Friday, February 8, 2019
The Student Newspaper of Jones College Preparatory High School
Senior leaves Jones to spark fire
Volume 4, Issue 4
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AJ Reynolds signs to play for Chicago Fire midway through senior year
MAGGIE TROVATO ‘19 Lead Reporter
Through playing with the Chicago Fire Academy, Reynolds Signing to play as de- made the connections fender for the Chicago Fire that have gotten him Soccer Club right before finals where he is today might seem lucky to some peo- In a Chicago Fire ple, but Andre (AJ) Reynolds press release, ChicaII’s ‘19 new career is the prod- go Fire Soccer Club uct of anything but luck. Reyn- Head Coach Veljko olds has been playing soccer Paunovic said “We since he was four. At age eight were monitoring Anhe began playing competitively. dre very closely as “It’s something I have he played with our invested a lot of time in and put a youth squads. He is a lot of work into and at the end of very talented player. the day, it’s something that I love He also brings depth, to do,” said Reynolds, who, at the competition and qualitime of the interview, is in Spain ty to our roster. We WARM UP Andre Reynolds ‘19, center, practices with his new teammates in Madrid. to practice with his new team. are very excited on the based on According to the to work with him and help my GPA, my soccer abilities, and team, Reynolds has teammates Chicago Tribune, Reynolds, him reach his potential.” my test scores, I would be able twice his age. And even though 17, is the second youngest But the Chicago Fire to be admitted to the school and he is practicing with players like player to sign with the Fire. isn’t the only team I would be a part of the team.” former Manchester United, BayBut this isn’t the first time that saw Reyn- Instead of joining the ern Munich, and German Nationthat Reynolds has played olds’ potential. Brown Class of 2023, Reynolds al Team midfielder, Bastian Schfor the soccer club. BeBefore joining the Fire, is now signed with the Fire to weinsteiger, Reynolds doesn’t fore signing, he played for Reynolds had commit- play through the 2022 season let their experience get to him. the Fire’s academy teams. ted to Brown University. “with a Club option for the 2023 “At the end of day they’re all just “In 2011 or 2012, the Fire “They saw me play a season,” according to the Chi- people like me who love to play hosted a tryout for my age game, maybe two years cago Fire. He is finishing high the same game I do,” said Reyngroup. A bunch of kids ago, in Florida. From school online and applying to olds. “Everybody’s super underwent out and I was one there they asked me to go take classes at Northwestern Uni- standing. Nobody has an ego.” of the ones selected [to to one of their IB camps versity next year. He is living at When it comes to family, Reynbe] on the team. From over the summer, where home to save money. And while olds knows that they have his back. there, they kept havthey select young players his plan did a 180, his family and Reynolds’ brothing tryouts every year and that they want to play on their close friends agree that Reyn- er, Justin Reynolds ‘22, who I kept get- KICK-BACK Andre Reynolds ‘19 practices to pursue t e a m , ” olds made the right decision. also plays soccer, is excited a ting called his goal of playing in the FIFA World Cup. s a i d Reynolds’ new team is for his brother’s new career. back to R e y n - not only diverse when it comes “I feel like it will bring us closer be on the team,” said Reynolds. olds. “I played really well at their to hometowns and first languag- because he can be more of a men“Eventually, I got old enough and camp, so I started talking to the es, but also when it comes to age tor and friend to me than before, I began to get called up to [prac- coach and sent him some of my and experience. As the youngest even though he will be gone more.” tice] with the professional team.” academic scores. He said that
Former First Lady Michelle Obama gives Brian Coleman social media shoutout
How many people do you know who’ve been mentioned on social media by a former First Lady? Counselor Brian Coleman was awarded National Counselor of the Year last week in Washington D.C., and Michelle Obama sung her praises to Jones’ counseling department chair and shared a congratulatory video with her 12 million followers.
FAMOUS School counselor mentioned by Michelle Obama after winning “counselor of the year.”
The School Counselor of the Year award honors professionals who devote their careers to advocating for the nation’s students and addressing their academic and social/emotional development and college and career readiness needs.
Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune and Andre Reynolds
Teaching at Jones marks a new chapter for Emily Steffen English teacher joins faculty after winter break
TED FLUDAS ‘19 Sports Staff GABRIEL TAYLOR ‘21 School Staff Along with the beginning of the new year came yet another new beginning at Jones: that of new English teacher Emily Steffen’s tenure. Steffen comes into Jones off the heels of a departure from previous English teacher Kristina Cavallaro, who announced her departure a week before winter break began. For Steffen, a former English teacher at Oak Park & River Forest High School, it was a connection with a former co-worker that brought her to Jones: “Honestly, I wasn’t even looking to jump ship,” Steffen said. “But I have a few friends that work here, like Mr. Gilmer-- he used to work at Oak Park, too-- we started talking, and he was like ‘Well, we have an opening’, and in the end I just felt like I needed a change of scenery.” Steffen made clear how hard it was to leave the students and community she knew, especially in the middle of the year. “I loved my students in Oak Park. I had some really strong relationships with students and some classes that I really loved teaching there. I just wanted to be in an environment that was more like my time as a student teacher [at Whitney Young] because I really like that selective enrollment environment.” Steffen’s career has taken her down several paths, but in the end, they converged back at school.
“I went to [Colorado College] thinking I was going to be a lawyer,” Steffen said. “I was studying history and political science.” Everything changed when she met a set of English professors that changed her perspective. “They were talking in class about how history and English actually have a lot in common, but the difference is that you learn so much more about human nature through people’s stories. So I connected with that.” For now, she says, she’s just trying to keep her footing in the transition to Jones and into the end of the semester.
