Tag: long beach

  • How Covid-19 Affects Youth’s Mental Health

    How Covid-19 Affects Youth’s Mental Health

    Mental health, though often stigmatized, has been an issue since before Covid 19 shifted our everyday lives. Now, as stay at home orders displace us from our work and school environments and our everyday routine, mental health continues to be a top issue, especially among young people. 

     

    According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 10–20% of adolescents globally experience mental health conditions, yet these remain undiagnosed and untreated. 

     

    At least one in five youth aged 9–17 years currently has a diagnosable mental health disorder that causes some degree of impairment; one in 10 has a disorder that causes significant impairment. 

     

    Regardless of whether youth have a diagnosed or undiagnosed disorder, factors such as isolation, fear, and a lack of engagement with friends and peers can negatively affect a young person’s mental health and lead to stress and anxiety.

     

    As social distancing, isolation, and online learning become the norm, how has this taken a toll on students’ mental well-being?  Four Poly students were asked how the Covid 19 pandemic has affected their mental health personally. Here’s what they said:

     

    Lizette Karina Ramon, Pace Senior

    “It’s been so hard because I’ve had a lack of motivation for doing things. This whole situation is depressing, and the way our country is handling this pandemic is frustrating. My mental health has not been the best because I try my best to be optimistic but the way things are going, I don’t think they are going to get better soon. I’m just very tired mentally.”

     

     

     

     

    Luis Cuahtli Sanchez, Justice Junior

    “You lose a lot of motivation for doing school work just for passing, it’s like they’re simply giving us things to do and not giving things for us to learn. 

     

    But I’ve forced myself to get used to this because this pandemic will last a long while so it’s better to make it easier for me rather than harder. 

     

    But still….just knowing this virus is out there and there’s no vaccine just scares me, it can infect anyone, my friends, my family and even me. But there’s no point in being scared all day, there are still things that have to be done and we can only hope for the best outcome for everyone in the future and hope this ends soon. This has affected me quite a lot and it takes time to get used to it.”

     

    Maya Morales, CIC Freshman

    “The first few weeks were easy mentally. I was being lazy but I was happy. After about a month or so, I started to feel depressed. It went on for a few days and the whole time I didn’t leave my house at all. I didn’t want to go anywhere and for some reason, I would just listen to sad music and make myself even more sad and cry. So dramatic!

     I think just being inside all the time and feeling a little lonely because my sister, my mom and my dad would work for so long, it messed with me a little. But I learned you just need to be a little more active and not simply do homework and stay in the house all day. Working-out or any physical exercise like a walk helps boost your mental health and makes you a little more productive.”

     

    Lance Manago, Meds Senior

     

    “I’m doing pretty good honestly. Online school is okay, but I just miss everything about waking up early and driving to school and seeing all my friends and teachers.

    I would say it didn’t affect my mental health but rather affected my physical health. I’m an outside person, I love being outside and try to be active every day. 

    I was also looking forward to graduation and prom and grad night, it truly sucks what class of 2020 has to go through”

     

  • Less Jammed? Time to Drive!

    I learned that to get the streets to become less jammed, it takes a quarantine. During quarantine, life outside has been far from busy. The stores are emptier, fewer people are outside, and the streets are less crowded. For a learning driver, these are the perfect conditions for them. 

    After the announcement that school will move online, I have been able to set aside more time to learn how to drive. I have been practicing every day, in case preventive measures are set in place (that possibly could limit the time, and how often cars are able to go on the roads). After practicing for a month, I have a list of the perfect places for beginning drivers to start off: 

    1. Malls: Due to all malls forcibly having to shut-down, the only cars visible in the parking lots are security cars. I’m not sure if we are not allowed to practice in the parking lot, but while I was there the security never stopped us. The best bet is to check if the mall is private or public property. If it is private,  it is best to find somewhere else to go.
      • For Long Beach Locals, go to Lakewood Mall! Even though it is in Lakewood, it is not too far from Long Beach, and it is a perfect place (with the exception of some taunting security cars). Also to note, Costco is still open, so you will face some cars if you go when Costco is open.
    2. DMV: To get hands-on practice of what it will be like the day of, go to the DMV. As a warning, there are often other cars practicing too, the most I’ve seen in a day was two other cars– not including myself. 
    3. Grocery Markets: I have been going to Food-4-Less to practice parking in between two cars. This is a little bit more challenging as there are more cautions to look out for, like pedestrians, other cars, and random shopping carts (that sometimes hauntingly move by itself).
    4. Neighborhoods: Practice in the neighborhood where you know the driving test will take place. There are a lot of videos online showing the DMV Routes of several different DMV’s on YouTube. Of course, this is assuming they haven’t changed the route or have other random routes as well.

