STEINMETZ STAR Volume 87, Number 1, September - October 2020 www.steinmetzstar.com 2020 School Year Continues Black Lives Matter On Fully Remote Becomes Global COVID-19 Forces Schools To Stay Closed Since March 17th Movement By Steinmetz Star Staff By Jada Ayala When the final bell rang at 2:16pm on Monday, March 16th, there were many uncertainties. Some thought we would be back in the building in a few weeks; some thought perhaps a month. No one On May 25th, 2020, a man by the name of George Floyd was brutally could have predicted that we would still be out of the school building. On August 5th, Mayor Lori killed by the “hands” of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lightfoot and CPS CEO Janice Jackson announced that CPS would remain shuttered into the altercation began after Floyd was trying to buy cigarettes at a gas station new school year because of the coronavirus pandemic that has sickened over 360,000 and caused who eventually called the police on him for having what they called almost 10,000 deaths statewide. Citing that they made their decision based on science and parent a fraudulent $20 bill. Within 17 minutes of the incident, Floyd was input, Lightfoot said, “The decision to begin the 2020-2021 CPS school year remotely during the first pinned down, already in handcuffs with a grown man’s knee on his neck. quarter is rooted in public health data and the invaluable feedback we’ve received from parents and In the 8 minute and 46 second video, you can see Floyd crying out for families. As we build out this remote learning model and seek to establish a hybrid learning model in the his mother as he was in pain and struggling to breathe. second quarter, we will continue to support and collaborate with parents and school leaders to create safe, sustainable learning environments for our students.” The video of his death went viral on almost every social media plat- form you can think of, resulting in an uproar in the Black Lives Matter Led by Principal Jaramillo, our school administration and staff jumped into action to make sure (BLM) community. Before this, many people may not have known that our students were prepared for the full days of remote learning ahead. They worked tirelessly to the BLM movement had been around for many years. It was originally make sure computers and technology were distributed to those who needed it and keep parents, founded by a group of activists who were, and still are, tired of seeing students and staff well informed. While many students were still mourning the loss of spring’s black people die at the hands of the police. Over the spring and summer, sporting events, plays, field trips, prom, graduation and everything else that typically happens, they many people of all ethnicities, shapes and genders joined together to pro- now had to come to terms with missing out on all of the fun back-to-school activities as well. test with the BLM community. While these movements were happening, the media coverage created a bigger divide because of the different ways Now, here we are approaching the second quarter of the new school year and the news has come they reported on the protests. Some showed them as violent and mis- that we will also begin the second quarter at home. While many have gotten the hang of remote guided, while others showed them as peaceful and justified; all of which learning, many are still struggling to adapt to this challenging new way of life. One thing is for just left some people as confused as ever. sure, our Steinmetz Star staff cannot wait until the day comes when we are all back under one roof. ...continued on page 3 Stay safe, readers!
Derrick Svelnys Named New Assistant Principal
By Chris Mack
After a rigorous interview process this summer, Derrick Svelnys has been named the new Assistant Principal of Steinmetz College Prep. Our school Principal, Jamie Jaramillo, was thrilled to share the news with our school community, “It is my pleasure to an- nounce we have selected Mr. Derrick Svelnys as our new Assistant Principal. Mr. Svelnys will be a great addition to our team as he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience at the high school level in STEM, curriculum and instruction, data analysis, operations, IT, and much more. Most importantly, Mr. Svelnys brings with him a passion for students and creating opportunities for success. His references speak very highly about his dedication, energy, and passion for helping students and colleagues succeed.” Mr. Svelnys joins us after spending 18 years as a Physics Teacher. He is a product of CPS High Schools and his wife is a CPS teacher at Rickover Naval Academy, where they met, and he helped start back in 2003. He has a B.S. in Physics Education, M.S. in Applied Physics and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. I spoke with Mr. Svelnys over email to get to know him better. Here’s what he had to say:
Where are you originally from? I’m from Chicago, from the southwest side. Go Sox! Mr. Derrick Svelnys :: Assistant Principal What made you want to come to Steinmetz? Quick Facts: After my first round interview with Mr. Jaramillo and Ms. Williams, I left the interview thinking that “I can call Steinmetz home” and I Two words to describe yourself? am now fortunate enough to call Steinmetz my home. I’m also a big fan of our STEAM program. As a former physics teacher, I loved seeing Humorous and organized the sense of wonder in my students when they were building something in one of my labs and it actually worked. Our STEAM program is designed to build that sense of wonder and inspiration for all of our students. Favorite Food: I love some good BBQ. Cats or dogs? Dogs. Scooping cat litter How do you like Steinmetz so far? does not sound like fun to me. I am really enjoying Steinmetz. I am fortunate to work with a great team here and was able to acclimate to the team very quickly. When I was looking for different AP positions across the district, I wanted to find a school that was a good fit for me. Steinmetz reminds me a lot of A thin-crust or a pan pizza? Thin-crust my high school, Kennedy, a neighborhood school that was a real nice place to be at. APs and some other staff are not working remotely; we pizza. As a native Southsider, the best go to the building each day. There aren’t many of us in the building and it is very odd having the building so quiet knowing that school is pizza is from Just-a-Pizza near Archer actually happening. & Pulaski on the south side. Chicago style pizza can’t be beat. Were you an Assistant Principal somewhere else or is this your first time? This is my first year as an AP, but I’ve been doing AP-type roles at my previous schools.
As our Assistant Principal, what do want to accomplish? As your AP, it is my main job to support all the teachers to best serve our students and ensure we have quality programming and supports that all of our students can access. I also want to see our STEAM program grow and succeed; we’re the only school like this on the entire northwest side of the city so we need to capitalize on that uniqueness.
If you were an animal which animal would you be? A Red Panda. Whenever I go to the zoo with my daughter, we always go see the Red Pandas. They’ve got made: all they do is hang around in trees, eat, and avoid being outside in the heat.
