Category: Arts & Culture

  • More than just a school

    Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895, has grown into one of the most historic, and influential schools in Southern California.
    Long Beach Polytechnic High School first began offering classes way back in 1895, the first classes were held in the Methodist Tabernacle Chapel, before expanding into its own campus, and the first principal was Walter S. Bailey. The first graduating class was in 1897, which just had one student, whose name was Ernest Shaul.

    On March 10, 1933, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Long Beach, and other surrounding areas, causing destruction across the city. The earthquake severely damaged Long Beach Poly’s campus, along with over 200 other school buildings in the region, at Poly the damage was significant enough that part of the structures had to be rebuilt or remodeled. Bricks salvaged from damaged buildings were sold to fund a memorial flagpole, which still stands on Poly’s campus to this day. 

    On April 3, 1933, classes resumed, and on that day more than 3,200 students stood on Burchman Field for an outdoor assembly, which many people believe was a very powerful moment for Poly. The earthquake impacted many things, it was a moment in history for California, and this moment led to the Field Act, which mandated stricter safety standards for public schools. 

    Polytechnic High School is very known for their athletes, especially the football team, and the first football game was played in 1908, and that actually makes Poly’s athletics one of the earliest organized high school sports in Long Beach. Poly was one of the earliest high schools in Southern California to field competitive teams in many sports which were football, track, baseball, and basketball.  Did you know that our rivalry with Wilson High dates all the way back to somewhere around 1932. Poly’s athletic success has been recognized nationally, people named Poly “Sports School of the Century.” in 2005, because of Poly’s long history of strong teams. 

    Many people have attended Polytechnic High school, especially many famous people, and the most recognizable to attend , and graduate was the famous rapper Snoop Dogg. Did you know that he played football at Poly, before he fully committed to creating music. Another famous person is a Hollywood star, known as Cameron Diaz, she attended Poly during the late 1980s, before becoming the star she is known as today, she was often described as “Tall, fun, and an outgoing girl. At age 16 she left Poly to pursue modeling. There are way more stars that attended Polytechnic , but Cameron Diaz, and Snoop Dogg or the most recognizable .

    Polytechnic is not just a school, it is a historic landmark in the community that has shaped the city for generations.

  • House, the miserable Doctor

    By John Alfaro

    For the past month, my after-school routine has been the same: grab a snack, ignore all the homework in my backpack, and then immediately turn on House instead. I’ve been able to get through the first three seasons. This show is seriously addictive. It’s not like other medical dramas where doctors are heroes in shiny scrubs; it’s a medical mystery, with a bunch of twists and turns 

    The entire show revolves around one man, Dr. Gregory House. English actor Hugh Laurie plays him. House is the head of Diagnostic Medicine at this fictional New Jersey hospital, and he is, without a doubt, one of the rudest, most disrespectful people you could ever imagine. He insults his patients, mocks their life choices, belittles his team, and appears to take pleasure in causing chaos. He walks with a limp and a cane because of a leg infarction, and he’s always in pain, which he uses as an excuse for his behavior, but you know he’d probably be a jerk even if he were perfectly healthy.

    But despite all of that, you sorta still have to root for him. You actually want this miserable human being to win. It’s because he’s always, always right. His whole thing is that “everybody lies,” and he uses that cynical philosophy to solve medical puzzles that look like absolute miracles. While other doctors are taking patients at their word, House suspects the husband, or the job, or some weird toxin they were exposed to years ago. Watching him piece together the clues is like watching a master detective, except the crime is a weird disease and the victim is usually convulsing on a bed.

    He couldn’t do it alone, though. The supporting cast is what makes the dynamic so fun. You have Dr. James Wilson, the oncologist, who is House’s only friend. Wilson is the nice guy, the conscience, the one who covers for House and puts up with his endless nonsense. Their friendship is the heart of the show, built on sarcastic lunches and a weird, unspoken loyalty. Then there’s his diagnostic team, his “ducks”: Foreman, Chase, and Cameron. This is where a lot of the drama comes from. Foreman is brilliant and ambitious, but he’s also kind of arrogant and sees a lot of himself in House, which he hates. Chase starts as the handsome, privileged kid who seems to just agree with everything, but as the seasons go on, you see there’s more going on under the surface. And then there’s Cameron, the immunologist who is empathetic and kind, the total opposite of House, and of course, she’s in love with him. It’s the most frustrating, unrealistic crush ever, but it adds this layer of tension to every scene they’re in together.

