The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School Vol. xcviii, No. 3 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 October 2012 Romney Gains Edible Incentives Ground Perfect attendance By Nam Woo equals pizza party. Staff Writer and Fridays. By Yesenia Carretero & Javier Valdez Republican presidential nominee Staff Writers “We can have books, computers, Mitt Romney turned in a surprisingly fun activities, resources, and copies,” strong performance in the first of Munguia said, “but all of that costs three presidential debates last week. Parrots in five classrooms money. When students miss school, President Obama, on the other recently ate free doughnuts we don’t get the money we were hand, seemed listless and uninter- under Poly’s new Attendance supposed to get from the state.” For example, in August 2011 Poly ested. Improvement Program. The Minutes in to the debate, Tweets, lost $57,522.00 because of absences. Facebook and TV reporters had only catch: 10 days of perfect This year Poly lost $26,129.00 attendance. although. In September 2011 we lost Romney as the winner and Barack Photo by Jasmine Guevara as ineffective, almost immediately $69,835.00 and this year we only AND THE WINNER IS: Idol winner Crystal Cruz (right) and runner up changing Romney’s status from be- “The classes are always very lost $53,163.00, so attendance is Audri Wilson react to the announcement of the voting for Poly Idol. hind in the polls to neck and neck. excited,” said Pupil Service better. The challenger used the debate Attendance (PSA) Counselor An absence without a note is to attack Obama on health care, jobs Maribel Munguia. “Overall, we considered unexcused. After ten and other issues. The president’s have had pretty good attendance this days, an unexcused absence becomes Cruz Control truant. reluctance in firing back gave Re- year.” publicans hope that their candidate The program specifies doughnuts About 20% of absences are may yet connect with the American Junior Crystal Cruz for the first ten days that every single legitimate. public. person in class is present and not Vacations during the school year Romney managed to highlight tardy, ice cream for the second ten are not officially allowed and are not the main themes of his campaign: is Poly’s “Idol.” days and pizza for the third. The ten legitimate absences. lower tax rates, less regulation and days do not have to be consecutive. Junior Crystal Cruz was apparently the repeal of “Obamacare.” At the Tardies and doctor appointments [ See Perfect, page 6 ] By Yesenia Carretero the only one surprised that she won this same time, the nominee also fended Staff Writer count as absences. Athletes attending year’s Poly Idol. off Obama’s demand for details on games and CAHSEE test taking are “When I found out that I won, I was how to pay for his proposals and not absences.. in shock,” Cruz said. “I didn’t think I safeguard Americans’ well-being. On an average day, about 2% of Dodging was going to win because I messed up on my performance.” Obama failed to discuss key Poly students are absent. Ninth grade Cruz was referring to her request to stop the music about thirty seconds points of vulnerability for Romney. tends to have more absences. into her take on Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie.” for Dollars Obama failed to criticize Romney’s Last Monday, the tenth graders “I couldn’t hear the music,” Cruz said. “I thought I was singing too late recent comment at a private dinner had a six percent absence rate, with By Miguel Gutierrez & Catherine Ramos but I actually started to sing early.” party that 47 percent of Americans 41 kids absent. Twenty-six seniors Staff Writers “I felt my performance would be off if I kept singing, so I told them to were dependent on the government, were absent. start the song over again.” even though the Obama campaign “The goal district wide is that Cruz, the last of the three finalists to perform, waited for the instrumental Poly sports teams raised $887 was running the comment in their at least 71% of kids attend school tracks to restart. for the Toy Drive during a Thursday TV ad campaign. at least 96% of the time,” Munguia “It felt like a nightmare,” Cruz said, “but it was actually real life so it was Dodge Ball event held in the Cage Obama’s stuttering such as “For said. “Last year we met the criteria even worse. I felt like I lost my chance of winning.” before a capacity crowd. -- for -- so if you're -- if you –” did pretty much every month. Our kids Cruz says the Parrot audience helped her get back on track. Seniors Raymundo Rosas, Kurt not really give a strong impression were coming