October 2013

The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School Vol.XCIX, No. 2 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 October 2013 Students WASC Visits Poly By Yenifer Rodriguez Tenth Grade Coordinator Royce See Stars Stuckey said Poly’s CAHSEE prep Editor in Chief has also helped more students pass Mount St. Mary’s the exit exam. two campuses pro- ASC Chairperson Bennett added that Poly’s 4x4 Alicia Foulk paid block schedule has benefi ted stu- vide settings for TV a preliminary visit dents who need extra assistance in W to Poly Thursday to high stake exams like the CAHSEE. and fi lm crews as meet with Principal Ari Bennett and Assistant Principal Jamille Ke- well as students various Poly stakeholders. Foulk, nion said Poly has offered students who is an Associate Principal at Pa- higher-level math classes than re- los Verdes High, will lead the WASC quired to increase students’ chances team’s March 2014 accreditation By Yesenia Carretero of acceptance to four-year universi- Staff Writer visit to Poly. ties. Grants helped fund this policy. Foulk’s visit included a second “We have a signifi cant number period meeting with 20 Poly admin- Star-struck students should have of juniors that are in AP calculus istrators, teachers, students and par- because they fi nished Math Analysis plenty to be excited about while at- ents in the library. Under discussion tending one of Mount St Mary’s two Photo by Lirio Alberto was what progress Poly had made lush campuses. [ See Visit, pg 6 ] CRUNCHTIME: Sophomore Petra Hernandez at Poly’s fi rst wrestling tour- since the last full accreditation visit “Princess Diaries,” “Benjamin nament under new head coach Terry Gillard. The meet was held Saturday. six years ago. Button,” “Spiderman 3” and “Gray’s “We’ve made a lot of growth,” Anatomy” were fi lmed on the said Bennett. “Six years ago, we Doheny campus, which is minutes didn’t have a good way to monitor Richter away from the Staples Center. The School Council Meets learning on an ongoing basis. Since campus has a park-like atmosphere, then, we’ve developed formative on WASC with large trees, big grassy areas and Poly’s Governing School Council (GSC) met for the assessments in all the core areas and By Mayra Benitez fi rst time in August. The GSC will meet at least once a squirrels running around. Staff Writer implemented a data management quarter and convene ad-hoc meetings as necessary. By Joshua Penado “Modern Family” and “Beverly system called Data Director.” Staff Writer Hills 90210” were fi lmed on the Offi cers include Council President James Schwagle, Teachers at the meeting described Chalon campus, located in the Santa Vice President Lisa Blackwell, Secretary Elva Madrigal how formative assessments have The Western Association of Monica Mountains, minutes from the and UTLA Chairperson Robert Scott. changed Poly’s students, leading to Schools and Colleges (WASC) is Santa Monica pier. Also attending were teachers Lori Combs, Cesar Felix, Evan Rabins, higher pass rates on the CAHSEE one of six regional associations that Mount Saint Mary’s (MSM), a Devon Richter and Eric Thornburg. and the CST. accredit public and private schools, small private liberal arts institution Administrators attending included Art Arhanian, Ari Bennett, Kurt Jepp- Foulk asked the students how colleges, and universities in the in Los Angeles, has 1500 students son and Yesenia Pleitez. they saw the use of formative assess- United States. on the two campuses. Founded in Parent Ana De Jesus also attended. ments working in their classrooms. WASC will visit Poly in March 1925 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Principal Bennett and UTLA Chairperson Scott are automatic members. “Teachers challenge us with 2014. MSM is a women’s institution, but Combs, Felix, Madrigal and Schwagle have two-year terms. Arhanian, Black- harder questions,” said student body A three-member WASC commit- accepts men in the music and nurs- well, Rabins and Richter have one year terms. president Lorena Martinez. “For ex- tee visited three years ago to review ing programs. The Council’s responsibilities include establishing the responsibilities of ample, I know that because in my AP ongoing improvements in Poly’s Average class size is fi fteen and faculty and principal required to maintain Poly’s vision/mission, revise the classes we are learning at a higher action plan and make sure the school offers opportunities for one-on-one per pupil budget annually, revise the “Elect to Work” agreement as necessary, level and answering harder ques- is continuing to improve. attention and frequent interaction contingent on a whole-staff vote for ratifi cation and amend the make up and