The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School, Sun Valley, CA 91352 Vol. XCVII, No. 9 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 May 2012 Auditorium If You Build It will reopen $2.2M upgrade They Will Cross includes better to be closed for three days to deliver By Jessica Flores the bridge, set up the crane and sound, brighter Staff Writer install the bridge. lights, new curtains. Once the bridge is in place, addi- A $3M structural steel and cast- tional welding and other metal work in-place concrete pedestrian bridge is expected to take two weeks. By Gabriela Melendez will deliver Poly ninth grade stu- Staff Writer The elevator, manufactured by dents safely and securely over Arleta Mitsubishi Elevator Company, has Street to their new $34M home at a capacity of 3,500 lbs and interior $2.2M renovation of the Valley Region Middle School #3 clear dimensions of 4’3” by 6’8.” Poly’s auditorium is (VRMS#3). The elevator is for disabled students nearing completion. The bridge will span from just The upgraded facility north of the south exit from Byrd to A [ See Bridge, pg 6 ] is scheduled to reopen with the just south of the new parking lot at drama department’s production of Poly. “Rent, the musical” on May 10. Photo Courtesy of LAUSD State approval for the bridge is Funding for the renovation was ARLETA BRIDGE: Poly frosh will travel in comfort on this $3M bridge. expected by the end of next week, provided Proposition 1D money and with a planned completion date Poly Staff a Career Technical Education (CTE) of early November, according to grant. VRMS#3 Owner Authorized Repre- “The upgrades will provide sentative (OAR) Dan Holmquist. Gets RIFs students with hands-on training Poly Goes Prep The school, located north of Byrd using professional grade equipment Middle School and next to the 170 By Cesar Quiñones to develop the career skills and Freeway, is slated for a fall 2012 Staff Writer knowledge necessary to compete in BOE mandates LAUSD students opening. various highly-demanding technical Architect Thomas R Moore of the field,” said assistant principal Pia meet UC entrance requirements. IBI Group designed the bridge and Ten Poly teachers received Damonte. Clark Construction is the primary Reduction in Force (RIF) notices in ext year’s Poly freshmen will have to The upgraded auditorium’s By Yenifer Rodriguez contactor for both the bridge and the March, part of a larger LAUSD staff pass a much more rigorous curriculum new features include additional Staff Writer school. reduction that totals approximately to graduate, thanks to a 2005 decision spotlights and floodlights on the The bridge is nine feet high, 10 9,500. About 800 of those RIFs are by the Los Angeles Board of Educa- wall, stage and ceiling, including N feet wide (approx. 9-feet clear width teachers whose positions were lost to tion. two “intelligent lights” with special walking surface) and 107 feet long, declining enrollment. Beginning next school year, all LAUSD high school students must take a effects capability. with an additional 39 feet as the “The RIFs put teachers in series of college-prep classes, including Algebra 2, commonly known as the The building’s electrical bridge passes over onto the Byrd MS stressful situations,” said Poly A – G requirements, to graduate. system was upgraded to handle the property adjacent to the elevator. The Principal Ari Bennett. “To be a productive citizen in the 21st century, there is an expectation a additional equipment demands. public right-of-way clearance over “The RIFs are an intimidating person will be able to communicate and problem solve at a high level,” said A professional level audio Arleta is 17 feet. technique used to make teachers Poly Principal Ari Bennett. “These are the skills embedded in ‘college prep’ system, a high definition projector Maya Steel will fabricate the afraid,” said Poly UTLA classes.” and backstage scaffolding will bridge in their shop in Los Angeles. representative Bob Scott. “Twenty- Only 15% of LAUSD’s 2011 graduating class met the A – G requirements enhance stage productions. The bridge will then be deliv- five percent of teachers were RIFd necessary for admission to the University of California and California State New stage curtains were also ered by truck to the site and put in this year. It would be impossible to University systems. added. place with a large crane. A dozen run a school district while cutting Two-thirds of Poly’s 2010 graduates completed the UC/CSU require- Two exterior wheelchair ramps iron workers and welders and five one quarter of teachers.” ments.. on either side of the auditorium will additional staff for coordination and “We see all of the staff as an The Board also proposed decreasing the credits needed for graduation allow easier access. traffic control will assist on the day extended family,” said Scott. “It’s from 230 to 170, or 25% fewer credits. Two other facilities on campus of erection. frustrating as a Chapter Chair to feel “My understanding is the final plan is likely to be more in the 190 credit were upgraded as part of the grant. Clark Construction representative so impotent when people you care A pug mill, which recycles S. Ali Jamali expects Arleta Street about are faced with the loss of their clay, pottery wheels and an [ See A - G Requirements, pg 6 ] livelihood.” upgraded electrical system were “What I hear from the District installed in.ceramics teacher Karen is there’s optimism that after Daneshvari’s room. bargaining with the unions, they will A printer with a digital printer “RENT” will open auditoruim discontinue the RIFs,” Bennett said. server and a thermal transfer printer Over the past five years, used for mass production and Play Production’s Broadway rock opera features big enrollment has decreased by 89,000 oversized printings were added to the students. Last year 749 teaching Parrot Connection room supervised production numbers and controversial characters. positions were lost to declining by Michelle Alias. enrollment. Earlier this year, the exterior “The show’s themes are about fighting for one’s life, “I was RIFd last year two times,” By Gabriela Melendez said Poly 9th grade English teacher mural on the Roscoe Street side of Staff Writer for one’s love, for one’s passion, artistic passion, person- the auditorium was refreshed as part al passion, and emotional relationships,” said Groskin. Dennis Madrigal. “My wife and I of the renovation. The show has 23 songs, 19 cast members, including both got RIFd last year.” Poly’s drama students will stage a production of Facilities representative Sergio seven leads and two doubles, and a stage crew of nine. Madrigal is a seven-year veteran “Rent,” Jonathan Larson’s Tony-award winning rock Alvarado is currently training English teacher Lisa Blackwell assisted with the vocal at Poly. opera about a group of friends living in New York’s East drama coach Katy Groskin, KYDS performances. Scott expects most of the RIFs to Village who struggle with STDs, poverty and love. The associate Glen Philips and four The musical edgy topic matter presented some early be rescinded. production, under the direction of Katy Groskin and students on operating the new considerations. Most RIF letters get mailed by KYDS’ Glen Phillips, will mark the opening of the newly equipment. “Some of the performers who would have been July 1 and are effective in mid- renovated auditorium. The Owner Authorized involved couldn’t be because of the racy nature of the August, according to LAUSD Performances will run May 10-12 at 7 pm, with one Representative (OAR) for the plot,” said Groskin. “It deals with homosexuality and officials. act previews during the school day on Thursday and renovation was Lubna Kidess. Final layoff notices are usually Friday. sent by May 15, but may extend into [ See RENT, pg 6 ] June this year.
Just Passin’ Through: Smart pop, sweet Woody Guthrie in LA vocals, hit single “This Land is Your Land” composer “Somebody I Used to Know” had a radio show on KFVD. from Gotye and Kimbra.
