Category: Showcase

  • New Clubs at Club Rush

    New Clubs at Club Rush

    Introducing Big/Little Club

    With the start of the new school year comes new clubs and new students, welcome freshmen! What better way to welcome our new freshmen into Poly other than having a club that is made to help freshmen feel apart of this new community. The Big/Little program is paired up with Poly PACE seniors and is designed to support freshmen as they transition into the high school environment while also learning about Poly.

    Each senior involved is paired with a freshman based on similar interests or where they went to middle school. Every month they will meet and share tips about time management and other strategies to be successful in high school. This program not only helps freshmen get acquainted with the Poly climate, it also encourages bonds to form and creates friendships. The Big/Little program was first thought of by Poly PACE senior, Kaelyn Moses, in 2019 as a way to guide freshmen smoothly into the PACE program. Freshman year can be challenging in the way that it is a new place with lots of more people and more responsibilities. With the academic pressure and the need for quick adaptation into freshman year, this program can help reduce stress for a more enjoyable start to high school.

    Welcoming FIDM

    Introducing the new FIDM Fashion Club sponsored by FIDM LA is a new club this year at Poly Highschool. President Hannah Jara, junior, and Co-President, Jailyn Lewis, senior, are bringing this club to Poly to highlight the talent and diversity present within the Poly population. The FIDM Fashion Club will feature various workshops to help students perfect their craft whether it be in texiles, styling, drawing etc. There will also be a field trip to the Debut FIDM LA Fashion Show in April! Students who become members in the FIDM Fashion Club will be rewarded renweable scholarship money if they choose toi attend FIDM. Meetings are in Room 309 on Fridays during lunch. Hope to see you there!

  • Prom 2019: Time to Shine!

    Prom 2019: Time to Shine!

    Sunday May 26 at 7:00 PM at the Hotel Maya was where the class of 2019s prom was held. At the event there was food, games, caricature, henna, karaoke, photo booth and multiple dance rooms.

    The weather was not as cooperative before prom, as it was raining. Multiple girls were either holding their dresses up or not even bothering to do so.

    Not only did they have a main dance room but there was also room dedicated to just music in Spanish. In previous years, this was not a thing and people were upset about having very limited songs played.

    Most of the activities were present in the same building as the Spanish DJ. There was some confusion amongst students about where some of the activities were. With the food not many people were enjoying the food, such as on how on one side there was cold food and the other having hot food.

    Senior Denise Diaz said her experience was “fun” and really liked the Spanish DJ. Diaz noticed that people who “normally don’t dance to Spanish music” were dancing to it. Although much people weren’t fond of the food, Diaz enjoyed the “chicken tenders”. She disliked walking in her heels, as she had to keep going “back and forth” and it felt like “forever” walking in them.

    Senior Darli Ortiz doesn’t consider herself much of a “party person” but for prom being one of her first “parties” she found it enjoyable. Ortiz disliked the fact that there was “two different ballrooms”, as everyone was separate and there not being much unity.

    Senior Montserrat Valencia Delgado preferred the spanish DJ as they played spanish music and was “smaller”. Delgado was alternating between the two dance rooms and liked that there was a “variety” of spanish music. Senior Jose Diaz added onto what Delgado said and stated that due to it being small “you could request songs”. Senior Rachcna Sokhom-Khou also said the area with the Spanish DJ was “crowded”.

    Senior Evelyn Sanchez was surprised when arriving to prom, as she expected “less” to be present. Sanchez felt the main dance room could have been “a lot better”. Sanchez liked the Spanish DJ but when it came to him playing music, he played a lot of “reggaeton” and she didn’t know how to “dance to it”. Sanchez for the most part had her expectation pretty low for prom, but when at the event felt it had went past her expectations.

    Senior Amy Martinez had most of the same remarks as other students but did point out about the lack of seating, and how people were “standing up” and had “nowhere” to put their stuff.

    The night ended with confetti falling from the ceiling and songs relating to having a good time and living or remembering the moment. Doors started opening up at 10:30 but most students stayed for the entirety of prom.

     

  • Auditorium To Be Renamed For Retiring Music Teacher Andy Osman

    Auditorium To Be Renamed For Retiring Music Teacher Andy Osman

    Some people leave an indelible mark on everyone around them. Poly Instrumental Music Teacher Andrew Osman is one of them. Over a month ago, Osman was diagnosed with advanced stage pancreatic cancer and retired immediately to begin treatment. In his absence he left a music program in good order but at a loss for words. To understand his legacy, let’s look at the music department that he inherited and how he transformed it.

