No Flex Zone Winter 2014

WINTER 2014

What’s

Enterovirus 68?

The Battle Of The Video Games: Which Should You Purchase?

Upgrade Your Gym Shoe GAME

INSIDE:

Fashion :

BRIGHTEN UP THE WINTER SEASON WITH

POPS OF

COLOR

LETTER FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Students,

I am so excited about the great work that you have been doing as you created this awesome magazine. Your hard work inspires us all to greatness. Thanks for allowing me to play a small role in your production. I look forward to your continued great work in the Spring.

Sauda Porter

CONTENTS WHAT’S HAPPENING

6: RESPIRATORY VIRUS BY JEANETTE JONES 7: CVS COMMITS TO QUIT SELLING TOBACCO

THE FUTURE

8-9: CALL OF DUTY ADVANCED WARFARE VS. GRAND THEFT AUTO 6

BY STEPHON SCOTT & EDWARD PORTER 10: EVOLVE: HAPPY HUNTING BY DENALI HERBERT 11: DYING LIGHT BY DYLAN JOHNSON

POP OUT

12: MATTI BAYBEE BY LEYLA TALISON 13: PEWDIEPIE BY BRITTANY ALEXANDER 14 – 17: FASHION PAGES 18: LATEST GYM SHOES BY ZARI WISEMAN 19: FASHION FOR THE FELLAS

BY ARMANI JACKSON AND JEREMIAH SMITH 20: HOW TO DO BANTU KNOTS BY UNITY JONES

CULTURE

21: ART BY VESTRO SYLVESTRE

EXCELLENCE

22: STUDENT PROFILES 23: MS. PLANTE BY BRITTANY ALEXANDER

PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON PERSPECTIVES MAGAZINE CONTACT US: TRUESTARJR@TRUESTARMAGAZINE.COM TRUESTARIS.COM TO DONATE TO TRUE STAR FOUNDATION, VISIT TRUESTARFOUNDATION.ORG

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DEANNA MCLEARY & NA-TAE’ THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR MARTI PARHAM EDITORIAL COORDINATOR SERENA BOLDEN ART DIRECTION DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION ANGEL D’AMICO-BAUER PHOTO COORDINATOR DESHAUN ADAMS

CONTRIBUTORS

Denali Herbert

Armani Jackson

Breyona

Hadley

Brittany Alexander

Zari Wiseman

ohnson

Dylan J

Edward Porte

r

Jeremiah Smith

Stephon Scott

Charlee M

oore

not pictured: Jeanette Jones Unity Jones Qamar Key Vestro Syvestre Leyla Talison

Chase

Moore

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Respiratory Disease Enterovirus 68

BY JEANNETTE JONES

A

serious sickness is affecting people in many different states, and could grow nationally.

The sickness is a respiratory virus, and is similar to the average cold, but more critical. It has now sent hundreds of children to the hospital. “This is a very common time for outbreaks,” Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser told ABC News. “But this one is very rare and they have no idea why it showed up this year.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bug called Enterovirus 68 (EV-D68) is what is possibly causing a lot of children to get sick. Enteroviruses are common, and cause about 10 to 15 million diseases in the U.S. every year, according to the CDC. People are most likely to become sick with an Enterovirus during summer and fall, so it is not uncommon for the virus to be around when kids return back to school. But, the symptoms of this particular virus have hit hard and quickly.

Symptoms of the familiar sickness shared by Enterovirus 68 involve coughing, runny nose, sneezing and muscle aches. What separates it from a regular cold is how it impacts the respiratory, or breathing system. Enterovirus 68 produces enormous wheezing and causes 6 PERSPECTIVES

a person to have a hard time breathing. For children who have asthma, these symptoms are especially worse.

So far, the virus has affected children in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and North Carolina. All have reached out to the CDC for help in fighting this virus. Like the common sickness, this virus is possible to extend, and could touch other states.

There is no treatment for this sickness, but to protect yourself from getting ill the CDC recommends these tips: • Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not your hands.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

CVS Commits

TO QUIT SELLING TOBACCO

BY ALEXIS ESTES, FRESHMAN, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

“THE SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS IS INCONSISTENT WITH OUR PURPOSE.” - LARRY J. MERLO

C

VS is starting its New Year’s resolutions early this year. In late September, CVS publicly announced its decision to kick tobacco off its shelves for good. From now on, people will no longer be able to walk in the store and buy cigarettes, making CVS/pharmacy one of the first chains of national pharmacies to cut the big smoking habit.

