Stephen Ngo to Be Principal How Will You Help the Students by Amber Dukes Succeed? I Will Help Students in Every Way Pos- Tephen Ngo Will Be Become Prin- Sible
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SteinmetzVolume 77, Number 5, March-April 2012 Star Inside this issue Stephen Ngo to be principal How will you help the students By Amber Dukes succeed? I will help students in every way pos- tephen Ngo will be become prin- sible. I want to place special emphasis cipal when Dr. Eunice Madon re- on ensuring that Steinmetz students are Stires on June 30. A former assistant prepared and successful in attaining their principal at Steinmetz, Mr. Ngo is cur- post-secondary needs and desires. rently the principal of World Language High School How do you feel leaving your cur- The local school council (LSC) voted rent school? to offer Mr. Ngo a four-year contract on When I started at World Language March 29. A large crowd in Room 122 High School three years ago, the school participated in that intense evening, the was on Level 3, academic warning- final day of the LSC’s two-month prin- probation. I moved my school to Level cipal selection process. 2-good standing within two years. To- Although I am the student representa- day, we are no longer on probation. My tive on the LSC and Principal Madon is school was one of only three schools in also a member of the LSC, by the LSC the entire district to move off of proba- rules we were not allowed to vote for the tion. While I will miss my students a new principal. great deal, I feel secure that the systems The ten members of the LSC who and structures I implemented are in Talent Show voted on the principal selection motion place to assure continued student suc- Pages 8-10 were teacher Megan Hedges, attendance cess there. PHOTO BY SHANNA ARCEO administrator Renalto Roldan, student services clerk Sgt. Gerry Frank, two com- How will you get involved in extra- munity members, and five parents. curricular activities? Before the LSC voted, Mr. Ngo and PHOTO BY AMBER DUKES I’ll encourage staff to promote as Stephen Ngo is congratulated by Steinmetz principa Dr. Eunice Madon, assistant principals Don Mendro and who will retire on June 30. many extra-curricular activities as pos- Lynne Nuzzo, the other finalists chosen sible. I’ll also become directly involved by the LSC, answered five questions submitted met in closed session for an hour. They returned with some of these activities. For example, as by teachers, students, and parents. I read the to the room filled with more than 100 people, an assistant principal at Steinmetz, I spent nu- questions to each of the candidates. Then several waiting anxiously for the decision, and made merous Saturdays running with Mr. Dowling’s people gave 1-minute speeches in favor of their their motion to offer Mr. Ngo the contract. marathon team on the lakefront. Admittedly, candidates. once they surpassed running three miles a ses- In his responses, Mr. Ngo said he would in- Mr. Ngo’s vision for Steinmetz sion, my duties shifted more towards providing crease the attendance rate by studying the data The Star asked Mr. Ngo several questions water support for the team. and offering incentives to students. He said he about his vision for Steinmetz, his work and One of my greatest joys was attending the All City Art Winners would move the school off of probation and school experience, his personal background, and LTAB Poetry Slam at IIT. Steinmetz won first Pages 12-14 make Steinmetz so attractive that people would his current interests. place that year. Shadell Jameson’s reading was ART BY DESTINY CARPENTER choose to move to the neighborhood because of The following is our email interview. absolutely electrifying. Messrs. Hood and Sloan the school. He said that the absence of a full- can attest that my wallet was damaged on more time nurse at Steinmetz was unacceptable. He Why do you want to be the principal? than one occasion, buying pizza for the team said that his school has a clinic, with a nurse and I want to lead the school as it goes forward. down at Columbia College those many Satur- doctor serving the students. He said Steinmetz Our school district is asking for unprecedented days. I look forward to it again! could “look outside the box” of CPS staffing to changes and higher expectations. I would like to obtain a full-time nurse. continue growing Steinmetz towards these ends. Will you continue DEAR (drop everything Several of Mr. Ngo’s former students testi- I love Steinmetz. It was my home for twelve years and read)? fied of his caring and concern for them. One as both a teacher and administrator. To sum I need to see the data on DEAR. Has it im- former student shared how Mr. Ngo called him it up, I want to be