September 2011
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The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School Vol. XCVIII No. 1 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 September 2011 The shot heard Poly Exceeds round Expectations the District Lengthy string of annual API increases Parrots scramble continues with 30-point gain in 2011. passed both the English and math to meet state- By Jacky Galvan Staff Writer portions of the CAHSEE on their imposed deadline first try went from 80% to 86%.” Graph courtesy of Gerardo Loera Loera said beating last year’s API Poly’s 2011 API of 725, released for getting Tdap TREND LINE: Poly’s API is up 257 points since 2000, most in LAUSD. gets harder every year. just days ago, represents a 257-point “It’s hard to continue to booster shot. gain since the metric’s inception in improve,” Loera said, “and with the 2000. The latest score is a 30-point budget cuts, we are losing critical By Ana Gonzalez gain over last year’s 695. Staff Writer people. But we have to continue to All-Time High “The 252 point increase is the teach and learn.” largest of any LAUSD high school in The API score is important, Loera In yet another strong showing, the San Fernando Valley,” said Poly said Poly hit 99% just before the Labor For Magnet API Principal Gerardo Loera. “We want to know how students Day break. Poly’s target API for 2011 was are doing.” But this score was for students By Mariel Lopez 702. with Tdap shots, not high API Staff Writer The API is made up of a weighted scores. average of CST scores, CAPA “I want to thank Parrots, their Poly Math and Science Magnet’s 2011 Academic (California Alternate Performance parents, LAUSD and the nurses Assessment) scores, CMA and Poly staff,” said Poly Principal Performance Index (API) of 904 is the highest in (California Modified Assessment) Boss Pays Gerardo Loera. the small learning community’s 16-year history, scores and CAHSEE (California The deadline for students to show according to magnet coordinator Jane Couchois. High School Exit Exam) scores. a Visit proof of inoculation is September 6. Ninth graders led the way this Only about 30-40 Parrots have “The students and teachers work really hard,” Couchois said. “The year. not been inoculated and will not teachers have high expectations for students and most importantly, the “Poly 9th graders did really LAUSD chief be allowed to return to school until students have high expectations of themselves, and I think that’s why we did well,” Loera said. “Thirty-six per they get the booster, which protects so well.” cent of the ninth graders scored John Deasy is against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Considered the cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability advanced and that makes Poly Pertussis. Act of 1999, API measures the academic performance and growth of schools number one in non-charter schools. part of Poly’s As recently as a week ago, 250 on a variety of academic measures. That’s huge for a high school.” Parrots still hadn’t received the Couchois said a sharper focus and targeted CST reviews have helped Ninth grade magnet physics went opening day. Tdap. students improve their scores. up from 49% Proficient to 71% in The current Tdap flap began “Ninth grade English had over 90% proficiency, as did the 9th grade one year. Far below basic (FBB) and By Ramses Lemus Staff Writer last year, when over 9000 cases of geometry,” Couchois said. “Tenth and 11th grade summative math were over below basic (BB) went from 8% to whooping cough struck the state, the 70% proficient. World and U.S history were at or near 70%.” 6%. largest such epidemic in decades. “Our biggest jump was in 9th grade physics, where we went from 50 “That’s huge,” Loera said. LAUSD Superintendent John Health officials said unimmunized to70% proficient. Biology and life sciences were over 90% proficient and CAHSEE scores also made huge Deasy made a brief, unannounced teenagers were a factor in the Chemistry was at 60%.” jumps. visit to Poly on opening day. disease’s spread. “The percentage of students who “He got here around 10:30 a.m.,” [ See New Magnet, pg 2 ] In response, then-Gov. Arnold said Poly Principal Gerardo Loera. Schwarzenegger (R) signed a law “ He wanted to make sure that (AB 354) imposing the pertussis everything was running smoothly vaccine requirement for older and that the teachers were teaching students in September 2010. New Parrot Drama Coach and the students were inside the The mandate took effect July 1, rooms.” “I loved theater as a 2011. By Maureen Kang Deasy was accompanied by Matt Preteens and teens were