The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School Vol. XCVIII, No. 4 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 NOVEMBER 2011 The Questbridge Like Starbucks Five But Better Five Parrot finalists up for four-year scholarship. Wifi is coming to Poly in 2012. By Shean Santy the campus. Staff Writer By Maureen Kang Staff Writer An access point allows a network device to connect to the Internet, Math/Science Magnet seniors Gurasich said. David Lee, Doo-Ree Kim, Angel By next year at this time, Poly “If you walk from the Photo by Catalina Murillo Luna, Diana Melendez and Karen will have more Wifi access than a administration office to room 341, Montoya were named finalists for the FEETLOOSE: New KYDS dance group Enigmatic Theory stole the show at Starbucks. you’ll have wireless,” said Jacobo. prestigious Questbridge scholarship, the Homecoming pep rally with their energetic performance Friday. “Your current network or All teachers will have access a full-ride scholarship to the school equipment is what we call ‘end of to Internet. Students will have of their choice. life,’” said LAUSD communications access through labs and any school- The Questbridge program has engineer Michael Gurasich. “You approved devices. helped thousands of high-achieving Dance Theory can’t expect much from it.” “LAUSD picked the schools “The new fiber activity will keep to get this new technology,” said high school students since 1987. The Led by Micah Mora the Enigmatics you online and running without Jacobo. “We got picked because program matches bright students Poly dance performed a unique story at the pep interruption.” of how many problems we’ve had. with elite universities and colleges rally. Since Poly's theme was "Poly Poly will get a Wireless N Every time our technology has in America. The goal is to create Goes Medieval" they performed a troupe is system, the latest technology. problems, we have to send a ticket an opportunity for low-income scene on how a knight was sent by “The main reason that to the ITD. Because we’ve put in so and exceptional students to attend the king to capture a princess for the part of KYDS we’re getting this new Wifi is many, a red flag probably went up.” leading academic institutions without king himself but the unsuspected that the Internet goes down in “It’s going to be pricey and a worrying about paying the bills. turning point was when the knight program. many classrooms,” said Poly IT work in progress,” Jacobo said. “I Questbridge partners with 31 ended up falling in love with the administrator Xiomara Jacobo. think in three months we’ll be able universities and colleges, from dragon. Micah Mora played the king. By Yenifer Rodriguez “The replacement parts we order to tell where we are.” research universities to liberal "He’s really dedicated and unlike Editor in Chief are the hardest to find and get,” “LAUSD did it for Hollywood arts colleges. The list includes other coaches he actually gets in the Ivy League universities (with Jacobo said. “It’s that old. That’s High School, I’m sure they’ll pull performances," says Parrot senior what holds us back and takes so the exception of Cornell), MIT, Poly dance group Enigmatic The- through for us,” Jacobo said. Jerrick Joya. much time.” Stanford, Caltech, University of ory stole the show at the Homecom- The Enigmatic Theory started as Design and installation of Poly’s Chicago, USC and other elite private ing pep rally with their mainstream a class from the KYDS program but system is expected to take a year or universities. Top liberal arts colleges performances. They wowed the quickly became a team of its own. more. include Williams College, Pomona crowed with Nicki Minaj's “Roman’s Young Although Mora is head coach he “It’ll take time to design how College and Amherst College. Revenge,” Cassie's “Me & You” and has to report to Liliana Arrevalo, the we’re going to do it,” Gurasich About 40 percent of Questbridge Usher's “Without You.” KYDS site supervisor. said. “It takes several months to get Senator’s applicants are chosen as finalists. "They did better than I thought, "At first we all hated the class but specifics for the school’s needs. My In 2010, the program received 6647 they messed up here and there but then we became closer and started to work is to put it down on paper and applicants, with 2748 students overall I thought they did great," enjoy it," says group dancer Joya. then a construction group will install Program chosen as finalists. Scholarships says coach and choreographer Micah Not only has Micah Morah been the system.” were awarded to 310 seniors. Mora. choreographing different middle “Vector Resources, along with By Jasmine Aquino Matching the student to the The dance troupe pulled off the school dance teams throughout the LAUSD, will upgrade Poly’s Staff Writer school is a vital part of the process. dance routines