    The medical cases themselves are wild. Every episode is a new “what if?” One week, it’s a teenage video game champion whose body is shutting down, the next, it’s a nun with stigmata who is actually suffering from something way weirder. The formula is pretty consistent: patient gets sick, the team runs tests and makes wrong guesses, they have a cool scene in the “differential diagnosis” room throwing out insane ideas, and then House has a lightning-bolt moment of inspiration, often sparked by something totally unrelated, like something Wilson said or a sign on a bus. It can feel repetitive, but it doesn’t, because the mysteries are so creative and the character interactions are so strong.

    The show isn’t perfect, and even I can see that. You have to suspend your disbelief a little. Oftentimes asking ¨How does this man still have a medical license?¨ He constantly breaks into patients’ houses, he’s addicted to painkillers, he verbally abuses everyone, and he performs extremely risky procedures without consent. All. The. Time. The “Tritter” arc in Season 3, where a detective tries to take House down for his drug use, was a welcome dose of reality, showing that his actions actually have consequences. It was one of the most stressful and satisfying storylines because it felt like the real world was finally pushing back.

    But beyond the medical mysteries and the drama, what makes House stick with you are the big, philosophical questions it forces you to think about. It’s the kind of stuff we talk about in Ethics class. Does being a good person matter if you’re saving lives? Is it better to be happy and wrong or miserable and right? House believes that people don’t really change, and that life is fundamentally unfair. The show doesn’t always agree with him, but it lets him make a scarily good argument for his point of view. It’s way deeper than I expected a show about a grumpy doctor to be.

    Final score 7/10 

    If you want to watch a show where the doctors are pure-hearted heroes, you’re better off watching something else. But if you want a clever, funny, and drama-filled show with a unique, compelling, and awesomely performed cast, you should watch House.                                                                 

  • tv shows

    There are a variety of favorite shows that many find interesting. And sometimes bonding over shows with someone else creates new friends and brings up good childhood memories. My favorite shows as a kid were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men, Wild Kratts, and lastly Johnny Test.

    Even though many people had different opinions on their favorite, it’s still connecting as a community. Due to the fact that everyone can bring back happy memories and feelings of nostalgia. Especially with a lot of new shows coming out soon, and that already passed, who doesn’t want to talk about shows with their friends? For instance, stranger things many people are thrilled for the new season to release. The excitement of binge-watching a new show is the best feeling everyone should experience. 

    Top recommended shows were Gilmore Girls, Dexter, The 100, Outer Banks, Love Island, and Abbott Elementary. Depending on where people stream their favorite shows is also how you can also find your favorite show. And if you ever have no clue where to start a show, you can always take 

    J’Miya Lomeli, 11th grader in the Poly arts pathway, described her favorite show to be The Vince Staples Show, because “it highlights the black community and what each individual goes through while being descendants of African Americans”. This signifies to her as she relates how “ I am also an African American individual, and I live in a mainly dominant community with my peers who have similar backgrounds that we all can relate to”.

    For Dame’l Wilson, a 10th grade student in the BEACH pathway, his favorite show is the anime One Punch Man. And he admires the show because of, “the thrill of watching him take down his enemies with one lousy punch”. Also he feels like he can relate to One Punch Man because, “the show taps into the universal struggle of finding and maintaining a genuine purpose and passion in life”.

  • The Varied Taste of Music Lovers

     Music, something that is included in most people’s everyday lives. From new mainstream artists, a variety of genres, and the amount of time spent listening. We all have our preferences and times for music. At Poly, the students’ taste varies widely, while some may be similar, everyone’s tastes are unique in their own way.

    While some classes may prohibit students from listening to music and being on their phones, there’s always a time and place for it. Let’s take a look into the variation of music that students at Poly listen to and how often they do as well.

    One student, Joel Gonzalez, a 10th grader in the CIC pathway at Poly, shared:

    “I like to listen to corridos, that’s kind of it—I listen to music almost every day.”

    Marcus Williams, a 12th grader in the PARTS pathway at Poly, said,

    “I listen to alternative indie music like Mac DeMarco, Daniel Caesar, Faye Webster—I listen to music every day, I’m listening to music right now.”

     As shown in the pie chart to the side, it is seen that there are a variety of genres that students at Poly enjoy. These categories represent the genres most frequently mentioned, but are not limited to the many other genres that other students may enjoy. These genres range from R&B, to alternative music and more. While interest in music genres may be different, there is one thing that unites those differences, and that is the amount of time spent listening to music. In fact, 13 of 15 students interviewed at Poly claim to listen to music every day, amusing, right? 