at least 66% of the “When I heard the audience was still cheering for me, even though I Capua, and Victor Sanchez were in either. time. This year it is 71%.” messed up, I felt more confident,” Cruz said. charge of the event. Obama did attack Romney for his Absences tend to increase right Raymundo and senior Fernando lack of detail on how he would cut around the holidays and on Mondays [ See Cruz, page 6 ] Moreno had talked about having a tax rates at every income level with- dodge ball game between football out increasing the national debt. and basketball. After the event was “If you believe that we can cut approved, Raymundo decided to ask taxes by $5 trillion and add $2 tril- other Parrot teams to join in the fun. lion in additional spending that the Parrots Get Upward Bound Each team had from six to 10 military is not asking for,” Obama players on each side with up to four said, “and you think that by closing arrots taking col- school students from low-income families graduating By Jasmine Aquino substitutes. loopholes and deductions for the Staff Writer lege prep classes from post-secondary education institutions. Notable Dodge ball rules call for players well-to-do, somehow you will not with North Hol- alumni include Oprah Winfrey and Angela Bassett. to rush to the center of the field to end up picking up the tab, then Gov. P lywood students UB offers students a variety of free services: college/ retrieve the dodge balls and attempt Romney’s plan may work for you.” at Upward Bound North Hol- career guidance and mentorship, individualized educa- to hit opponents with the balls. Romney held his ground. He said lywood (UBNH) won’t have to share facilities any more. tional planning, a summer enrichment program, financial Crossing the line to the opponent’s he would reduce income tax rates This year, a new Upward Bound Sun Valley (UBSV), aid advising and assistance, access to academic tutoring, side is not allowed and any player without adding to the deficit and under Director Agustin Rivera, will serve only Poly and college/cultural field trips. who steps off the court is out. without reducing “the share paid by students. UBSV funding will come from a new five-year fed- Participants included Cheer, high-income individuals.” “This is a very delicate and pivotal time,” Rivera said, eral grant. Drill, Boys’ Varsity Basketball, “Virtually everything he just said “This is the worst recession the country has been in since Parrots currently in UBNH will remain there. UBSV Girls’ Varsity Softball, Girls’ about my tax plan is inaccurate,” the Great Depression. Students need to take advantage of will take only new Parrots. But Parrots in both programs Varsity Volleyball and Boys’ Varsity Romney retorted. “I’m not looking the few services available to them.” will now have on-campus tutoring during the week avail- Baseball with 10 players on each for a $5 trillion tax cut.” “Poly has done a lot over the past few years to raise able at Poly. team. While Obama plans to raise taxes their API and the graduation rate,” said Rivera. “Now Saturday academies, field trips and all other services Cheer dominated Drill, taking on the wealthy to reduce the deficit, Upward Bound Sun Valley can contribute to that effort.” for UBSV Parrots will begin in January. out three Drill players in the first 8 Romney simply wants to fill loop- Upward Bound emerged out of the Economic Oppor- “The students make this program successful,” said seconds of the match. tunity Act of 1964 and the Higher Education Act of 1965. Rivera. “We just give them the tools.” Upward Bound’s goal is to increase the rate of high [ See Presidential, page 6 ] [ See Perfect, page 6 ] Girl Power Girl Power in the Band on the Court This “Sir”is a lady. These two give us a season preview. Photo by Vanessa Aquino PEOPLE - page 3 Photo By Jasmine Guevara SPORTS - page 7 2 October 2012 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp EVENTS Los Angeles Gets Another Icon the OPTIMIST VOL XCVIII No. 3 park, cameras and phones poised. By Alfredo Quezada Shuttle sightings from points across the Southland lit up Staff Writer Twitter. OCTOBER “Just flew over my head!!!” tweeted actor Tom Hanks, who Los Angeles is the historic space shuttle Endeavour’s final rest- played Apollo 13 Cmdr. Jim Lovell in a movie. “Don't see this ing place. Below is a brief survey of the vehicle’s past and its every day. Never will again. The Spaceman in me just went noisy arrival in the Southland. MARCHING ALONG berserk.” 3 Poly senior Martha Tinajero is a quick learner, a multi- instrumentalist and now Poly’s drum major. Find out The History The Preparation how she did it.