Are you a movie person? Yes. Right now we watch whatever my daughter wants to see, which is the entire “How to Train Your Dragon” series.
What was your favorite thing to do as a kid? Why? I loved going camping. The smell of the fresh air and listening to mother nature is very relaxing. 2 School News Steinmetz Welcomes New Staff Members By Arlette Fulgencio
STEPHANIE KILEY SANDRA JACKSON TREY MARTIN Special Education STEAM Art Teacher
In your opinion, what’s the best part about What are your interests or hobbies outside of school? If you can give your students some advice, teaching? Some of my interest and hobbies, outside of school, includes what would it be? Be patient. Whether that is In my opinion, the best part about teaching is working out at the health club, playing tennis, and choreograph- in art, in school, or in life. watching students make progress throughout the ing and teaching liturgical dances. I also love to travel, do inte- school year and reaching the goals that they set rior decorating, read, spend time with family and watch movies. What made you want to pursue a career in for themselves! teaching? What were you like in high school? I always knew I wanted to be a teacher but What are you most excited about this school I was very determined to get an education when I was in high also wanted to pursue a career as a painter. I year? school. Growing up on the west side of Chicago, I did not want worked as an artist full time for a couple of This school year, I am most excited about meet- to be a product of my environment. I was not only a dedicated years but felt there was something missing. I ing my students in person hopefully and learning student, but I was smart, sociable, active and had a lot of fun. knew I wanted to get into the classroom and more about Chicago from all of my students! I attended drug free and alcohol free parties during that time. I begin sharing my knowledge and artistic experi- was on the dance team, tennis team and track team. I was also ence with students. Did you transfer to Steinmetz from another part of the Girls Athletic Association, the Honors Society and school? If so, what school? one of the editors of the School Newspaper. I still remember most What is something students would be sur- Last year, I taught at The Devereux Glenholme of my teachers to this day. prised to learn about you? School, a therapeutic boarding school in Wash- There are 2 things that I think people might ington, Connecticut. What are you most excited about this school year? find surprising. I’ve broken every limb at least I am most excited about Steinmetz being a STEAM school and once either skateboarding or snowboarding. What is something students will be surprised my role as STEAM Specialist. I have 5 years of experience as And, I have over 30 tattoos! to learn about you? a STEM Specialist and I know how beneficial the STE(A)M Students might be surprised that I have lived on program can be. I look forward to seeing the impact that the In your opinion, what’s the best part about the East Coast my entire life, up until I moved to STEAM program will have on Steinmetz. teaching? Chicago a month ago! The best part of teaching is seeing the students If you can give your students some advice, what would it be? really pick up on the concepts you’re teaching What were you like in high school? The word “FAIL” is an acronym for “First Attempt In Learn- them. That A-HA moment when they actually In high school, I was very involved in sports. ing”. My advice to my students is if you do not succeed the first understand something and aren’t just replicat- I ran cross country, indoor track, and played time you try, then try again but never give up. Doing your best ing what you’ve taught them. softball. is all that anyone can ask of you. Perseverance is one of the keys to succeed in education and in life, in general. *Check back in our next issue, as we will highlight our other new staff members!
Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Ochoa JROTC Names
By Britney Gama and Rosaura Bailon New Student Mr. Ochoa teaches One Goal and Spanish. We admire him because he is a kind teacher who loves to help his students. Plus, we find Leaders him cool! We wanted to get to know a little bit more about him, so we asked him a few interview questions. Here’s what he had to say: By Steinmetz Staff What made you want to become a teacher? I became a teacher after doing a lot of soul searching and settling on the idea that I always enjoyed teaching and helping out people. On October 21st, our JROTC program I also love coaching, which is very similar. celebrated students who were promoted to the Cadet Leadership Staff for school year 20-21. What is the best advice you have ever been given? Master Sgt. Davis said, “As with everything When I started teaching, an older and wiser teacher told me to achieve balance and not to take things so seriously. Stay dedicated to my family we do, Cadets are our main focus. Even in the and remember there is more to life than the job. Basically, I think he was telling me to relax and you will less likely experience burnout. current academic environment, we have plenty of opportunities to promote our cadets and the What made you not give up on yourself? mission of JROTC.” Congrats to the Cadets! My family has always been there for me. Both the family I was born into and the one I created with my wife. One helped me in the past and now my own family keeps me grounded and focused on the job at hand. LTC: Anay Martinez Major: Heidi Hernandez What is your goal when working with students? Command Sergeant Major: Kelvin Roman My goal is to help them realize what they are capable of and assist them in finding a future path that fits them. It does require a lot of “getting Captains: to know you” but it’s necessary. Everyone is different. Right now I love helping students try to find their path. I have learned a lot teaching, Rose Hernandez, Xitlaly Gonzalez, coaching and mentoring students. My own kids are now their age as well, so I’m invested in trying to understand the present generation. Angel Rivera, Brandon Hensley, Stephanie Riera-Guaman and Devon Johnson Do you have any pets? How do you stay organized? 2nd LT: Melanie Alvarez, Keyla Arauz-Godinez, My wife has a cat and I have a reef tank. More of a hobby than anything else. I don’t. Jasmine Blair, Joseph Garcia, Franklyn Riera- Guaman, Jareydie Nava, Luis Villalba, Mateo What is one thing that inspires you to wake up and do your best work at your job? Corral, Trenton Hanson As I get up in the years, I come across more alumni in the world and I am amazed at how wonderful many have become as mature adults. Sergeant Major: Isaiah Rivera I want to be a part of our student’s story in the future. For good things of course!