    Whether students turn to music to relax, to focus, or simply to feel understood, it’s clear that music carries a personal meaning for individuals. In the end, the variety of genres only shows how uniquely each student connects with the world through the music enjoy. Poly by name, Poly by nature, the variety of genres students enjoy shows just how diverse their tastes are.

  • 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. 

  • Should You Play Tomb Raider (1996)?

    How many of you guys know the name Lara Croft from games like Fortnite, Dead by Daylight, or Call of Duty? Perhaps you’re already familiar with the name from her heyday in the 90s. In recent years, Tomb Raider has been sending Lara Croft onto multiple video game expeditions in order to market their brand. I think it’s wonderful that her name is being spread amongst a wider audience, but what about the franchise itself? Tomb Raider’s first game, which holds the same title as the franchise, debuted in 1996 on the PlayStation 1. With its dated graphics and controls, the game is a clear product of its time, yet its gameplay remains engaging after nearly thirty years, even earning itself a remastered version in 2024. The game stars world-famous archaeologist Lara Croft who is hired by Jacqueline Natla from Natla Technologies to recover the Scion, an ancient artifact with mystical powers. However, the Scion isn’t all that it seems when Lara, after surviving an assination attempt from one of Natla’s goons, learns that there are other pieces of the Scion. Using her wits, acrobatics, and gunslinging skills, she will go on a globetrotting adventure for the other pieces before she can finally behold the true origins of the artifact.

    The game’s story may read as your typical McGuffin chase. While unraveling the Scion’s mysteries may be interesting, cutscenes in the game are scarce and the gameplay hardly contributes to the plot, resulting in a barebones story. Instead, you can tell that the developers honed in on curating the gameplay experience.

    In Tomb Raider, Lara must progress through various levels that typically take place in ancient and abandoned locations such as caves, lost cities, or tombs. There are no tutorial pop-ups, maps, or any material guidance, so you’re left to explore the levels in full immersion with no guide. The layout of each level is like a labyrinth at first, with various locked rooms and unreachable places. Confusing as it can be, it’s like solving a massive puzzle; through exploring, you put together a map in your head that is constantly being expanded and used as you find keys to open locked rooms across the level, revealing new passageways, previously unreachable areas, and keys to unlock even more locked rooms, until you eventually find the passageway or key to the level’s exit. It’s an ultimately satisfying experience to enter a level completely clueless and then leave it having overcome the vast layout, even becoming familiarized with it. Specialized platforming and puzzle segments exist to engage your brain and give you a break from exploration, and the looming threat of hostile animals such as wolves, bats, or mummies keep you on your toes. Combined with the silent ambience and the loud screeches of these speedy creatures, Tomb Raider’s atmosphere matches the foreboding feeling of exploring a forgotten place with unknown traps, mechanisms, hostile creatures, and potentially mystical origins. One major downside to Tomb Raider’s level design is that it’s possible to get stuck despite feeling like you’ve explored every inch. Most of the time, these bottlenecks are the fault of gimmicks specific to the level, such as the gold bars in Palace Midas or the water switch in the Cistern. Other times, it’s the fault of the environment for obfuscating areas mandatory to progression. In a game all about exploration, being stuck not discovering anything is no fun at all. Still, one could argue that overcoming such hurdles merely requires you to think outside the box a little, and thus, are ultimately rewarding.

    Though the gameplay remains solid today, the graphics are comparatively dated. The geometry is blocky, the textures are pixelized and sometimes stretched, and the lighting is flat, though that doesn’t stop the game from managing to depict their locations in (most of the time) believable ways. Iconic landmarks—such as the Colosseum or the Sphinx—are still grand and breathtaking locations and are accentuated by the game’s soundtrack that depict the wonder and age of these locations. If the rough textures of the original game are too ugly to bear, the remastered version contains a toggle for newer graphics, containing higher quality textures, lighting and an upgrade to many 3D models. However, the blocky geometry persists, and that’s because the blocky geometry is essential to the way the controls work in this game.

    Tomb Raider’s controls are its most controversial aspect by far. Lara has a robust moveset where she can not only jump forward, but also somersault backwards or sideways whilst shooting in mid-air, grab onto ledges and shimmy them, perform a roll that turns you 180 degrees (and somehow doesn’t break your bones), and can either run or walk, the latter preventing you from falling off of ledges. Though she can do a multitude of things, the camera angle is uncontrollable by the mouse or right stick and the movement keys are oriented based on Lara’s direction and not the camera’s. The controls are precise and predictable; Lara’s jumps cover the same distance every time and are perfectly adjusted to the game’s blocky and grid-like geometry, contrary to other games where jumps might automatically correct their trajectory to latch onto a ledge or make the landing. However, these controls are undeniably foreign to a modern-day audience, so they may be frustrating at first. Thankfully, the remastered version has a setting to turn on a modern control scheme, allowing you to move Lara and the camera like you would in most modern 3D games. Still, a game whose platforming is built around this precise yet archaic system can’t be translated so cleanly to the snappier controls of today. The platforming might still feel marginally clunky, and certain segments might be easier with the original controls. The experience is significantly different.