Why is CVS doing this?

With more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide, CVS hopes to make a big impact on world health. According to a CNN interview with Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark, the move was a logical one. “Ending the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy is the right thing […] to do for [the] customers and company to help people on their path to better health. The sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose.”

Like many addicted tobacco users, CVS’ road to quitting won’t be an easy one. According to CNN, CVS Caremark estimates the pharmacy will be paying the price of “an annual loss of $2 billion from tobacco shoppers - $1.5 billion in

tobacco sales and the rest from other products tobacco shoppers purchase while in the store.”

Yes, they were making money, but it’s about staying true to yourself. Ask yourself, what would you do for some paper? Well, CVS definitely knows what they will no longer do, and that’s contribute to the world’s health issues. According to the website betobaccofree.gov, 8.6 million people live with a serious illness, including cancer, caused by smoking. The drugstore’s mission is to have no involvement in this statistic moving forward.

Though few customers will be disappointed, many are proud of the company’s decisions.

The American Medical Association praised the bold move. “We commend CVS for putting public health ahead of their bottom line and recognizing the need for pharmacies to focus on supporting health and wellness instead of contributing to disease and death caused by tobacco use.”

Has CVS started a trend that other stores will follow? Only time will tell.

PERSPECTIVES 7

THE FUTURE

V

Call Of Duty Advanced Warfare

BY STEPHON SCOTT

I

think Call of Duty Advanced Warfare (CODAW) is better because you actually know when it is coming out. Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 hasn’t announced when it’s coming out and hasn’t showed the full development of its game. Another reason you should buy CODAW is because of the combat. The way it looks when you jump or shoot looks like real life. GTA keeps the same story and they need to change it up now. In CODAW you can make the character look just like real life. You can put on sneakers and EXO-SUITS to run on WALLS and turn INVISIBLE. There is also online play with zombies and extra-content.

Because of these reasons I say CODAW is going to be better than GTA 6.

8 PERSPECTIVES

VS

Grand Theft Auto

BY EDWARD PORTER

I

say Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 is better than Call of Duty Advanced Warfare (CODAW) because GTA has a better story mode and has a better game company. GTA 5 can put their trust in Rockstar and the game company who represents CODAW is a horrible game company. GTA has a better online server than CODAW. When GTA 6 comes out people will forget all about CODAW. If you want a better game life get GTA 6. If you can wait on the new CODAW you can wait on the new GTA 6. Why would you want to play a game where you can’t see yourself, you can’t drive or fly cars and planes and all you do is shoot and run.

That’s why I say buy GTA 6 over CODAW.

PERSPECTIVES 9

EVOLVE:

HAPPY HUNTING COMING SOON! THE MONSTERS’ MAIN GOAL IS TO STAY AWAY FROM THE HUNTERS AND EAT THE SMALLER CREATURES ON THE PLANET TO GAIN ABILITIES, THE HUNTERS CAN TOO.

BY DENALI HERBERT

E

volve: Happy Hunting comes out February 11, 2015. In it there can be five players, but there are only four hunters, so, four people are hunters and one player is the beast. The characters Griffin, Maggie, and Daisy are the trappers. Hank is the support. Val and Lazarus are the medics.

Markov and Hyde are the assault. There are actually three more people that are a part of the Dropship staff: Liggi, Galon and Thalanor. The monsters are Goliath and Kraken.

The monsters’ main goal is to stay away from the hunters and eat the smaller creatures on the 10 PERSPECTIVES

planet to gain abilities, the hunters can too. The monster wants to kill the hunters and vice versa.

There is a competitive and cooperative mode, and there is also a single player mode. This is the ultimate four on one showdown, which means the game is sure to be interesting. You will never know what will happen next!

Will the hunters kill the monster or will the monster kill one or all of the hunters? The outcome is a mystery. Remember, you have to have had experience in the game to be the monster. With that said, have fun and HAPPY HUNTING!

WHEN NIGHTFALL COMES THE GAME CHANGES – THE HUNTER BECOMES THE HUNTED.

DYING LIGHT: The Game To Play

BY DYLAN JOHNSON

D

ying Light is a first-person action survival game set in a vast, open and dangerous world.