2 Steinmetz Star MaySeptember - June 2018- October 2020 3 Opinion My Hair Is My Heritage, Not A Distraction By Kristina Reed
A viral video took over Twitter in August 2018 of 11 year old Faith Fennidy crying as she leaves Christ the King Parish middle school in Terrytown, Louisiana. Fennidy was asked to leave school because her braided hair was against the “rules.” This incident follows a similar situation in Boston with twin sisters Deanna and Mya Scott. The two were 15 years old at the time when they were suspended, pulled away from their team sports and were told that they could not attend prom because their hair braids were now against the “rules.” The school officials stated, “They didn’t want anything artificial or unnatural in their hair.” The family of the twins says this rule only targets black children who, because of their braids and/or hair extensions, were getting weekly deten- tions.
It begs the question: Why are black students being penalized for their hairstyle?
“It’s a distraction,” they say. How can something so essential to our identity be so misunderstood? It is not a distraction and it is certainly not just hair. Black women use their hair as a personal expression of who they are. It is part of their culture and their art. In many communities, black girl’s hairstyles represent their freedom. Perhaps without realizing it, those who tell black women that their hair is not appropriate are taking something extremely important away from them.
Although many may think that females are the only victims of hair shaming, males receive the backlash too. This year in Texas, DeAndre Arnold was told he couldn’t walk across the stage at graduation because of his dreadlocks. Arnold’s hair was a dress code violation because even though he could wear dreads, he was told his were too long. However, cutting his hair was simply not an option for him. Arnold’s father is from Trinidad, and growing dreadlocks is a common part of their culture. After his story received national attention, Arnold ended up being invited to the Oscars and going on the Ellen DeGeneres show to share his story.
If these stories have taught us anything, it is that our hair doesn’t need to be fixed. Society’s view of beauty is what is broken.
True Life: I Worked At The ...BLM Continued Airport During COVID 19 By Jada Ayala
The main goal of the BLM movements is not to put down any other race or spread By Briana Turcios hate. It is simply to ask for human decency for their race. Unfortunately, while the peaceful protests and movements went on, there were other groups who tried to Where do I even start ? How is COVID going for you, Star readers? Didn’t you hate it? ruin that exact message by using violence and destruction. Despite that, a beautiful I definitely did. As you read about my experience, I want you to think about how you thing to come out of the BLM movement was that it was not just held in America. coped with this virus; think about what motivated you to get through this; how does the Social media showed people in all different countries protesting and uniting with pandemic make you feel? What did you discover about yourself? black people. Many of those individuals in other countries do not have to deal with police brutality like we do, but they feel for us and stick up for us when some of our Let me tell you a bit about my life during this pandemic. When the pandemic began, I own leaders will not. was working in the airport as a passenger service assistant. This occupation was basically to take care of any elders and/or children coming through the airport. Working during After the death of George Floyd, the subsequent death of Brianna Taylor urged our COVID was extremely hard and a bit scary. At first, my bosses were very against the mask nation to recognize that our police system needs way more training and way more just because it was not part of our “dress code“, which I did not understand. Soon, the compassion for the citizens that they are to protect and serve. Presently, the BLM pandemic became very serious. There were so many more flights coming in and out with movement is quite possibly one of the biggest movements of our lifetime. The issue lots of families, as well as general people, flying back home. Due to this, more people, has been going on for far too long and simple human respect is not too much to ask specifically elders, needed assistance. Needless to say, it was very busy for me at work. for. Let’s all recognize this and fight for a better future. After that initial rush, things started to calm down and there was really no work. Hours started to get cut and it was very hard to keep up with bills. Life started to become very hard. On top of that, we all had to adapt to this new routine of obeying the face mask protocol, washing our hands, sanitizing our personal belongings and more.
This is a difficult time that we are all going through. This has only tested how strong we are and what we as individuals can overcome during such an extremely hard time. I genuinely hope you all are safe and doing well. I can only hope that this nightmare will soon go away!
Need A New TV Show? I’ve Got You Covered!
By Perla Martinez
We all know that being stuck in quarantine has got us feeling bored. However, I have just the solution to spice up your extra time stuck at home: TV shows! We can all definitely agree that we have been binge watching shows. If you’re not sure what kind of shows you’re into or don’t know what to watch, I’ve got you covered. Below are my top three recommendations for quarantine shows. Check back in the next issue for my next three!
The first show I recommend is calledElite . It is a Spanish show about rich high school students and three lucky kids in poverty who got accepted into the same school by a scholarship. During the three seasons of the show that are available now, there is tons of suspense, love, drama, and definitely a lot of cliffhangers that will make you want to watch more and more! Word to the wise, Elite is not a comedy show whatsoever. If you are looking for something light and fun, this will NOT be the choice for you.
The second show that I recommend is none other thanOn My Block. It is a teen comedy-drama that is filled with the triumph, pain and suspense that high schoolers go through. Spe- cifically, it follows three students preparing for high school in a Hispanic and black neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Each episode watches them tackle the obstacles that get in the way of them enjoying their everyday life. It is definitely worth watching and I’m sure you will enjoy!
The last show that I highly recommend getting into isGrey’s Anatomy, which focuses on a group of young doctors at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. It is character driven and full of drama, love, suspense and so much more! I recommend this show to anyone who is in the medical field or is about to be because it is very informative and helpful. If you choose to watch this show, be ready to be in for the long haul! Each episode is one hour and there are just about to start airing their 17th season on November 12, 2020! It is one of the longest running shows ever to be on TV! You can find all the episodes on Netflix.
I hope that you enjoy these show recommendations and that they make your pandemic days go by just a little bit faster.