HITTING THE BOOKS Steffen, left, proofreading an essay with her new student, Elizabeth Egresits ‘21.
“It’s funny-- coming from a school where I had been there for a long time, where I had a reputation, and I had some really strong relationships with students, so for me the hardest part is coming into an environment where I’m walking down the hallway and nobody really knows who I am,
and I don’t necessarily have those types of relationships.” Her students seem to be happy with the strategy, too: “She’s great so far, I like her,” said Loren Friedman ‘21. “I think I need a little more time to see what she’s like, but so far she’s been great,” said Sophia Rodriguez ‘21. Despite everything though, she says, coming to Jones was a decision that scared her. “I left a pretty secure tenure position at Oak Park. I got to teach what I wanted, I had a voice in the department, and things like that, so it was definitely a risk coming here,” Steffen said. “But I know that I wouldn’t have left Oak Park for any other school than Jones. I really like the urban environment, and just the caliber of the kids here.” For Steffen, it’s clear that the students have been a highlight of her time at Jones so far. “That was confirmed to me in my first week here. Already, I feel like my students are really funny and smart and interesting, and I feel like they have already pushed me to want to be a better teacher,” Steffen said. “That’s my first impression. I was really worried leaving a place that felt like home and coming to a new environment, and by Wednesday I was like ‘This is the best decision I’ve ever made.’” Among all of the chaos of the transition, Steffen said she’s just happy to be in an environment that appreciates her. “Teaching can be a very lonely profession. Just having a strong community, and having people that are smart and interesting around you that truly care about their work and about people, makes it a place that you can really see yourself working at.” Photo by Sam Tedrowe ‘21
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Movie Showing Jones will be showing the documentary “Angst” in the theater on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT FEBUARY 8, 2019
I didn’t want AirPods anyway... JAKE AKS ‘19
As the holiday season came to a close, kids and adults everywhere were elated by their new presents. But aside from the classic hoverboard and socks, I noticed a new item took this past year’s gift giving season by storm: AirPods. At first Apple’s “genius” creation to fix the loss of the aux cord, AirPods originally proved to be too expensive for the average consumer. But after this recent explosion of AirPod users after the 2018 holidays I ask, what in the H-E double hockey s t i c k s happened? What h a p pened to the beau- t i f u l age when people w e r e intelligent? When $160 was too much money for sound? I was always the one to urge my peers to not buy into Apple’s corporate greed. As an avid capitalist, I believe that we must wait until Apple is forced to lower the price. But it seems as if I’m the only smart one here and the rest of my peers have fallen into the hole, just to satisfy their music needs. Alex Andrade ‘19 was one of
many students to receive AirPods for the holidays. When asked to comment on his new gift he gave me the “I can’t hear you look” and begrudgingly re- moved his AirPods r e - sponding, “Sorry I don’t speak broke.” This is the huge problem with this new wave of AirPod users, they simply feel they’re superior to others. As if the a b sence of a simple cord puts them on the level of the American elite. If I remember correctly, the Constitution states that all are created equal and this AirPod craze is creating a gaping hole in the principles of the United States. William Gardner ‘19 was one of the first people to hop on
Sorry, I don’t speak broke TED FLUDAS‘19
the AirPod train purchasing his pair in September 2017. “I felt like I delved into the unknown,” he said. “After all, they are just two pieces of white plastic.” Gardner was a true fan of Apple’s product; he bought into it before this situation got out of hand, and I have some respect for that. Sadly one person who has fallen into this trap is my own sister, Lily Aks ‘22, who received a pair of AirPods for Hanukkah this year. “They’re amazing,” she said. I tried to inquire further but she seemingly faded from reality, and got lost in her less than desirable music. The one advantage of having a family member with AirPods, is that I was finally able to try them for myself. And after experiencing AirPod music for the first time, I went through a religious experience. The bass was bumpin, the sound was crisp, and best of all, no cord. I was free to swing my hands and dance with no obstruction. The whole time I was really just jealous. “I don’t like AirPods cause I don’t have them,” said Gabe Kosmacher ‘19. I couldn’t agree more, I just want to be apart of it, but I’m broke. In all of my cynical views I got lost in what I really wanted: a pair of beautiful, sleak, AirPods.
Much to the delight of students, teachers, and parents, AirPods exploded at Jones over the holiday break. As a result of the sweeping movement across the school toward a better musical future, Jones has gained immense ‘clout.’ Students can look down upon those of the rival selective enrollment schools. Despite massive progress toward a brighter, more advanced future, some students at Jones have remained idle, and put the reputation of the rest of us at risk. Hundreds of students can be seen strutting through the halls, some opting to share AirPods in order to maintain appropriate distance; others hobble awkwardly, trying to share those hideous, outdated wires in order to fulfill their music-sharing experience. In addition to next level sharing abilities, AirPods provide the ultimate weight lifting experience. “I used to one of those people struggling with all the wires and stuff. Now I feel so much better when I workout because I don’t have to deal with the wires,” said Yaretzi Gudino ‘19. Pod-wearers are worry-free during their commutes to and from school on public transit, knowing they can tuck
their cellular device safely in their pocket without the connecting wires that make them more vulnerable to thievery. Not only will your phone be safe, but you will feel the powerful sense of comradery when you make eye-contact with other AirPod weare r s . While AirPods enhance the ability of the wearer to perform various activities, they
vide the wearer. This drip has been known to act as an aphrodisiac on individuals of all sexual orientations and genders. “AirPods are so cool that everyone wants to be your friend,” said Conor Mack ‘19.