in just a month. San Fernando Valley for over a network,” said Gurasich, “and part Applicants can choose a maximum "I personally always like to put a decade now but he has also appeared of that network will include access of eight Questbridge partner schools. story behind the music," says Mora. The first Young Senators meeting points to provide wireless throughout Being a finalist does not guarantee a [ See Enigmatic Theory, page 4 ] of 2011-2012 was recently held at match. However, a finalist’s chance the Pacoima Neighborhood City of being admitted to those schools Hall. through a regular decision is higher. At the meeting were local high Poly is no stranger to Parrots Do Community Outreach school juniors and seniors granted Questbridge. Poly had four finalists admission to Los Angeles City last year and two the year before. Attendence up at second Councilmember Richard Alarcon’s Jessica Caballero, class of ’09- Young Senators program. ‘10, was the first Parrot to win a The program is a non-profit orga- Questbridge scholarship. She chose Service Learning Fair. nization whose goal is to encourage, to attend the Massachusetts Institute assist and guide young people to of Technology (MIT). By Jasmine Aquino become caring, educated and coura- All this year’s finalists have taken Staff Writer geous individuals who contribute rigorous classes throughout high positively to their communities. school such as Advanced Placement Attendance was up at Poly’s second annual Service Each candidate had to fill out an and college classes. Extra-curricular Learning Fair, thanks in part to Parent Night taking place application presenting past or pres- activities such as sports, clubs and at the same time. ent demonstrations of leadership, volunteerism also made the seniors Poly’s service-learning project, an LAUSD Photo by Catalina Murillo complete a survey, provide a letter of good candidates for Questbridge. requirement for seniors since 2007, is part of the senior FAIR: Seniors do community outreach for class credit. recommendation, and participate in Low income was also a qualifying economics classes and has a “pass or no pass” grade. who contacted them. an interview. factor. Seniors with Social Studies teachers Denise “This project teaches students to communicate in The new Young Senators will All five Parrot finalists live in Beilinson, Brad Katz and Kevin Kowalski worked on a professional way,” said senior Jose Reyes. “It also participate in monthly meetings Los Angeles. The distant 20-mile this year’s fair. teaches us to listen to our community and their needs, throughout the school year to bus ride is one more obstacle to The classes had a variety of booths, banners and which is very crucial in our environment.” learn about leadership, policy, and overcome, but theses seniors know posters in three separate areas. Kowalski’s students were In preparation for the fair, each class was divided participating in community service perseverance means a better future. located in front of the auditorium, while Katz’s students into “teams” and each team had the responsibility of activities, including planting trees, The finalists will learn who was were at the Polygon and Beilinson’s near the freshman chosen in December. center. Community representatives were with the class [ See Senators, next page ] [ See Senators, next page ] Band on the MOCA Does March Punk in LA Eighty-two musicians More Black Flag posters plus arranger Reyes. than a concert. Photo by Catalina Murillo MEDIA - pg 6 Google Image ART WALK - pg 7 2 NOVEMBER 2011 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OPINION EDITORIAL Student Fair [ From Community, previous page ] identifying one main problem affecting the community. Each Stanford Commencement team then had to contact a community representative working on improving that specific issue. A variety of representatives offered Poly their services, None of this had even a hope of any practical application in Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ 2003 Stanford ad- including Alcoholics Anonymous, Planned Parenthood, the my life. But ten years later when we were designing the first American Red Cross, Pet Orphans, and many others. dress offers some uncommonly good advice Macintosh computer, it all came back to me, and we designed Reyes and his team contacted Nancy Lyon from the it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful for students of all ages. Below is part one. American Red Cross. Lyon presented students and parents with typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in information on preparation for possible disasters and other Part two will run in the Christmas issue. college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or emergencies. proportionally spaced fonts, and since Windows just copied the “It is important to teach people in our community not only Thank you.