    Hopefully, if you have not learned how to drive, this comprehensive list will urge you to start. But remember, if you are under the age of 18, get a permit. The streets are less crowded and it is much more navigable to start learning

    Before you start learning, I will caution you, there are a lot of police cars (so follow the law! No speeding!). I assume that they are only there to patrol any mass gatherings, so don’t be worried– if you are lawfully learning there is nothing to be concerned about. 

  • $1 Million Raised for Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund

    $1 Million Raised for Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund

    In the wake of many businesses being shut down and many workers finding themselves without work, the City of Long Beach in partnership with the Long Beach Community Foundation started a Coronavirus Relief Fund. The money raised is going to assist low income workers, small businesses, and those immediately in need. 

    The Coronavirus fund began accepting donations on March 18, 2020 and since then the fund has raised over 1 million dollars as announced by City officials on Monday morning, April 13. “We are seeing unprecedented levels of compassion during this crisis and I am so proud of the work that is being done through the non-profits to support our community,” Mayer Robert Garcia said in a Monday morning announcement. 

    According to a statement from City Officials, about half of the money donated ($475,000) has been dished out to 31 non-profit organizations, many of those organizations serve to feed and house those in need during this crisis. 

    The City of Long Beach said nonprofits with a valid 501(c)3 are able to request a grant for up to $20,000. Eligible organizations include those who:

    • Aid low-income individuals affected by the COVID-19 crisis pay for critical expenses 
    • Provide microloans and / or funds to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis
    • Provide emergency funds for workers laid off
    • Assist individuals experiencing homelessness for sheltering, food, sanitization supplies to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community 
    • Provide food and critical supplies to those who are home-bound
    • Assist community hospitals in gathering medical supplies and regulating patient flow. 
    • Support existing mental health and domestic violence services 

    Larger grants may be given to nonprofits who serve an exceptional amount of individuals.

    While there are many other funds setup at both the federal and state level, this fund puts the people of Long Beach first in the list for receiving much needed aid. 

    There are many ways to donate:

    Text: Text “SupportLB” to 501-55 and follow instructions to donate

    PayPal: Use PayPal online or on a mobile device and donate to @SupportLB

    Credit Card: Visit https://longbeachcf.org/ and fill out a secure online form

    Check: Mail a check donation to the Long Beach Community Foundation, 400 Oceangate, Suite 800, Long beach, CA 90802. Be sure to add Long Beach Coronavirus Relief Fund in the memo section of your check

     

  • Things are Changing in Long Beach

    Things are Changing in Long Beach

    How the City is Staying Ahead

     

    The date was March 4. Robert Garcia made the decision to place Long Beach in a state of emergency. At that time there were no known cases of coronavirus in the city. The declaration of a state of emergency was made to allow for the coordination of agencies across the city, streamline staffing, accelerate emergency planning, allow for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments and most importantly, allow for the means to help educate the public in proper hygiene and how to act in case that COVID-19 popped up in the community.

    In an outbreak, things can change in a matter of weeks, days, even hours. Staying ahead and preparing for the inevitable is the only way to properly manage such a situation. “We need to be ready and continue to increase preparedness throughout the city,” City Health Officer Anissa Davis said in the city’s press release that day. “The global crisis continues to evolve on a daily basis.” 

    Since that announcement, the whole situation has changed. Streets once swarming with life now remain desolate. Businesses deemed by the city as nonessential have been forced to close, restaurants have closed all dine in operations and workers wear face masks per the order placed by mayor Garcia ordering all essential workers to wear masks that cover their faces. An order that does not only apply to workers but also customers. 

    Restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies can now deny you service if you are not wearing a face mask or cloth facial covering.

    All public schools have been closed for the remainder of the school year and many schools (including Poly) have since moved to online learning opportunities, “virtual enrichment” as they call it. AP exams will take place in your own home and the thought of graduation and walking the stage is an uncertainty for the whole class of 2020. 

    These are all things that on March 4 would’ve sounded absurd to anyone living in Long Beach. And now, a little over one month later, we find ourselves in this new reality. 

    As of now, the only purpose of the National Guard in Long Beach is to help provide humanitarian aid to two of the shelters set up to help homeless citizens during this crisis. 50 members of the National Guard 325th Company arrived on April 10. While they are dressed in their camouflage uniform, they remain unarmed while in Long Beach.

    After the city’s emergency declaration on March 4, local National Guard officials offered assistance and support services. The city sent out a formal request on April 2 to them. 

    As well as offering services to the homeless shelters, National Guard personnel will also be assisting  medical staff at the RAC (photographed above), monitoring the physical distancing of crowds as well as logistical support for local officials. 

  • Long Beach Hospitals prepare for rush of patients among COVID-19 outbreak

    Long Beach Hospitals prepare for rush of patients among COVID-19 outbreak

    As of April 8, Long Beach has a total of 256 confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus, a number which Mayor Garcia says is expected to rise exponentially in the coming weeks. All businesses deemed non-essential are closed down and those that are still open, such as grocery stores, restaurants or banks are putting tight restrictions on human interaction such as placing markers at entrances and checkout lines at six foot intervals to promote social distancing. 

    Hospitals and healthcare facilities are rushing to prepare for an unavoidable rush of patients. Friday, April 3, Mayor Robert Garcia sent out an email to city residents explaining the steps these hospitals are taking in preparation. The convention center has already been converted into a 100 bed hospital and there is speculation of even using the Queen Mary as a medical facility. 

    “We are doing everything we can to prepare for the patient surge in our hospitals in the weeks ahead,” Garcia said. 

    Even with all the measures in place, cases of the virus are still surging in the United States. Recently, the US passed both Italy and China in confirmed cases topping at a staggering 300,000 people testing positive. California has seen 14,000 of the 375,000 cases in the States, even though Governor Gavin Newsom has been strict on enforcing a new “safer at home” initiative and encouraging citizens to remain inside their houses only allowing leave for work and essential shopping.  

    Due to prior limitations to testing, the number of COVID positive patients was a mystery but as a new drive through testing site opens at the Pacific LBCC campus, the number of confirmed cases are likely to rise. 

    But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it.

    Mayor Garcia offers this advice: “If you want to help us stop the emergency that could face our hospitals in the weeks ahead, we need you to stay home if possible and social distance.” 

  • The Greatest Pageant

    “The Greatest Show” was the 25th annual Mr. and Mrs. Jackrabbit Pageant, that displays the talents of senior students at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. This year 13 Jackrabbits competed with each other for the title “Mr. and Mrs. Jackrabbit”. Meanwhile 3 fellow seniors took place in the show by participating as hosts. Here are some questions we asked each contestant, along with the three daring hosts:

    1.  What prompted you to try out for the pageant/host?
    2. If you could only have one wish, what would you wish for?
    3. If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go?
    4. What have you gained from the experience of working up to the pageant and/or the pageant as well?

    Michael Chhay

    1) Well, during my junior year, I was the head of the Jackrabbit Pageant and organizing it was one of my proudest accomplishments. So, of course, I wanted to be in it because of how it brought the community together.
    2) I would wish for an unlimited boba supply in my fridge so I can have easy access in times of need.
    3) I would visit Japan because I have studied the language and culture, and I would live to put my skills to use while seeing the beauty of the country.
    4) The most valuable experience is the connections I have made with the contestants and MCs. We have gone to school together for the past four years, and some I didn’t know well, but they have gone from familiar faces to reliable friends. Now when we see each other in the hall, our greetings changed from small smiles to warm hugs.