also provide excellent sound quality. Students rave about the epic bass. “The bass on (AirPods) is so good,” said Leo Redican ‘19. Redican, a guitar virtuoso, has an exceptional understanding of music and what constitutes good sound quality. While all of the previously mentioned practical advantages of AirPods clearly make them the superior method of listening to music, perhaps their most appealing aspect is the ‘cosmic drip’ they pro-
Saved by the bell
Students push for consistent tardy policy
It’s 7:50 a.m. on Monday morning. You woke up late and are running out of the house, probably forgetting something in your rush out the door. Of course, the red line is delayed, there was an accident on the highway, your bus broke down; something went wrong. And when you burst into first period thirty seconds late, panting and sweaty from sprinting up the stairs, you get a tardy. Or you don’t. You’re never really sure. Some teachers will mark students tardy for not being in their seat right when the bell rings, while others won’t mark students tardy even if they walk in fifteen minutes late. The lack of cohesive decision-making among teachers in different departments and different classrooms has created an unfair, highly subjective tardy system that students must navigate every morning. Teachers who penalize students for being seconds late to class should understand that not every teacher runs their classroom the same way, so students might be used to a more flexible tardy policy in their 5th period classroom than their 1st period classroom. Although many departments have created tardy policies, there doesn’t seem to be a wholeschool tardy policy that students understand. It shouldn’t be on administration to do this for teachers. Teachers should collectively decide what kind of policy they want to create to deal with late students.
Because of the erratic nature of tardies marked in the classroom, administration can never be sure that teachers are following the tardy policies they are supposed to be enforcing. This forces administration to check students in at the door when they arrive to school late. The long line that students have to wait in for several minutes often makes them even more late, meaning that students are missing out on class time. On days where dozens of students are late to school, like mornings with red line delays or extreme weather, students sometimes don’t get marked tardy at all and sometimes have to wait even longer in the front desk line before going to class. Establishing a set tardy policy would alleviate this anxiety among students and finally answer students’ questions about what exactly they will have to deal with when they get to school in the morning. That consistency creates a fair, neutral policy that all students can actually understand. Teachers should create a school-wide, not just department-wide, tardy policy to take some of the burden off of the front desk and off of students. If teachers from all departments meet and agree to enforce the same tardy policy, Jones will not only become more organized but teachers will also be more united and will be taken more seriously. Students will know what the consequences of being tardy are, regardless of what class they’re walking into in the morning. Graphic by Sam Wojcik ‘19
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¡Felicidades! Students will be inducted into the Spanish Honor Society on Thursday, Feb. 28
JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT FEBRUARY 8, 2019
Ready, set, vote
Meet Chicago’s most popular candidates for the 2019 mayoral election AMARA ALEXANDER ‘21 Sports Staff
Bill Daley
is the third of his family to ever enter the race for Chicago mayor. His father and brother served a combined total of 43 years in office between 1955 and 2011. Bill Daley was the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under Bill Clinton and White House Chief of Staff under Barack Obama. Daley ran for governor in 2014 before dropping out early in the race. Daley’s campaign is largely based around public safety and education. Daley’s education platform is focused on revamping CPS and implementing career training for people who choose not to go to college. His safety plan includes reforming the police department and building trust between police and communities.
JACOB DUNN ‘20 Sports Staff
Toni Preckwinkle
is the current president of the Cook County Board and the frontrunner for the 2019 mayoral election. First elected to public office in 1991, Preckwinkle served as Alderman of the 4th ward for 19 years before she became the first female County Board Commissioner. Preckwinkle is a progressive independent who believes in reforming Chicago’s education and public safety systems. Her plan for safety includes establishing a Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and retraining Chicago police to be more effective in reducing crime. Her plan for education includes limiting the influence of charter schools and stopping the closure of schools. Thus far, Preckwinkle has the highest public support out of any candidate with 22 percent of votes, as of Dec. 19.
Susana Mendoza
Amara Enyia
is currently the diis the current demrector of the Austin ocratic state CompChamber of Commerce. troller and announced Enyia started her caher run for Chicago reer as a journalist and has mayor on Nov. 14. earned a master’s degree in Prior to serveducation, a law degree, ing as state Comptroland a doctorate in ler, Mendoza won the education policy. 2011 and 2015 races for Enyia foundChicago City Clerk, beed the Institute coming the first woman for Cooperative to ever hold this position. Economics and She also served Economic 10 years in the Illinois Innovation, House of Representatives. a social lab Mendoza is one of to educate Bruce Rauner’s main critabout and ics, but her close relationship advocate to Rahm Emanuel has led for ecosome to question Emanuel’s nomic influence on Chicago’s policy developshould she win the mayoral race. ment. As mayor, Mendoza E n y i a ’s goal wants to promote equity in CPS, as mayor is to improve police training, and dishelp struggling tribute economic prosperity among communities all neighborhoods in Chicago. empower themselves. She also has experience with city governm e n t s and non profits. Enyia has also b e e n endorsed by Chance t h e Rapper and Kanye West. Born and raised in Nigeria, she now resides on the West Side of Chicago. Enyia is a Democrat.