    Poly has a long history of musical success since its founding in 1895. From initially rehearsing in downtown churches near 8th and Long Beach Boulevard, the program added orchestras and winning jazz bands through the middle twentieth century. However, by the early 1980s, it was in shambles due to budget cuts. These cuts resulted in a tumultuous time from 1976 to 1982, where the school had five

    band directors in seven years. In the fall of 1983, Osman came, fresh out of UCLA, to a school that Poly music historian Kent Hayworth said was “in a crisis situation.” The instruments were in poor order and the musicians were mostly incapable.

    Osman immediately began demanding excellence from his students and worked hard individually with them to build a strong Poly music pro- gram that lived up to its prior reputation. It is difficult to match the work of one’s predecessors, but Osman managed to do so. He surpassed it in many regards. Piano instructor Julia Gustafson, who has taught at Poly for 24 years, said that Osman is “responsible for creating the current music program.”

    By the early 1990’s, the program was in its element. At a 1990s concert honoring Poly alumna opera singer Marilyn Horne, she suggested that the Poly auditorium needed a music shell. She gave a benefit concert and thus a shell was purchased that is still in use. today. The musicianship at Poly under the baton of Mr. Osman excelled and put seven lackluster years far in the past.

    It was the standard that Osman’s musicians performed to the best of their ability.

    Each rehearsal was expected to be productive. He had lots of well-recognized sayings for his students, including often saying,

    “You all sound like high school musicians.” Mr. Osman had no interest in the tinny sounds of a high school band and worked daily to emulate a collegiate music program.

    His rehearsals were rigorous, but he always supplemented his intensity with humor.

    When his ensembles were playing well, he would often correct a section or individual’s performance with a phrase, such as “Was it good or was it luck?” Or a classic joke about an instrument.

    Despite Osman’s directness, his warmth won over many students who regarded him highly as an educator and also liked him as a person.

    His skill as a director and teacher were recognized in 2010, when he was given the prestigious “Music Educator of the Year Award” for the Long Beach, South Bay, and Orange County region.

    If respect and effort are indicators of a successful career, Osman scores top marks on both accounts.

    Jazz director Chris Stevens, who worked alongside Osman for 23 years, said that the retiring director “is a great friend and colleague at the same time.”

    Principal William Salas said that he built a music program that “draws students from across the district” and is “nationally renowned.”

    Choir director Brian Dokko said the he “put his students first” and is a “fantastic team player.”

    Dokko is also primarily responsible for starting the effort to rename the Poly auditorium to The Andrew Osman Performing Arts Center through a petition with over 3300 signatures.

    Senior Frank Wells described having Mr. Osman as a “privilege” and something that he’ll “cherish for the rest of his life.”

    Current San Diego State University Marching Band member John Berry, Poly class of 2018, said, “You can’t look at the music programs in Long Beach without seeing Osman’s footprint.”

    Alumni and parents of students or former students from across Southern California and beyond have been leaving comments on the auditorium name change petition online.

    Paraskevi June, a student of Osman’s from 1986-1989, wrote that playing under Osman “enriched (her) beyond measure.”

    The Poly Auditorium is set to be renamed The Andrew Osman Performing Arts Center.

    There will be a renaming ceremony on June 23rd at 1-4 p.m. followed by a reception in the Quad.

    Food will be available from a variety of food trucks.

  • Max Irwin

    Max Irwin, a junior attending Polytechnic high school, is one of the best players of the Varsity Boys Golf team. Irwin joined golf because it has always been a part of his life, his grandpa and his grandpa’s brothers had played, so it was only a matter of time before Irwin felt the need to join in on the action as well.
    He enjoys playing the skillful sport because it’s, “fun to be outside and socialize”. Although, Irwin does not believe that he has been doing too well this season so far and it frustrates him.
    Despite this, Irwin believes that he should keep a good mind-set and practice more to improve. Irwin is greatly supported by both of his parents and grandparents so he feels ready and willing to play in college as well.
    He plans to major in financial management or investment management. Although golf is considered a individual sport, Irwin enjoys the time he spends with his teammates and would like to shout out his teammate Tyler Nicol for doing really good in this season so far.