September -May October - June 2020 2018 Steinmetz Star 3 4 Meet the Staff 2020 - 2021
J A D A A Y A L A B R I T N E Y G A M A “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity.” “Too afraid to give my love, Cause I’m too afraid I This is Jada Ayala. She is an18 year old senior. She attends Steinmetz won’t feel love. And I’m too afraid that I’ll find love, College Prep and participates in both basketball and softball, exceed- Just to find out it’s not real love. I got so many trust ing on the varsity level. Jada enjoys shopping, hanging out with issues.” - Phora friends, eating out, and exercising in nature. Hey, I’m Britney. I’m in my senior year. It’s crazy how time just flew by so quick. I still can’t believe I’m in my Despite Jada’s hardships of being a middle child, she continues to last year because it seems not so long ago that I was a work and get good grades in school in hopes of one day getting a full ride scholarship freshman. Some of my personality traits are openness and an appreciation for a to a nice school in the medical field. All she’s ever wanted was to help people and be variety of experiences. I’m an extrovert, sociable, energetic and talkative. I’m agree- successful at doing so. She understands that will require lots of patience and hard work, able, kind, sympathetic and happy to help. I’m also a very understanding person. but with God by her side she knows anything is possible. The things I like doing are drawing and making creative things. I also like listening to music. The music that gets my attention are songs that have meaning behind them. R O S A U R A B A I L O N “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus on the light.” R A F A E L G A R C I A My name Rosaura Bailon. I am 17. My birthday is on May 14, 2003. I am a kind, strong person. I try my best in school and in life. I protect “He came from the bottom, up under the bottom, but my son and my family and the people I love. I love hanging out with nowadays the boy livin tho.” - Young Dolph my friends. My favorite colors are red, black, white and night blue. A couple things about myself is that I’m chill and I be doing my own thing, staying in my own lane. I would say I am ahead of my time. I know what I am about and very straightforward. I don’t really need anybody; I’m chillin’ K R Y S T I A N B A R N A S on my own. I like to be laidback. I work and have school. In my free time, I like to watch shows, play video games “Everything happens for a reason” here and there or drive around. I focus a lot on things that will guide me to a better future and get my money up. In my future, I just want to try to have a goal and be I’m 17 years old. My favorite sport is soccer. In my free time, I like to drive successful. around with my friends and just have fun. My favorite thing to eat is wings. After graduation, I would like to go to college. My major would be business.
E M I L I O G O M E Z “All men aren’t created equal.” - Izuku Midoriya Hello I’m Emilio Gomez and I’m a News Staff Writer at J I L L I A N N E B A T T I S T I N I Steinmetz College Prep High School. My hobbies include video games, my favorite being Bioshock, and Red Dead “Why fit in when you can stand out!”- Unknown Redemption 2. My favorite movies are The Shawshank Hello my name is Jillianne but everyone calls me Jj. I’m a senior at Stein- Redemption and Unbreakable. My favorite super hero is metz College Prep. When I’m not at Steinmetz, I’m at the gym or in my Spider-Man from Marvel because he’s relatable. My favorite from DC has to be bed sleeping. I love music; I believe I might be addicted! I like to write Batman because of his amazing stories or Wonder Woman because she’s cool. I music or even books. My favorite classes are English and math. My plans love to watch anime. My favorites include One Piece, My Hero Academia, and My for the future are to be able to go to college and live up to my dream job. Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. I’m excited for my last year at Steinmetz. I cannot wait to graduate and be over with high I’m planning to be a teacher or something in the field of education. I hope we can school. Hopefully I do well with my classes and graduate with a wonderful GPA. I’m looking encourage creativity through our newspaper. forward to publishing many things on the newspaper and trying to stay positive through this pandemic. I wish everyone the best.
M A R K A N T H O N Y J I M E N E Z C R Y S T A L C O R T E Z “Believe you can and you will.” - Mulan “You’re Breathtaking”- Keanu Reeves Hi, my name is Crystal. I love to dance and watch dance videos on Sup? The name’s Mark in case you haven’t already realized youtube. My favorite dance choreographer is Matt Steffanina. My it yet. I’m a Senior Staff Writer for the newspaper here at favorite Disney movie is Mulan; she is so unique compared to the our school. I love playing video games religiously to the other Disney princesses. I have a beagle named Angel. He is such a point where would consider myself a no one life which sleepyhead and he loves to be babied just like me. In the future, I’m interested in working in the is true but hey my life. I love to watch anime and read entertainment industry as an actor or dance choreographer. manga. Some of my favorite animes consists of Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Hells- ing Ultimate and Sailor Moon.
For when I will eventually move on and graduate from Steinmetz, I would either make a living off of playing video games or go to college and study to be a comput- er engineer. I can do both, but I honestly prefer playing games for a living. I mean, A R L E T T E F U L G E N C I O who wouldn’t?! But hey, I will see what my future has in hold for me. “A beautiful mindset always wins.” My name is Arlette, but my family calls me Gordis. My family is super important to me. My cousins are basically my siblings and my aunts and uncles are like my parents. C H R I S M A C K I’m 17 years old and a senior at Steinmetz. My favorite class is English. Hobbies I take interest in are painting and calligraphy. I am still unde- “Can’t rain all the time.” - The Crow cided in my career, but I am interested in being a part of the medical field or business world. Hello I’m Chris, 17 and I’m very simple. I like movies, I love to watch a lot of shows and movies, but don’t ask for my opinion because I’m not a photography, bike riding and my favorite season is fall. critic. I like everything and can’t make a decision to save my life! I’m a shy person so I don’t Almost forgot I like playing video games with my friends. open up to a lot of people. I am also a super kind person. People always come to me for advice Plans for my future is I would like to be a photographer. I because I will never judge you. would like to take pictures of uncharted places (old buildings).
4 Steinmetz Star MaySeptember - June 2018- October 2020 5 Meet the Staff 2020 - 2021
A N T H O N Y M A R T I N E Z I S A A C S A N D O V A L “You cannot say pop and forget the smoke” - Pop Smoke “Never let them know your next move.” “Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success.” - Virat Kohli My name is Isaac. I’m a positive type of guy. I like to “The family is the center of life and it is the key to eternal stay busy because it’s better to be doing something than happiness.” - Tom Perry just sitting around doing nothing. I have my own cloth- Hello, my name is Anthony but my savages call me Tito. I’m a very ing brand. happy, shy and caring person! I like to do fun stuff like go outside, play video games and go out to eat at restaurants that have my favorite foods such as cev- I like to travel and go on vacation. It’s fun just to drive around and discover new iche, posole and coctel de camaron. My favorite class would have to be English; I always places. For my future career, I want to become a sole proprietor. found that class interesting and very easy to understand. One of my main career goals is to have a college selected for my first two years to be a Computer Hardware Technician.
