Category: Arts & Culture

               The movie is really good and I like all the actors and the suspense. The actors are Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz , Barry Keoghan, Andy Serkis and Paul Dano . I really like how there were lots of good action scenes that I liked a lot all about the beginning where they were fighting in the subway. There are lots of  other good scenes too . This movie has lots of suspense and interesting scenes when Batman is trying to solve the riddles. “If you are Justice please do not lie”. I was mind blown about the movie and liked  the outfit designs and of the soundtracks. Also the thing is that the acting they do is very good. I say that they should win an Oscar award for how good the movie is. I even like the costume designs also. I really even like the  theme of it also. My opinion about the Batman movie is that it is the best movie out there. There were some emotional parts in the movie even. I even liked how there were  funny parts in the movie.  The rating is a 10/10 on every part it is of the details and comic accuracy.  My favorite part in the movie is the stadium scene. I even like the theme of it where the place takes place at. I even like how  there were lots of emotional scenes. I really like how Catwomen and Batman gadgets are  and how strong they are. I do like how the Riddler is written well and all of the other characters. What else is that they have good types of fancy cars. From what I say about this theory about the kid in the funeral scene that Bruce Wayne saves , it might be Robin but we don’t know which Robin it is . The movie is like 2hr and 56 mins. It was worth it to watch the movie. I say that this movie might take place in a different universe.

On Wednesday, November 17, Poly High School’s marching unit performed in the annual Band Spectacular.

The Band Spectacular is a performance that allows all of the marching bands and color guard teams across the Long Beach Unified School District to showcase their field shows. This year, the Band Spectacular show was held at Cabrillo High School.

Before the event started at 6:30 p.m., the Long Beach City College Viking Show

Band, as well as the LBCC Jazz Big Band, performed a variety of songs, like “Mic Drop” by BTS, “Time Warp” from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and “bad guy” by Billie Eillish.

At 6:30, Renaissance High School student Blessel Caballero performed the National Anthem alongside Cabrillo’s JROTC. Then, the Cabrillo Marching Jaguars went on and performed their set “Latin Closer”.

Next, the Lakewood High School Regiment performed their collection of Earth, Wind, and Fire songs, doing lively versions of “In The Stone”, “After the Love Has Gone”, and “September”. Ryanne Sanchez, a sophomore in the HOSM program at Lakewood High School, said “I loved ‘After the Love Has Gone’. I liked the trumpet and saxophone solos, and I liked the drill that went with the song.”

Wilson Marching Bruins came on third to perform their collection “Artworks”, with a vivid and energetic show. Performing fourth was the Jordan Entertainment Group with another collection of Earth, Wind, and Fire music. Apinya Imon, an 11th grade cymbals player from Jordan in the AIMS program, said, “During the show, I was very nervous and anxious, but I am very proud of our performance.”

The Poly marching unit performed fifth in the show, and blew the audience away with the story of “Scheherazade,” their 2021 field show. The unit created amazing movements, with their synchronized footwork shifting into pictures of ribbons and diamonds. The color guard elegantly spun their colorful flags and rifles to combine their movements with that of the marching unit.

“I felt great the night of Band Spectacular! I’ve fallen in love with Scheherazade, and savored every moment we performed of it. I especially felt great since events like Band Spectacular are a huge way to represent Poly’s amazing music program and I hope we inspired middle schoolers in the audience to want to join this life-changing program,” said Abby Crisostomo, a CIC sophomore who plays clarinet for the marching unit. “I am tremendously proud of our performance. I’d say it felt ‘spectacular’!” they added.

Many other Poly students in the audience were wowed by the performances too. Oliver Ray Mojarro, PARTS sophomore, said, “I liked seeing the Poly band. I think that Poly performed the best. Poly was very precise and entertaining. I am so proud of Poly’s marching band. They did amazing and all of their hard work through so many hours definitely paid off.”