Google Image MUSIC - page 5 Google Photos MEDIA - page 7 2 May 2012 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OPINION
EDITORIAL the OPTIMIST VOL XCVII No. 9 Prom Bash mAY As June approaches, many Poly fems start to worry about on those four inch stilettos. They should be called killer heels prom more than ever. I would expect it to start now, but I have because they can be used as a weapon. Two, three hundred been hearing about prom since February. There’s no big deal dollars wasted away on uncomfortable, posture changing shoes. A SCIENTIFIC METHOD about it, really. You spend $100 on the ticket, $100+ on attire, What a waste of money. 3 Magnet senior Raphael Rubio will and $100+ on transportation. Talk about an overpriced dance/ 1. Dresses may not be cut below the bust line. 2. Dresses major in Chem and Poli Sci at Columbia. dinner. may be backless as long as they are not cut below the naval. 3. By Alex Kang In our age where tighter is better and showing skin is as Midriffs will not be exposed. 4. Dressed may not have a slit that common as wearing clothes, this night is the worst of all lewd exceeds mid-thigh, This is fingertip length. attire. Who in their right mind would spend hundreds of dollars I can only imagine how many clones there will be on Prom VISITING THE VILLA on a dress you’d only wear ONCE? It’s daft. Girls get to wear Night. All Poly girls dress the same: boots, jeans, and flowery/ 4 The Getty by the sea is hosting skin tight dresses, Grecian style dresses, and ruffles up the leather bag. Look up this second and I promise you will find Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. kazoo. someone wearing this. Imagine prom night, where there will be By Jasmine Aquino The most common dress I see is mermaid dresses, meant no individuality as everyone orders off catalogs and websites. to show off as much as possible. It’s hard for me to see any I understand that it’s the one night where we all get to be dignity in a girl who wears these. You can’t even bend over in princesses and are swept off our feet. Princesses don’t dress the TAKE THIS ADVICE those. How can you dance, much less get up after sitting down? way we do. Not anymore. And the drama that comes with Prom 4 College counselor Leona Warman What’s flattering about baring your whole body to the rest of is too many to deal with. Prom attendees, ask yourself this- is it has advice for college bound Parrots. our class? We see everything now. Don’t even get me started worth the buck? By Lisa Guardado
PARROT TALK AT UC IRVINE LETTERS 4 Poly ETS students attend workshop at leadership conference and workshops Four Years in the Lunch Line By Yenifer Rodriguez
Lunch was very enjoyable in the 9th grade and 10th grade. Lunch used to be acceptable in 9th and 10th grade. Kids THIS MAN IS YOUR MAN Iconic American folksinger and social The food was edible. Lunch consisted of nachos, cheeseburgers, would eat it and not complain as much. It seems to all have 5 critic Woody Guthrie was born 100 years ago. chicken patties, cheesy pizzas and more. Lunch was worth changed when we stopped using tickets. looking forward to. The school got a new system and new food. The thing is that By Lisa Guardado However, from 11th grade on, packaged salads and cold they don’t even ask for the students’ opinion. ham and cheese sandwiches, which were smaller than the Administrators complain that they spend so much money on palm of my hand, were served at lunchtime. Even chocolate food. However, they give out food that kids don’t like. It just NEW BUILDINGS, OLD PROBLEMS Poly 9th Grade Center will move to and strawberry milk were not allowed at lunchtime anymore. goes to waste. 6 VRMS#3 and environmental issues will follow. I couldn’t look forward to lunch like I used to. There was no -Regina Martinez By Jessica Flores more variety of foods but the same thing everyday, salad or a piece of frozen meat between bread. Lunch at Poly High School has gone downhill through out - Priya Chamber my years here. During my freshman year the school’s food SUPERHERO MASHUP wasn’t all that bad. As the years went by, they changed the 6 Disney hits paydirt with director Whedon’s Haven’t really eaten anything at lunch since 9th grade when whole menu. They even stopped serving the actual good stuff, Marvelous mix of action figures for fan boys. the food was somewhat good. The most delicious food in the like chicken breast, salad and spicy chicken tenders, which were By Shean Santy menu was the chicken tenders. They were spicy and crispy. delicious. Also the choices got smaller. Now they give the same But they cancelled all the menu and only give hamburgers, meals four days in a week. cheeseburgers, chicken burgers, and calzone. All of the food are - Vanessa Ochoa MADE FOR EACH OTHER disgusting. The calzone is the only thing that is good. The food 7 Spacey Gotye and edgey Kimbra sing is disgusting and the customer service is horrific. Lunch at Poly is bland and without flavor. Most students at together on “Somebody I Used to Know.” - Antonio Santayo Poly get lunch because they are hungry, not because they want By Adrianna Garcia to. At one point, when the cafeteria was giving out salads, it There was a time when the food Poly offered was not so was good. Then they give the same thing for a month and it just good. Hamburgers and pizza were the most common meals. turned into other bland food. When they give out something THROUGH THE MISTS OF TIME Eating those kinds of food constantly is not very healthy. new, we enjoy. 7 Civil War reenactment brings watershed conflict Personally, I can’t eat too much junk food often because I get -Sonali Raminada to life in weekend fest at Pierce College. sick. By Jasmine Aquino Last year Poly gave more salads than this year. It would Poly’s lunch has been getting worse as each school year be good if they would give more salads. I believe students passes by. shouldn’t complain about the food because it’s free. As an incoming freshman, I noticed the difference of the BLOCK TALKS Westchester dashes Parrot playoff hopes but The service is not so polite. There are some women who are food from middle school. While the food was the same, the taste 7 head coach Brian Block sees positives ahead. very rude to students and have no patience at all. and look was not. The food here at Poly was less in quantity By Jessica Gonzalez Administrators should carefully choose who works here. Not than what was served at my middle school. It looked uncooked just people who seem tired, and don’t like to give service. and messy. At times certain foods were frozen when they shouldn’t be. A SET AWAY - Evelyn Sanchez - Guadalupe Ramos 8 Poly’s tennis squad was out in the first round, losing one set too many to Weschester. By Jessica Gonzalez Editor-In-Chief Yenifer Rodriguez WILD FINISH Two wild pitches led to two unearned runs Sports Editor Photo Editor 8 and a 4-2 Lady Parrot loss to Grant. Julie Ruiz Diane Alvarado By Stephen Castaneda
Cartoonist the Patricia Racelis LIBERO EXTRAORDINAIRE 8 Senior Eugene Moreno’s steady contributions to Poly volleyball land him athlete of the month. Writers Optimist By Shean Santy Jasmine Aquino Gabriela Melendez Jessica Flores Cesar Quiñones John H. Francis Polytechnic High School PARROTS TIE FOR SECOND Jessica Gonzalez Nicolette Reneau 8 A season-ending 6-2 win over Grant 12431 Roscoe Blvd, Sun Valley, CA, 91352 Lisa Guardado Shean Santy http://polyhigh.org gave Baseball a second-place tie with Arleta. By Shean Santy Optimist Advisor John Blau VBALL KO’S KENNEDY Letters To The Editor Editorial Policy 8 Poly’s varsity volleyball squad squares off against Van Nuys after first-round 3-0 win. Letters to the Editor must be typed or printed in ink and include the The OPTIMIST is the voice of the Poly community, and follows the By Shean Santy writer’s signature. The OPTIMIST reserves the right to edit submissions. Code of Ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists. Editorials are Send letters to Rm.14 or Mr. Blau’s box. the opinions of the staff. polyhigh.org/opt.jsp The Poly Optimist May 2012 3 INTERVIEW
The OPTIMIST caught up with magnet senior I would love to do Rafael Rubio for some insights into his recipe for academic success. Here’s what he said. research with Luis Why Columbia? Campos. His recent
I chose Columbia because it is centrally located in the best city research exploiting in the world, New York City. NYC is the cultural mecca of the world with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Broadway nanostructured materials Theater and the best restaurants in the country. The diversity in culture and ideas and the location of the United Nations gives for the development New York City a certain political atmosphere like no other. of advanced functional Additionally, Columbia’s distinguished faculty allows students to learn from the leading minds in their respective fields. systems and its Columbia creates modern Renaissance men, a necessity to succeed in the twentieth first century. importance in the I would also love to do research with Luis Campos. His atmosphere has greatly recent research exploiting nanostructured materials for the development of advanced functional systems and its importance interested me. To in the atmosphere has greatly interested me. To have the ability to continue that research would be incredible. continue that research I love Columbia’s dedication to become green with their would be incredible. leadership in energy and environmental design.
