January-February 2012
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SteinmetzVolume 77, Number 4, January - February 2012 Star Dr. Madon to Hardworking senior Inside retire in June earns 4-year ‘Posse’ this issue college scholarship By Crystal Phillips enior Lauren DeJesus has been awarded a four-year college Sscholarship. She will go to University of Wisconsin, Madison, Blood Drive, Luekemia society where not only is her tuition paid, fundraisers, Page 5 she will become part of a group (a “posse”) that is supported by the Posse Foundation. “I wanted to be nominated, I wanted to get it,” Lauren said. She had known of the Posse scholarship for many years, and University of Principal Eunice Madon, Local School Council (LSC) student representative Amber Dukes, and LSC President Wisconsin is a school she had been MaryJane Bunzol at the January 19 LSC meeting. longing to get accepted into since her 8th grade year. Valentine’s Day, Pages 6, 7, 10 By Amber Dukes Only students with “extraordinary academic and leadership potential” After eight years serving as principal, Dr. are nominated to apply for this out- Eunice Madon announced that she will retire standing opportunity. on June 30. Lauren is ranked number one in A Lauren DeJesus Dr. Madon graduated from Steinmetz, and the senior class. She has a 5.1 GPA. worked here as a teacher, guidance counselor, and She will be the first person in her fam- assistant principal before becoming principal. ily to go to a four-year college. was interviewed three times. She made the announcement at the January 12 Counselor Tamara Jabour nomi- When Lauren went through the interview Local School Council meeting (LSC). The LSC, nated Lauren for the Posse Scholar- process she remembered what her teacher Abel How counselors help chaired by parent representative MaryJane Bunzol, ship. Then she filled out the applica- Pereyra said: “Be yourself and don’t sweat it.” Page 8 will select the next principal.• tion, obtained recommendations, and Continued on Page 10 Why such a brief story? We’re planning a more comprehensive feature on Dr. Madon’s years at Steinmetz for a future issue. Academic Decathlon team wins big By Davoud Chitsaztehrani, teacher Chess team, Page 10 onths of studying even more than their teachers required prepared the nine Mmembers of the Academic Decathlon team for city-wide competition on January 28. The day was long and arduous. The Streaks sat for seven highly rigorous tests in the follow- ing categories: Economics, Math, Super Quiz, Science, Art, Music, and Language Arts. After this battery of exams, the team then competed in the exciting Super Quiz Relay. The Academic Decathlon team won 29 awards on Janury 28. Hector Patino Jared Klein, Carlos Estrada, The team won 29 awards, including first Iriz Ilumin, Jorge Villanueva, Michelle Garcia, Eduardo Rivera, Vanessa Diaz, and Josue Lopez were place gold medals in Science, Language Arts, coached by teachers Andrew Riege, Davoud Chitsaztehrani, Jason Mink, Charles Cave, and Jenny Sports, Page 12 and Music. • Zeszutko. Mayor Rahm Emanual and CPS push for a longer school day, their plan — all students to stay an extra hour ‘Not a done deal!’ says Proposed student schedule for Steinmetz, 2012-2013 Chicago Teachers Union Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday By Filip Palka f the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Mayor Rahm Emmanual get their way, students across the city will have Ia longer day next year. Steinmetz students — including seniors — will be in class an extra hour. However, the schedule change is not certain. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and the Board of Education are in negotiations. Next year’s contract has not been agreed upon. “This is not a done deal,” CTU President Karen Lewis said on February 1. Students may not know the actual schedule until they No division, longer classes: Under a proposed plan for Steinmetz, each of the 8 classes would have a block period (75 minutes) once a week. start classes in September. Lunch periods shortened: Half of the period would be spent in the lunchroom, the other half with a teacher in a classroom for “intervention.” Continued on Page 2 No 8th period lunch: Seniors would no longer have the option to leave the building instead of eating in the lunch room. 2 Letters to the Star Best wishes Occupy Chicago Enjoying from Hef story appreciated the Star January 5, 2012 December 21, 2011 I am also grateful December 12, 2011 Dear Steinmetz Star staff, Dear Star staff, for the article on Digi- The Star staff is made up of freshmen, sopho- Dear Steinmetz Star staff, Thank you for the latest copy The