Graphic by Abby Teodori ‘19
Honorable mentions
Other candidates running for mayor
Gerry Chico is an attorney who has held a number of positions in Chicago politics, including head of CPS, chief of staff for Richard M. Daley, chair of the City Colleges of Chicago, president of the Chicago Park District, and commissioner of the Public Buildings Commission. Bob Fioretti is a civil rights attorney and former alderman for Chicago’s 2nd ward. La Shawn Ford is the state rep-
resentative for Illinois’ 8th district, a real estate developer, and a former CPS teacher. Jeremiah Joyce Jr. is a lawyer and the son of former 19th Ward Alderman and state Sen. Jeremiah Joyce. John Kozlar is a lawyer and former City Council candidate. Lori Lightfoot is the former Chicago Police Board President and federal prosecutor; if elected, Lightfoot would be the first openly gay and first female
African-American mayor. Garry McCarthy is the former Chicago Police superintendent; he wants to focus on crime issues, should he be elected. Neal Sales-Griffin is a tech entrepeneur and teacher at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Paul Vallas is the former CEO of CPS and City Budget Director. Willie Wilson is a wealthy businessman and previous mayoral candidate.
Game, set, match
Bump, set, spike
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Boys volleyball tryouts are on Mar. 4.
JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT FEBRUARY 8, 2019
One for the books Faculty friendships with the longest shelf life
Lund Smith 2020 John Lund and Jonathan Smith
In a classroom that they share, adorned with Electoral College maps, half-eaten jars of peanut butter, a floor-to-ceiling American flag, a pair or two of dress shoes always lying around, and every presidential campaign bumper sticker since 1952, Social Science teachers John Lund and Jonathan Smith wouldn’t have it any other way. “You ask any teacher and I bet they would prefer to have their own room, naturally,” said Lund. “But I almost prefer to share a room with him.” This stays true for both of them, even though Lund’s decor dominates the wall space and Smith is a self-proclaimed “hot mess.”
Jeremy Voigt and Tory Waterman
Lined across the front of Director of Finance and Operations Jeremy Voigt’s desk are magnets from far away places that he has visited while chaperoning school trips with French teacher Tory Waterman. While these trips have laid the foundation for their friendship, traveling isn’t all that the pair are known for. On a Thursday night, you can usually find Voigt and Waterman playing trivia. Waterman and Voigt, who can list the presidents of the United States in order under five minutes, aren’t the only two that go to trivia night. Emlyn Ricketts, Eve Reineke, and Troy Hilbrands are also team members. But trivia night isn’t the only thing they partake in, other than chaperoning trips. “We both like music and so there’s concerts that we’ve gone to together,” said Waterman.
A star crossed friendship
in Uptown and now I’m in Edgewater so we’ll go back and forth between neighborhoods since they both have a lot to offer,” said Dipman. While their interests are very similar, aspects of their personalities are less so. “Because I’m so organized and efficient and you’re so laid back, we could run up against [each other] but we don’t. For some reason it just balances,” said McClory. When the two chaperoned a trip to Peru, those personalities completely flipped. “It was like we did a personality exchange,” said McClory All of the sudden, she was like, ‘we’ve got to go, we’ve got to go, we have this time we have to be somewhere’ and I was like ‘Oh we’re in Peru, we’ll get there.’” But those opposite personalities, whether abroad or at Jones, contribute to McClory and Dipman’s close and lasting relationship. “We’re good sounding boards for each other because we come at prob-
Meghan McClory and Jeanette Dipman Back when there was just one building, Diverse Learners teacher Jeanette Dipman and Social Science teacher Meghan McClory sparked an instant friendship during an orientation for new teachers. “If I was hired now I don’t even know how we would meet,” said McClory. “When we were just in [the north] building it was a lot easier. You always saw people. We had the same teachers’ lounge we all shared. We came in and out of the same doors.” Though McClory and Dipman teach different things, their interests are far from different. Between going to protests, cooking classes, and public parks and museums, the two never have a difficult time finding something to do together. “We’re both urban dwellers. Ms. McClory lives
JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT FEBRUARY 8, 2019
MAGGIE TROVATO ‘19 Lead Reporter
Traveling trivia players
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Boys tennis tryouts are on Feb. 25.
“I leave my stuff everywhere. I have shoes in the back that are floating around. I will leave peanut butter on this desk up here from time to time. I always leave the Keurig machine on in the back,” said Smith. “Those are pet peeves that [Lund]’s too nice to say.” Outside of school, the duo, only two weeks apart in age, have done everything from going to Cubs games and comedy shows to SoulCycling to bouldering to curling and even the casual long weekend in Italy. Lund considers himself an “average person that rides a bike.” Smith once rode around Lake Michigan. But since they’ve become friends, Lund has biked multiple times with Smith, including a 40-mile ride last February. “We weren’t even back to Lakeview or Andersonville where we both live, but we were definitely [near] the end of the bike ride. I just had to stop,” said Lund, looking at Smith. “And what did I say?” “Exasperated, hunched over your han-
While they have driven to Milwaukee to see a concert, for the most part, their travel outside of school trips is limited. “We haven’t really done trips outside of chaperoning,” said Voigt. But that isn’t to say that there won’t be any trips in the future. “I’m counting on him to take me to North Dakota because I’m trying to visit all 50 states before I turn 50,” said Waterman. “He’s from Minnesota and he constantly claims that it’s right over the border from North Dakota.” Wa t e r m a n
lems differently,” said McClory. Their balanced relationship and advice has even contributed to other parts of their lives. “A lot of times, if I had any personal issues, I felt very comfortable talking to [McClory], because it’s almost like [she] was able to step back from t h e emotion and really give me good advice.”