    Chakravartin Sokhomsan

    1) From attending Jackrabbit Pageant in previous years, I realized there was a lack of Cambodian representation in the pageants. This was saddening since Poly is located in the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia. Therefore, since as a freshman, I’ve wanted to represent my culture and heritage; I thought, what is a better way than performing a Cambodian Classical Dance piece and dressing up as a pioneer paving the way for more men to be a part of Cambodian dance!
    2) If I could wish for one thing, it would be rain for Australia, and no drafting for WWIII, I’m trying to go to college.
    3) If I could visit any place in the world, it would probably be somewhere in Southeast Asia. On my bucket list are Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam since their culture and heritage and arts are similar to Cambodia.
    4) A valuable lesson is the importance of authenticity: It’s not just about winning. You should remain yourself, especially when competing in a pageant. Once you’re focused on the prize rather than your pride, you lose yourself. Choosing to perform certain pieces, and portraying myself according to certain inspirations was on my terms; swaying from portraying any other way to not please others.

    Valery C. Sanchez

    1) I wanted to do something for myself, and perform, I love to perform and I just wanted to be apart for the 2020 pageant.
    2) That’s a hard one but I think I would just wish for more wishes like everyone else.
    3) Europe, for sure, I would to visit many places but Europe is the first place I would go.
    4) Just so much love and support from everyone and the contestants. We kinda have this family bond.

    Gari L. Nolan

    1) I saw it last year and just knew I had to be in it. The past contestants looked like they were having so much fun, so I knew I had to do it.
    2) I would wish for more wishes, obviously.
    3) I would really like to visit Ethiopia because my ancestors are from there and I would like to experience the culture.
    4) I have met a lot of new people as a result of being in the pageant, and I don’t think I would have met them if it wasn’t a contestant.

    Heather Davis

    1) I’ve always loved performing and being on stage since I was a kid because I grew up doing dance and being in dance recitals.
    2) For my family to always be okay, like to be healthy, always be okay financially, and to be safe.
    3) Sydney, Australia because I just think it’s so beautiful and I’ve never been out of North America, and I really want to go to Australia.
    4) It’s great getting to know all of the other contestants and being part of a big show. It’s helped me make my senior year memorable and fun.

    Emmanuel Guia Guerrero

    1) What prompted me to try out for the pageant was knowing that it would be my very last important performance in high school.
    2) If I were to have one wish, it’d be to help anyone that is suffering physically, mentally, and/or emotionally.
    3) I would love to go to New York. It has always been a huge dream of mine ever since I was little. I’ve always dreamed of being able to see musicals on Broadway, take a walk at Central Park and take a boat ride to the Statue of Liberty and see all the pieces of history.
    4) What I gained from working on the pageant is that it takes hard work and determination to put on a huge show. It may be tiring with rehearsals and meetings, but in the end it was completely worth it. Knowing that I was able to be part of a huge production and creating new friendships that I know will last for years to come.

    Jailenn A. Williams

    1) Watching the show as an underclassman I knew that I wanted to be a part of it but I didn’t have talent so I thought being a MC would be a good fit for me, I also thought it was a great way to finish off my time at Poly.
    2) I would wish for the ability to stop the world at any moment and take a nap, or go to the mall and grab a pile of clothes and then let it continue when I want it to without anyone knowing it stopped.
    3) If I could visit any place in the world it would be the setting of the movie Guava Island with Rihanna and Donald Glover.
    4) I have learned that JPAG is so underrated and how much time and effort is put into it to become the greatest show.

    Lucille A. Nottonson

    1) It seemed like it would be a cool event to experience since it’s already my senior year.
    2) I would wish to be happy for my whole life without any sadness to deal with. It will bring me more success.
    3) I would visit Egypt so I can see the pyramids with my own eyes instead of pictures.
    4) I met new people from different programs around Poly and made new friends.

    Zane Witter

    1) I decided to try out for the pageant because I wanted to feel like I was participating during my senior year, but also because the deadline had been extended due to so few male applicants.
    2) I’d wish for a more cooperative global community (world peace is always a classic).
    3) I’d visit some super remote area of Alaska that’s been almost untouched by humans, the geography there is spectacular.
    4) The greatest thing I’ve gained from the Pageant is 12 new friends, and that’s not counting everyone involved in the pageant that I grew closer to but wasn’t a contestant. They’re all so supportive, and they made the hard weeks leading up to the pageant worth it.

