The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School Vol. XCVIII No. 2 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 October 2011 Parrots with PINS Poly Honors Poly is the first high school in the Valley to 9/11 Victims shed tickets for numbers. By Lisa Guardado, Ramses Lemus & Edwin Rocha By Jacky Galvan Staff Writers Staff Writer Parrots looking for lunch on Parrots commemorated the 10th everyone he could find, Sonenschein Thursday needed a number. anniversary of 9/11 with a brief said. Seven, to be exact, as Poly ceremony in the Polygon during “I saw ordinary people become became the first LAUSD high school lunch on Friday, September 9. heroes,” Sonenschein said. “I also in the Valley to try out LAUSD’s “We as Americans tend to forget saw that everybody had gathered computerized Point-of-Service things quickly,” said Poly Principle together no matter whom they were (POS) system for dispensing meals Photo by Vanessa Muñoz Gerardo Loera. “I appreciate the or what they did for a living.” without lunch tickets. SPARKY: Sparks’ mascot Sparky makes friends with Poly’s Joe and Josie. student body remembering this date Many sacrificed their lives that “We got 12 point of service by bringing this memorial together.” day to save people, people that they packages,” said cafeteria manager About 300 students and faculty didn’t even know, Sonenschein said.. Evelin Galvez, “plus another one for Sparks Send a Message attended the memorial. Poly’s Band, dressed in white [ See 9/11, page 4] the faculty dining room.” Former Sparks All-Star and now- The units, which include a The WNBA ladies shirts and black trousers, played the part owner Lisa Leslie and Narbonne National Anthem. Then the football keypad and a monitor, were installed promote healthy eating grad and Sparks forward Ebony Wednesday, September 14. Four team held the top of Poly’s 40’ by and a tobacco-free Hoffman also spoke to students 60’ Stars and Stripes while a group mobile carts with wireless internet from Poly’s Sports/EHS SLC about and backup battery will serve lifestyle along with high of ROTC students stepped backward, the importance of eating right and unfurling the flag as they went. Poly Idol students outside and eight window quality basketball at Poly. staying tobacco-free. keypads and monitors will be at the The two groups then gently But first came the game. moved the flag up and down. lunch windows. The Sparks ran a light practice Reborn The cafeteria staff was trained By Kimberly Cañas & Jessica Flores “After 9/11, everywhere I Staff Writers and then played a fun-filled ten- walked I would see all the pride of Wednesday, September 21. minute scrimmage that included New drama LAUSD’s Food Services Division America,” Loera said. “The tenth new coach Joe “Jellybean” Bryant anniversary of the 9/11 event should will implement the POS system When WNBA professional before about 500 Sport/EHS students teacher is bringing in all schools over the next few basketball team the LA Sparks came serve as a reminder to all of us to in the Blue Gym. The players then put away our differences and come months. POS will bring the Food to Poly Wednesday, they brought back Poly Idol. introduced themselves. together like we did right after 9/11.” Services Division into state and more than game. LAUSD officials who spoke First Responder and faculty federal compliance for counting and “We’re here to promote healthy about “I’m In” included Chief By Eliana Vela member Jeremy Sonenschein also Staff Writer claiming student meals. eating and exercise for all school Operating Officer Rick Boull’t The system will eliminate the kids,” said Sparks forward and spoke. and District 6 Board member Nury “Most of you are too young to use of tickets and meal cards and two-time Olympian Delisha Milton- Martinez. understand what 9\11 means to Singers rejoice. any issues related to forgotten, Jones. Nury Martinez added that Poly Idol is back. lost or stolen tickets or meal The Sparks came to Poly to people who were actually there,” Polytechnic high school was a great Sonenschein said. “As a first This round will be sponsored cards. Each student PIN is unique promote “LA Quits,” LA County’s example of being a good role model by actress and drama teacher Katy and the student’s meal eligibility quit-smoking program, and responder, I was in Engine Company to the other schools in the LAUSD 54 as a firefighter and a paramedic.” Groskin. confidential. LAUSD’s “I’m In” healthy eating Every first responder’s main job “I think it’s really important,” In the future, students and staff program. that day was to rescue anyone and said Groskin, “that we encourage will be able to pre-pay over the [ See Sparks, next page ] singers at Poly because I know we