win, the Bruins were seeking vengeance and were able to pull off a victory against Poly. The game turned out to have a big setting, because it was on senior night and the Jackrabbits were playing at home again—Joe Rodgers Stadium.
    Wilson pitcher Joette Vega had a dominant game, not allowing the Rabbits to score capping off the game with a score of 5-0. Although the Rabbits were able to hit Vega’s pitches, they were unlucky and the ball continued to roll to the opponent each time.
    “We knew we had to win and knew it was going to be a very tough game. They really wanted to beat us after we won the first round,” claimed junior Mikaela Vidovich. “They came out dominant. We could not catch a break.”
    Both the softball and baseball teams look to redeem themselves in their following games. Both teams played against the Jordan Panthers on Wednesday, April 27, which could not be reported on due to time constraints. After tough losses from the Bruins, the teams should come out playing hard with lots of energy. Now that the first round of Moore League is out of the way, both teams have learned what they are up against and should play much better.

  • Teachers Diss Ditch Day

    This year, Senior Ditch Day was on Wednesday, April 20th. Senior Ditch Day is an unofficial annual holiday for seniors to take a break and celebrate all the hard work they have done in their soon-ending high school careers.
    Although half of the teachers at Poly were expecting to have empty chairs in their classrooms, the other half knew their students would come because they placed traps for seniors to come that day. The word going around the day before was that many senior students had tons of work assignments due on Senior Ditch Day. Many teachers threatened their students with zeros and losing participation points if they chose to be absent. “It was definitely intentional to ensure that students come to school. It was very unfortunate for some students who still decided to ditch,” said senior Aldegundo Camacho.
    The fact is that with just 41 more days till the class of 2016 graduates on June 15, all seniors are focused toward that specific day. Most of all, seniors are prepared to drop dead due to the end-of-the-year homework and class work we are all receiving.
    “It is so unfair, we are seniors and it is the end of the year and getting lots of work assigned.Teachers should remember what it is like to be a senior and realize that there is more in our lives than just school. Due to us having to be here by law, school is very high priority,” said Senior Saul Ruiz.
    “I had two test that day,” Lorena Ordaz said solemnly, “I wanted to hang out with my friends.”
    The last two months should be the resting period for all seniors, not a time for more work to be given because seniors already gave their very best throughout the last four years: many sleepless nights, skipping out on fun, and even having to lose some event or associate important to you.
    Seniors are the Kings and Queens of Poly High School, and having worked their butts off to get to this point, we at least deserve the last two months to be some of the easiest and best of high school.2008-10-bettyplasencia09 2008-10-bettyplasencia09