During the day you will travel an expansive urban environment, overrun by a vicious outbreak while scavenging the world for supplies and crafting weapons to defend against the growing infected population of zombies. Dying Light features free-running movement that allows you to move around the world from the rooftops to the ground and everywhere in between. It’s up to you to use different tactics while facing the infected. Sometimes it’s better to take them head on; other times it’s best to find another solution.

Each time can be handled in different ways.

The sound of someone screaming presents an opportunity. Do you investigate further or continue with the mission? Each choice has a different consequence and affects the world around you. When nightfall comes the game changes – the hunter becomes the hunted. The infected have transformed into something much more sinister. You must use your night sense to avoid detection and survive until the morning’s first light. You also get new missions with more menacing creatures. The zombies have strength in numbers and attack with brute force. The regular zombies you see are called the Biters.

They do what all normal zombies do – they bite.

Another one is a big guy called the Demolisher.

He charges at you and he reminds me of the Tank from Left for Dead.

PERSPECTIVES 11

POP OUT

Artist Profile:

MATTI BAYBEE

BY LEYLA TALISON

M

atti Baybee, whose real name is Matthew Hess, is a Chicago rapper. He attended Perspectives Middle Academy.

When he graduated from 8th grade he attended Perspectives High School of Technology, but later as a freshman his mother home-schooled him because of his new title “Matti Baybee.” He is 16 years old. Matti is a very fun and cool person to be around. He loves cracking jokes about the family. He has three sisters, one brother, and his mother and father are happily married.

When Matti is on stage he is having a blast with his fans. He got started by using

12 PERSPECTIVES

Garage Band to remix his favorite songs.

The positive response from his friends to his remix of “Make It Rain” by Travis Porter is what kicked off his career. He is part of the anti-violence movement 500 campaign where people post pictures of themselves angry over the loss of over 500 people to gun violence.

Fun Fact: We are blood cousins! He is also cousins with Chief Keef, but doesn’t like to bring it up because then the conversation is all about Keef. I would recommend listening to his songs: “Somebody,” “Wcw,” “Shopping Spree,” and “Young, Flashy and Cocky.”

Pewdiepie:

Let’s Play Gamer

Reaches 30 Million Subscribers

BY BRITTANY ALEXANDER

F

elix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, commonly known as Pewdiepie, has reached 30 million subscribers!

Pewdiepie is the number one subscribed channel on YouTube, surpassing other popular channels such as nigahiga, hosted by Ryan Higa, nearing 13 million subscribers, and the comedy duo Smosh, hosted by Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla, nearing 19 million subscribers.

This is an amazing feat for not only his fellow bros, but for Kjellberg as well.

Kjellberg started out in 2010 making Let’s Play videos with horror games, specifically a horror game called Amnesia. His quirky commentary and hilarious screams earned him a lot of laughs and watchers. Kjellberg not only makes Let’s Play videos but has a series called “Fridays with Pewdiepie” where he does different things like answering questions or making his own comedic skits.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL CLAIMS PEWDIEPIE PULLS IN AN AVERAGE OF $4 MILLION IN EARNINGS.

The Wall Street Journal claims Pewdiepie pulls in an average of $4 million in earnings. To understand this, and not think automatically he is a millionaire, it is important to know how YouTubers get paid. When your videos get enough popularity, as a YouTuber, you can apply for a partnership. The amount of money you’re paid is not based on subscribers, but by clicks on advertisements and views from that.

Kjellberg also allows his large fan base to help him donate to charities and causes. In total, Pewdiepie has accumulated more than $1 million in charitable drives, passing the expected goal more than once!

Today, Kjellberg plays all types of games from Barbie to The Evil Within. You can check out his videos on YouTube where he updates with new content daily.

PERSPECTIVES 13

BRIGHTEN UP THE WINTER SEASON WITH

POPS OF COLOR

14 PERSPECTIVES

PERSPECTIVES 15

16 PERSPECTIVES

PERSPECTIVES 17

Latest H

KICKS

BY ZARI WISEMAN

ow tight is your shoe game? Here is a listing of my personal favorite kicks that have come out recently. I am partial to the KD’s and the Jordans.

