Author: Taylor Chay

  • Keeping Tradition Alive: Poly’s Celebration of Dia De Los Muertos

    On October 30, Poly honored life and death through a vibrant display of remembrance, celebrating Dia De Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead.

    Contrary to popular belief, Dia de los Muertos did not start as a religious holiday. Special education teacher Indira Jimenez, who organized the celebration, explained that the holiday started around 3,000 years ago in the Southern Mexican societies of the Aztecs and Mayans. Although the Aztecs and Mayans had complex religions, the holiday has deeper roots in pre-Columbian Indigenous culture.

    In this dedication to the deceased, families share offerings for their loved ones. Each offering has a purpose, as marigolds are to guide spirits and candles are to provide light. Many families also build ofrendas, which are decorative altars with photographs, offerings, and foods to welcome the spirits.

    Jimenez began the festival at Poly around 8 years ago after experiencing the loss of her grandparents. She expressed the necessity of bringing Dia de los Muertos to Poly, saying,  “Death can be very hurtful and painful for people. I think it’s a beautiful way to grieve and remember someone that’s been an impact on your life, or to learn how to transition from life to death.”

    Organizing the celebration took lots of effort and collaboration. Jimenez described how she first began bringing Dia de los Muertos to Poly, “I made sure people were able to donate the first couple of years, either with items that we needed, or offering free bread.”

    Jimenez went on to share how the free bread was one of the highlights of the celebration. Thanks to the school psychologists, Jeannie Porter and Elaine Scenters-Zapico, 450 pieces of sweet bread were passed out! Jimenez acknowledged that something as simple as sharing food holds the power to bring communities together, as she observed that day.

    Along with sharing culture through food, many staff members shared their culture through performing. Osvaldo Albarran Brito, known as Mr. Brito, is a history and psychology teacher at Poly, renowned for his passionate and heartfelt singing. 

    Since Brito was five, he has been surrounded by music. His experience of playing the classical piano, guitar, and violin all transferred to his love for singing. Brito shared, “There’s an emotional release when singing because all the songs I love are super emotional. . . I found a love of it through my dad. . . And now for myself.

    Undoubtedly, Dia de los Muertos is a strong symbol of Latin American heritage that represents values of family, community, and spirituality. Brito detailed what Dia de Los Muertos means to him, saying, “Being an immigrant, it is a cultural tie that I have. It not only helps me remember those who are not with us anymore, but it also is a feeling that I’m holding onto my roots. . . For a long time, a lot of the people that I was around when I first arrived to this country tried to get me to erase them.”

    He also shared that for many in the Latin American community, Dia de los Muertos serves as a reminder of not only who their ancestors are, but also who they are individually.

    Besides singing, dances were also performed to celebrate. Dance teacher Ashley Magana impressively pulled together the folklorico dance team and organized a La Bruja dance, where girls gracefully danced with candles on their heads.

    Magana also came on stage to perform a folklorico dance. With a bright smile and dress, the audience was in awe.

    As a diverse range of people find comfort in the holiday, the question of cultural appropriation has arisen. However, many of Poly’s Latin American staff share the belief that everyone is welcome to participate. Teachers noted that a part of the reason why Dia de los Muertos is so open is to encourage people to partake, celebrate, and learn about the culture. 

    Spanish teacher Raul Martinez noted how widespread the influential holiday has become, saying, “It’s a celebration that celebrates your legacy as a human person. And it’s actually interesting that other countries do celebrate it, but they just have different names.”

    A few examples of festivals that also welcome spirits and remember ancestors include the Awuru Odo in Nigeria, Obon in Japan, and Devil Dances in Venezuela.

    Another beloved activity that many teachers, two of whom were Brito and Martinez, participated in was the Las Catrinas and El Catrin Contest. Poly staff came dressed up as the famous La Catrina (female) and El Catrin (male), showcasing colorful and creative costumes. 

    The sugar skull face paint in the tradition represents the sweetness of life. But in the past, it has been used as a satirical message that death is certain for everyone, and it is better to focus on the present.

    “Being part of the celebration and also seeing how everyone can be in the same place with the same feelings, and celebrate something that is meaningful to everybody,” Martinez described, was the best part of the day.

    As Dia de los Muertos becomes a growing tradition worldwide, embracing the holiday at Poly helps us understand our identities and aspirations for the future. 

  • Clock It or Drop It: Poly’s Tardy Policy

    As the new school year begins, the tardy policy that was implemented last year continues. But now, the tardy policy will see some changes. 

    Poly’s Tardy Expectations and Procedures flyer explains the most notable updates: “If a student is tardy during Periods 1-8, they will receive a 20-minute detention,” and “To simplify tracking and acknowledge emergencies, students are allowed a total of five excused tardies across all periods: notes will not be accepted.”

    These new modifications have sparked some controversy on campus. Michael Crowder Jones, one of Poly’s Assistant Principals who manages the tardy policy on campus, noted, “The reason why we have 5 free tardies is because we understand that things happen.”

    Mr. Crowder Jones continued, “We know sometimes you’re brought to school, sometimes you’re taking siblings to school, but also, we discussed the reasons why it’s a problem if you’re tardy a lot.”

    Kevin Word, a campus staff assistant, known as Mr. Kevin, described how the tardy policy has become more effective. He explained, “It is an area of concern that will set you up for your success or failure later on in life.” 

    Although some students expressed concerns about the tardy policy being too harsh, Mr. Kevin stated, “You know the expectations, and we expect you to meet them. So, no grace period, I am not in favor of it.”

    From an administrative perspective, the tardy policy was put in place not as a threat, but as an incentive to get to class on time. In the eyes of counseling staff, however, timeliness is a lifelong skill stretching far past our high school years.

    Care Center professional, Michael Gray, remarked, “We may have to do better with sharing and showing why it [being on time] is an important habit to create.” He then went on to acknowledge that many students rely on a parent or sibling to get to school, and that it’s a group effort that should be taken seriously. 

    With the recent emphasis on tardies the past two years, questions have been raised about which campus issue is most problematic. “Being on time is important,” Mr. Gray mentioned, “But hell no, we have to help with drugs, we have to help with bullying, harassment, our school still doesn’t practice breath work. . . There are all of these, what we call life skills, that are way more important [than tardiness].”

    Ultimately, the tardy policy remains a point of tension on campus, especially given the fact that the bungalows are crowded and difficult to navigate. Both students and staff alike continue to debate over the strict guidelines and overall necessity of the changes to the policy.