    Snigdha Barua

    1) I think I ultimately auditioned for JPAG because I wanted a high school experience that went beyond the classroom. As someone who is not involved in many activities on-campus, I thought JPAG would get me out of my comfort zone and allow me to meet people outside my pathway.
    2) It’s a bit foolish, but I would wish for my home-country Bangladesh to be larger in landmass. I think a lot of the problems faced by many Bangladeshis such as sanitation could be improved by it.
    3) If I could visit any place in the world, I would go to Lumbini, Nepal. It’s Siddhartha Gautama’s birthplace and its sort of a pilgrimage site; I hold deep value in Buddha’s teachings so being able to go there would be amazing.
    4) As cheesy as it may sound, I now understand what “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” means. Throughout the past months we (the contestants) worked tremendously hard alongside the ASB heads, Stage Crew, staff in charge, etc. Although our end goal was to put on “The Greatest Show” the bonds we created together will forever stick with me. I was rather “over it” the week prior to the show and now I miss it.

    Nohemi Pino

    1) I really wanted to be a part of something big at Poly, because I’ve never been super involved in school activities.
    2) I would wish for my college to be paid for.
    3) I would love to go to Greece, it looks so beautiful.
    4) I definitely bettered my public speaking and planning skills, bust most importantly, I gained an awesome group of friends!

    Amanda Angeles

    1) I love to perform and it would be a cool opportunity to show my talents on stage for the whole school to watch. I had never performed in front of this many people from Poly before, and it was interesting to sing for a full auditorium of her peers.
    2) I would wish to be on Broadway.
    3) If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to New York.
    4) Unlike my typical musical theater performances, this type of audience tended to want to clap in the middle of my song instead of waiting for the end. It was interesting to have to work around the cheering and stuff like that. So I guess I learned how to adapt my performance based on having a different kind of audience.

    Dominic Rojas

    1) I’ve performed at a lot of the Poly Faire’s and I liked singing in front of people so I thought “why not?”
    2) I’d wish for free education because college debt is no joke.
    3) I’d visit Hawaii and chill at the beach.
    4) I gained valuable friendships with some of Poly’s most talented people. I’ve also became more confident in performing.

    Laura Yontz

    1) I just wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and have fun.
    2) I would wish for the world to receive what it needs most to become a better place.
    3) I would go to Egypt and explore the rich history there.
    4) Taking a baby step and trying something new can open so many doors for you to broaden your experiences and to meet new people. The best things always come as a surprise!

    Micaela A. Ramos

    1) I thought it would be fun and I thought it would be a good opportunity to perform for the school. I wanted to put myself out there and be brave.
    2) That a drunk driver didn’t kill my family. I would love that.
    3) I think it’d be cool to go to Japan.
    4) I got a lot closer with people I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t do Jackrabbit Pageant.

    Janelle Soriano

    1 ) I wanted to try out for the pageant because I’ve known about it since I was in 8th grade and I love showcasing my talent.
    2 ) If I had one wish, I’d wish for a lifetime supply of boba from Sharetea 🙂
    3) I’d want to visit Bora Bora because I love being on tropical islands.
    4) I’ve gained new friendships along with a new love for my talent. I learned that singing is all I ever want to do in life 🙂

  • “Yummy” more like “Yucky”