  • Intercultural Faire

    Intercultural Faire

     

     

    Photos Courtesy of Liz Rico and Isaac Covarrubias

  • BACK-TO-BACK FOR POLY LDT AT REDONDO

    From March 9-8 2019, Poly boys and girls Long Distance Track competed at the Redondo Nike Relays at Redondo High School. A total of 24 runners participated in the long distance events which entered high schools state wide ranging from Great Oak to private schools such as Chadwick High School. Three events took place for long distance track across the varsity and Fros/Soph levels, the distance medley race, 4x800m, and 3200m run. Triumphant event, Poly Long Distance Track win back-to-back events both days.
    Starting with boys varsity, out of the 8 runners entered into the 3200m (2 miles), William Frankenfeld and Ronan McMahon-Staggs place both in the top 10 with William coming in, in first and Ronan swooping in at 6th. Both premier runners set a personal record with William at 9:12 and Ronan at 9:18. All 8 runners averaged a spontaneous time of 11:18.
    Girls varsity on the other hand too had a show out as 2 varsity LDT runners, Ailene Rios and Olivia Boyce ran the 3200m as well. Ailene placed 14th running and 12:15 and Olivia Boyce placing 33rd running a 13:00. Although there where only two varsity poly girls running in the 3200m, they pushed through coming out on top. This was the only events girls LDT track ran at this event, so major kudos to the two runners!
    Boys Frosh/Soph also too had a good turnout as 7 runners where entered with 3 of them racing a sub-11 minute 3200m. Jay Jumar with 10:55, Bryan Gutierrez with 11:00, and Nathan Jimenez racing 11:06. All 7 runners who raced the 3200m Fros/Soph made a personal record with all times averaging out to be 11:01.
    As the 3200s ended, the rush fo the 4x800s began and DMR began. Varsity boys, ran 4x800s with a total time of 8:42 placing 16th overall. Fros/Soph replicated the performance running a total time of 9:33 placing 17th overall. The Distance Medley races where replicated the same as both levels placed 20th, varsity running 11:32 and fros/soph running 12:31.
    Although the second day the tides changed as LDT’s premiere runner William Frankenfeld ran the 1600m (1 mile), in 4:22, this according to LDT coaching staff made the cut for Arcadia Invitational. This invitational invites the best of the best of each Track and Field event from across the state.
    As LDT’s premiere runner William Frankenfeld ran the 1600m (1 mile), in 4:22, this according to LDT coaching staff made the cut for Arcadia Invitational. This invitational invites the best of the best of each Track and Field event from across the state.
    With the Redondo Relays coming to an end, this marks the start of the Moore League season which starts at the Compton/Jordan meet on March 13th.

  • Things The Trackrabbits Did: That!