required Staff Writer child, especially the Hill, who runs LAUSD’s turnaround/ to have their proof of vaccination in attention.” outsourcing project. Hill’s salary is hand on the very first day of school, At 15, Groskin paid by local billionaire Eli Broad. or be sent home until they get it. he film was 2001’s “Catch Me If You Can,” was in a production Newly-hired Deputy State officials started notifying starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by of “The Jungle Superintendent of Instruction school districts in October 2010, Steven Spielberg. Book” at a children’s Jaime Aquino and Chief of Staff after the measure was signed into T And that flight attendant with puffy hair theater’s camp. Michelle King, hired by former law Sept. 29. A radio campaign and glasses, that was budding actress Katy Groskin. “I was the oldest Photo By Diane Alvarado Superintendent Ramon Cortines last began July 1, 2011. You read that right. Katy Groskin, recently arrived member there,” FRESH FACE: Katy Groskin. July, were here also. State public health officials Poly drama teacher. Groskin said. “I didn’t The high-level visitors went to were aware that year-round schools “I would start at 6 am and literally work for 12 like my part, so I classrooms on their own, according started in July, said Ken August, a hours,” Groskin said. “We weren’t allowed to talk to the went to talk to the director. He said, ‘This role is for you to Loera. California Department of Public main actors. It was considered unprofessional.” because you’re such a leader.’ That impacted me.” “We spoke only a few minutes in Health spokesman, and attempted to DiCaprio was tall and geeky, Groskin said. Groskin came to LA in 1997 and studied at the the hallway,” Loera said, “while he target them. (LAT) “Steven Spielberg was a very friendly man,” Groskin UCLA’s School for Theater, Film and Television. was going from one place to another. “Our efforts were directed at said. “He actually talked to us.” While in school, she helped found Equal Opportunity Prior visits we’ve talked a little all schools,” he said, adding that Today, Groskin says she just wants to act. Productions, a non-profit arts outreach program that longer, but it’s always been walk and “different schools and school “TV shows are what I’m aiming for,” Groskin brings theater arts to elementary school children talk.” districts have approached this said. “That’s where the spotlight and attention are at After getting her credential at CSUN, Groskin Deasy left around 11:00. He also mandate in different ways.” nowadays. Some of the best writers write for TV shows.” accepted a teaching position at Manual Arts in Los visited Arleta High And Sun Valley L.A. Unified sent parents a letter Groskin grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and started Angeles in 2002. The high school dropped its theater High, which also opened August 5. acting in second grade. [ See Vaccine, pg 2] “I always wanted to be a singer/actor,” Groskin said. [ See Drama, pg 2] [ See Deasy, pg 2] Metal Fatigue The Shift No Problem Is On The Crue rocks the Strip New coach says he’ll 30 years later. run the Spread Option. Google Image CITY LIFE - pg. 6 Photo by Diane Alvarado SPORTS - pg. 8 2 September 2011 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OPINION EDITORIAL The Teacher’s Kid Educators and concerned citizens from across the The culmination of a week of conferences, Saturday’s country gathered on the White House Ellipse July 30 to Save Our Schools March featured actor Matt Damon, urge national leaders to focus on education reform that whose mother was a teacher. Below is his speech. provides a high-quality education for every student. flew overnight from Vancouver to be with you today. I It’s stupid, it won’t tell you anything and it’ll just make him landed in New York a few hours ago and caught a flight nervous.’ That was in the ’70s when you could talk like that. down here because I needed to tell you all in person that I shudder to think that these tests are being used today to I I think you’re awesome. control where funding goes. I was raised by a teacher. My mother is a professor of early I don’t know where I would be today if my teachers’ job childhood education. And from the time I went to kindergarten security was based on how I performed on some standardized through my senior year in high school, test. If their very survival as teachers was I went to public schools. I wouldn’t based on whether I actually fell in love trade that education and experience with the process of learning but rather if for anything. As I get older, I I could fill in the right bubble on a test.