All About Poly High School

Who's Who at Poly

At the helm of the Poly faculty are two principals: one in charge of instruction, and one in charge of Student Services. Each principal works closely with assistant principals and with the Dean of Students.

Every student is enrolled in an Academy. The Academies are Beach, Business, Communications, ELD, PAAL, PAC RIM and Special Ed. CIC, and PACE are magnet programs. Each academy/magnet program has its own counselor.

The PAAL Academy has a Program Administrator and a counselor. PAAL students are 11th and 12th Graders who select it.

General Poly Info

Long Beach Poly High School is located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue, phone (562) 591 0581, FAX (562) 591 0631. It is bordered by Jackrabbit Lane on the north, East 15th Street on the south, Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue on the east, and Atlantic Avenue on the west. PAAL is located at 1545 Long Beach Boulevard, which is the south west corner of East 16th Street, phone 562 591 1381.

The Poly Bulletin is available by subscription on a weekly basis to PTA members. This is the same information that is read in your student's classroom. It lists campus events, scholarships, club information, volunteer opportunities, etc.

Where do parents park and enter Poly? During school hours, enter Poly at the main entrance on Jackrabbit Lane. Students must show identification. Parents are asked to sign in and receive a pass. There are a limited number of parking spaces available for visitors outside the Teachers' Dining Room of Jackrabbit Lane. If you park on the street, watch the two hour parking limit.

Where is the best place to pick up students after school? School buses leave from East 15th Street and Atlantic Avenue promptly at 2:45 P.M. There is a lot of traffic congestion in this area as the elementary school buses are arriving at Roosevelt across the street. Avoid this area at this time and avoid Jackrabbit Lane until after 3 P.M. as the area is being vacated by student drivers and Poly faculty and staff. Pick up your student at a different location such as Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue or wait until the Poly buses have left. The Poly Library is open until 4 P.M.

Where do students park their cars? In order for students to park their cars in the Esther Lot or in the Baseball Lot, they must apply for a parking permit and show proof of registration and insurance. A parking permit window decal will be issued to be affixed to the lower left hand corner of the rear vehicle window. Spaces are allotted on a first come, first served basis.

Can I visit my student's classroom? Parents are allowed and encouraged to attend any class at Poly, but must first sign in the Attendance office, Room 105.

How old is Poly? What is its history? In 1995, Poly celebrated its centennial. During the last 106 years Poly has had to overcome many obstacles. In 1933, the school was destroyed by an earthquake. Students attended classes in tents set up on the football field until the present structure was built on top of the original foundations. Much of Poly's physical structure rose from the ruins of the 1933 earthquake, Poly's spiritual being rose from the 60s racial conflicts.

Poly's location in the central city area of Long Beach meant it was the first district high school to receive ethnic minority students. Poly's racial diversity is one of its greatest strengths, but it also led to serious student unrest during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

This spiritual rebirth grew from efforts by a broad range of concerned parents, students, teachers, school officials and community leaders. The result of this rebuilding produced the Program of Addition Curricular Experiences (PACE), the Center for International Commerce (CIC), and other programs that are a still vital part of the school's fabric.