2014 Nike Zoom Lebron 10 Air Jordan 8 in black and orange

2014 Nike KD VI 6 NSW Lifestyle Birthday High Top Grey Bright Blue Black Red

Nike 2014 Black History Month Collection

Nike Basketball 2014 Elite “Gold” Series

Air Jordan Retro 4 Galaxy NBA Zoom 18 PERSPECTIVES

Fashion Tips

FOR THE FELLAS

M

BY ARMANI JACKSON & JEREMIAH SMITH

ake sure your style game is at its best by adding a few new pieces like these to your wardrobe.

Match these red True Religion jeans, Ralph Lauren polo with the red, black and white Nike Jordan’s to bring this outfit together.

This is a dress-down outfit forgoing outside when you want to look fly.

Match these basics for a smooth look for church or anytime you need to dress up.

It’s nice, looks expensive and you can get the pieces at an outlet mall for cheap.

PERSPECTIVES 19

How To Do

Bantu Knots

BY UNITY JONES

W

ant a nice hairstyle that you can wear during the day, sleep in, and have a whole new hairstyle tomorrow? If so, Bantu Knots are for you. Follow these short steps to put the Bantu Knots in and take them down the next day to have waves.

- Use a large wig brush (after you take your hair down).

- Use a comb to section your hair.

Before 9 - Now twist each section (don’t start tightening at the root; put it around the hair you’re twisting).

- After you’re done doing the whole head, sleep with the Bantu Knots overnight.

- Put the two sections in the back - Next Day: Use jojoba oil to take it down, twist the Bantu Knots into a ponytail. the opposite way you started.

- Use Karen’s Body Beautiful Naturally Chic on each section (or - Finally after you’re done, shake the Bantu Knots with a pick to a hair cream). give it a full look! You have your new Bantu hairstyle.

- Use your detangler brush.

20 PERSPECTIVES

Art by

CULTURE Vestro Sylvestre

About the Artist: 13 year old Vestro has been drawing for 4 years.

He enjoys to draw Homestuck Characters. This rendering is a “Swedish dude trying to be a thug.”

PERSPECTIVES 21

Honor Roll Principal’s Honor Roll All A’s

Honor Roll A’s and B’s Brittany Alexander Sarah Alli-Brown Keith Atwater Tavares Bell Terrence Bracy Rakiya Brown Jordan Bynum Serenity Coley Chances Flowers Denali Herbert Aaliyah Hernandez Paris Jones Jeanette Jones

22 PERSPECTIVES

Triniti Alexander Wylencia Boyd Courtney Jones Zanae Mayfield Mikayla King Trinity King Cody Merridith Kimberly Wilborn

Mikayla Kates Jerome Kelly Rakiya Lawrence Rhonda Lewis Maia Marlowe Jamari Massie Taijah McChristion Khali McDade Elijah Mitchell Jade Moffet Mikayla Peden Aaron Phillips Elise Scott Jugundi Singleton Allyson Sobieraj Deandria Thompson Leola Wallace-Leflore Samuel Wallace- Leflore Teaira Wren

Getting To Know

Mrs. Plante

BY BRITTANY ALEXANDER 1. What is it like being a PMA teacher?

I love being a PMA teacher. I feel cared for and respected by my students. The opportunity to help each student realize his/ her potential is the greatest gift I could ever ask for. I truly learn more from my students about demonstrating perseverance and showing compassion than I could ever try to teach them.

2. How long have you been working here? Do you think the school has improved or worsened?

This is my ninth year working at PMA and it has improved every year! Each year our students score higher on the state tests and the behavior is getting better each year.

“THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP EACH STUDENT REALIZE HIS/HER POTENTIAL IS THE GREATEST GIFT I COULD EVER ASK FOR.” -MRS. PLANTE

3. What was the greatest achievement you’ve had while working here?

My greatest achievements are always watching my former students walk across the stage at graduation and seeing students make the honor roll or earn their first 1:00 pm dismissal!

4. Would you like to work here in the future?

I do not see myself leaving PMA any time soon. I love teaching ADL and I love the PMA scholars, families, and staff.

5. If you were not a PMA teacher, what other career would you pursue?

If I was not a PMA teacher I would consider becoming a teacher or counselor in the prison setting.

PERSPECTIVES 23

Are You A

TRUESTAR?

REAL TEENS

REAL ISSUES STYLE TRENDS

CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS

HEALTH,

NEWS, SPORTS

AND MORE! CHECK OUT WWW.TRUESTARIS.COM