    At the Annual Trackrabbit Track Meet on Saturday, February 23rd, Poly hosted a huge track meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Long Beach City College.
    Poly’s annual Trackrabbit invitational brought out about 15-20 high schools from LA County to kick off the Track season. Schools such as Redondo Union and Citrus Valley came out to participate in this event.
    The head of girls athletics, and head of track and field, Ms.Irving, gathered many volunteers to help make this track meet possible. The long distance, short distance, and fields really showed out throughout the meet.
    According to Ab Tudayan, the long distance team, Long Distance Track Take Dubs at this annual event.
    Long Distance Track (LDT) is composed to several people from the tree of running. Majority of runners come from cross country season with a few runners from mid-distance track joining the party.
    Three events took place at the Track Rabbit Invitational which are the 4x1600m relays (1 mile), 4x800m relays (2 laps), and Distance medley relay races (DMR). Distance Medley Races are each runner in the relay run different distances, in order it is the 1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m.
    With dominating track runners from Wilson, Redondo Union, Milikan, Lakewood, Warren, and Citrus Valley High School, how did previous Poly boys and girls cross country runners fair in their new environment?
    Starting off with the 4x1600m relays, Poly LDT varsity dominated in both girls and boys varsity taking first place in that category.The girls came in striking with there varsity 4×1600 with runners Sydney Carlson, Olivia Boyce, Laura Yontz, and Ailene Rios. They finished with an overall time of 23:40:68, an average of a 6:15 1600 meter run per runner.
    The boys too replicated the girls success with runners Alex Matos, Danny Bautista, Aldo Kiev, and William Frankenfeld taking first in 4×1600 relays. The boys ran in a total time of 18:30:50 with an average of a 4:57 1600m. Boys dominated the field by gapping the following team Warren High School by 20 seconds. Both boys and girls runners received an blue Nike backpack for their performances.
    Aldo Kiev one of the 4×1600 varsity boys runners voiced that it was, “an exhilarating start,” to the season and that, “(the invitational) reminded what runners across all levels should expect in future races.”
    Ailene Rios the varsity 4x1600m runners states it was a, “phenomenal start,” to the season and is, “up and ready,” for the future races and events this semester. A good attitude to begin the new LDT season.
    Although Poly’s LDT did not place 3rd or higher in any other events through all levels, it is a mere rough start to the season and expect them to be striking back March 1st at the Griffin Relay races.
    As for the short distance, the varsity the star relay teams on both girls and boys won their sprint medley event. For the boys, :Kenyon Reed (senior), Anthony Johnson (junior), and Kejuan and Keon Markham (seniors), ran a 1:31:00. Their competitors had no chance against this dream team. The twins, Keon and Kejuan, remarked, “Hard work beats talent,” as they encourage the lower division athletes and future track runners.
    As far as varsity sprints team for girls, they won first place in their 4 x 200m relay and placed second, losing to the Wilson Bruins, in the sprint medley. This team consisted of Saundria Martin (senior), Zanae Wood (freshman), Qween Okoh (senior), and Kenya Payne (senior).
    The girls took another victory on varsity in the 4 x 400m with Saminah Haddad, Kenya Payne, Kennedy Butler, and Saundria Martin. Kenya Payne quotes, “hard work pays off and that’s all we do,” after the meet.

  • Dancing Away our Heart and Soul!

    Dancing Away our Heart and Soul!

  • Poly Jackrabbits Pin Down The Victory

    On January 10, boys varsity wrestling took on Lakewood in the Big Gym at Poly, and it was provided high energy entertainment for those that came to watch.

    Twelve exhilarating matches took place from weight groups 106 pounds to 235 pounds. Poly took the dub winning 8 out of 11 matches played against the fierce Lakewood Lancers. The majority of the matches were won by pins rather than points which just goes to shows how hungry varsity boys wrestling wanted the victory.

    Each match was filled with a fluctuating amount of emotions especially sophomore wrestler Zong Lo’s match. Weighing in at 152 pounds Zong showed some struggle closing in the match, but nonetheless Zong won by pinning his opponent. Zong, just a sophomore, wrestling at varsity states, “I felt nervous,” but since he had his team cheering him on, “I had courage!”

    Zong’s senior brother Chang Lo was another wrestler that night. Chang definitely has a more aggressive style, continually going after the opponent and eventually winning by a pin. The four year wrestling veteran trained so hard that, “it looks like they’re the one under performing.”

    Adrian Villicana also came out with a win that night not by a pin, but by points. You can score points for your match by escaping when your opponent has on the mat (1PT), taking your opponent on to the mat (2PT), when your opponent has you down on the mat and you come from underneath and gain control of your opponent (2PT), or when your opponent commits an illegal action such as stalling or an illegal hold. At the end of 3 rounds and no pin, Villicana had more points, winning the match.

    Closing out the night was David Cortez, a sophomore who competed in the heavyweight class. Using your weight to your advantage in wrestling is a key factor to pinning your opponent because you can easily weigh your opponent down. Cortez won that night by pin and even though he won the match he states he was, “impatient,” and, “nervous.”

    Altogether, Poly varsity boys won the night and hope to do the same in the upcoming matches, meets, and tournaments upcoming this spring semester.

  • Letter to The Editor: Mr. Puth Speaks Out About Grad Night

    Letter to The Editor: Mr. Puth Speaks Out About Grad Night

    All In Press
    Dear High Life Editors and Jackrabbit Class of 2019,

    Thank you for expressing your frustration regarding Grad Night (“Goodbye Disney, Hello Universal” published October 15), giving voice to you and your peers. Let me first state that Grad Night has traditionally been a parent-led event and the previous Grad Night Committee disbanded at the end of last year due to lack of parent volunteers. In my earlier loopmail to the class of 2019, I explained the financial issues involved:

    “Two years ago, Disneyland offered Grad Night with a park hopper pass for $90. Last year, they raised the price to the current cost of $139 for the tickets alone. Our Senior Spirit Packs reflects the pricing that is student-friendly for ALL of our activities and has our Grad Night prices starting at $90. With 437 students buying

     senior spirit packs… the senior class would have to cover for $57,970 [more] to keep with our allotted 700 Disney Grad Night tickets.”