The ABC's of Poly

AP stands for Advanced Placement. Earn colleqe credit while at Poly. Testing in May costs $77 per exam. ASB stands for Associated Students Body. Athletic Clearance refers to a package of forms to be completed by parents and students before a student can participate in inter mural sports. A physical exam is required, as well as bookroom clearance. Back to School Night is October 1, 2003, at 6:30 P.M. Parents not having a student's class schedule can pick one up one in the Counselor's Office and then visit the student's teachers. Block Schedule refers to instruction being arranged in 90 minute blocks. The block schedule allows the teaching schedule to be longer than the traditional schedule used in other schools. Each day a student has teaching in three or four subject areas. If, for instance, a student has math on Friday, the next time he sees the teacher will be on Tuesday. Any missed homework assignments, tests, or tutoring should be rescheduled immediately following an absence. Burcham Field located on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue is Poly's football field. On Saturdays during the fall the Pop Warner games are played here. Enter the field through the school's entrance on Jackrabbit Lane. Care Center is located in Room 205. This area is a safe harbor for students who are having personal problems and need counseling. Career Center is located opposite the Activities Office. You are welcome to visit the center with your student. Conference Period refers to that time period that teachers have available to talk with parents. The Poly switchboard can provide information. EUREKA is the California information system for use by students in the Career Center. Final Exams: At the end of each semester three days are used to administer two final exams each day. On these days school is dismissed at 12:15 P.m. Friday nights. You've got a date! Football games, concerts, drama productions. There is always something to support at Poly. Catch the Poly talent before they're famous. Wear your Poly Spirit clothing. Hall of Fame: See why Poly is known as the Home of Scholars and Champions. Check out the Hall of Fame on the second floor between the 300 and 400 buildings. Holiday Greens Sale is the main fundraiser for the Poly PTA. You can order fresh greens from any PTA member before the end of October. Delivery is the first week in December. Grad NightGreen/Gold: The official Poly colors are green and gold. Since the adoption of the Block Schedule, green or gold is a sound bite indicating what the class schedule is for the day. On a Green Day, think even (i.e. periods 2, 4, 6); on a Gold day, think odd (i.e. periods 1, 3, 5) Period 7 occurs on both green and gold days. This is the tutorial period, an ideal time for getting extra help from teachers or PALS. Jackrabbit is a euphemism for anyone who has attended Poly. It also refers to the athletic teams. The school mascot is Jonathan Jackrabbit. His companion is Jessica. Junior Honor Guard is a chosen group of 11th Grade students that flank the graduates at their ceremonies at Poly and Vets Stadium. Minimum Days can be either green or gold. Students are dismissed at 12:35 P.m. Minimum days are scheduled at the beginning of each semester, in October to facilitate attendance for Back to School Night, and in April, for Open House. Odd/Even refers to the numbers of the Poly campus classrooms. All odd numbered classrooms are on the first floor; even, on the second floor. PAL stands for peer assistance leaders. A Poly PAL is a student trained in peer assistance and peer tutoring and is available during the tutorial period. Pizza Days are the first two full days of school. The PTA sells pizza to students. Network with PTA members! Site Council is a committee representing all the Poly academies/magnet programs, teachers, students and parents. Meetings are the second Wednesday at 3 P.m. in the TDR. Volunteer parents are needed! Student Commission is the student government elected at the end of each semester. The Student Commission is headed by the ASB President and Vice President. Each class has four elected positions. There are ten commissioners at large and several Student Commission appointed officers. Contact the Student Commission through the Activities Office, at extension 5128. Tall Flags is the color guard.

Sports

Poly provides a wide range of athletics for students' participation. The sports teams usually include three or four levels: varsity, junior varsity, and frosh/soph for both boys and girls. The following teams compete against other schools and in the Moore League: Badminton (coed); Baseball (boys only); Basketball; Cross Country; Football (boys only); Golf (coed); Soccer; Softball (girls only); Swimming; Tennis; Track; Volleyball; Water Polo and Wrestling.

Other classes which give students P.E. credit are Dance, ROTC, Marching Band and Spirit Squads. All students are welcome to try out for any sport they enjoy. Parents are invited to attend games. Those games that require tickets can be purchased from from the Poly Banker.

Performing Arts

In the Instrumental Music Department, aside from the Marching Band, there are four Jazz Ensembles, the Chamber Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra, the String Orchestra, and the Symphonic Winds.

The Choral Music Department offers Vocal Jazz I & II, the Chorale, and the Chamber Singers.
The Theatre Arts Department stages two major productions in their Little Theatre, Room 851.
Each spring the Dance Department puts on a huge and popular production in the auditorium. Buy your tickets early.

Educationalese

Are you baffled by all the acronyms you hear around the school? Here's a primer to get you started: ACE Alternate Classroom Educational (program); ACT American College Testing; API Academic Performance Index; ASVAB Armed Services Vocational Assessment Battery; LAP Learning Assessment Program; LEP Limited English Proficiency; PAAL Poly Academy of Accelerated Learning; PAR Proficiency Assessment Requirement; ROP Regional Occupational Program; SAT Scholastic Assessment Test; SPIR Student Problem Identification and Resolution; VEA Vocational Educational Assessment.