internet. have some.” Galvez said the cafeteria staff Former Poly choral teacher Kevin serves about 1100 meals daily. Madrigal Patterson originated Poly Idol in “Last year, with the tickets, we 2003 and the concept produced some were feeding about 1400 daily,” notable winners. But when he left in Galvez said. Talks to 2007, Idol went with him. September is a slow month, Ironically, Patterson went Galvez said, because students don’t Telemundo to Manual Arts, where Groskin have their tickets. was running her own version of “In October, they turn in the American Idol, the inspiration for lunch applications and we get more By Alex Dimas Poly’s version. Staff Writer students eating,” Galvez said. Groskin recently auditioned 30 Galvez said the lines would Parrots over two days. From that first probably move slower at first, but Poly Social Studies teacher Elva round, Groskin chose 20 candidates as long as students remember their Madrigal can barely remember her to vie for the title. passwords, lines will move faster. recent television appearance. Future rounds will include a Some elementary schools outside “The interview lasted two and group vocal, a ballad and a dance the Valley are already using the a half minutes,” Madrigal said. song. Each contestant will sing his or system, Galvez said. “It happened so fast I didn’t have Photo courtesy of Madrigal her own song for the last two rounds Galvez has managed Poly’s enough time to talk.” INTERVIEW: Poly History teacher Elva Madriga appeared on T52. of the competition. cafeteria for seven years and worked Madrigal was interviewed by American fathers challenged the came in 1954 and began the Civil All future competitions will be for LAUSD in food service for 15 Telemundo reporter Ruben Luengas practice in Orange County schools Rights movement. held in the cafetorium at lunch and years. for an “En Contexto” segment on of separating whites and Mexicans. Madrigal says the topic of Latino all Parrots are invited. “We have a total of fifteen Latino heroes. The Ninth Circuit court ruled that the heroes is important. The winner, who will be chosen employees, including me,” Galvez “En Contexto” does stories on the practice was unconstitutional. “Unfortunately, teachers want to by students, will receive a pair said. “Four employees work six community, Madrigal said. The Supreme Court would later get through as much as we can, but of tickets to a concert chosen by and a half hours each, one works Luengas asked Madrigal about rule, in Brown versus Board, that all there isn’t enough time,” Madrigal Groskin. six hours and nine work four hours the impact of Mendez versus racial segregation in public schools Groskin says she had a second each.” Westminster School District (1946). was unconstitutional. That ruling In that case, five Mexican- [See Madrigal, next page] [See Poly Idol, page 4] Keep on Sparks Visit Truckin’ Poly SLC Angelino’s love their WNBA players pro- food trucks. mote healthy life style. Google Image FOOD - page 5 Google Image SPORTS - page 7 INTERVIEW 2 October 2011 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OPINIONOPINION EDITORIAL The Lost Art of Reading Take a look at most LAUSD libraries today and you will see empty shelves and dated publications. Modern, up-to-date libraries and library aides are essential to the enhancement of student literacy, but support for LAUSD libraries is falling on deaf ears. This year, 227 of 430 elementary library aides are being cut. Those remaining will see their hours cut in half. The US is falling behind more literate societies, said a recent Time magazine report. American kids are texting instead of reading books. “You” is “u” and “see” is “c” and “LOL” is little more than “tee hee.” Punctuation and capitalization have been all but forgotten. Half of today’s teenagers only read a book if it’s assigned by a teacher. The literacy gap between our 15-year olds and those in other literate countries is rapidly expanding. We need libraries and books to build the literacy skills that texting can’t. Texting may be a passing trend, but reading and writing skills make productive members of society. The OPTIMIST asked Poly teachers what they did in their classrooms to To compete in a global economy, our youth must have a commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Below are some of their answers. healthy balance of many skills. A literate new generation is an essential component for participation in a democratic society Sergeant Smith / AFROTC Jeremy Sonenschein / First and an ever-shrinking world. ROTC had four days of lessons on 9/11 – Responders Guest editorial by Adriane Sommers. I distributed an entire schedule of events and TV programs DAY 1: We read and analyzed a handout from our A.F.