    Because of the more palatable graphics and the modernized control scheme, the remastered version is likely the definitive version to play for first-time players nowadays. Unfortunately, the remastered version is sold on Steam and GOG as a bundle for the franchise’s first three games and the price reflects that at $29.99, though recent sales on Steam have gotten as low as $11.99.

    Overall, Tomb Raider has an ultimately satisfying and complex level design, and though its graphics and controls are dated, the remastered version has made both factors more palatable for a modern day audience. However, even with the modern control scheme, the game is still affected by being built around the original controls, so a portion of the difficulty curve still persists; a difficulty curve that, instead of demanding incredible skill, can feel like the game is on a completely different wavelength from you. Still, having Lara and the camera move like they do in Fortnite goes a long way in improving the experience.

  • Comics

    Brie Lao

    Josiah Rivera

     

  •        Batman movie review 

                        

                   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.

  • Why Bill Nye is better than regular science class

    Bill Nye the Science Guy is a cultural icon who has taught millions all over the globe, and almost everyone has something good to say about him. Regular science teachers on the other hand are often despised. Why is that? I believe that it’s due to how the material is presented, for example Bill Nye is hyperactive and keeps his audience engaged with every little segment, while science teachers are often slow and unengaging. This causes students to gravitate towards Bill Nye over regular teachers.

    I decided to watch an episode of Bill Nye about Chemistry. This is because I was learning about it in class and I felt like I learned the material better, and it was more fun. Although Bill Nye talks fast and everything is a little sped up for the purpose of putting as much as you can in a 20 min video you do get a lot of information.

    This being said, it does not mean you should watch Bill Nye over paying attention to teachers.This is because although Bill Nye is more fun and you get a bang for your buck, in science class the teachers go into in depth detail and make sure you understand the material. The video I watched on Bill Nye only covered half of the unit from my science class and it didn’t really help for the inevitable test. While all this is true, Bill Nye is a great way to scratch the surface of any science topic and is a very fast/enjoyable way of getting this information.

                     

    (Disclaimer:this article is not to bash teachers it’s only for fun)

  • Songs To Listen During December

    December is coming soon, and an interview was made to get students’ opinions on their favorite songs to listen to during december.  In the results, Ariana Grande was a very popular singer who students listened to during december. At 3rd place, with 4 picks was “Sympathy for the Grinch” by 100 gecs. At second place, with 6 picks was “Last Christmas” by Ariana Grande. And at 1st place,with 9 picks was “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande.

    My personal list is “All I want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey. “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee. And “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano.

  • Addison Rae: He’s All That….

    Addison Rae: He’s All That….

    On August 27, 2021, Singer and TikTok Star Addison Rae, debuted in her first Netflix film called He’s all that. 

    Rae, who has 84.7 Million of followers on Tiktok, was very excited to be given the opportunity she said to the paparazzi once the film streamed live. The film was filmed locally in Los Angeles, California and it was a remake of the old film named She’s all that, which debuted on January 28, 1999. They were sponsored by many companies, some being TikTok, Eos, and many more.

    Pagget, who is  a very popular influencer, bets with one of her friends that she can help one of her classmates into being the next prom king. This movie has accumulated numerous mixed emotions from watchers, but for the most part many people find it cringey. Many people including myself noticed some strange details from the movie one being when she’s allegedly passing out fliers, but isn’t. Not to mention, their green screen is so noticeable and poorly used. Some examples include when the character Laney Boggs is driving or when they’re having a party near the beach.

    On the other hand, some people pointed out how Rae’s ex boyfriend Bryce Hall also premieres in it and how one of her friends Kourtney Kardashian, does too. People were caught off guard that Kourtney came out in it since she hardly comes out in anything aside from her own family’s reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians. After the film, many people speculated if Rae and Hall began dating, since they got relatively close after the premiere. However, these rumors were false.

    Overall, the Netflix film is a love/hate movie for many people whether it be about the movie or just Rae herself, since she does find herself in many controversies. 

    Lastly, Netflix said that they signed a multi-movie deal with Rae, which is the start of a new career path for her.

  • Poly’s Marching Band

    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.