    It’s 2020: the start of a new decade, new year, and a new generation of pop culture.
    I would’ve liked to think, given how many decent popular albums that were coming out as the previous decade was coming to a close, that we would start this year off with a bang – have a second “roaring 20s” for music.
    But just as he did in 2010, Justin Bieber has to step in and ruin it for everyone. We started off the 2010s with Bieber, and we’re stuck with him again. “Yummy,” released on January 3, was the first big pop song to drop in 2020, and it sets a bad rap for the other pop artists getting ready to release their next albums.
    It’s easy to forget the verses, what with their mumbled lyrics and outdated trends, but once the chorus kicks back in with the repetition of “Yeah, you got that yummy yummy yummy,” you are overcome with the urge to scratch your eyes out. Bieber is trying so hard to be cool, but the choice of a word as silly as “yummy” makes him seem more like a prepubescent tween than a 25 year-old man releasing his 38th single. It’s a load of meaningless crap designed to infuse itself in your brain like a drug you can’t withdraw from.
    There should be no surprise – the attitude isn’t much different than one of his earlier singles, “Baby.” But still least that song had the sense to have melodic differences. “Yummy” couldn’t even manage to give a proper ending over than that last repetition of the chorus. And that lack of an ending is exactly what describes the song. It has nothing to say. There is no point, no meaning, no other reason than to release a song.
    If this is the sound that we have to start off the new decade with, I pray that the new generation doesn’t have to live with this is their ears from the moment they can remember anything. But just wait – soon enough it’ll be playing in every clothing store, restaurant and grocery store, and it’ll be burned into our minds forever.

  • ‘Tis the Season for Pi(e) (COMIC)

    ‘Tis the Season for Pi(e) (COMIC)

  • Dancers Bust a Move (Photo Gallery)

    Dancers Bust a Move (Photo Gallery)

    On November 7th, Poly’s dance program held their annual winter dance show at the Andrew Osman Performing Arts Center. Featuring choreographies by Cynthia Negrete, the event showcased performances from Poly’s Dance Team as well as Negrete’s dance classes.

     

    Photos by Nick Eismann, Contributing Photographer

  • Royal vs. Jokers

    The rally stage. The infamous rally stage that houses the butts of seniors during lunch and nutrition, is indeed the throne to kings and queens: seniors, the rulers of the kingdom we call Long Beach Polytechnic High School. The little, itty-bitty specks we call “freshman” perhaps would be named as “the jokers”. Their lower status prevents them from being able to rest even a pinky on the brick steps of the almighty rally stage. Even at twenty arm lengths away, just the thought of one of these jokers on their rather dirty and cold stage creates a fire hot rage for the kings and queens of Poly High School.

    One day in the Kingdom of Poly High School, a brave group of freshmen – I mean, jokers – were getting ready to eat their grub. At the rally stage, the kings dined fancy with their Hot Cheetos bags, every last crunch of processed cheese flavor bringing them closer to a bad case of diabetes, while the queens ate their lunch out of perfectly crafted Tupperware. As the jokers innocently pause in their steps to sit on the rally stage – I mean, throne – of seniors, the kings and queens were enraged at the sight of a lowlife joker on their beloved cathedra. The royals got up in a fury, walking almost a mile to the other side of the stage, catching their breath as they got to the jokers after their long trudge. A good workout, I might add, after all the Hot Cheetos, but that’s besides the point. The jokers trembled in their little boots as the royals huff and puff and blow them off the stage. The royals laughed in their victory, thinking they will never see or hear of the jokers on their stage again. Or so they thought…

    The next day, the kings and queens change it up and are instead fine dining on sweet and spicy Takis, satisfied with the lack of jokers around them that would contaminate their air. As the end of lunch grew closer,  more jokers, left and right, surrounded the stage with their new weapon: a sign. The sign read, “Freshman (Jokers) Welcome Here”. Their sign, a flag representing their will to fight the system created by the royals, waved high and proud over the stage, the blue and green markers bleeding through the paper due to the damp air. A great inspiration for all jokers and for those to come. A symbol of their strength and the f’s they don’t give. The royals, taken off guard soon begin to realize the persistence of the jokers, but prepare to fight back. Ripping the war flag off the catwalk, the seniors take back their turf. However, the jokers didn’t even blink, they didn’t give one rat’s ass. Instead, they sat right back down. Cheek to cheek, they sat their cheeks on the throne.

    The previous story is based on true events at Poly High School. The arrogance expressed by the seniors that inspired this tale is not necessary. Don’t kick poor freshmen off the stage. Poly is supposed to be a place where we welcome everyone. Seniors, sit down!

  • Dark Harbor AMAZEment

    The Queen Mary is greatly known for its haunted rooms and as the gigantic ship that is one of the landmarks in Long Beach. From September 27th to November 2nd, the Queen Mary presents Dark Harbor for 23 thrilling nights. If you haven’t heard about Dark Harbor, it’s basically a walk through of mazes and people dressed up as monsters, creeping out to give you that adrenaline rush. When I first walked into the gates, there were already monsters walking around to basically give a preview of what the mazes were going to be like.