How long have you planned to go to Columbia?
I never planned to go to a specific college. I had my dream school list, which Columbia was on. I applied everywhere. After a long time considering the pros and cons, I chose Columbia. Rubio to Attend Columbia
How did you get into Columbia? I think the stereotype of what is a geek is overly dramatized in By Alex Kang Staff Writer the movies. With that said, I am a “geek.” I like learning and There is no set formula to get into Columbia or any top tier school. Of course you have to get all As or almost all As, get talking about intellectual subjects, but I don’t wear overalls and high SAT scores, take the hardest workload that you can handle, and unreachable but so was being accepted to a school like have glasses with tape on them. I like dirt biking and surfing do great on the AP test and be involved in extracurricular Columbia. My philosophy is to take it one day at a time but also and I have a good sense of style. activates. But everyone has those stats. Your application needs have a set path and goals you strive to achieve. something that makes the admission officers want to take a Have you always been academically successful? chance on you. What made me stand out was my volunteering, Any teachers that were particularly helpful? my essays and interviews and my recommendation letters. I am definitely a late bloomer. In middle school, I was by no Mr. Gomez, who did everything in his power to teach us means a star or “smart” but I think once I entered high school I What did you write in your personal statement? chemistry and guide me. My English teacher Ms. Martin and became more focused and determined and my intelligence was my history teachers Dr. Lehavi and Mr. Morillo, who helped me allowed to flourish. I also believe that it had to do a lot with I wrote about working with my father construction company become an intellectual. I am extremely grateful for everything the teachers. The teachers in the magnet are extraordinary and and the values that it instilled in me. they did for me. helped me reach my potential.
Have you visited the campus? Mrs. Couchois and Mrs. Bryan have taken care of me ever How do you explain your academic success? since I stepped on campus. I wouldn’t be going to a school like I just came from a campus visit and it was amazing. It felt Columbia if it wasn’t for them. I think my academic success is attributed to the good study like home. The atmosphere was just a right fit for me. The habits, even though I can procrastinate sometimes, my neoclassical buildings took my breath away; the people were so What explains your academic success? determination, my supportive family and friends and finally passionate about whatever they were doing. over my high school career I have learned not to become overly I think what put me over the edge was my drive to succeed at stressed and preoccupied over things that you cannot control Do you know what courses you’ll have in the fall? any cost and to compete with myself to always better myself that if you gave it your best the outcome will be fine. and go the extra mile work harder and longer then anyone. I know the classes I want to take: a seminar in Constitutional What else do you do? Law, a freshman intensive organic chemistry class and Are your parents supportive? Portuguese for Spanish speakers along with the required I dirt bike and surf so I guess that means I have pretty good freshman classes, which is University Writing and Literature My parents have supported my aspirations and goals and concentration and balancing. and Humanities. Classes start September 6th. I want to stay in encouraged me to dream big and gave me support when I felt Carman yes I saw it when I visited. like I could not succeed. This allowed me free range to pursue What do you consider your greatest weakness? my educational goals with complete support, which I think is What will you major in? invaluable, having that type of support group. Greatest weakness could be my greatest strength, my focus and perseverance. I have sacrificed most of my social life and have I want to major in Chemistry and either double minor in What book are you reading? neglected my friends and family members all so that I could Political Science and Portuguese, or double major in Chemistry succeed. and Political Science. I just started reading “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” by James Joyce. The book follows protagonist Stephen Dedalus Define success. Do you know of any other Poly grads at Columbia? as he progresses through life and depicts his intellectual awakening. When you look back at your past, if you do not regret anything, Florentino Salazar is at Columbia Law School and he has given and feel that you did all you could have, that is success. me great insight on not only New York and life at Columbia but The last book I read was “Remnants of Auschwitz: The life and career paths. Witness and the Achieve.” It depicts and details the Nazi death Where were you born? camps from the point of view of the captives. The things that What will you do after Columbia? Any long term goals? were conducted at Auschwitz and other death camps was I was born in Culiacan Sinaloa, Mexico, the capital of the drug inhuman and a human atrocity. It really allowed me to put into trade. I live with my grandmother in Sylmar during the week My dream is to go to graduate school, get a doctorate in either perspective even more so the blessings I have received and and my parents on most weekends. They live in Valencia, near environmental chemistry or political theory and matriculate value my life and what I have. Magic Mountain. to a top law school focusing on environmental policy and patent and intellectual property law. I know it seems daunting Are you or have you ever been a geek? 4 May 2012 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OFF-CAMPUS Start Making Plans Parrot college counselor Leona Warman stresses getting an early start on planning your college career.
well as community colleges such as Mission. By Lisa Guardado Students should prepare for the SAT. Staff Writer “There are prep books you can check out or purchase,” said Warman, “Study and prepare It’s that time again. yourself for the SAT. With a high SAT score, Spring has sprung, flowers are in bloom and you can get in to any university you want.” college counselor Leona Warman is urging all Some Parrots can’t decide between going junior and senior Parrots to start planning for straight to a UC or going to a community college now. college and then transferring? “Juniors must start preparing and figuring “Students with good grades should consider out where to go to college and what they’d like a four-year university first,” said Warman. to do,” Warman said. California has two groups of four-year Students must take the SAT to attend a public universities. The UC system, designed four-year university. May 8 is the deadline to for students who intend to do graduate register for the June test. research, has nine undergraduate campuses. “Waiting til your senior year to take the The 23-school CSU system offers primarily Photo by Jasmine Aquino SAT can be dangerous,” said Warman. “Four- undergraduate degrees. GARDEN: Square marble basins and bronze statues surround the inner peristyle’s narrow pool. year universities do not accept SAT scores after “Cal States are more hands-on schools,” Dec.” Warman said. “You practice more with what Seniors are running out of time if they want you learn and also internships.” to get into college in the fall. Visiting the Villa “May 1st is deadline to submit intents to register to any four-year universities that you Students planning were accepted to,” Warman said. The Getty’s new Aphrodite exhibit Students planning to go to a two-year to go to a two-year college must register now and take the college must register that is well worth the trip. placement test. Procrastinate too long and all classes will be closed. now and take the Getting accepted into a top-notch school is conception of love and sex. By Jasmine Aquino getting tougher every year. placement test. Staff Writer Her influence is seen in many realms: sex, “Make yourself competitive,” Warman marriage, fertility, sailing, civic order, and said. “Get involved in activities. Use the even war. No surprise then that the city built summer vacation time to either volunteer or do Warman recommends that students research Aphrodite—flirtatious, uncaring and born multiple shrines to her. internships. Take classes at a university or get the schools that interest them. of sea-foam—is the Getty Villa’s new star. The A recurrent theme—to male and female, a job.” “If you get accepted to a UC and a Cal “Aphrodite and the Gods of Love” exhibition young and old—was her capacity to create Universities are looking for students who State, but only