dlebars, you said, ‘This is not for normal people,’” said Smith, laughing. And while they have pushed each other’s limits on a few occasions, the pair know more than most about each other. While Smith can be very forgetful of items, he never forgets the i m portant events and happenings. “He’s very in tune with my life and can always remember the little things,” said Lund. Smith is a man of habit, and when Lund helped the Social Science department throw a baby shower for Smith, he knew exactly how to spend their pooled money. “He has peanut butter and jelly everyday, unless he’s feeling fancy and then he has Panda Express,” said Lund. “So I got him a gi-
and Voigt’s relationship is filled to the brim with sarcasm and can be compared to that of a brother and sister. “She has two brothers and so a lot of times I annoy her like a younger brother,” said Voigt. But just like a brother and sister, at the root of their relationship is love and admiration. “I very much admire Tory’s honesty. Whether it’s a friend or a foe, she’s gonna tell it to you like it is. That can be a great thing,” said Voigt. “If you don’t have friends that are honest with you and they’re constantly just telling you what you want to hear, then that’s not really a good friend.”
ant shopping bag of every different kind of peanut butter I could find, every different jelly I could find, and breads. Of course [the money left over] was a gift card to Panda Express.” The duo has learned even more about each other through travel. They’ve been to Washi n g ton, D.C. twice together, took students to India last year and will be adventuring to Greece this spring. “ Tr a v e l i n g with others can be a very revealing and deeply personal experience,” said Smith. “We have some really incredible and unique memories that we can recount fondly.” After just four years of close friendship,
Team Squadratics
It didn’t work out. And I’m like, maybe it would be a better fit if we played off of each other because we have a good chemistry, we have a good rapport,” said Rayski. Outside of promoting themselves for the show, the pair workout together with a group of teachers, where Bowman is the leader. “Bodies By Bowman. She’s our own personal trainer,” said Rayski. “Yeah. Uncertified,” said Bowman, laughing. If they get on the show, the two will have some advantages that other contestants won’t. For example, Rayski thinks that she can read Bowman. “Like her micro expressions,” said Rayski. If I ask a questions, I don’t even need an answer because I can read her micro expressions.” “I try to fool her,” said Bowman, in re-
Sarah Rayski and Kim Bowman Built on big dreams, Sarah Rayski and Kim Bowman’s friendship is far from average. The math teachers have applied to be on The Amazing Race, a television show where teams of two race around the world. Their angle -- “[We’re] two strong, competitive female math teachers in the heart of Chicago,” said Rayski. “And our humor, obvs,” added Bowman. “At least we make each other laugh. I think that’s why we get along. We have the same type of corny humor so we just make each other laugh.” Their idea to be on The Amazing Race stems from Rayski’s dreams of being on Survivor. “I applied to Survivor like three times.
Battle axe buddies David Gilmer and Brian Coleman
Throwing axes and discussing inclusive practice in schools are just a few of the things that Brian Coleman and David Gilmer have done together since sparking a close friendship. “Somewhere after spending x amount of hours together doing the Eagle Leaders program, we became friends,” said Gilmer. Running any program together has the potential to lead to friendship, but due to the nature of Eagle Leaders, Coleman and Gilmer have become closer friends and coworkers than most. “Running a program like Eagle Leaders naturally creates a very very strong bond. I am very close to Mr. Gilmer through that work and we have become very close friends,” said Coleman. Coleman and Gilmer have so much trust in each other that throwing axes in the same room is no big deal.
Smith and Lund see themselves as a team. “Whether it is putting together our AP Gov Mock Congress or running senior prom or leading a trip, or just being there for each other as a support system for all of life’s happenings, he’s always the person I can count on,” said Lund. Pointing to the “Lund Smith ‘16” mock campaign logo an AP Government student designed on their wall, “We’re a team and that’s how I see us. It’s definitely not just two random names on here.”
sponse. But jokes aside, the two understand the strength of their relations h i p . “I think w e ’ r e better together than we are alone,” s a i d Rayski.
“Occasionally we go axe throwing,” said Gilmer. “Mr. Coleman is an unofficial representative of Bad Axe Throwing (an urban axe throwing club in Chicago).” “I love to throw axes,” Coleman said in response. “We actually went axe throwing on the last day of Freshman Connection this Summer.” Once you’ve thrown axes in the same room, admitting what annoys one about the other is nothing. “Mr. Coleman is a self-admitted control freak,” said Gilmer. “Such a control freak he’s very proud of how much a control freak he is.” “You know when it works, it works, man,” said Coleman, in reply. Coleman didn’t have a difficult time when it was his turn to share. “He will underreact in moments where I will overreact,” said Coleman. “That can be at times very helpful and at times frustrating. And he…” “Look I just listed one for you there, boss” said Gilmer, jokingly. But Gilmer does have one more complaint about Coleman.
“I think Mr. Coleman cheats at WWE 2K19” he said. Coleman and Gilmer understand that their differences make their friendship a n d partnership s t r o n g e r. “We are both aimed at the same green light across the bay, we just approach how to get there from very different angles,” said Gilmer. “We fill in each other’s missing pieces.”
Illustrations by Anna Heyse ‘19 Graphics by James Conde ‘19 Photos courtesy of those pictured
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Love is in the Air Valentine’s Day is on Thursday, Feb.14
JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT FEBRUARY 8, 2019
thank u, Netflix Breaking down the most overrated and underrated shows on everyone’s favorite streaming service
¡Felicidades! Students will be inducted into the Spanish Honor Society on Thursday, Feb. 28
MAX KROLL ‘19 School Staff
This show proves that putting a laugh track over something does not make it funny. Friends is seen as an endlessly quotable landmark sitcom in popular culture. It seems impossible to escape Friends, but does it deserve all the hype? Looking at the show in 2019, it has not aged well. Subjects like weight and sexuality are used as punchlines. Sometimes, even the very mention that Monica used to be overweight is met with a laugh track. And can we talk about Ross for a second? Everything he does, from his toxic relationship with Rachel to his somehow even more toxic relationship with sandwiches, made me cringe as I watched him. Other than Ross, the main cast is interesting and works well together, but the show lacks depth and doesn’t deliver on most jokes.
