Category: News

  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

    Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

    “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” said Benjamin Franklin. And while many people are afraid of death, almost every American is afraid of the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Through the Long Beach Financial Assistance Center (LBFAC), Economics teacher and site coordinator Dan Adler, along with his students, seek to help vanquish the fear of the IRS in the hearts of Poly and the surrounding community. The LBFAC is a newly formed 501(c)3, or non-profit charity, that features VITA, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Explained senior Danielle Gallandt, “VITA is a program in which Poly students become volunteer tax preparers so they can prepare taxes at no cost to the client. We help individuals and families with low to average incomes who shouldn’t have to pay to get their taxes done.” VITA is a national program sanctioned by the IRS, and volunteers have to become certified to able to prepare taxes. “They come in and take a few lessons with me,” explained Adler about the certification process. “Then I have them do a few paper returns because I think you learn a lot from doing returns that aren’t on the computer. Then they do a series of practice returns on an IRSsponsored website, and then they have to take a test on an
    IRS-sponsored website.” After becoming certified, these students then shadow an experienced preparer and then do a few returns with another preparer watching before doing a return independently, and even then, every return is reviewed by an advanced level preparer or site coordinator. Because VITA is a free tax service, as compared to paid services like H&R Block, its clients are often deeply thankful for its services. “I remember doing a lady’s taxes whose twins sons had just died,” said senior Leonel Tiscareño, a certified preparer in both Spanish and English. “She took on $7,000 in funeral expenses and was extremely appreciative we were doing her taxes for free over a paid site.” Stories like these are not uncommon, and VITA students often are preparing taxes for immigrant families or are preparing upwards of five prior years of taxes for someone who has fallen behind and is faced with serious consequences from the IRS. VITA is not only beneficial for its clients, but the student volunteers also gain from doing taxes. Said junior Kendra Viloria, “I started VITA as a sophomore and the most rewarding part for me was getting to know people and talk about their lives.” Most all preparers agree how incredible it is to be able to actually understand the American tax code.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Polytechnic Events

    What you may have missed recently-

     

    Wednesday, March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day

    Friday, March 3 – World Wildlife Day

    Wednesday, March 8 – International Women’s Day

    The City of Long Beach hosted a tree planting at Hamilton Middle School on February 25. A grant from the Port of Long Beach was given to the city in order to help plant 6000 trees by the year 2020. The 3000th tree was planted during this event.
    People of all ages showed up to the event ready to get their hands dirty. Teens from all Long Beach high schools teamed up to help beautify the community. After they finished planting, everyone was offered fresh fruit, bottled water, and free reusable water bottles. The event was expected to last until noon, but with such a turnout all the trees were planted in under three hours.

    Ethan See (left) and Heinglee Va (right) planting trees outside Hamilton Middle School.

    A tree planting is planned every six weeks and has been for the past few years. English teacher Dr. Amy Stu

    ht, who has been attending for the last three years, encourages students to attend. “I first went three years ago, on Pearl Harbor Day. Ever since, I’ve taken students five times a year… Kids who I don’t even have anymore still go and talk about it.”
    She offers all her students extra credit for attending a tree planting event. Sophomore Leeann Avendano stated, “I feel like I make a difference when I’m planting trees.”
    While some go to better the environment, others go to benefit their grade, as Ivan Alvarez said, “I went for the extra credit,” and why not?
    Students are also advised to participate in the Alamitos Beach Clean Up held every fourth Saturday of the month from 10 A.M. 11 A.M. at Alamitos Beach.
    There is also another tree planting at 9 A.M. on Saturday, March 18, at the 7th Street church.

    What’s Happening In the Future

    Sunday, March 12 – Beginning of Daylight Saving

    Tuesday, March 14 – Pi Day

    Friday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day

    On February 23, Scott Gaynor’s Intro to Digital Circuits & Robotics class took a field trip to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena. JPL is a research facility that does robotic space and Earth science missions, so the tour included many models of robots and spacecrafts that are currently in space.


    “It’s really cool knowing that this stuff went to space,” said freshman Daniel Castaneda. The visit also included a full tour of the laboratories and a multimedia presentation on JPL.

    Freshman Michael Dawson expressed his appreciation for the presentation, stating, “It was really helpful in trying to see what career path you want to go down,” as this trip was geared toward students considering a career in engineering.
    A highlight of the trip was the “clean room,” an ultra-clean laboratory where robots are built. This room is so clean that “even one ten-thousandth of a particle of sand is more than they allow,” said Gaynor.
    Students like Jannine Ek also enjoyed this room, saying it was interesting “to know how they made the robots.” Poly students enjoyed the visit and learned about JPL and it’s workings.

  • METS Ceremony Dispute

    Tuesday, February 28, in digital art and imaging teacher Erika Sands’ room, METS students who received a 3.0 and higher GPA were given a “pizza coupon,” which qualified them for a slice of pizza and a soda.
    Some students were concerned about the fact that they only received a slice of pizza and soda. METS sophomore Asiris Chavez, who has a 3.67 GPA from first semester, said, “It kind of sucked that we didn’t have a big ceremony because I know they’ve done that in the past and I worked really hard so I think that I kind of deserved one.”
    Some argued that they were perfectly fine having the pizza and soda. METS Sophomore Samoana Poyer who earned a 3.2 GPA said “No, I think it would have been nice but I’m not complaining, I enjoyed my pizza.”
    METS counselor Charles Acosta responded to the students who thought they should have held a big ceremonial event, saying, “We’re holding off on doing it until we get the auditorium back where we can bring all METS students together.” Acosta explained that Poly’s auditorium will be opening next year and that is when they will hold the ceremony honoring the students with a 3.0 GPA and higher.