    Did it work? It made me want to get back in the car and go home. Although they were regular people disguised or portrayed to be as monsters, their energy and how dramatic they were felt real. The entire time I was there, I cling onto my friend’s arm because the thought of going through the mazes alone scared me to death. The foggy smoke from the outside clogged up the entire area so I didn’t know who or what was approaching me. The first maze I remember going into was the “Circus Maze”. The part that really got to me was when I was walking, play-pen colored balls started to fill our feet. I’m not sure if the people were real but I could feel hands grabbing onto my feet.

  • Welcome, New Staff!

    Welcome, New Staff!

    Maria Salazar

    By Reymar Santos

    Maria Salazar, the new ASB secretary, is excited to work here at Polytechnic High School. She lives on the west side of Long Beach, but her family is originally from Mexico. She is the first generation from her family to become a citizen in the US. Her family is originally from Mexico. Her previous job was in the enrollment department at the other school. She graduated from Long Beach City College. Her first experience at Poly was such a new and thrilling experience because our school spirit in this school compared to other schools is overwhelming. She said, “The people are friendly; and communicating with students is nice.” As ASB secretary, she said she enjoys helping other students with activities and handing out school IDs.

    David Rodriguez

    By Alexander Phouma

    David Rodriguez is one of our new special education teachers here at Poly. Mr. Rodriguez was born and raised here in Long Beach, and attended Wilson High School. After graduating high school, he furthered his education and studied at UC Santa Cruz for his bachelors and is currently working on getting his masters at Cal State University and has been happily married for two and a half years now. Before working at Poly, Rodriguez was a teacher at Grant Elementary School. Like both of his parents, he became a teacher to help kids and he enjoys seeing students become a better version of themselves. Rodriguez likes to run with his wife and play board games. He has ran about 25 marathons so far. He also enjoys watching baseball, and his favorite team is the Dodgers. One of his favorite movies is The Shawshank Redemption and enjoys buffalo wings and burgers.

    John Wong

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla

    John Wong, Poly’s new MEDS counselor, transferred this year from Poly’s sister campus, PAAL, where he worked for four years. Wong regards himself as an approachable person and hopes to gain his student’s trust and be able to guide them to success in life after high school. Whether that means college or any other situation, he intends to find out what options are best for students and ensure they reach their goals. Wong said he comes prepared with community resources to assist students not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. He wants to reach out to kids and spark a positive change within them.

    Brent Lavoie

    By Sebastian Lebario

    Ever since the arrival of Brent Lavoie, Poly has been glorified as an exceptional baseball program and has also won a Moore league title. Brent Lavoie is going into his fourth year as the Poly varsity coach with high expectations to have a repeat championship season in 2020. As of this school year, he is also going to be a special education teacher. Although he has been a coach at Poly, he finally got a job to work here after a few years of working as Millikan High School’s resource specialist teacher.
    Lavoie was born in Springfield, Missouri where he played baseball collegiately at Missouri Valley in Marshall, Missouri. He then moved out to North Arkansas Junior College in Harrison, Arkansas. He is now entering his 14th year as a high school teacher overall.

    Shannon Young

    By Melissa De La Cruz

    Among the new teachers at Poly this school year, there is also a new assistant principal who works with the pathways Justice and Pace. Shannon Young has been working in the LBUSD district for 19 years now. She first started out by working as a 5th grade teacher at Burbank Elementary School. From there she moved to Franklin Middle School where she worked as an English and history teacher. Shortly before coming to Poly, she was employed as an assistant principal at Millikan High School.
    Young claims her experience here at Poly has been a good one so far. She is content with and loves the idea of working at the home of scholars and champions that not only is there a focus but an encouragement on students academically, as well as with extracurricular activities as well. “The students– they’re great, kind, respectful,” she says. She claims she enjoys working with the staff which has also been quite resourceful and left a positive impact on Young as well as “everybody has been very welcoming. They’ve been kind and helpful”.
    Compared to where she last worked, she says there are more similarities than differences. This makes things easier when transitioning from one location to another. Overall it seems like our new assistant principal has had a wonderful experience since the first day. To summarize her experience so far in a sentence is, “Poly is an inviting, encouraging place for students and staff to be.”