Flash back a few weeks. Winter break is in full swing. You’ve woken up at 11 a.m., just because you can. You roll over, grab your phone, and see Sandra Bullock all over your feed. Sandra Bullock in a car. Sandra Bullock on a boat. Sandra Bullock falling down. So you decide to give Bird Box a try and watch the most mediocre film on Netflix. For a thriller, it’s not that thrilling. With the characters unable to see the monster, the movie relies on atmosphere to create tension, which is just boring. At one point, the characters decide to go to the supermarket in a car with the windows taped up so they don’t see the monster, relying on the GPS. What might’ve seemed like a nail-biting scene comes off as a half-baked, lame attempt to world build. Some advice: the next time someone says “Let’s watch Bird Box!”, have your blindfold ready.
Now before you curse me out in ways that you could only learn from a Tarantino film, hear me out. By no means is this movie bad. It has some of the best dialogue and acting I’ve ever seen. But boy, does Pulp Fiction get a lot of hype. It’s one of those movies where if you tell your friends you haven’t seen it, they lose their minds. “You need to stop and watch it right now!” No, I don’t. People see Pulp Fiction as a masterpiece of film and storytelling, but nothing sets it apart from Tarantino’s other films. When I first saw Pulp Fiction, it was fun because it didn’t hold back. Who knew you could swear like that? This nostalgia prevented die-hard fans from truly judging the film for what it is. At the end of the day, it’s just another film that made people feel cool for watching it.
Bojack Horseman answers the question: “Are cartoons just for kids?” The answer? A hard, darkly humorous, and emotionally wrenching “No.” The show has incredible range. It can deal with heavy themes like loss and depression, balancing comedy and seriousness. Its most recent season includes an arc about taking responsibility for the past and healing, all without sounding convoluted. While that might sound too heavy for casual viewing, just know the show is equally as goofy. One storyline involves a character falling in love with two kids stacked on top of each other wearing a trenchcoat, who goes by the name “Vincent Adultman”. The show also has a great lineup of actors voicing its animated cast, bringing its characters to life. With the sixth season on its way, I don’t expect this show to lose steam anytime soon.
The Meyerowitz Stories is like sitting in the kitchen during the holiday and listening to your family chatter and gossip. It’s loud and chaotic, but still very close and and intimate. This movie follows three siblings as they attempt to sort out their father’s estate after his death. The father is a B-list artist with the attitude of someone much more prestigious, which creates conflict between him and his children. As the Meyerowitz kids attempt to comb through their father’s belongings, they find their old grudges begin to fall away, leading to a touching reunion between the three of them. The dialogue can feel like white noise, but I urge you to stick with this movie and see the characters grow. The movie stars Adam Sandler, who proves that for every Jack and Jill he gives us, he can just as easily deliver an instant classic.
Derry Girls is one of those shows that could easily pass under the radar on your Netflix queue, and that is very unfortunate, because you do not want to miss this show. Derry Girls follows a group of teenage girls living in Northern Ireland during the 90’s as they get into countless chaotic situations. The humor in this show is sharp and fast, forcing you to keep up with every word. There were countless laugh out loud moments when I watched this show, just because of the crazy situations the girls got into. If you’ve seen Freaks and Geeks, you’ll no doubt love this, as Derry Girls develops a coming of age story on par with the cult classic show. It’s not a huge commitment, with only six 22-25 minute episodes in the season, and it’s very bingeable.
Graphics by James Conde ‘19Photos courtesy of Netflix
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Show Time The Black Student Union Showcase will take place on Feb. 22.
JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT FEBRUARY 8, 2019
Lunchroom legends
Getting to know the faces behind the food MAX KROLL ‘19 School Staff Stepping into the lunchline, plenty of Jones students know the faces behind the counters. Some students even know names. But aside from the simple pleasantries, conversation with the lunchroom attendants is limited. A large majority of those who get a lunch everyday know litt l e about what the l u n c h l a dies do in the cafeteria, and who they are after they hang up the hairnets. If there was enough time in the line, there would be a world of questions to ask beyond, “What’s on the menu today?” Between serving up food and scanning IDs, lunchroom staff make time to have positive interactions with students they come across in the lunchline. “The kids always come in with smiles and they’re very polite and kind,” said lunchroom cook Ivette Alicea. Alicea worked at Roberto Clemente Community Academy before Jones, and is looking forward to celebrating her birthday in February. She is one of many in the lunchroom who has a rich background that many Jones students wouldn’t get the chance to
learn about in their brief interactions with the lunchroom staff. The time it takes to punch in an ID number is not long enough for a life story. After Alicea hangs up the hairnet, she looks forward to getting home to her family. The cooking doesn’t stop at school though, as she often cooks large dinners for her fami l y . “I love spending time with my kids, and my grandkids,” said Alicea, who has three children, and five grandchildren. She noted that Christmas at her house is often a big party. On the weekends, she also looks forward to the valuable time she gets to spend at home relaxing with her family.. “We usually watch television or a movie, or sometimes just talk,” said Alicea Lunchroom attendant Jazmine Peters also relaxes by catching the occasional movie. “I just saw Creed 2. It’s worth it,” said Peters, who along with going to the movie theatre, also enjoys going bowling and going out to eat. Peters works as a lunchroom attendant, meaning she preps the food on the line, preps the kitchen in the morning, checks the temperature on the food, and serves the line. She also makes the hot chocolate.