the Cal Sate offers the program at the Pacific Palisades home of sprawling harmony and union. demonstrate leadership, as well as students that interests you, then you should choose the Greek, Roman and Etruscan artifacts runs According to the myth, Aphrodite wore a who challenge themselves and show interest Cal State. You don’t want to go to a university through July 9. magic girdle to make both mortals and gods in continuing their education during summer, that does not offer what you want to study.” The exhibit traces a pathway from the early alike fall in love with her. This adornment according to Warman. A student with poor grades can go to one of worship of Aphrodite as a fertility figure in the served as a model for mortal women. Warman also recommends visiting colleges California’s 112 community colleges, improve Near East, her appearance as a love goddess The exhibit buttresses the claim with the and universities during summer break. his or her GPA and then transfer after two for the Greeks and her ultimate adoption by the display of various precious jewels and metals, “Email or call universities you are years to a four-year university once he or she Romans as Venus. such as the golden ring. interested in,” Warman said, “and set up tours meets that university’s entrance requirements. “Aphrodite and the Gods of Love presents, An engraving displays a figure, perhaps to visit the school.” The bottom line, Warman said, is desire. for the first time, a comprehensive and Aphrodite, holding out a balance scale. On Everyone should look up and visit nearby “Everybody can go to college if they want scholarly appreciation of the love deity,” said each pan is a depiction of Eros—or Cupid, the universities such as CSUN, Cal State LA, Cal to,” Warman said. “Set your mind to it and you Christine Kondoleon, the exhibit’s author. god of desire and son of Aphrodite. The story State Channel Islands, UCLA, Woodbury, can go anywhere you want to. It is possible Kondoleon’s book on the exhibition told by the picture may be akin to our own “he Pomona, Cal State St. Mary’s and USC, as and you can do it.” features more than 100 marble sculptures, loves me, he loves me not.” painted vases, mosaics, precious metals and The goddess’ body is never fully exposed in delicate jewelry—including contemporary the Villa exhibition. Instead, sculptures softly depictions by artists like Jim Dine. define facial features that capture qualities like The Villa gardens paint a picture of the dewy eyes, radiance, and winsomeness. goddess’ power: her beauty fills the air with Innumerable images of the goddess—also ETS at UC Irvine for birdsong and flowers bloom as she passes by. displayed at the Villa—created throughout And the Villa itself houses statues of the ancient Mediterranean do, however, hold muscular gods riding in chariots, libidinous, varying degrees of undress. Leadership Conference nude women pouring jugs of water down their A feast for the eye, “Aphrodite and the backs, rabbits nibbling on grapes and ferocious Gods of Love” is surely this year’s sexiest lions devouring their prey. exhibitions. By Yenifer Rodriguez Aphrodite was not native to early Greece. The exhibit was organized by the Museum Staff Writer Her myth developed over the centuries and was of Fine Arts, Boston with major loans from influenced by Near Eastern goddesses such as Italian institutions in association with the J. Poly’s ETS club participated in a the Sumerian Inana and the Phoenician Astarte. Paul Getty Museum. Leadership Conference for programs like Aphrodite contributed greatly to our Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound at the University of California, Irvine on Wednesday. Five Poly students made the two- hour trip on a charter bus. Students ate blueberry and chocolate muffins and granola bars on the ride down to by University of California Irvine. Irvine. They also watched “Despicable Me.” Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez handed The conference had nine workshops out $500 scholarships to 10 students from and each student got two plus a last class. I various programs. Winners can use the money had Workshop H: How to Team Build and to attend the college of their choice. Workshop I: How to Run an Effective Meeting. Current OPTIMIST editor Yeni Rodriguez After the first two sessions, students ate met with former OPTIMIST Editor-in-Chief Subway sandwiches during the lunch break. and UC Irvine freshman Joel Hinojosa. Entertainment during the lunch break “It was around 1 in the afternoon and he included the Chinese Association dance group had barely woken up,” Rodriguez said. “It was and a group of singers. pretty awesome seeing him since I hadn’t seen A final class was offered after lunch. It him since July of last year. We caught up a bit wasn’t interesting. and talked about how the OPTIMIST had won The students then went to the Physical first place for the 6th year in a row.” Science Lecture Hall for the scholarship Students arrived back at Poly around 4 pm. announcements. The scholarships were funded
ROMAN ELITE: Marble sculptures from left Caligula, Agrippina and Julia Titi, circa A.D 50. polyhigh.org/opt.jsp The Poly Optimist May 2012 5 MUSIC Woody Guthrie The leGaCy LIves on
Who would have imagined a young Oklahoma boy, Woody Guthrie, would change America through his WORDS AND inspirational music. This year we celebrate 100 years since his birth. MUSIC BY WOODY Some may know Guthrie as the singer of “This Land is Your Land,” which became one of the United States most GUTHRIE famous folk songs. Others may remember him for his guitar and its sticker on the front saying “This Machine Kills Fascists.” This Land Is Your Land Rumor even had it that Guthrie had been associated with United States communist groups, This land is your land This land is my land though he was never a member. From California to the New York island Guthrie influenced great From the red wood forest By Lisa Guardado to the Gulf Stream waters Staff Writer songwriters like Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs and Bruce This land was made for you and me Springsteen. In 1943, he wrote “Bound for Glory” about his life. As I was walking that ribbon of highway, Hal Ashby directed a film of the book in 1976. I saw above me that endless skyway In 1997, Guthrie was inducted into the Oklahoma Music I saw below me that golden valley Hall of Fame. This land was made for you and me Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma in 1912. Life was much simpler then. I’ve roamed and rambled Guthrie turned his many experiences, from The Great and I followed my footsteps Depression, World War II and even a glimpse of The To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts Summer of Love, into songs. And all around me a voice was sounding During the Dust Bowl era, also known as the Dirty This land was made for you and me Thirties, he wrote “Dust Bowl Refugee” and “Dust Can’t Kill Me.” He became known as the “Dust Bowl When the sun came shining, and I was strolling, Troubadour.” And the wheat fields waving In California, Guthrie achieved fame as a broadcast and the dust clouds rolling, performer of commercial “hillbilly” music and traditional As the fog was lifting, a voice was chanting folk music with the help of partner Maxine “Lefty Lou” This land was made for you and me. Crissman. In 1940, Guthrie moved his family back to Texas and As I went walking I saw a sign there left for New York. And on the sign it said “No Trespassing” After the start of World War II, Guthrie’s radio show But on the other side it didn’t say nothing, was put on hold. The station’s management said they did not That side was made for you and me. want their staff “spinning apologia” for the Soviet Union. In an interview with Alan Lomax for the Library of In the shadow of the steeple, I saw my people, Congress, Guthrie tells the story of how he learned to play By the relief office I seen my people the harmonica. As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking “I was passing a barber shop one day. I was about fifteen Is this land made for you and me? years old. And there was a big, bare-footed boy in there, and he had his feet turned towards me. He was playing the Nobody living can ever stop me, harmonica, he was playing the “Railroad Blues.” As I go walking that freedom highway; Nobody living can ever make me turn back This land was made for you and me. My dad was worth about thirty-five or forty thousand dollars. He had everything hunky-dory, and then he started having a little bad luck. In fact, our whole family had a little bit of it. I don’t know whether it’s worth talking about or not. I never do talk it much . . . My fourteen year old sister either set herself afire, or caught afire accidentally. There’s two different stories got out about it. Anyway, she was having a little difficulty