Matador Winter 2012

WINTER 2012

Mr. Two Terms!

OUR LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

BENEFITS OF

GOING GREEN

MEET BARTON’S 1ST TRUE STAR ELECTION WINNER: 5TH-GRADE TEACHER:

Ms. Kamilah Baker

Lyric

Breakdown: WHAT YOUR FAVORITE SONG REALLY MEANS ENTERTAINMENT YEAR-IN-REVIEW:

the Top 10 Lists

Letter From the Principal

I

welcome you to Clara Barton Elementary School’s Winter 2012 issue of the Matador.

The last few years True Star was only offered as an after-school program. This year, we’ve expanded our True Star program this year and it’s become part of our school day program during prep periods. For three hours each day, Monday through Thursday, the middle school students work together to produce the Matador, Barton Bulletin Quarterly Newsletter, and the school yearbook.

I congratulate our students for the hard work and diligence they put into these projects. This demonstrates once again that our students are capable and intelligent individuals who can accomplish any task they put their minds to.

Clara Barton Elementary School is only getting better! We will continue to provide a strict yet challenging, fun and educational environment. We make a consistent effort to recognize and showcase our students’ talents and our teachers’ talents.

As you enjoy this Winter 2012 issue of the Matador, please also read our very first issue of Barton’s school newsletter, the Barton Bulletin. This year President Barack Obama was reelected to another term. At Barton, we held our own election for Best Middle School Teacher and Best True Star Middle School Students. The nominees were introduced in the Barton Bulletin. Check out the winners in this issue.

The True Star students are working on the next issue of the newsletter and the yearbook (I can’t wait for you to find out what the theme is for the yearbook. You’ll love it!)

Remember: “HERE AT BARTON, WE LOVE OUR BURGUNDY BUT WE GO FOR THE GOLD!!!

Yours Truly, Frank London Gettridge Principal

CONTRIBUTORS

Brienna Love, Kerisma Johnson, Banette Atkins, Byron Upton, Daniel Joseph, Antonio Montgomery, Royah Allen, and Marshae Fair (Not pictured: Imani Harris, Albert Smith, David Wells, Demari Ford, Latanya Pitts, Jabria Torres) Rooms 103, 104, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 301, 303 BARTON ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL FRANK GETTRIDGE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ANGELA HIGGENBOTHAM BUSINESS MANAGER CHARIF HACHIM

STUDENT EDITORS VALENCIA MELVYN AND DEVENE PARKER GRAPHIC DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS: Corliss High School Instructor: POLINA ZIONTS Student Art Director & Teaching Assistant : ANSHAUNTI HILLERY Raquel Bailey Tatiana Bowman Flecisha Brown Antonio Campbell Jariese Daniels

Dominique Ezell Devundray Hannah Shonta Harris Donovan Ingram Ebony Jamerson Brandon Johnson Mariah Lacy Sakina Lemon Jaylin Lovinsky Michelle Mosley Kayla Neal Robert Redus Howard Robinson Aaron Wallace

TRUE STAR STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DEANNA MCLEARY & J. NA-TAE’ THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR MARTI PARHAM EDITORIAL COORDINATORS KATHY CHANEY & JAMILAH SHADEED ART DIRECTION, DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION ANGEL D’AMICO-BAUER CELEBRITY BOOKER RANDY C. BONDS PHOTO COORDINATOR DESHAUN ADAMS

BARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • 7650 S. WOLCOTT AVE. • CHICAGO, ILL. 60620-5299 773-535-3260

WINTER 2012

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CONTENTS BARTON BLVD.

SPEAKER BOX

5: A LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

BY IMANI HARRIS & BREIANNA LOVE 6: STRIKE 2012 BY VALENCIA MELVYN 7: TEACHER SPOTLIGHT BY ROYAH ALLEN 8: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