    [700 Tickets x $139 = $97,300 /// 437 Spirit Packs x $90 = $39,330 /// $97,300 – $39,330 = $57,970]

    Two areas I would like to clarify: First, students in last year’s class of 2018 did not overspend. Their Grad Night Parent Committee raised money over several years so that when the price for tickets went up last year, the committee decided to cover the missing funding for the class of 2018 to attend Grad Night at Disneyland.

    The parents on that committee had students that graduated last year or earlier, so at the end of last year’s they quit the committee. At the beginning of this school year, there were no parents from the classes of 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022 left on the committee, so I realized Activities would have to do something to make it happen this year.

    Disneyland revealed their offer to us with the pricing of $139 per ticket on September 17, 2018 and we had to make a commitment to cover that cost within that week.  Disneyland had the luxury to choose who and when they would offer Grad Night spots to, while we had to move forward with a plan that was best for all of our students right then. It would have been impossible to make up the $57,970 that we still needed to commit to Disneyland.

    Secondly, the Senior Spirit Pack was sold based on the whole package for seniors to have an all around senior experience. Prom, extra graduation tickets, yearbook, a class ring, cap and gown, an ASB sticker, a senior shirt/sweatshirt from senior senate, and grad night. Senior year is already expensive, and making the Senior Spirit Pack more expensive would potentially mean some students wouldn’t be able to purchase it, missing out on opportunities every senior should get to have.

    Third, there have been people who have asked for refunds thinking that they can go to Grad Night at Disneyland on their own. You can’t go to Grad Night at Disneyland without going with your school – they won’t let you in. You could go to Disneyland with your friends or by yourself, but it just isn’t the same: You don’t get to stay after hours when the park normally closes, there won’t be any special events for the class of 2019, and most importantly, you won’t be with all the classmates and friends that you’ve been with during your last four years at Poly.

    Lastly, I thank everyone for doing what Poly is best known for, striving for an open and inclusive campus. While I understand it can be disappointing that we are not going to a more local place for Grad Night, I believe that the class of 2019 knows that it’s always better when we have more Jackrabbits celebrating together.

    Respectfully,

    Vincent Puth

    Activities Director

  • The AP Room is Now Open

    The AP Room is Now Open

    This year Jason West, the new AP Coordinator for Poly High School has turned Room 132 into a study lounge for any student who is currently enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement class.

    This lounge was inspired by a coffee shop as a place where AP student can receive tutoring, study in group, and access a wide variety of resources as well as other non-traditional materials, including a welcoming cup of tea if you bring your own mug. The room offers a warm, relaxing, and welcoming vibe. This will allow students to remain comfortable and focused.  Much like most college campus’, who offer a study room, students must be signed in upon arrival.

    Poly’s AP room is a learning atmosphere where students can join a study group and succeed in their classes, it symbolizes as a badge of honor for all the hard works students have put into their classes. Teachers are always welcomed to visit West for support, resources, materials, and for addressing students needs.

    If students are even in need of supplies, textbooks, study materials, or a spot to study, they are more than welcomed to stop by in room 132 for freebies that West has collected over the 12 years as a teacher.

  • Senior Katherine Grubbs

    Senior Katherine Grubbs

    Katherine Grubbs is on the Girls Varsity Golf team. Grubbs joined the golf team in her freshman year because she played golf with her dad as a little girl.

    Grubbs quit volleyball and joined golf. She struggled in her junior year, and had to relearn how to swing due to the fact she did not play league for two years.

    But last season was her  most successful season. Grubbs qualified for Moore League finals and made 8th place.

    Grubbs is extremely proud of her teammate, senior Azraa Adamjee. Grubbs said that Adamjee was courageous becase she “did awesome because she had an injury, but still helped out the team and coached the new freshmen on the sidelines of their games.”

    Grubbs said that her dad  was supportive of her quitting volleyball to join golf and has been to every single one of her matches.

    Grubbs  practices  five days a week, but  she still maintains a healthy relationship with her friends. Grubbs said she also  does  babysitting, she does a lot of traveling and she works in the Care  Center during 4th period.