Poly PTA

The Poly PTA was established in 1910. Today it is the largest IYTA in the Long Beach Council. The Poly PTA Directory is your source for names of the Poly faculty and PTA officers for the current year. It also is a handy guide to PTA meetings and various events.

Why Join the PTA?

The Poly PTA turns green into gold. With your membership dues the Poly PTA provides for your students in the form of scholarships, library book donations, replenishing the Emergency Preparedness Fund, the Counselor's Fund, the Student Assist Nurse Fund. The Reflections contest encourages the arts in the areas writing, music, photography and drawing.

Poly PTA parents network and assist at Pizza Days, Homecoming Fair, Intercultural Fair, Back to-School night, Open House, and Poly Grad Night.

For the Poly faculty and staff, the Poly IYTA provides the brown bag alternative: Welcome Back Picnic, Holiday Luncheon and recognition on Teacher's Appreciation Day.

Parents that are PTA members receive the Poly Directory, a free subscription to the Hareline, the Poly PTA newsletter, and are eligible to subscribe to the Poly Bulletin.

PTA members are encouraged to participate in leadership workshops offered by 33rd District PTA. Every year the Poly PTA sends delegates to Sacramento Safari and the California State IYTA Convention.

The Poly Club Scene

There are about ninety clubs at Poly. Most clubs meet at lunch time. They provide students with the opportunity to participate in service projects that benefit both the giver as well as the receiver. All clubs provide leadership experience. Look for the clubs at the Homecoming and Intercultural Fairs.

A Booster Club is a club that is made up of parents. These clubs help raise money, chaperone events, bake snacks, publicize events, design and print programs, etc. Parental support ensures success. Ask your student if his special activity has a booster club. Get out there and participate to cheer them on.

The Poly PTA is a booster club for the whole school that every parent and teacher can join. With your membership money the Poly PTA performs miracles.

At present the Poly Grad Night is facing a crisis. Traditionally this club has consisted of parents of juniors. Needed immediately are parents of the class of 2004 and 2005. Get involved to keep this tradition alive.

WARNING: Long Beach has a history of off campus teenage fraternities and sororities. The Poly Administration strongly cautions all parents about allowing students to join these organizations. These groups often operate without parent supervision and may engage in illegal activities such as, hazing, underage drinking, substance abuse, etc. Every year Poly receives numerous complaints about these groups being involved in acts of harassment, vandalism, fights and even public nudity.

At present, the Homecoming Dance, the Winter Formal, the Sadie Hawkins, and The Senior Prom are the dances sanctioned by the Poly Administration.

PAAL Poly High School/Poly PTA Poly High School.

Poly Phone Numbers

Activities Office (562) 591-0581, ext 5128
Attendance Office (562) 591-0581
Counseling (562) 591-0581, ext 5114 (Mr. Carlson)

Parent Resources Guidelines for Parents K-12 for the 2003-2004 school year is published by the LBUSD in both English and Spanish. For curriculum information, consult the High School Manual issued by the LBUSD.

The LBUSD Superintendent's Forum meets regularly. The morning meeting is at 10 A.M., 1515 Hughes Way, Long Beach, CA 908 10. The evening meeting is at 7 P.M. and is held at one of the middle schools. .

Television

Channel 66 is the cable station for LBUSD. Watch local teens in ed. news.

Books

Save Our Schools by Mary Miller
Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades by Dr. Sylvia Rimm
Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers by Michael Riera

Poly Videos

The First 100 Years available from the Poly Centennial Committee. Every 15 Minutes available from the Activities Office.

Online

Best online community is www. parentsoup.com
Best professional advice is www. familyeducation.com
Most inspirational is www. mornsonline.com
Best organized is parents.berkeley. edu/advice/teens
Source: Family PC, August 2001
Poly School Page, www.lbusd.k12.ca.us, and click on "school finder".
And of course, www.LBPolyMusic.com

Poly is your school. Get involved, today!
www.LBPolyMusic.com

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