O M A R S I E R R A P E R L A M A R T I N E Z “Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, “I think a cool woman is someone who knows her dream and accepted by idiots”- August D and chases it no matter what” - Roseanne Park Hey, my name is Omar Sierra. I am a Senior at Stein- Hi, my name is Perla Martinez and I’m a senior at metz College Prep. My favorite video game to play is Steinmetz College Prep. I joined the Journalism Persona 5 Royal. I have watched over 100+ animes and team because I thought it would be a fun and great experience with my friends. Not only hope to reach 200. I am what people call an “otaku” that, but I love writing and taking pictures. who watch and read manga. My favorite foods are tamales and cheeseburgers. My favorite classes are English, Gym and Lunch. My I consider myself a big music person and listen to all kinds of music genres, but mostly goals are to graduate high school, go to college, major in gaming development, Blackpink and Frank Ocean. A career I see myself doing in the future would be something and get a good paying job. in the culinary field. Ever since I was young, I had a passion for cooking! My hobbies out- side of school would be playing video games, reading any horror fiction book, and having a good time with my friends. I hope to still be doing this in my future! B R I A N A T U R C I O S
“Think positive thoughts. Say nice things. Do good for A L Y S S A M U R P H Y others. Everything comes back.” “Everybody has an addiction, mine happens to be success.”- Drake Hello ! My name is Briana Turcios. I am a 17 year old “All men aren’t created equal.” - Izuku Midoriya student currently attending my senior year of high school. Hello people! My name is Alyssa and welcome to my bio. I am a se- I am an extremely outgoing, funny, hard working person. nior at Steinmetz College Prep. I joined journalism this year because I have so much in my life that I want to achieve and with I thought it would be a good way to help me improve my writing that being said, I’ve definitely set the bar high for myself. skills and hopefully help me become a better writer. In my downtime, I do enjoy reading horror or realistic fiction type of books, working When I was younger, I played soccer for a good amount of years and that’s when on my skateboarding skills and hanging out with my friends. Music- it soon turned into a hobby as well as an every weekend type of thing! Soccer wise, I am into pretty much everything except for jazz. is my passion. I love listening to music, specifically EDM. My favorite band is Coldplay, hands down. My family is very important to me, I am a family ori- ented person so we are all pretty close. I do love Winter/Christmas; it brings me so much joy! I admire the cold and opening gifts. I am very hard on myself just because I know that I can get very far with some dedication and commitment. K A L A N I E O R T I Z As I get older, I want to become an Obstetrician, so I am trying to be the best that I can and give my all! “Do what makes you happy, be with who makes you smile, laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live” - Rachel Ann Nunes M A R I O R. V A Z Q U E Z My name is Kalanie Ortiz and I am 17 years old. When I am not working or at school, I like to shop, see my friends and eat! I like “People underestimate the power of nostalgia. M A R K A N T H O N Y J I M E N E Z to eat rice, cheese fries, and mac n cheese, workout, draw and Nostalgia is truly of the greatest human weaknesses, listen to music. My favorite class would have to be English, of second only to the neck.” -Dwight Schrute course. In the future, I would like to be a nurse; that’s something I have a lot of interest in. Hello, my name is Mario. I like to draw and listen to rock, techno, new wave and other music genres. I cur- rently don’t know what type of career I am going to choose. My current goal is to graduate from high school and go to college. K R I S T I N A R E E D
“Oh, screw beautiful, I’m Brilliant. If you want to -ap M S. W E H M E R “Today is a great day to have a great day!” pease me, compliment my brain.” - Cristina Yang Hi! My name is Ms. Wehmer and I am very excited to start Hello! My name is Kristina, but my family and friends call my second year as the faculty advisor for The Steinmetz me Krissy. I’m a senior at Steinmetz College Prep. I’m quite Star! Along with our Journalism class, I also teach junior an amazing person, I mean, if you really get to know me. Not to get off topic or anything, English. This year marks my sixth year of teaching. Prior, I meaning I’m about to go completely off topic, but I really enjoy writing. I’m not a profes- worked for five years in marketing and was trained in using sional writer but in a few more years I’ll be an author. the Adobe Creative Suite and in layout design. These skills have been crucial in creating our school newspaper. I’m really obsessed with Astrology, I’m also obsessed with Grey’s Anatomy. I express myself through music and I’m secretly in love with country music. My favorite food is crab legs and Outside of school (and while not in a pandemic!) I love to C H R I S M A C K shrimp. I love Christmas and all the Christmas decorations. go to live concerts (mostly country music!), read and spend time with my family and friends. We hope you enjoy read- ing our paper as much as we did making it! Find us in STEINMETZ STAR Room 330! [email protected] | Twitter: @steinmetzstar
*The Steinmetz Star is the student print and online newspaper of Steinmetz College Prep High School. Our goal is to serve the Steinmetz community by informing and entertaining students. The opinions expressed in our articles are not necessarily those shared by the Star Newspaper staff or the Steinmetz faculty and administration. Membership: Scholastic Press Association of Chicago | Printing: The Star is printed at Topweb LLC, 5450 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago
September -May October - June 2020 2018 Steinmetz Star 5 6 Entertainment and Opinion Nothing To Watch? Consider These Animes!