December Star tal Media and Digtal mores, juniors, and seniors who report stories and I love reading the newspaper of the Steinmetz Star. Everyone in- is amazing. I especially Sreaks. take pictures as part of the extracurriculur Newspaper because it’s really creative. I learn a volved in its production should be appreciate the hard news The Star is one in a Club, as well as students enrolled in the elective lot about the students and teachers proud of the result. cover story of the Oc- long list of reasons to be class Journalism. Sincerely, Please give my best wishes for the cupy movement. With proud of our students Traditionally, seniors take Journalsim. However, Delilah Perez, freshman new year to everyone at my alma no Civics courses in and our school. juniors have done very well in the course and we mater. schools, this story is a You rock! want to see more of them. So, if you ... Sincerely, perfect avenue for help- Ms. E. • like to tell stories, take pictures, and care about Hef ing our students under- Judy Eichstaedt, Steinmetz and the Star, Life after Hugh M. Hefner stand democracy. teacher • have room in your schedule for an elective — Playboy Editor-In-Chief sign up for Journalism when you register for next high school year’s classes with your counselor. • January 26, 2012 Good life for Dear Steinmetz Star, Alumni share Star experiences Since I graduated from this high graduate school, I’ve been so happy. I started working at a job I love at Victoria’s January 26, 2012 N Secret and I’m starting school at Dear Steinmetz Star, Harold Washington very soon. I’m I thought life after high school so excited to major in Art and do robertso would be hard, but it has been a what I love. Y great experience for me. Dealing N Speaking about love, my life has with college and bills, and trying been great with the lovely boyfriend, britta to stay in touch with friends has Jerome, who I started dating senior by been life-changing. It changed for year. I remember always talking and S the better. getting advice from Mrs. Schmidt. College itself is a great experi- It’s great to know my relationship PHOTO ence. I met one guy from Africa. It Graduates Salvatore Cavallaro, ‘81, and LA Decker, ‘85, who took pictures and reported stories for the Star, returned on has only blossomed so well with was his first time in Chicago so we January 26 to share their experiences with the current Star staff. (Above): Haywood Gandy, Jazalynne Velez, Lucas Burrell. him. traveled around the city just to show Thinking back on Steinmetz, I him what Chicago was all about. By Sharon Schmidt, teacher Although he hadn’t prepared to interview Mr. can say I loved my teacher Ms. S.! I was able to go check out other Hefner, who was surrounded by professional Chi- She was so funny and great with colleges like Iowa State, SIU adn tressing accuracy and risk-taking, two former cago journalists in the library, Mr. Cavallaro said he helping me in photography and art. many more just to see what was out Star reporters shared their journalism insights decided to take a risk and ask a question. Every time I need to get anything there. Now going into my second Swith the current Star staff on January 26. He asked Mr. Hefner if he had ever written a from Steinmetz, I can’t help but go semester at Wright College, I will Alumni Salvatore Cavallaro and L.A. Decker controversial piece when he was on the Star staff. see her and reminisce. be able to go to a university of my gave advice, shared tales from their glory days, and Mr. Hefner responded that he had written about I was so nervous to start my adult choice next semester. showed vintage photos to the students. the length of girls’ skirts. Of course, the comment life, but now that I’ve taken this In my life after high school I For Mr. Decker, who lives downstate in Bloom- was picked up by all the reporters there. leap, I couldn’t be any more proud! have been able to do new things and ington, it was his first visit in 20 years. He has con- In addition, Mr. Cavallaro said that Mr. Hefner You never know where you’ll end up become my own person. The only tinued his journalism work with sports broadcasting. noticed his old camera, which he had borrowed from in life, there’s something so exciting hard part is trying to find time for Mr. Cavallaro shared a lesson he learned from his father. Weeks after the visit, a box addressed to about that. everybody and everything I love to interviewing Steinmetz’s most famous graduate, him arrived, with a new, top-of-the-line Nikon for Sincerely, do, but I do find time to study,and Hugh Hefner, the editor-in-chief of Playboy. He the Star, from the always generous Mr.