with her school work, and she had to stay home and do some work, and she 1937-1940 caught afire while she was doing some ironing that afternoon on the old Kerosene stove. It was highly unsafe and highly uncertain in them days, and this one blowed up. It caught her afire and she run around the house about twice before anybody could catch her. Next day she died. And my mother -- that one was a little bit too much for her nerves or something. I don’t the know exactly how it was, but anyway my mother died in the insane asylum at Norman, Oklahoma. Then about that same time LA my father mysteriously, for some reason or another, caught afire. There’s a lot of people who say that he set himself on fire. Others say he caught afire accidentally. I always will think that he done it on purpose, because he lost all his THE money. All of my brothers and sisters, all these things happened and Years they found theirselves scattered. ALAN LOMAX All us kids had to scatter out and be adopted by different families. I lived with a family of people. Woody Guthrie came to LA in 1937. There was eleven of us, lived in a little two-room shack. We had LA was country in those days. The Sons of the Pioneers two or three beds, you know, so INTERVIEW we’d sleep some of us at the head were on KRKD, the Saddle Tramps on KFOX and KMPC and some of us at the foot, and had everybody’s feet in everybody’s had the Saddle Pals. Stuart Hamblen and Roy Rogers were faces. You know how that is. Then FOR THE after that, I don’t know, I kind of stars. took to the road. I hit the road one day. The first day that I ever hit Woody and Jack, his cousin, put an act together singing the highway to be what’s called a rambling man or a hobo or a in bars and doing promotions for local businesses. tramp was in 1927. LIBRARY OF Frank Burke, who owned radio station KFVD, offered At that time I was about seventeen years old. So I went the boys a mid-day slot. They called it the Oklahoma and down to Galveston, Texas, hoed CONGRESS figs in all them orchards down Woody Show. in that country, helped drill water wells, irrigated strawberries, and Guthrie moved into the spotlight when Jack left, helped a carpenter tear down a whole bunch of houses. And that dropping the cowboy tunes for traditional folk and singing time I was about eighteen. originals as well. Whose Land Is It? Then I went back up into the panhandle of Texas. The big Guthrie’s mix of music, wry wit and biting commentary wheat belt. Up around Amarillo, Texas -- north of Amarillo, Texas. When proved popular and Burke soon had the singer on three times “This Land Is Your Land” was released in 1951, but I got into that country, I got a job about the third day I was there. I got a a day. Guthrie’s Oklahoma roots struck a chord with many originally written in February 1940, when Woody Guthrie job with a feller that owned a root beer stand, supposedly, and he said listeners, as did his social commentary and criticism. first arrived in New York City from Oklahoma. he’d give me three dollars a day to stand behind the counter and sell Maxine “Lefty Lou” Crissman was added to the show, Guthrie wrote the lyrics as an answer to Irving people root beer. So I told him I had the intelligence enough to do that. her harmony a welcome addition to Guthrie’s rough-hewn Berlin’s “God Bless America,” sung by Kate Smith, at first And this guy had a guitar that laid around there, and a lot of times vocals. sarcastically calling it “God Blessed America for Me” before there wouldn’t be any customers in this place, and I’d grab up this The pair headed south in 1938 for a brief stint at XELO renaming it “This Land Is Your Land.” guitar and got to pecking around on it. I thought it sounded awful pretty. in Tijuana before returning to KFVD. When Maxine’s health “He tended to write words first, and later on picked out a And learned a little old chord, just how to barely chord along, and finally began to fail, Guthrie left KFVD for good. tune,” said folk singer Pete Seeger. learnt a just a few little old songs, and just kind of drifted into it. I never In 1939, Guthrie began contributing a column called The melody was from “When the World’s on Fire,” a did own a guitar, though. “Woody Sez” to “The Daily Worker,” the official paper of 1930 gospel song by Guthrie favorite the Carter family. In this part of Texas where I was working, some of the worst dust the American Communist Party. “When I’m writing a song and I get the words, I look storms in the history of the whole world, I guess, broke loose. “I ain’t a communist necessarily, but I’ve been in the red around for some tune that has proved its popularity with the I remember the particular evening of April the fourteenth, 1935, all my life,” Guthrie told critics of this association. people,” Guthrie said. that this dust storm here blowed up. I was standing, a whole bunch of Guthrie wrote some of his most important works during On shore leave from the Merchant Marines, Guthrie us were standing just outside of this little town here that you see, and this period, including “Dust Bowl Refugees” in 1938 and recorded “This Land” during a marathon April 1944 session so we watched the dust storm come up like the Red Sea closing in on the “The Ballad of Pretty Buy Floyd” in 1939. in New York for Folkway Records founder Moses Asch. Israel children. Anyway, we stood there watched the sun of a gun coming up. And I’m telling you it got so black when that Actor Will Geer and Guthrie became friends that The song contained this verse: thing hit, we all run into the house, and all the neighbors congregated in the different houses around over the neighborhood year. Geer was headed to New York to play a role in the We sit there in a little old room, and it got so dark that you couldn’t see your hand before your face, you couldn’t see anybody Broadway adaptation of “Tobacco Road” and suggested There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me. in the room. You could turn on an electric light bulb, a good, strong electric light bulb in a little room and that electric light Woody come along. In 1940, Woody found himself in the The sign was painted, said ‘Private Property.’ bulb hanging in the room looked just about like a cigarette burning. And that was all the light that you could get out of it. Big Apple. But on the backside, it didn’t say nothing. And so we got to talking to, you know, and a lot of the people in the crowd that was religious-minded and they was up There, Guthrie’s musical collaborators included Lead This land was made for you and me. pretty well on their scriptures, and they said “Well, boys, girls, friends and relatives, this is the end. This is the end of the Belly, Cisco Houston, Pete Seeger and Brownie McGhee world.” And everybody just said, “Well, so long, it’s been good to know you.” I made up a little song there -- kind of one of among others, all part of a loosely knit folk group called The Though the recording was lost until Smithsonian my own making. It’s called “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You . . .” Almanac Singers. archivist Jeff Place found it in 1997, the populist version The Almanacs helped make folk music popular in was sung at rallies and around campfires all around America March the twenty-first, 1940 America. A decade later, original members of the Almanacs for years to come. would re-form as the Weavers, the most commercially successful and influential folk music group of the early 1950s. It was the Weavers who introduced Guthrie’s music to the larger public. 