“I think the lunchare sufficient, but would maybe
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m a k e a few changes. A menu that the kids could pick from and vote on would be nice,” said Peters. “Some kids say ‘we’re tired of nachos’ or ‘we’re tired of pizza’. You could do a vote for the week. If most people wanted pizza, that is what we would run with.” Peters just started at Jones this September, but she’s been working in food for six years. Before working at the school, she worked at a catering company. Peters isn’t the only one with a background in food. In fact, lunchroom attendant Vicky Klarevas, owned a restaurant before her time at Jones. “It was a family restaurant, American food. It used to be in the Amoco building, but it’s not there anymore. It’s now the Aon Building.” Most students may know her as the lunchroom
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attendant who always announces the arrival of fresh baked cookies, but Klarevas has a 25-year history in food services. “These kids at Jones [are] very happy,” said Klarevas about her experie n c e at Jones. “I’ve been at other schools before, a n d Jones kids are very k i n d and very polite.” Klarevas made a big transition when moving to Chicago from Greece 35 years ago. “Greece and Chicago are very different, but I like both. I like Chicago because I’ve lived here for so long, it’s a beautiful city,” said Klarevas. “I love everything about it, e x cept the weather.” These hidden figures all have unique histories, but they share a similar love for the student body. Serving food all day is a hard undertaking, but their work provides fuel for a thriving community at Jones. At the end of the day, they all appreciate the casual conversation. A smile and a thank you can go a long way. Graphics by Eryn Barnes ‘19 and Anna Heyse ‘19
Flag on the play
Students raise the stakes with fantasy football BAILEY DAVIS ‘19 Associate Editor, Copy
Usually those who place last in a Jones Fantasy Football league, a competition where participants create imaginary teams based on actual players in the NFL, just get off easy with a fully shaved head. This year, however, Anthony Maida ’20 fell victim to an unusual and extraordinary punishment. Instead of just shaving his full head, Maida was forced to shave part of his head down the middle, with all of his friends in his league there to watch it happen. “The first [two years] we did it, it was just a shaved head, and this year we wanted to make [the punishment] more intense,” said Maida. Punishments for losing Fantasy Football are so common that some Youtubers who end up losing document their losses over social media. Maida and other students in his league took inspiration from one that always gets his hair shaved, in order to find “the worst haircut you could get,” said Maida. While some think that having punishments for those who place last in leagues is excessive, many others believe that having a consequence is valid. “Part of it is that if you’re not willing to do the punishment, then you probably don’t deserve to play, or get the reward if you’re going to win,” said Jacob Dunn ‘20, another Fantasy Football player. Punishments serve as a point of motivation for players, propelling them to perform better if and when they’re in last place. “If there’s a punishment, you have to be smart, and
actually play,” said Charlie Wagner ‘19. Without punishments, players would be able to make deals under the table and split the prize money, leaving other players blinded. By joining a specific league, abiding by those rules is mandatory; the losers receive a punishment, and the winners take the prize. Losing for many people can be a memorable moment; one that will not only make its mark later on, but will also stick with them for years to come. “[During] the first week, I thought I was doing pretty well, and then one player just killed me,” said Maida. “The last week it was between me and my friend, and he had the best week he’s ever had, so there was no way I was gonna come back from that.” Realizing that losing is inevita-
ble can also come at the worst possible times. “I was in Mexico at a New Years Eve dinner,” said Dunn, who lost both in 2017 and 2016. “I checked the scores of the games, and I realized that I was gonna lose. It just ruined my day.” The consequences of losing in a Fantasy Football league differ each year, depending on group agreement and the league. Some get haircuts, while others take on larger punishments, like Dunn, who had to do the Polar Plunge in 2017. With Fantasy Football being such a large part of student life at Jones, some argue that it is an attempt to make up for the lack of a school football team. While the game does enhance some aspects of enthusiasm for students at Jones, it certainly doesn’t translate to having school spirit, or mimic friday night lights in any way. “It’s something that everyone follows, and it’s something that we can all talk about,” said Maida. “[But it doesn’t] compensate for not having a team.” Whether someone ends up losing it all, or taking the prize money, the competitive culture surrounding Fantasy Football creates an aspect of student life at Jones that brings people together, which will continue to encourage more and more people to play in the upcoming years. Even though Maida and Dunn lost, they plan on playing again next year. “I realized that it’s not as bad,” said Maida. “It’s still fun.” Graphics by Sam Wojcik ‘19
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JONESBLUEPRINT.COM @JONESBLUEPRINT FEBRUARY 8, 2019
Senior Night Feb. 15 is Senior Night for the boys basketball team.
Reaching new heights
One student’s experience with competitive rock climbing SAM TEDROWE ‘21 Lifestyles Staff ELI TOLEFREE ‘21 Lifestyles Staff Many students are involved in competitive sports for Jones teams, but Maya Mazumder ‘19 is taking her involvement to a new level. Mazumder is part of the First Ascent Climbing elite rock climbing team, where she practices three days a week. After she first started climbing at birthday parties when she was young, Mazumder has since taken climbing lessons and cultivated her interest in the unique sport. “I started climbing eight years ago because I liked climbing the walls at Pump it Up,” said Mazumder. “I got really into it. I [went to] this place called Hidden Peak, where there were walls in the basement. It was really musty and old, but it was what got me started.” Mazumder’s interest took her towards a more competitive setting, where she found a community that accepted her with open arms. When she found out there was a team she could try out for, she began competing and climbing every w e e k . “ I ’ v e
Eagles keep flying high Backed by their captain, Jones basketball team has found their groove CARTER FRYE ‘19 Sports Staff Despite struggling away from their home floor, the Eagles varsity basketball team has established a strong homestand in the Eagle’s Nest. The team has fed off of energy from the crowd all season long, powering them to a 5-1 home record.