    Ronald Scipio

    By Alexander Phouma

    Ronald Scipio is one of our new teachers here at Poly, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t sound familiar; his wife is also a teacher at the school. Scipio was born and raised in Compton, California and always knew he wanted to be a teacher while he was in high school. Before applying for the job, he was a teacher’s aide at Poly, and he previously worked at Jordan High School for five years. After our previous orchestra teacher, Mr. Osman, retired, Scipio applied for the spot and transferred from Jordan to Poly. He has two children and has been married for a total of four years. He also enjoys bike rides, working out in the gym and cooking.

    Mark Mikasa

    By Madeline Milton

    Mark Mikasa is an AP Calculus AP and Algebra II teacher at Poly. He recently taught at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights and Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel, both of which being located in California. He has had his eye on a job opportunity at Poly for awhile, as he is located in Long Beach and wanted to take a more local job.
    Being distanced from his previous schools, he missed out on a lot of school events and activities after school. “When I was in San Gabriel,” he said, “I could never really attend any games or support kids in other ways.” He is looking forward to attending games and other events at Poly.

    Dana Zapanta

    By Jailyn Lewis-Hobbs

    Dana Zapanta is the new PACE Counselor at Long Beach Poly. Originally from San Diego, Zapanta received her undergraduate at the University of California, Irvine, and went to graduate school at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Zapanta has been counseling for thirteen years, spending five years in ABC Unified and another seven years in the Clark County District. Zapanta then moved to Long Beach and began working at Long Beach Poly High School as the new Pace Counselor. When asked why she chose Poly, Zapanta said “I wanted a challenge, a new perspective. After working for a certain amount of time you want to change it up a little bit.”

    Elizabeth Baca

    By Chansochata Thon

    As many new students begin associating themselves with the pride of the Jackrabbit, so did new the Pre-Calculus and Calculus BC teacher, Elizabeth Baca. Coming to Poly allowed her to see a new dynamic where pathways allowed students to act like family. Not only was she greeted by this warm family-like dynamic, but she felt as if she had joined it.
    With the start of the fall year, Baca is eager and enthusiastic to attend football games, which not only allow her to build a stronger bond with her students and the school, but also allows her to bring her kids to share the Jackrabbit pride and love.
    Along with all the pros of a new school, the block schedule also presents a challenge to Baca. But getting used to remembering when to repeat teaching days or start a new teaching day is a struggle she is willing to conquer. Baca also is in the process of completing her Master’s Degree at CSULB to better understand the curriculum and ensuring that she will teach her students at her fullest capacity.

    Brian George

    By Kameo Mapp

    Meet Brian George, PAAL’s new assistant principal. George is originally from Long Beach, California, and has taught at Poly for 5 years and PAAL for 18. He attended USC and is a proud Trojan. George has 3 children and enjoys PAAL because of its small and very tight community. He also enjoys Dodger Blue and eating pizza.

    Teo Weiner

    By Kameo Mapp

    Specialist Teo Weiner was raised in Culver City, CA, has educated students for 18 years and spent 8 of them at Poly before moving to PAAL. He loves to eat sushi and play with his adorable pet dog. He enjoys going to festivals, watching musicals and whipping up furtadas and omelettes. He is a strong believer in a growth mindset and growing your intelligence to the fullest. He is an advocate for staying on your path to success and never allowing the possibility of failure.

    Nicole Lopez

    By Kameo Mapp

    Meet Nicole Lopez, PAAL’s new Principal of Students. Ms. Lopez is originally from North Vermont and grew up learning Spanish and French. She earned her Masters in Education at Cal State Long Beach. She enjoys the colors of nature and traveling places, especially Australia. She has one son and lots of pets who brighten her day. She likes people who break rules, take risks and do the best for themselves to create a positive outcome. She cares about her students to the highest degree and strives to bring out the best results in PAAL students.