tions, we don’t fi nd the test questions “They were very happy with the with professors. Professors offer of- as hard as the ones in class.” fi ce hours during which students can [ See School, pg 6 ] school,” said WASC coordinator ask questions about homework, tests, Devon Richter, “and said that as long projects and the like. as we keep doing what we’re doing, The top fi ve majors are nursing, we are on the right track and meeting biology, education, business, and Neighborhood Breakfast all of our targets.” psychology. WASC did a full visit six years ago. They were on campus four Students Poly’s Chef Higgins and Cooking Club will days. MSM wants well-rounded stu- “They went to every classroom, dents who are involved in extracur- serve 700 at annual City Hall fest. looked at everything we were doing, ricular activities. MSM encourages Poly’s Cooking Club will serve Twenty-fi ve Cooking Club members are going. Two read our report and interviewed par- By Joanna Rosales 700 breakfasts and 700 lunches Leadership students will fi lm the event. ents, students, teachers and faculty,” students to get involved in sororities, Staff Writer ASB, “Mount Movements,” a hip- for the Neighborhood Council at Higgins, who has taught culinary arts at Poly since said Richter. “From that visit we got hop dance club and other on-campus City Hall on Saturday, Sept 28. 2005, was born in Idaho and grew up in New York. a six-year accreditation with a three activities. Breakfast is 8:30 to 9:45 and lunch “I took classes with a master chef Steve Jilleba at year mid-visit.” Students attend an elegant four- is 12:15 to 1:30. Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Three years ago, teachers met in course dinner once a year where the “In fi ve hours, we will serve 1400 meals,” said Cook- Island,” Higgins said. “I’ve taken classes at Baltimore focus groups and examined every- do’s and don’ts of a business dinner ing Club sponsor and Poly chef Bob Higgins. “We’ve International College and a class at DHCT Culinary thing about the school - the orienta- are explained - how to call the wait- catered a lot of events but we’ve never catered an event Institute in Switzerland.” tion of the school, the curriculum, er, use a napkin, and get comfortable this big.” Higgins owned Alfano’s Italian Restaurant in Myrtle the instruction, the culture, the as- in a professional environment. Cooking Club members will start prepping Friday. Beach, South Carolina for eight years and worked for the sessments. Those fi ve groups looked Haunted Halloween on the “Everyone is required to come in at 4 am Saturday Hilton Corporation and Country Markets. at data and examined the school. Dohany campus attracts a big crowd. morning,” Higgins said. “We’ll do all the cooking Satur- Higgins has also worked in LA. The leaders of those groups Last year the campus received over day morning. And then load the truck and transport it.” “I was chef/manager for Carousel Restaurant in North reported their fi ndings and discussed 30,000 pounds of donated candy. At Students will set up the chafi ng dishes and get all the Hollywood,” Higgins said. “And I helped Wolfgang Puck where Poly could improve. the end of the day it was all gone. food from the truck to the staging and food prep area. do the opening of the Japanese Museum in LA for 5000 Poly’s action plan had three main “When we are ready to serve, we will take the hot people.” goals. The fi rst was to increase the Community Service food out of the holding cabinets and put them in the chaf- “My students do competition every year,” Higgins number of students getting profi cient Service is a big part of the cam- ing dishes to serve,” Higgins said. “I have baker’s racks said. “This year I want to do competitions with the Art and advanced on the CST and de- pus mission. Most students partici- with plastic holders for all the cold foods.” Institute of North Hollywood against Chef Rossi.” crease the number of students getting “Some of my former students are coming back to help Higgins is certifi ed by the American Culinary Federa- me,” Higgins said. “While we are serving breakfast, they tion and has been a member since 1987. [ See Mount, pg 6 ] will be cooking up lunch.” [ See WASC, pg 6 ] Let’s Make Almonte A Movie Rocks Idol Campus fi lm crew Poly’s annual songfest is on the move. brings out the best. Photo Courtesy of Christian Penado CAMPUS - page 4 Photo by Lirio Alberto CAMPUS - page 5 2 October 2013 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OPINION EDITORIAL the OPTIMIST VOL XCIX No. 2 I Want Candy october “Trick or Treat, smell my feet, give me something good to Regular Tootsie Rolls are gross.

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