6 May 2012 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp CAMPUS New Buildings Rise, Old Problems Persist metals, SVOCs and Total Petroleum Hydrocar- By Jessica Flores Staff Writer bons [TPH]. HRA237 and PEA238 concluded, however, that the toxins do not pose a health hazard to Poly’s Arleta Street 9th Grade Center may future workers, faculty, or students. Therefore, be new, but its location has a long and troubled impacts would be less than significant. history. The reports are available for review at the Two recent LAUSD reports, a Human LAUSD Office of Environmental Health and Health Risk Assessment (HRA237) and Safety, 355 South Grand Avenue, Floor 15, Los Preliminary Endangerment Assessment Angeles.3C.2.1 (PEA238), found “risks to students, faculty Google Image and other LAUSD staff at the site from on-site Cancer Risk FIREPOWER: Black Widow (scarlet Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) vs. aliens. and off-site sources of hazards and hazardous Cancer risks are expressed as the upper- materials.” bound increased likelihood of an individual Those risks include potential subsurface developing cancer as a result of exposure to a migration of landfill gases to the site from the particular chemical. neighboring Sheldon Arleta Landfill (volatile Using maximum COPC concentrations Boffo Box Office organic compounds [VOCs], Aldehydes, Meth- detected at the site, the total excess cancer risk ane, and Hydrogen Sulfide) and potential lead from residential exposures to surface soil, via soil impacts from historic freeway automotive incidental ingestion, dermal contact, and fugi- Boosts “Avengers” emissions (Metals, including lead). tive dust inhalation, was estimated at 5 x 10-7 The 170 freeway, constructed in the 1960s, (0.0000005), which was well below the DTSC has the potential to contribute to health effects target risk goal of 1 x 10-6 (0.000001) deemed Marvel comic fans mob theaters for action- from adverse air emissions due to vehicle traf- acceptable by the DTSC. 207. fic on the highway. Additionally, the total cancer risk from packed “Avengers” as Disney counts receipts. Other issue include imported fill brought inhalation exposures to VOCs emanating from to the site during final grading/construction soil gas into indoor air was estimated at 9 x that contains metals, semi-volatile organic 10-8 (0.00000009), which is well below the disaster, Nicky Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) compounds [SVOCs], pesticides and polychlo- By Shean Santy of the S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits the iconic DTSC target risk goal. Staff Writer rinated biphenyls [PCBs] and three 10,000- The estimated Hazard Index of 0.09 was superheroes. Villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is gallon diesel tanks on the grounds that contain below the threshold level of 1.0. accompanied by an alien race of Chitauri. Walt Disney Co. made a bold move with its Robert Downey Jr. reprises his charming $4B purchase of Marvel. turn as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Chris Evans is The investment started paying off over the Captain America, Chris Hemsworth is Thor weekend, when “The Avengers” topped the and the versatile Scarlett Johansson plays the $200M mark, the largest domestic weekend Black Widow. “Rent” will play Poly gross ever. The last Harry Potter installment Mark Ruffalo (“Eternal Sunshine of the was the previous record holder with $169M. Spotless Mind“) replaces Edward Norton for [ From RENT, front page ] greatest obstacle.” Worldwide gross ran $641M. the role of The Hulk, while Jeremy Renner “We will be using probably half of the capa- Superhero movies have been a popular (“The Town”) takes on Hawkeye and Cobie people with AIDS and HIV and that is a taboo bility of the equipment because we don’t have concept for cinematic success for the past Smulders (“How I Met Your Mother”) plays subject, especially among religious families.” the time to learn how to fully use it,” Groskin decade, especially the comic book variety. Agent Maria Hill. Freshmen Crystal Cruz and Audriana Wil- said. “The Avengers” is the ultimate superheroe Humor adds another element to the film’s son play Mimi Marquez, a stripper with AIDS. But Groskin believes “Rent’s uplifting mes- package, offering six for the price of one creativity. Audiences expect jaw-dropping Seniors Gabriela Pelayo and Zuky Guillien sage will come through loud and clear. ticket: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The fight scenes, but the conflicting views of each play Joanne Jefferson, a lesbian. “There’s no day but today,” Groskin said. Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow. superhero are comedic gems. "It feels comfortable because we can learn “Love who you love and be proud of it.” The buzz for the movie started years ago, The special FX and dazzling 3D are from each other,” said Guillien. “I'm getting Italian composer Giacomo Puccini’s “La when hints and cameos began appearing in visually satisfying. Rolling Stone’s Peter more comfortable with it everyday. If we Boheme,” which premiered in Turin in 1896, various Marvel movies as early as Sam Raimi’s Travers called the movie ‘Transformers with a commit and give the play our all, it will be was the inspiration for “Rent.” Puccini’s four “Spiderman” in 2002. brain.’ Others liken it to “Citizen Kane for the something great and unexpected." act opera consist of a collection of vignettes Critically-acclaimed hits “Iron Man” citizen geek.” Other cast members include junior Alexis portraying young bohemians living in the Latin and “Iron Man 2” overshadowed The Hulk, A colossal team of epic characters seemed Campos as Mark Cohen, junior Manny Arel- Quarter of Paris in the 1840s. Thor and Captain America. But not to worry. impossible to keep in line, but Whedon has lano as Rodger, junior Kelso Acala as Tom “Rent” premiered off-Broadway on January “Avengers” is an epic and action-packed thrill done a good job of pacing and stayed true to Collins, freshman Mary Aves as Angel Shunar, 25, 1996, a day after the sudden death of the ride. the comic book expectations of fans. “The freshman Peter Simples as Benjamin Coffin show’s creator at age 36. Sci-fi master and pop culture fave Joss Avengers” is definitely a summer blockbuster, III and senior Gabby Melendez as Maureen The Broadway production closed on Whedon wrote and directed. Whedon is known with the best superhero since the dawn of “The Johnson September 7, 2008 after a 12-year run of for cult hits “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Dark Knight.” The big production numbers include 5,124 performances, the ninth-longest-running “Firefly” and “Dollhouse.” Whedon also One last thing. Stay for the end credits and “Goodbye Love” and “La Vie Boheme.” Broadway show at the time. The production directed 2005’s “Serenity.” a special scene. Rehearsals began February 13. grossed over $280 million. The plot is functional. On the brink of “It’s always slow at the beginning,” The success of the show led to several na- Groskin said, “and then as we get closer to the tional tours and numerous foreign productions. performance, we work a lot harder. We’re just In 2005 it was adapted into a motion picture beginning to amp up for the show. that featured most of the original cast members The cast gained access to the auditorium The first act is about 45 minutes followed College Prep Coming April 25. by an intermission. The second act is 20 “The biggest challenge now is putting it minutes. [ From Poly Goes Prep, front page ] difficult classes. This ALEKS software uses so- all together, given that we have had limited Rent was suggested by the Gay Straight phisticated technology to diagnose the specific time in the auditorium and learning the new Alliance. range, which will be 40 fewer than is presently skill set students need to develop to meet the equipment,” said Groskin. “That has been the required,” said Bennett. course requirements and provides practice and LAUSD officials, fearing the new stan- support, with the help of a teacher, to meet dards will raise the dropout rate, have asked those requirements. the Board to create a one-year grace period in The Board also proposed dropping health/ which students can use “D’s” for graduation life skills, technology and electives like calcu- Pedestrian Bridge credit. lus and journalism. Thereafter, only classes passed with a C or “Health is a critical class for students [ From If You Build It, front page ] 9th Grade Center and will house additional fa- better in all A – G courses can be used towards cilities that include a library, four classrooms, to take to learn about communication, self only. graduation. esteem, healthy living, and developing and an amphitheater, a multi-purpose room, food Poly’s current policy is for freshmen and Total walking distance across the bridge service and administration support services. maintaining healthy relationships,” said Ben- is 205 linear feet, including the stairs at each sophomores to repeat any classes in which a nett. “I believe the district will agree and keep The Adult Education Academy (A5) will be student has earned a “D.” end. Approximately 200 students can cross the located in the third building. health as a graduation requirement.” bridge during a seven-minute passing period. Algebra 2 is the biggest obstacle for Parrots Whatever the Board decides, Bennett re- Also on the campus are a lunch shelter, in meeting the A-G requirements, according to The three buildings on the VRMS#3 cam- playgrounds, natural playfields and 278 park- mains confident about Poly’s future. pus total approximately 85,000 square feet. an internal audit done two years ago. “Maybe I’m biased as a proud Parrot, but I ing stalls. Poly currently offers tutoring, independent The 9th Grade Center (A4) will have The project, which broke ground in Novem- believe our students and faculty are up to the approximately 712 two-semester seats in 23 studies, and access to the ALEKS web-based challenge of the new more rigorous standards,” ber of 2010, was designed by Thomas Blurock software program for students struggling with classrooms. Architects and