  • International News Tidbits

    Republican Health Care Bill Introduced

     This week, Republicans plan to release their bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

    AshLee Strong, a representative for Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, said, “We are now at the culmination of a years-long process to keep our promise to the American people.”

    The draft legislation plans to provide expanded tax credits and health savings accounts for individuals and reduce federal spending on Medicaid. It plans to eliminate the requirement that employers and individuals provide and hold health insurance. Republicans  have promised not to pull the rug out from the citizens covered by these programs.

    North Korea Fires Four Ballistic Missiles in the Ocean

           Last month there were claims coming from North Korea that they succeeded in test-firing missiles under the approval of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Un. The United States, United Nations, Japan, and South Korea have all denounced these test firings.

    The missiles were fired from the Tongchang-ri region an area close to the border of North Korea and China.

    One South Korean official claimed that the launchwas at 7:36 A.M. local time, which translates to 2:36 P.M. Pacific Standard Time.

    North Korea is sticking to its claims that its entire space program is completely peaceful. On Sunday, March 5, South Korea raised its reward for defecting North Koreans that have any information about North Korea’s space program.

    Man Making Threats against JCC Arrested in St. Louis

           In St. Louis, Missouri, the FBI took into custody 31-year-old Juan Thompson, a man who is accused of making eight bomb threats against Jewish schools, Jewish Community Centers, and a Jewish museum.

    The FBI said in a statement that “the investigation into these threats is a top priority” and that “agents and analysts across the country are working to identify and stop those responsible.”
    “The FBI is committed to ensuring that people of all races and religions feel safe in their communities and places of worship,” the FBI said.

    According to the New York Police Department, hate threats are high this year and the majority holster harsh  anti-Semitic motives and attitudes all over the United States of America.

  • Mathletes Take the Pi(e)

    Mathletes Take the Pi(e)

    On Wednesday, March 1, Poly’s cafeteria hosted the Bay Math League’s first of four annual competitions.
    “It’s a big deal,” says calculus teacher and coach of the Poly Math Team, Pam Amici. “There are schools from all over California coming here.” There are twelve schools with teams in the Bay Math League. Poly is the only school from Long Beach Unified District. All others came from schools farther north.
    These schools crowded into the cafeteria, filling it with pink “I’m sec C and I know it” jackets and several variations of the Pi symbol made up of various other numbers or mathematical constructs. Poly’s team claimed the largest swath of the cafeteria and, though they had the home field advantage, they did seem to be lacking something the other schools were not: snacks. But, unlike most of the other teams, Poly’s team is not funded by the school.
    Most of the schools there had one or two teams of roughly a dozen people each. Poly on the other hand has sixty students on its team. “I believe that I let everyone who wants to participate participate,” says Amici. The only reason she caps the volunteers at sixty is that the bus to the other venues can only hold that many.
    According to a handful of the seniors on the team, the main motivator for joining is the extra credit, though there are a handful of underclassmen on math team for the pure love of math. One such mathlete is sophomore William Terlinden, who says math team has given him “perspective on [his] study methods.” He says, “It’s been a way to evaluate my actual skill in math instead of how much I can cram.”
    Senior Mani Vu has a different reason for joining Poly’s math team. “On math team,” says Vu, “I attracted so many girls it was ridiculous. I was like a chick magnet.” He then got serious and reflected on how math team has allowed him to embrace his “inner nerd.” He believes that the Math Team is one of those communities that makes Poly such a special place.

  • Pennies for Patients Providing Incentive for Students

    Cancer is one of the most common diseases and comes in many forms. Leukemia is a cancer of
    blood-forming tissues, hindering the body’s ability to fight infection. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. All of these require medical diagnoses, and are only treatable by medical professionals. These expensive, torturous treatments include medications, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, radiation, or a stem-cell transplant.
    Each year, 12.7 million people discover they have cancer and 7.6 million people die from the malady; on average, cancer treatments can cost a whopping $30,000 a month. In order to help alleviate some of the financial burden, Poly has decided to participate in the Pennies for Patients campaign.
    “I love giving back as much possible to the society,” answered Kayla Van, a junior at Poly, when she was asked why she enjoyed being a leader in the campaign. Pennies for Patients is a nationwide project to help fund the world’s largest non-profit voluntary organization, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which provides funding for education and research on blood-related cancers including Lymphoma, Leukemia, and Multiple Myeloma.
    Millions of dollars have been raised in pennies and other spare change by more than ten million
    elementary, middle, and high school students throughout of the country. This spring semester, Poly students get to collect pennies during the campaign benefiting the society. However, they are welcome to donate nickels, dimes, and quarters as well.
    On March 14, a rally supporting the funding of the campaign will take place on the rally stage. In a three-week period, from March 6 through March 20, Poly’s goal is to raise up to $3,500 in change.
    Collecting boxes are in every classroom for students and teachers to donate. This year, every period four and nine will be competing. The class to collect the most money will win a pizza party, second place will get donuts, and third place will receive cookies.