By Emilio Gomez and Omar Sierra We Never Learn (Bokutachi wa benkyou ga Dekinai) Anime is a style of animation that is popular in Japanese entertainment and has also be- Genre: Harem, romantic comedy, slice of life come very popular among Steinmetz students. If you haven’t watched yet, we’ve complied a list of 5 of our favorite Anime shows to get you started. Each issue, we will review a few #1: The story follows Nariyuki Yuiga, a junior in high more. Check them out and let us know what you think! school who has to tutor two of the school’s geniuses, Fumino Furuhashi and Rizu Ogata. If he doesn’t, Yuiga won’t be recommended for the university that he yearns One Piece to go to! Will Yuiga be successful? Watch and find out! #2: Genre: Action-adventure, fantasy, comedy, drama, tragedy 22 years ago there was a pirate My Hero Academia who went by the name of Gol D. Roger. During his time, he obtained wealth, power, and #3:Inspired by superhero genres such as the MCU and fame which earned him the the DCEU, this show is a unique approach to anime. title of King Of The Pirates. It follows Izuku Midoriya who lives in a world where On the day of his execution, superheroes, a dream most people want, actually become he said, “You want my treasure you can have it. Find it! I left everything the a real profession or job. Izuku dreams to be the number world has to offer, now you just have to find it in One Piece.” This sets off a one hero in the world, greater than the current number chain of events that leads us to a simple, yet complex, premise that shows us the one hero All Might. Start watching to see an amazing story of the world. The show explores many themes like militarism, the value of story full of action, drama, and mystery. This show humanity, racism, and what lengths do you go in order to achieve your goals. explores themes of what it means to be a hero, how far will you go to achieve your goals, trauma, and guilt.
Your Lie In April (Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso) Death Note (Desu Nuto) Genre: Musical, Romantic drama Genre: Mystery, psychological thriller #4: A 15-year-old high schooler named Arima Kousei had #5:The main character, Light Yagami, is sitting in the ability to play the piano at a young age and was very class one day bored and not paying attention. He good at it. After the tragic death of his mother, he lost decides to ask to go to the bathroom but just ends the motivation to keep on playing. It isn’t until he meets up walking around his school to waste some time. Kaori Miyazono, an extraordinary violinist, that he gets As he walks outside, he sees a book fall down from re-inspired to play again. the sky. He goes to pick it up and sees the title of the book is ¨Death Note.” This is where his journey begins.
Movie Review: Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) By Chris Mack
READER BEWARE: This movie is sure their boring small town. They investi- Do I love this movie? Yes, yes I do! won’t be super scared. I mean, just to give you a scare! It’s that time of gate and discover a pack of murderous It’s a perfect mix of funny and scary look at the title! But I promise, it year to bring out the spider webs, alien clowns. They try to warn the and has that great 80’s vibe. Plus, won’t let you down. Enjoy! skeletons, ghosts, and popcorn and police (John Vernon and John Allen the clown costumes and makeup are turn on a spooky movie. Make sure Nelson), but they don’t believe them. pretty terrifying. Seriously, I wouldn’t Fun Fact: Did you know that the you have a blanket next to you so if want to meet one of these clowns in a masks used in the film were also used you get scared you can cover your Meanwhile, the clowns set about har- back alley. If the idea of killer clowns in another spooky movie called Ernest face! vesting and eating as many people as putting people into cotton candy co- Scared Stupid, which is a funny movie they can (like me on a Friday night... coons, or eating people at bus stops, as well. Killer Klowns From Outer Space is wait). It’s not until they kidnap Deb- then this movie is certainly for you. about two teenagers, Mike (Grant bie that Mike and Dave (John Allen That’s it for this issue. Be sure to steer Cramer) and Debbie (Suzanne Sny- Nelson) decide it’s up to them to stop As you turn on the movie, just know clear of any black cats and were- der) who see a comet crash outside the clown’s rampage. that if you don’t take it seriously, you wolves! Grade B+
Among Us In A Nutshell Hand-drawn comic by Mario Vazquez
What is Among Us? Ever heard someone say “that’s sus”? If so, they are most likely referring to the new, popular phone game Among Us. It’s a multi-player game where players are pitted against each other to try to find out who the murderer is. The fun lies in the guessing and attempts at mind reading. Try it out for yourself!
6 Steinmetz Star MaySeptember - June 2018- October 2020 7 Entertainment and Information
Calling All Poets! Submit your poem to [email protected] By Jillianne Battistini by Friday, December 4th
If you were wondering if the student-run “Poetry Revealed” contest would be back again this year, then you are in luck! It is back by popular demand and ready for your incredibly talented submissions! If you like to write, get your emotions out on paper, or even just rhyme, then submit your work for everyone to enjoy! The top three poems will be published in the next issue of the school newspaper and the winner will get a great prize! Feeling nervous about your poem? Don’t worry - just ask for it to stay anonymous! To enter, all you have to do is email me your poem at [email protected]. You can submit as many as you want. I will email you back if you’ve won. Sounds like fun right?!
The theme for this month’s Poetry Revealed contest isAUTUMN TREES. How do you feel when you look at them? Do they make you feel safe or happy? Do you just like fall? Explain with empathic language why you feel that way. Remember to always think outside the box and really take your time. Most importantly, have fun!
Steppin’ It Out With Tito and Rafa :: Top Sneakers of 2020
By Anthony Martinez and Rafael Garcia
JORDAN 1 RETRO HIGH DIOR After weeks of rumors, the two very famous brands of Jordan and Dior made history by collaborating • Overall Rating: 7/1 0 for the first time on a shoe: The Jordan 1 Retro High Dior. There is no doubt that the Jordan 1 style is • Day Dropped: June 25, 2020 the most famous out of all the Jordan shoes. Therefore, to have Jordan and Dior choose the 1’s was very • Retail Price: $2,000 exciting. Also, this shoe is one of a kind. It was made in Italy with high quality and premium materials. • # of Shoes Made: 13,000 Dior also branded the “Tongue and Wings” and created a very well done “Air Dior” hanging tag on the shoe. On April 6th, 2020, the Dior 1 was released and quickly sold out on the first day.