sits adjacent to Byrd Middle Bennett said. A second building (C) will also serve the School and the 170 Freeway. polyhigh.org/opt.jsp The Poly Optimist May 2012 7 MEDIA The Gotye-Kimbra Connection Talking By Adrianna Garcia definitely get lonely at times, so there’s nothing Staff Writer better than hanging out with a dear old friend to lift your spirits,” Gotye said. Many of the tunes are bits and pieces of Tennis Gotye’s name seems to be popping up old vinyl records he got at thrift shops that everywhere lately. “Somebody that I Used to were sampled and tweaked to fit his style. The Veteran Parrot varsity Know,” his single, is in heavy rotation. The process took about a year, with “Somebody” tennis coach reflects on ballad, the first off “Making Mirrors,” was alone needing nine months to record and number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and still polish. the team and the season. sells thousands of downloads weekly months The single also benefitted from guest after being released. vocalist Kimbra, who added a whole other “Mirrors” isn’t Gotye’s first venture into dimension to the song, making it all the more By Jessica Gonzalez Google Image Staff Writer the music world. He started off small, 11 years perfect. ago, playing in Australia’s obscure indie-rock DUET: Kimbra (left) joins Gotye on his hit single “Somebody I Used to Know” from Like Gotye, Kimbra’s story is one of work scene. What happened in the singles? “Making Mirrors,” his new album. and determination. Born in New Zealand, Gotye formed his first band, Downstares, Kimbra started singing and playing the guitar in his teens. After the band broke up, Gotye Playoffs are different. All four singles play the “Eyes Wide Open” and “Save Me” could at age 12. She performed at sports events and other team’s singles. Also all doubles play each created a four-track album that he sent to easily find their way to movie soundtracks and was featured on children’s shows throughout several recording studios in the area. other. The four doubles each count as 1.5 of shows, while “I Feel Better” channels the older her teens. the points. The first to get 25 points wins. We While doing so, he met Kris Schroeder and funk and soul but adds a modern twist. In 2011, Kimbra signed with Warner Bros. they formed The Basics. The duo released four lost by one match. The team that beast is also An old piece of artwork Gotye’s father had Records and released “Vows,” her debut. advance to the next match by one point. albums over a six-year period and still play the done in the ‘80s became the cover. The Gotye guest vocal gave her career an occasional show together. “It had a beautiful balance of emotion and extra push and brought attention to her unique Singles managed only five wins in 16 sets. Later, Gotye created “Boardface,” his first mathematics, I thought, and it just seemed to voice. The “Settle Down” and “Good Intent” What was Westchester’s strategy? official album, and was offered a recording match the diversity in the music.” music videos are show off her strong vocals, deal. A second release, “Like Drawing Blood,” “Mirrors” was mostly recorded in a barn edgy image and youthful charm to great effect. Because doubles matches count more then created buzz in Australia, was nominated for in Australia that belongs to Gotye’s parents. Comparisons to Florence and the Machine singles, our strategy was to win all the doubles several awards and made Triple J’s Hottest 100 He set up all his equipment in one room and and similar artists have brought her a larger games. We almost won, but we couldn't get Australian Albums of All Time. spent all of his time perfecting and refining his audience. that last match. “Making Mirrors’” 12 eclectic tracks reflect music. Most was done on his own, but he did “Mirrors” melodies and feel sound like Gotye’s one-of-a-kind sound. The first track is get some help from Downstares bassist Lucas nothing you’ve ever heard before, hauntingly Really, nobody dominated. It was pretty much a preview of the surreal sounds on the album, Taranto, who did most of the bass lines in beautiful and absolutely worth listening to. even. If we had played them on another day soothing and comforting. A few songs are “Mirrors.” And Kimbra’s career too should sky rocket and where it would have been sunny instead of faster-paced, but most create an overwhelming Gotye said he appreciated the company. get the praise she deserves, thanks to her Gotye cloudy, I believe that would have made a dif- sense of ease thanks to Gotye’s smooth vocals. “Recording an album on your own can connection. ference. They didn't dominate us, it was just that when two great teams play against each other, they can't both win.
You looked to go pretty deep in the playoffs. Civil War Shootout Draws a Crowd Were you surprised by Westchester? I thought we would have gotten that match. I Civil War reenactment really thought we had that. at Pierce College gives Talk about the season and what went right. young and old alike Pretty much everything went right the singles plenty to see and hear. were strong and they are coming back so we will come back stronger. Doubles ate mostly underclassmen they will get better as they play. By Jasmine Aquino Staff Writer Did the team lose momentum as the season went on? Did the early wins come easy? The Heritage Days Foundation presented a Civil War Historical Reenactment at the Pierce They were winning constantly. The only teams College Farm Center over a late April weekend that gave us trouble were the ones that ended in celebration of the war’s 151st anniversary. up in the play offs. “Today is a day for history,” said William T. Compare this year’s team to last year? Peck, who has played President Abraham Lin- Photo by Jasmine Aquino coln for the past 30 years. “Our whole object is PHOTO OP: Abe Lincoln fan poses with the Civil War president at Pierce’s weekend festivities. to give history to young people particularly.” I was surprised how this team did. Last year’s team was more seniors, so it was their last The Civil War began with a shot fired wins? Do you sleep in a hotel or do you camp year for successes . This team showed great in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12, out here? Where do you shower? Do you strength and ability. I was especially impressed 1861. Four years of a divided nation’s warfare shower? with Andy Choi, who, as a junior, worked on resulted from the fateful day. Pond, like the other re-enactors, sleeps on improving everyone around him. The battle re-created was a snippet of time a hay mat out in the field during the weekend. from the Civil War: men clad in blue and grey The soldiers get tapped on the shoulder when Looking ahead, are you coming back and exchanging gunfire over the groans of casual- more are needed to die. Most want to keep who will you have after graduation? ties, neighing horses and booming cannons. shooting, so a special red round gets placed “We have to realize that people died back with their ammunition. When they draw the There is still a long time till next season and I then to protect us now, to help give us a nation round, they fall to the ground and take their really have not thought of assembling the team now,” said William Pond, a 19-year-old Moor- last breath. next year. But if we are able to get everyone park resident who played a Union Corporal Visitors watched exhilarating cavalry back, we would have an incredible team. of the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry Company charges, artillery barrages and infantry as- A. “Confederate or Union, it doesn’t matter. saults as part of the weekend’s reenactment of What will it take for Poly to break into They were Americans, and they died to protect America’s watershed event. ranks of the elite teams in our league/sec- liberty. Each side had their own reasons, but it Historical notables from the past addressed tion/division? was a liberty they perceived.” those present at the event, including President Car alarms went off, children covered their Lincoln (Peck) who delivered his famous Photo by Jasmine Aquino I think it would be a much better coach, like ears, and parents jumped in their seats as 100 Gettysburg Address as part of a grand “Living REBEL ROUSERS: Part time Union soldiers. Pacific Palisades. They have private lessons Union and confederate soldiers fired pistols, History” program. on a weekly basis. Many of these players are rifles and cannons on the broad fields of the Peck handed each student a new Lincoln presentations took place, including Victorian ranked on the USTA and several go on to play- college. Bicentennial 2009 coin: Formative Years dancing, a Victorian clothing showcase and ing pro. After about an hour, the audience eagerly in Indiana, a redesigned penny celebrating displays of various skills and crafts. watched a Union soldier capture the Confeder- Lincoln’s 200th anniversary. On the back is a “The state does not fund the event and the I don't think we will be able to compete on ate flag through clearing gunpowder smoke. young Lincoln reading while taking a break profits go to charity,” said Ed Mann, coordina- the level unless I were to quit teaching here at After the battle, a crowd gathered to hear from rail splitting. tor of the Pierce College Foundation. Poly and learn full time how to be a pro coach. Pond talk about the history of the Civil War “We try to give information to the stu- The Civil War Alliance Foundation will I think us winning the city finals is not on our and role-playing as a Union soldier. dents—information they cannot find in history continue reenacting the war in various loca- grasp. This is why they have an invitational. Children and adults alike excitedly pestered textbooks,” said Peck. “We try to let them see tions of Southern California throughout the rest The invitational is within our grasp. him with questions: How do you know when what life was like during the Civil War era.” of the year. you die? How do you know when one side Throughout each day, demonstrations and 8 May 2012 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp SPORTS POLY IN THE PLAYOFFS