The show wouldn’t be what it was without the hard work and dedication from the marching unit crew. Chris Stevens, the marching unit director, put so much work into organizing the band and their music with the assistant unit directors Casey Gillett and Sam Perez. Tom Hughes and Ethan Gathe worked with the drumline and front ensemble to help them perfect their sound, tying the show together. The unit’s drill designer Bobby Frey was responsible for the beautiful shapes the band formed and showcased, alongside Perez who choreographed the unit. They helped in creating the greatness of the show, with intricate dances and truly dialing into the details. Gillett was also the color guard instructor, who helped the color guard performance shine.

Lastly, Millikan finished off with an interesting and techno filled performance of their set, “The Grid”. They incorporated visuals, like lightsticks, and audio, with a voiceover before each performance, into the show.

Finally, at the end of the night, the unit joined all of the other schools and played two final songs. They started by playing “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey before they finished off the show with a performance of “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.

Overall, the entire show was a fun time for all. It was exciting getting to see the marching programs of LBUSD bounce back after a year and a half of being online. “My favorite part of the night was meeting fellow musicians from other schools, talking and consulting with them, and making friends with them. It made me feel a part of something,” said Imon.

The Poly marching unit once again displayed their good sportsmanship, impressive skills, beautiful talent, and hard work, truly showing why the marching band is having such a successful year, earning High Percussion in the 4A Division and High Music at the WUHSD Field Tournament.

Poly’s Dance Program, organized by Cynthia Negrete, held a Dance Premiere on November 18 in the auditorium. Starting at 6:30 p.m. they opened the Andrew Osman Auditorium for everyone to enjoy a performance. Poly students, teachers, friends, and family came to cheer on the dancers. Dancers from every level got a chance to show what they have been learning this year.

Many students were filled with excitement for this performance. Dance team, dance tech, PE dance, and H2M (hip-hop to movement club) performed in the show. This was their first show of the 2021-2022 year so they worked really hard to make it spectacular.  Last year’s fall show was during virtual learning, but because students are back in person they were able to work together more and put their best effort into this show.

“I’m excited to see the turnout this year,” says Iyana Weeks. Weeks was in the show last year and this was her second time performing at Poly so she was thrilled to be in the Dance Premiere. Other dancers felt the same way and had fun being able to put on a show.

The Dance Premiere included several types of pieces such as jazz, tap, musical theater, modern, and hip-hop dances. The show opened up with dance team’s jazz performance to Spice Girls, which then was followed up by H2M’s hip-hop performance which was a mix of several songs together. After that was a musical theater piece which the dance team had performed in the All Together Now! show. The following dances were spectacular and showed off the dancers’ skills and enjoyment of dance. Additionally , there were a few dances contributed to Negrete’s mother.

The audience had a good response to the show. According to a dancer’s parent, the show was special since they got to see their child on stage. After the show, many people went up to the dancers with flowers and hugs. They had so much fun being able to see and root for people they know on stage. Everyone is looking forward with excitement for the next show in spring.

All of this could not have happened without the director (Cynthia Negrete), assistant directors (Lou Vazquez and Marissa Negrete), student directors (Emma Ochoa, Milana Tiv, Keke Chester, and Dionna Miller), and all of the stage crew. “Overall, I was pleased with the show,” said Negrete. Of course there were some things we can improve on for our next show because that’s what happens in every program since we want our students to keep growing, says Negrete. It was an astonishing experience for the students.

After almost a year and a half of online classes and missing out on live school events, the Poly High School Theatre Arts Department has finally released the title for this year’s musical, Shrek the Musical.

Head of overlooking the musical is Linda Bon, the drama teacher of the PARTS program. When asked why she decided on Shrek as this school year’s musical, Bon said that she had experience directing a junior version of Shrek and had lots of fun doing it. She also stated that she loved the original Dreamworks movie.

“For a show, it’s delightful because there’s so many different characters,” said Bon. “There’s the fairytale characters, all the duloc, guards, and of course Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey. It just seemed like it was the right time to do this particular musical because frankly, we just need some cheering up as a school. It’s fun, funny, and has a positive message of inclusion and accepting yourself.”

Bon also gave information on who else plays a big role in creating the elements of a school musical. She said that one of her secret weapons in directing a musical is Victoria Gathe, the Poly Stage Technician and teacher of stage crew. “She is an amazing talent. She’s already presented me with designs and sketches. It’s going to look beautiful.”