Unfortunately, these shoes are nearly impossible to get your hands on. Only 8,500 pairs were made available to the public and the retail price was a whopping $2,000! Additionally, the only way to buy them was to enter raffles online or try to snag a pair on the Dior website. The hype for the shoe has continued to be very real, especially after being promoted by famous people such as Travis Scott, David Beckham and Kylie Jenner. Today, the shoe is re-selling for around $9,000, depending on the shoe size.
Virgil Abloh (CEO of the brand Off-White) announced that Jordan and Off-White were collabo- Jordan 4 Retro rating once again to make a new style of women’s sneaker -The Jordan 4 Retro Off-White “Sail.” Off-White “Sail” Abloh really took his time selecting the color, texture and design. Even though they made these shoes for women, it did not stop men, such as famous soccer star Neymar, from wearing them. • Overall Rating: 7.5/10 • Day Dropped: With only 46,000 pairs of these shoes created, it is considered a very limited edition and only sold July 25, 2020 • Retail Price: $200 on selected retailers sites. In the U.S., they were only available through the famous website/app • # of Shoes Made: SNKRS, which is used to buy new shoes that are dropping. 46,000
Nike SB Dunk Low (Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Dunky) Ben and Jerry’s is a very well known ice cream company that started in 1978. Only having two flavors in the beginning, they now serve 60 flavors and continue to get recognition for their high quality ice cream. On • Overall Rating: 6/10 May 15, 2020, Nike confirmed rumors that Ben and Jerry’s was collaborating with SB Dunk on a shoe called, • Day Dropped: May 23 + 26, 2020 “Chunky Dunky.” Named after one of Ben and Jerry’s most famous ice cream flavors, “Chunky Monkey”, • Retail Price: $100 people were left with their mouths watering over these shoes. This limited/hyped sneaker was released on May 23rd from select sneaker stores worldwide, with only 25 pairs in each store. They were sold in a special shoe box that is currently reselling around $1,500. Buyers were given a second chance to obtain a pair on May 26th as Nike released a limited amount with just a normal shoebox on the SNKRS site for $100. Overall, this was a creative and fun collaboration and Tito’s personal favorite.
J Looking for a job? Need to know what jobs are hir- O ing? But wait! You don’t Journeys : Sales Associate will provide a fun, full service Dunkin Donuts have a car or transporta- Job description By Jillianne BattistiniBy B tion? No problem! This : Looking for responsible, hard working people experience to all customers, maintain store appearance and stockroom job board will indicate Job description organization, effectively communicate all store needs to management, stay who are on time and are flexible. 24 hr store. Coffee, donuts, muffins are S which job is best for you! informed of current fashion trends and complete all required training. Prior free while you are on the clock. All else is a 30% discount. After 90 days, It includes the name and retail sales experience preferred. Must be at least 16 years of age. Must have they offer discounted health insurance. ability to climb, reach, bend, and lift up to 50 pounds, ability to work night description of the busi- Must be 16 years old or older. and weekend shifts and stand for long periods of time ness, the contact informa- : $7.25 - $18.22/hr : $10.17/hr B tion and location. Find Average Pay Average Pay the best job for you today! : Locations Hiring: O Try it, it’s free! :) Locations Hiring 4154 N Harlem Ave #40, Norridge, IL 60706 -- Phone: (708) 453-2799 5959 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60639 -- Phone: (773) 745-0731 • • • 330 Chicago Ridge Mall, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 -- Phone: (708) A • 5650 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60639 -- Phone: (773) 385-6564 422-1041 • 6336 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60639 -- Phone: (773) 622-1881 • 133 S State St, Chicago, IL 60603 --Phone: (312) 629-1029 R • 2337 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60639 -- Phone: (773) 237-1300 • 7160 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60652 -- Phone: (773) 735-2685 D
SeptemberMarch -May October - June - June 2020 2020 2018 Steinmetz Star 7 8 Sports and Entertainment The World of LOL E-Sports
By Mark Jimenez
The League of Legends World Championship 2020 (also known as Worlds) has begun. If you’re anything like me, you’re very ecstatic to see the best teams from every regional league go head to head to fight their way to the top and hoist the Summoner’s Cup and win the title of World Champions. Worlds 2020 began on September 25th with the Play-In-Stage and it will conclude with the Grand Finals on October 31st. That’s right - we get a whole month of watching the best teams around the world fighting up the bracket to get a spot in the Grand Finals.
So, you might be thinking to yourself, “What the heck is worlds?” Well, to put it simply, Worlds is a yearly internation- al E-Gaming tournament that brings the best teams from each regional league (LCS, LEC, LPL, LCK, etc...) in a battle to hoist the Summoner’s Cup and become World Champions. Every year this event moves between the host regions. This year, it is being hosted in the grand city of Shanghai in China.
Now you have at least a basic idea of what Worlds is, let’s talk about the video game that it is centered around: League of Legends (LOL). LOL is a free-to-play, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game that has multiple game modes but about 90% of the community plays the game mode Summoners Rift. Summoners Rift is a very complicated and complex game so I will just give you a quick run- down of it because, frankly, there is too much to talk about. Maybe in the next issue! Anyways, Summoners Rift is a game mode in LOL where a team of ten splits into two; five on the red side and five on the blue side. Each player then chooses their preferred roles (Top, Jungle, Mid, ADC, and Support) and then picks the playable characters in the game (Champions). There is a lot to choose from; about 150 champions to be exact. Each champion has their own unique look, abilities, play style, and skill set. Some champions are easy to play and some need a lot of skill to master. The objective of the game is to destroy the enemy’s main structure called the Nexus or to make the enemy team forfeit (FF). Along the way, there are five towers that you need to destroy to get to the Nexus. Between all of this chaos, there are also side objectives that you could take down that will help lead you. For example, Heralds are monsters in the jungle that can help you take down the towers and the Nexus. The final, and most important, side objective is the Baron. He is a very tanky monster in the jungle where the Heralds were previously spawned. If you were to kill the Baron, you will not only get a lot of gold and experience, but you will also have a buff that will help you take down towers and the Nexus. Then, after ALL, that, you win the GAME!