BASEBALL TENNIS SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL Season: 10-19 Season: 10-3 Season: 19-2 Season: 13-7, 4 League: 7-5 League: 6-2 League: 10-2 League: 9-3 Standing: shares 2nd Standing: 1st Standing: Shares first Standing: share 2nd Status: made playoffs Status: Made Playoffs Status: made playoffs Status: made playoffs Opponent: Opponent: Weschester Opponent: Opponent: Kennedy Outcome: Outcome: Lost 15-14 Outcome: Outcome: Won 3-0
TENNIS SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL BASEBALL VOLLEYBALL Tennis out in Unearned Athlete Parrots end Dons do of the first round runs costly Month league play Parrots don’t
By Jessica Gonzalez By Stephen Castanedav By Julie Ruiz By Shean Santy Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer
Number four seed Poly played 25 Grant used a clutch bases-loaded Poly capitalized on Lancer Parrot arch foe Verdugo Hills sets against Westchester Wednesday single by Lancer junior first baseman mistakes, including two walks and brought a spotless league record to and lost one too many. The Comets Monica Rivero to score the go-ahead two errors, to gather up enough Poly Thursday and left the same eliminated the Parrots in the first run in the third, breaking a 2-2 tie runs for a 6-2 win in the Parrots last way. The Dons swept the match 3-0 round of the CIF Invitational. and leading to a narrow 4-2 win over league game of the season. at 17-13-19 and the league season at Poly #1 singles Andy Choi the Lady Parrots. “We’re going to finish in second 2-0. The Parrots suffered a similar finished the regular season The season-ending loss meant place,” said head coach Gabe Cerna, 3-0 snuff out at Verdugo in early undefeated and is expected to play in Poly (19-7, 10-2) had to share its “our best finish in my six years April. the singles playoffs May 15. first-place East Valley League finish here.” “The boys were pumped to seek Poly had home court for the first with Verdugo Hills, while Grant (10- Eugene Moreno Senior Alejandro Lopez picked revenge and to reclaim the title of two rounds, and head coach Brian 12, 9-2) ended up in second place. up the win, giving up two runs on league champs,” said Parrot assistant Block expected a good run from “We committed some mistakes three hits and a walk while striking coach Melissa Gillard. “The game and lost confidence in each other,” By Shean Santy out four. started, we were communicating, we his squad. But his singles players Staff Writer only took five sets out of 16 and said veteran Parrot head coach The Lancers’ Robert Factora were loud, we celebrated when we the doubles couldn’t make up the Manny Peralta. “You cannot make took the loss. executed a play and we shook it off difference. mistakes again good teams.” GAME FACE Grant struck first when Lopez when we made a mistake. The way Poly finished second in the East During the pre-game, I listen to walked in junior Robert Tagle. we started should have been how we Valley League at 6-2 and ended The Lancers picked music and go in a self-state of mind. Sophomore Christian De La Torres finished.” the season 10-4. Preseason play I’m basically on focus mode. scored on a base hit and the Lancers But it wasn’t. The Parrots quickly included two wins, two forfeits and up two unearned My pre-game soundtrack is “Let’s were up 2-0 in the third. fell behind 5-13 in the first game, a 7-0 loss to El Camino. Go” by Trick Daddy (ft. Lil’ Jon The Parrots picked up two runs with Dons senior C.J. Suarez doing runs on a hit, two & Twista), “I’m a Beast” by Tech in the fourth to tie the score at 2-2. most of the damage. PRESEASON walks and two wild N9ne, “Remember the Name” by Sophomore left fielder Octavio “We shut down completely,” said Poly def Fairfax 6-1 Fort Minor, “Beast Mode” by B.o.B Marquez got a lead off single and Gillard Singles: 3-1 / Doubles: 3-0 pitches to go up 2-1. and “Till I Collapse” by Eminem scored on senior Alex George’s A time out didn’t help, and Poly’s I’m pumped and calm at the same sacrifice fly. lack of blocking and slow transitions Poly beats Sherman forfeit Parrot junior Monica Mendoza time. My mindset is to go all out and Senior Josue Moreno reached cost them the first game at 17-23. Reseda def Poly 6-1 took the loss, allowing four runs on do my best not to drop a ball or give base on an error and then scored Gillard told the middle blockers Singles: 0-3 / Doubles: 1-3 four hits, walking three and striking up any easy points. on a sacrifice from senior Fabien the next game was theirs to win or out five. She also threw the two wild Rodriguez in the fifth as the Parrots lose. El Camino def Poly 7-0 pitches. ON THE COURT went ahead 4-2. The Parrots came out strong to Singles: 0-4 / Doubles: 0-3 Lancers senior Samantha Marron I’m a libero and I serve as a In the sixth, Marquez walked and start game two but couldn’t penetrate had a nice outing, limiting the Lady later scored on a single by senior first Verdugo’s well executed defense. Poly def Marshall forfeit defensive specialist for the team. Parrots to two runs on six hits. I’m a three year varsity player baseman Sabino Contreras. Senior Poly managed only four kills for the SEASON Marron registered one strikeout and and I was actually moved up from center fielder David Reyes walked entire game. Poly def Grant 6-3 walked none. JV during the playoffs in 9th grade. and scored on an error on third as “The deep corners of the court Singles: 4-0 / Doubles: 2-3 Poly’s Mendoza singled and The rivalry with the Dons of Poly added two insurance runs. were open,” Gillard said, “but scored on Janet Zapien’s sacrifice Verdugo existed since our coaches “This team shows flashes of being the boys had no sense of court Poly beats Monroe 5-2 fly to right to get Poly on the played for Poly. Our team play is at really good,” Cerna said, “but we awareness.” Singles: 3-1 / Doubles: 2-1 scoreboard. a whole other level when we play have been inconsistent.” Overall, Verdugo played smarter North Hollywood beats Poly 5-2 But the Lancers picked up two them. It is just a determined and Cerna was pleased with his and with more intensity, keeping the Singles: 2-2 / Doubles: 3-0 unearned runs in the bottom of the inspired ball game. pitching, however. ball away from Parrot senior libero inning on a hit, two walks and two I started playing volleyball in “With the emergence of Lopez Eugenio Moreno and hitting away Poly beats Verdugo 7-0 wild pitches to go ahead 2-1. my pre-high school years. My older and pitcher Josue Moreno, the sky is from Poly’s blocks or in between Singles: 4-0 / Doubles: 3-0 Lady Parrots Desiree Ibarra and sister taught me how to play. She the limit.” them. Poly beats Grant 5-2 Alondra Rodriguez hit back to back played for Poly’s girls’ volleyball Poly (10-19, 7-5) finished in a tie “The match statistics are the Singles: 3-0 / Doubles: 2-2 singles to start the second. Ibarra team. for second place in the East Valley lowest we’ve had the entire season,” scored on a one-out single by Alexis In 9th grade at Verdugo, I dove League with Arleta while Grant Gillard said. North Hollywood beats Poly 6-1 Serafin to tie the game. across the court and saved the ball (11-16, 5-5) has a pair of games Poly (16-9, 8-2) ended the regular Singles: 1-3 / Doubles: 0-3 The Lancers picked up their final while our outside hitter Kevin Avelar remaining with North Hollywood. season in second place in the East Poly def Verdugo 7-0 run in the third on a throwing error. managed to send the ball to the other Valley League while Verdugo (31-5, Singles: 4-0 / Doubles: 3-0 side for a Poly point. 10-0) finished on top.