the principal of Steinmetz proved student reading? Pre- to post-testing, have regularly after he found out the student’s mother so that the school can continue offering every expected gains been met? Literacy strategies and had cancer. student the upmost opportunity to be success- college readiness skills are essential to student Following the questioning of the candidates ful in life. academic success. If you look at the Common Sports: Pages 15-16 and the public participation, the LSC members Core for example, it’s all skill-based. We must PHOTO BY MIGUEL VARELA Continued on Page 10 Future teacher wins Golden Perfect attendance! Apple scholarship At the Golden Apple By Lupita Ayala Summer Institutes, Stepha- nie will spend six weeks of tephanie Tapia is one of every summer vacation, for 135 Illinois seniors cho- four years after high school sen for the Golden Apple graduation, immersing her- S Zaina Alquero, Dr. Eunice Madon, principal, Justyna Szczech Scholars. The Golden Apple self in the ins and outs of scholarship is a high competi- teaching, according to the PHOTOS COURTESY LAURA JIMENEZ tive program for students in- Golden Apple website, www. terested in a teaching career. goldenapple.org. he first se- “I want to become a teach- “I want to teach what mester perfect er to make a difference,” said I have learned,” Stepha- Tattendance Stephanie, who plans to teach Stephanie Tapia nie said. “The teacher who celebration included pre-kindergarten. “I didn’t PHOTO BY JASMINE COLON inspires me the most is snacks and drawings think I would win the schol- Stephanie with financial support Ms. Mark. I want to teach for prizes for all stu- arship, because there were a lot of for tuition at DePaul University, young children because they’re dents who achieved people competing from the state as well as extensive supplementary more open-minded than older perfect attendance. of Illinois.” education, classroom experience, kids. They seem more interested More than a dozen The program will provide mentoring and peer networking. in learning.” • Roberto Alarcon, Claudia Radek students won valu- able prizes. • 2 Letters to the Star Happy Persian New Year A girlfriend... Touching ‘Everyone essay should be February 15, 2012 Dear Star, proud’ I just spent 1st period DEAR March 16, 2012 reading the latest issue of the Star Dear Steinmetz Star staff, and all I have to say is “wow.” Thanks for the update on The staff is doing an amazing job. what’s happening at Steinmetz I loved the comic in this issue. and the latest issue of the Star. It PHOTO BY JORDANY MARTINEZ It might be cool to have more really does look like a real news- Dear Star, comic strips to show off our paper. Everyone should be proud. I’d like a chance to respond to fabulous artistic side and more All best, the February photo opinion ques- Steinmetz humor. Hef tion, ‘What do you want in a girl- Thanks for running the “Be Hugh M. Hefner, Playboy friend?’ True to Your School” essay con- Editor-in-Chief I want a girl who is smart and test. I love this idea and hope it pretty, can take a joke, and doesn’t gets some students motivated to get mad at what I do. write about our successes here More letters from Deshawn Horton, freshman And lastly, Charnae Turner’s readers on Page 4 essay was so touching. I got a bit choked up while I was reading it. Have something to a dish, symbolizing rebirth Keep up the tremendous say? Email us: By Mojgan Majdzadeh, teacher samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ, work. Steinmetzstarnews@ symbolizing affluence Sincerely, gmail.com or years, my students and colleagues have asked senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree, symbol- Megan Hedges, teacher me about my Persian (Iranian) New Year called izing love & fertelity FNowruz. Work kept me busy, but I planned to sīr - garlic, symbolizing medicine New school is great, but make it work this year since it is long time overdue. sīb - apples, symbolizing beauty and health I celebrate my new year on the first day of spring somaq - sumac berries, symbolizing (the color of) (March 20 or 21 depending on the calendar year). It sunrise still missing Steinmetz is like any other new year, lots of preparation for the serkeh - vinegar, symbolizing age and patience. March 16, 2012 were a few staircases and three special table setting (above), parties to make or to go, Other items on the table may include: Hey Steinmetz, floors. Over here we have these and visiting family and friends. sonbol - Hyacinth (flower) Hope you haven’t forgotten things called wings. This year, my new year was at 00:14 in the morn- sekkeh - Coins, representative of wealth traditional about me. My new school and the I’m learning a lot in my classes, ing on Tuesday, March 20.