The Poly Optimist John H. Francis Polytechnic High School Vol. XCXVVIII, No. 23 Serving the Poly Community Since 1913 February 2016 Chef Higgins Receives Top Award Poly Student Celebrates Thanksgiving by Giving Christmas comes early for Chef Higgins Student gives to poor in El Salvador By Melanie Solis Staff Writer By Damaris Gallardo Guest Writer Poly’s own Chef Bob in Salvadorian restaurants Poly student Danessa Higgins was awarded the in the Los Angeles area, Lemus spent Thanksgiv- soliciting donations from Chef of the Year Award ing in her mother’s native random people, and asking by the American Culinary country of El Salvador, from for additional support from Federation and the Cuisine November 27th to December family and friends, raising of Southern California at 9th, in her role as a Beauty $2,300.00, the most money the L.A. Hotel Downtown. Pageant contestant. The and the highest number of The Cuisine of Southern Pageant was created to raise votes. California includes vari- money to give to the impov- The goal of Lemus mother ous hotels, restaurants and erished children and families was to return to El Salvador culinary schools. in El Salvador and Central and give back to the poor in Nominations took place American countries. The her native village and com- in August and September pageant was only for Salva- munity. The first city the and this award was pre- dorians, and includes various pageant contestants visited sented in the middle of pageants for little girls, teens was Chalatenango. Lemus December making this Chef and adults. said it is” still very danger- Higgin’s early Christmas Initially Lemus thought ous to go to these parts of El present. Three other people this pageant was about beau- Salvador and that there are were nominated but Chef ty, and “who’s the prettier no rules to restrain the gangs Higgins couldn't believe Chef Higgins with trophy Photo Provided By Chef Higgins or smarter” but after enter- or criminal activity, and pro- that they called his name ing discovered it was about tect the public at large.” was funny and thought it involves a mystery basket in the annual Chef’s Ball. raising money by selling Lemus colored her blonde was a joke having to com- of food, and students have He was nominated because tickets for 50 cents apiece, hair brown before leaving pete against Poly’s student to prepare a three course the organization believes which was later part of a in order to help ensure her chefs, but Poly won first meal for four people, in larger donation to the poor that Poly High School goes personal safety. Local news place in that competition. four hours and Higgins says in these countries. Over two above and beyond with reports indicate that ladies Higgins does volunteer that “It’s like an Iron Man months, Lemus sold votes volunteer work for the com- [Continues on Page 3] work with his students competition.” munity. Chef Higgins was which includes feeding over Chef Higgins has been honored to be nominated 5,000 veterans this past cooking for as long as he by the President and said Christmas at the Veterans can remember and was “all the chefs had to vote on Administration in Wilshire. inspired by his wife who me and they told me it was Twenty-four student chefs is also a Chef Instructor almost a landslide to win, participated in this and the who works at LA Mission so it was quite an honor.” American Culinary Federa- College. Other schools Two years ago, Higgins’ tion donated all the food. that Higgins has worked at students were competing The next upcoming event include Granada Hills and against Chef Rossi’s stu- for the Cooking Club will Northridge Academy High dent chefs and were given be in Las Vegas in March. School. He prefers teach- a mystery basket to prepare It’s sanctioned by the ing and working with Poly a four course meal for four American Culinary Fed- students and Poly’s campus. people, in four hours. The eration. The competition Higgins started as a college students thought it [Continues on Page 4] Lemus with Salvadorian children Photo Provided by Danessa Lemus No Cruising, No Tricks, No Skateboards Allowed Anymore By Diana Garcia be enforced by all deans, Spanish and copies of this teacher Wood Grigsby said roundings.” Staff Writer coordinators, and adminis- policy will be provided to he has been injured twice Espinoza states enforc- trators from all grade levels all faculty and staff. on campus when students ing this policy is important It’s a New Year and a new starting this semester. Rules Safety concerns have have collided with him not “just for faculty, but for Skateboard policy contract of enforcement will be continued to be raised by resulting in serious injury students and staff as well.” at Poly High School. Due included in daily morning faculty and staff, and use to him. Grigsby said “these She states this policy will be to safety issues, a new announcements, the Parent of skateboards has already skateboarders simply are not enforced at all times at Poly, skateboard policy has Newsletter in English and in resulted in injuries. Art paying attention to their sur- including after school hours. been established and will [Continues on Page 3] Let Your Voice be Heard! Check out Visit The Poly Optimist’s blog, Parrot Squwak, and page 5 for write your thoughts and comments Europe trip Polyoptimist.edublogs.org tales Check out page 6 for a journey to Cuba 2 feb 2015 The Poly Optimist polyhigh.org/opt.jsp OPINION EDITORIALS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Printing Press Problems Julio Dimas By Sergio Rodriguez like the way of living for many arise. What about the people who Thank you for bringing great articles about the Guest Writer people is starting to come to an don't know how to browse the web Unified Sports. end. People don't read newspapers or even worse can't access the in- Stories like that bring awareness and education News Flash: H.F. "Gerry" anymore they prefer to get their ternet for some reason? What will to all about what we do as program, school and Lenfest, owner of the Philadelphia news from online sources like happen to the people who rely on Media Network has decided to community. Thank you for sharing our stories. The Washington Post or The Los the newspaper to get their news? donate the companies Philadelphia Angeles Times. If there are no more newspapers Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News According to a study conducted being printed then that mean that and Philly.com website to a newly by Pew Research Center “The some people will also be out of formed tax free institute. What decline in weekday circulation jobs because they worked in the does this mean for newspaper fell almost equally across all printing department. The compa- companies in the U.S and possibly categories. This includes top tier nies see it as either they lose em- the world? Stay tuned for what's newspapers (those with average ployees or they go out of business next. weekday circulation of 500,000 or so they prefer to let people go in In an article from TIME Maga- more) whose weekday circulation order to earn a little more time for zine in 2009 The Philadelphia fell 4% in 2014 after seeing a 22% the company. The only advantage Daily News was in the top ten of spike from 2012 to 2013.” in a digital newspaper is the quan- endangered newspapers. Unfor- We live in the digital age and tity of material that can now be tunately it is the same for Poly’s should expect to see a decline in displayed for everyone to see. You Optimist. We have lost almost all printed newspapers slowly rising. can now browse a newspaper with our staff writers and after going to On the other hand, it's a great way one finger and without having to press you might find a newspaper to reduce the amount of trees cut take a stack of papers only so you thrown on the ground or even find as well as trash in the streets. But can throw it away once you're a stack of last month's edition still because of this, problems can still done reading. sitting in the SLC Center. It seems ALUMNI CORNER Preparing for Critical Thinking By Joshua Penado long-time member and former I truly believe that the Poly cal Institutions, and getting dently in my own apartment. Guest Writer editor-in-chief of the Poly Optimist helped me develop that oh so familiar “new kid” I’ve had to learn how to Do you feel like your Optimist and now a student the required skills needed to feeling. I wasn’t the only one avoid the flood of morning high school prepared you at California State University succeed in a college envi- either. Everyone had a sort and afternoon traffic to and for college? How did your Northridge (CSUN). ronment. To succeed in the of unspoken rule, don’t make from school. And I’ve also high school succeed or fail My response to my profes- Optimist I had to know how eye contact. It must be pretty had to develop my own time in preparing you for college? sor’s question was yes, I felt to single out bias, credibility, funny for professors to walk management skills, which These are the first questions like I was prepared but not in and the simple matter of fact in on the first day to a room was surprisingly a lot harder my English professor asked the way that my high school or opinion.