DENIED Alex Andrade ‘19 makes an electrifying block against Lincoln Park High School
Captain Stefan Rosich ‘19 has been the one fueling that crowd, averaging 15 points per game on the season including a 28 point-10 rebound performance against Clemente just a few weeks ago. The squad’s other star, Rron Thaci ‘20, has also been having a great season, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game. As he is only a junior, he will be returning next year with immense experience. Last month, he was selected to play for the Kosovo National U18 team this upcoming summer, where he will compete against international players in a Romanian FIBA basketball tournament. This experience will be very valuable to the entire team next season as they attempt to win the city championship. Besides scoring, Rosich and Thaci has been leading by example by playing a brand of team basketball on both ends of the floor that Jones has not seen in the past two years. They run the floor and play at a much faster pace than in years past, which can be credited to new head coach Jarard Nathaniel. Nathaniel has introduced a more aggressive gameplan that pressures defenses into making mistakes and emphasizes fast ball movement on the other end of the court, always trying to find the open man on the perimeter or throwing it into a cutting teammate on the inside. When the Eagles thrive on defense, it usually translates into even better offense because of the fast break opportunities it creates. This fast-paced style of play of-
ten comes at a price, however. Running up and down the court often leads to many turnovers and sloppy play early in games. The team is 12-9 overall (6-3 in conference play), which goes to show that they do clean it up after the halfway mark in many of their matchups. The new head coach has also struck a balance with players coming off the bench and finding the right combination of talent to put out on the floor. Solid minutes from Sam Marco ‘19, Nick Triplett ‘21, and Sam Cherici ‘19 have made the second wave a legitimate threat that pounds the ball inside and toughens up in the paint. 5-1 home record also goes to show that fan presence has increased this year, with their only loss coming to a
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been on several outdoor trips to places such as [California], Kentucky, Colorado and Utah,” said Mazumder. “[Training and competing] has been a huge part of my life in high school, and a lot of my friends are on the team.” The elite team, on which Mazumder competes with fourteen others, is a higher level team than the pre-team, training team, and development team, all of which are for beginner climbers. The team, according to Ian Davis ‘22, is very close knit and they cheer each other on. “She helps motivate the team to do better, and when they see her climbing they cheer her on. The team all looks up to her and that pushes them to be as strong as [Maya].” Mazumder enjoys climbing because of the intellectual and physical challenges associated with the sport. “It’s athletic, but at the same time it’s very problem-solving focused,” said Mazumder. “For example, you have to think about how you go up the wall, [if you use your] right hand or left hand. It’s a full body sport. For me mentally, it’s meditative because you cannot focus on anything else except climbing when you’re on the wall.” Mazumder’s friend and fellow climber Belinda Davis ‘19 is also climbing with the elite team at First Ascent. Both Davis and Mazumder competed in the national rock climbing championships last year, with Mazumder placing 16th. “I think rock climbing is a fun, interesting sport,” said Davis. “I’ve been climbing with Maya for about six or seven years, so [she] and a lot of my friends are on the team.” Both climbers will be competing in this year’s national championships in February. “There are two main categories [of climbing],” said Davis. “Bouldering is a very intensive, muscular based climb without ropes, usually at a lower height. The rope climbing is at a higher level, with higher walls,” said Davis. Despite her success in the climbing competitions she has attended, Mazumder still suffers from performance anxiety leading up to and before her competitions. “I actually used to throw up before competitions,” said Mazumder. “The way that [the competitions] are set up is really stressful. You’re warming up, and then you sit with your back against the wall, and then the judges will [say], ‘Time, time, begin climbing.’ Luckily, [I became] better as I began to climb more.” Mazumder became better at remaining calm as she became more experienced. Ian Davis ‘22, another climber on Mazumder’s team, noticed Mazumder’s commitment to rock climbing, and how it was compatible to being a good rock climber. “What makes someone a good rock very climber is their ability to prepare themtough selves mentally. To avoid slip-ups, you Lincoln want to make sure you’re not nervous”, Park team. said Ian Davis ‘22. “Maya is one of Energy withthe best climbers on the team. She is in the Eagle’s very collected and calm, which is the Nest has always perfect mindset for rock climbing.” lacked in years In the future, Mazumder plans past, but for most to continue rock climbing in college home games this season even though Brown University, where the bleachers can almost Mazumder was accepted early decialways be found full and sion, does not have a climbing team. bouncing around. Playing “I was going to try and start [a climbaway from home seems to be ing team], because USA Climbing a much different story, where has a collegiate level, so I was gothey are 2-5 playing in front ing to try to continue with it that of the opposing team’s crowd. way,” said Mazumder. “There’s This season was expectalso a lot of outdoor climbing in ed to be more of a developing year the Northeast, and there’s a climbfor the basketball team after losing ing gym in Providence. Although many key seniors in 2018. But, as the a lot is uncertain, I know I defiseason progresses, fans at the Eagle’s nitely want to continue climbing.” Nest are beginning to witness a new and better era of Jones basketball. Photo courtesy of Instagram @mayamazoomder, Photos by Jake Aks ‘19, Graphic by James Conde ‘19