Along with Gathe, other people who help create everything would be Brian Dokko and Cynthia Negrete.

Dokko is Poly’s choir teacher, and he’s in charge of bringing in the music and finding the right voices to play each character. Dokko shared various examples of how the thought process of working in a musical goes. “We try to figure out what students we have. We try to pick a show that suits the strengths of the students.”

He also mentioned that when picking which musical is best, the teachers will be going back and forth for weeks to make sure everything is set before they make their final decisions.

Negrete is Poly’s dance teacher. Her role in the musical is to create the choreography and bring the show to life. Negrete said that in order to create various dances, you must get yourself familiar with the music and sounds. She also mentioned a part in the show that she hopes will grab the audiences’ attention: “Dancing mice. When mice run across the floor, they sound like they’re tap dancing, so we’re going to make them tap dance. So that it can catch the audiences’ eye, they get drawn in, and remember the moment.”

Even during the hard work, they have all also shared their favorite parts in putting it together.

“My favorite moment is backstage before the curtain comes up,” Bon shared. “The excitement among the students is incredible. The moments between shows, when the kids are excited and having a ball, I love that. That’s what I do this job for.”

Dokko’s favorite moments are “watching the students grow from the experience, [their] sense of confidence goes up, and being part of a big production is a lot of fun.”

Negrete said, “The best part is the interactions with the kids. I have a lot of fun teaching choreography. I have fun when things don’t go right, when there’s bloopers, and we’re laughing and having fun. We look back at the show and have a laugh. That’s the best part of it.”

All this hard work results in the enjoyment of seeing a live show filled with the students of Poly. Shrek the Musical is currently planned for opening night to be on February 27, 2022. It’s one of the big things that can bring the school together after a year of being apart.

The sight of these vibrant, seemingly “indestructible” water bottles isn’t unfamiliar among our student body. However, with all of the dents that eventually adorn their bodies, are Hydroflasks truly worth the investment? Demand for these bottles have exploded among youth — particularly “Generation Z” — due to 2019’s VSCO girls. Not only did these figures popularize Hydroflasks, but also scrunchies, Fjällräven backpacks, and Birkenstock sandals. And a common similarity between these products is their diverse color selection, which was seemingly endless.

With an average rating of 4.9/5 stars on Amazon (from 30,000+ reviews), consumers praise Hydroflask bottles for their non-rusting stainless steel and their insulative technology. “This water bottle is great. I’ve lost a few and replaced them every time,” writes buyer Lauren Hunt, who gave the product 5 stars. While the few negative reviews only advised against purchasing the bottles from Amazon, it is undeniable among the majority of the buyers — including Poly students — that they easily receive dents and scratches. Despite the countless list of alternate brands for consumers to consider (some being Contigo and ThermoFlask), the popularity of these bottles don’t seem to falter.

However, one of the top competitors to Hydroflask is Yeti. Upon searching “Hydroflasks vs Yeti’’, countless articles would appear with the simple click of a button. The two brands offer similar prices, yet the quantity of reviews between them differ by over 20,000. Unsurprisingly, Hydroflask had more reviews. But was it truly because of Hydroflask’s greater number of color selections? Or was it due to the recognizability of their logo? With the lack of a powder-coating exterior, Yeti bottles outperformed Hydroflasks in terms of durability, according to The World Pursuit. And yet, that “smiling jumping person” logo has become a staple among Poly students.

PACE freshman Soriya Pouv describes an underlying sense of “peer pressure” that she experienced due to the fact that “all [of her] friends had one.” However, despite initially wanting it for the brand, she argues they are worth their $25+ price point. “They are convenient for daily-use,” says Pouv, “and since my first purchase, I bought a second one.”

CIC senior Sebastion Lebario also purchased a Hydroflask bottle due to its popularity, though this time among his baseball teammates. An owner of three of them, he believes them to not just be hyped for the brand, but the trend of it. “People think it looks cool since you can customize it with stickers or different colors,” Lebario says.

For some students, these bottles were originally bought as a fashion statement, only to seemingly evolve into an item of daily-convenience.