So, have I caught your attention yet? Now that you have an idea of what Worlds and LOL are, why not tune in? Worlds is currently the biggest Esport event in the world. To be honest with you, Worlds is also the biggest sports event in the world in general. Last year in Worlds 2019, LOL Esports broke the record for being the most-watched event in the world with an average of 3.5 million people tuned in throughout the event every week. For the Grand Finals, the day peaked at about 100 million viewers higher than any other sports event that same year!
Now recognized as a real sport in schools, Esports has changed the playing field. While it was already growing at a rapid pace, the COVID-19 outbreak has made it even more popular. The best thing about Esports is that it doesn’t matter if you’re big, skinny, tall, short, athletic, or clumsy. Anyone can be part of Esports. Go check it out!
JILLIANNE’S BREAKING “Since we’re all in quarantine, I guess we’ll be NEWS making only inside jokes from now on!” JOKES! HALLOWEEN CROSSWORD PUZZLE
CAN YOU FIND ALL THE WORDS?
8 Steinmetz Star MaySeptember - June 2018- October 2020 9 Sports Girls Cross Country - Catch Them If You Can! By Rafael Garcia and Anthony Martinez
Some sports are alive and well at Steinmetz this year! Although we don’t have all of our usual teams playing out on the front campus or in the gyms, our girls cross country team was able to continue to practice and compete.
On September 9th, the girls had their first meet on campus going up against Lake View and Von Steuben. Coached by Abel Pereyra, Mercedes Reyes and Alicia Urquizo, the team was ready to run fast! It was a tough battle and the Lady Streaks won! After the exciting meet, Coach P said, “Our XC meet on campus went really well today. Special props to security who helped out and Angel Dejesus who set us up with the sound system.” Coach P also let us know the exact results from the match, “The girl’s team, led by senior captain Abigail Montebello, took first place in a really tough race. Finishing in a tight pack right behind Abigail were Jocelyn Najera, Lizeth Montebello and Jimena Bahena. Freshman Jac- queline Damian finished out our top 5 with Atoria Cooper and Ivory Chester in hot pursuit. It was awesome to see. They left it all out on the course.” Indeed, they did! Even with the pandemic going on, it is inspiring to see the heart and motivation of all the runners fighting it out for their teams.
The girls also participated in the Mather Invitational on Tuesday, September 15th. Competing with only a small The Team: Madelyn Martinez, Jacqueline Damian, group, the girls took home 3rd place overall! The Streaks actually won their own race with Abigail Montebello, Lizeth Montebello, Ivory Chester, Melanie Alvarez, Lizeth Montebello, Jimena Bahena and Jocelyn Najera taking 1st - 4th! Junior Atoria Cooper took 10th and Ivory Abigail Montebello, Atoria Cooper Chester finished 14th.
Final highlights included a new PR of 14:36 for Abigail Montebello at the Steinmetz Series #3 race on September 30th and a 30th overall finish at the Chicago Public League Open City Championships on October 12th. Way to go Abigail! We are so proud of you!
Lizeth Montebello, (Coach Mercedes Reyes in Jacqueline Damian and Atoria Cooper back), Ivory Chester, Madelyn Martinez, Atoria sporting their newest running accessory: Abigail Montebello and Lizeth Montebello Cooper, Abigail Montebello, Jimena Bahena, masks! staying masked up and distanced! Jocelyn Najera are ready to run!
FALL SPORTS SHOUT OUT: 16in Softball made it to the consolation bracket of the playoffs! Interested in joining a school sport? EMail Ms. Russo at [email protected]
Chicago Bears Fill Football Void
By Krystian Barnas and Isaac Sandoval
Yikes! No Steinmetz football until the spring. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) canceled the fall football season for all CPS schools due to COVID-19. They believe moving fall sports to the spring will be a better idea in hopes that COVID cases would start dropping and everyone would be healthy and ready to play sports. Unfortunately, it seems that CO- VID cases are not going down. We hope this will not delay the fall sports any further. Lucky for us though, the Chicago Bears professional football team has provided an exciting 5-1 season so far. How ‘bout them Bears!? Is this year the Bears make it to the playoffs? Is this the year the Bears win a Superbowl? The way they are playing right now, they have a chance of making that happen.
In today’s standings, the Bears are 1st in the NFC North, with a record of 5-1. The first game the Bears played was against the Detroit Lions, in which they took a 27-23 dub and started off their season 1-0. In their second game, the Bears faced the New York Giants. Earning a 17-13 win, they brought their season to 2-0. Their third game was against the Atlanta Falcons, which was their toughest match up yet. They came back on a 16 point scoring run in the fourth quarter, winning the game 30-26 and bringing the Bears record to an exciting 3-0!
The Bears first loss of the season came against the Minneapolis Colts with a losing score of 19-11. Now at 3-1, the Bears decided to mix things up in a big way for their fifth game. Instead of starting their regular quarterback Mitch Trubisky, they started backup quarterback Nick Foles due to Trubisky’s struggles in the prior games. The fifth game was against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Foles started the game as QB and they won with an exciting score of 10-19 and a new record of 4-1! On Sunday, October 18th, the Bears played against the Carolina Panthers with Foles at QB again. An outstanding game led by the defense brought them a 23-16 win and an exciting 5-1 record!
This just may be the year of the Chicago Bears. With a current first place NFC North standing and a 5-1 record, they have managed to fill the hole that high school football left us. Can Nick Foles bring the Bears to the Super Bowl, or are they going to be another bust? Guess we will have to wait and see!
September May- October - June 2020 2018 Steinmetz Star 9