BY FRANK GETTRIDGE

16: CATCHING UP WITH DIGGY & OMG GIRLZ BY BYRON UPTON 16 & 17: OMG GIRLZ

BY DEMARI FORD 17: JAWAN HARRIS RISE TO THE TOP

JUNIOR ACTION 9: DEALING WITH DEATH

BY KERISMA JOHNSON 11: GANG VIOLENCE BY ALBERT SMITH 11: GOING GREEN IN THE COMMUNITY

BY DAVID WELLS 10: KIDS USING DISRESPECTFUL LANGUAGE

BY BANETTE ATKINS

WINTER FASHION 2012 12: CPS SWAG 13: HOLIDAY CHEER 14 & 15: WINTER FRESH

BY DEMARI FORD 18 & 19: LYRIC BREAKDOWN

PLAY BY PLAY 20: DANGERS OF SPORTS

BY LANTANYA PITTS 21: BARTON’S FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM BY ANTONIO MONTGOMERY

BARTON BULLETIN 2012 22: TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2012 & TOP 10 SONGS OF 2012 23: TOP 10 VIDEO GAMES OF 2012 & TOP 10 TV SHOWS OF 2012

TRUESTARIS.COM TO DONATE TO TRUE STAR FOUNDATION, VISIT TRUESTARFOUNDATION.ORG

BARTON BLVD.

A Letter to President Obama, Clara Barton Elementary Dear Mr. President, We would like to congratulate you on winning the 2012 presidential election. We really like you as a president and we hoped you would win! We appreciate all the changes you have made over the past four years, but we have some concerns. For example, the overcrowded classrooms in Chicago.

School officials are talking about closing down several Chicago Public Schools. As a result it will lead to more students in already overcrowded classrooms.

Another concern we have is the violence in Chicago. Sure there is violence everywhere but in Chicago the violence is getting out of control. We feel like it’s not even safe to step out on your front porch without ducking and dodging bullets. According to NBC Chicago, at least nine people were killed and 37 others were wounded in shootings throughout the city during one weekend.

The economy is another concern. If the economy is as bad as it is now, it may be even worse when we get older.

You’re doing a great job as president and we’d like for you to address our concerns.

Sincerely, Imani Harris and Breianna Love

THE MATADOR 5

Why The Teachers

Strike Happened

BY VALENCIA MELVIN

F

rom my point of view I thought the Chicago Teachers Union didn’t need to go on strike for many reasons.

Kids were going to be out of classes and there would be no learning. If you really think about it, it was hurting us more because we are the ones that need the education; the teachers have already earned theirs.

But I get it!

The teachers wanted a fair contract which could mean better class sizes and more money.

Teachers have to work longer school hours and deal with kids longer with the extended day policy. But really those seven days on strike weren’t necessary. What if the strike lasted longer than seven days? What if it lasted longer like it did 25 years ago when our moms and dads were in school?

6 THE MATADOR

The board said they were on the kids’ side. If they were with us then we’d have air conditioning in the classrooms and better workbooks. We would also have music and art if the board was on our side!

According to school officials, the contract includes hiring more than 600 additional teachers in art, music and physical education; making textbooks available on the first day of school instead of the six weeks that many students have to wait; and bringing the percentage of teacher evaluations that are decided by standardized test scores down to the legal minimum of 30 percent.

The teachers went on strike for us too, not just for them. They are the ones who have to teach in cold and hot rooms, not the board.

So when the board says they have our backs, they really don’t. The teachers have our backs.

Teacher Spotlight:

Kamilah Baker 5th -Grade

K

amilah Baker, or Ms. Baker as she’s referred to by her students, is the winner of Barton’s first True Star Teacher Election.

Matador: Were you surprised to be nominated True Star Teacher? Why or Why not?

Kamilah Baker: No, because of the relationship I have with the students. I’ve been here for 11 years.

Matador: What are some of the teaching skills you possess that you believe motivated the students to nominate you?

KB: Most of all I believe I was nominated because I respect them and allow them to have a voice.

Matador: In your opinion, what defines a True Star teacher?

KB: Dedication, extending extra time, and understanding that all students are equal, but have individual personalities and being able to adapt to each students’ own learning style.

Matador: Do you consider yourself a True Star teacher? Why or Why not?

KB: Yes, because I believe I possess all the qualities I mentioned that a True Star teacher possesses.

Matador: What is your favorite elementary grade to teach.

KB: Fifth because that’s when children seem to begin to mature.

Matador: Do you think you will continue to teach elementary school?

KB: Yes. I don’t want to go any lower than 4th and any higher than 5th-grade.

Matador: How were you inspired to teach?

KB: I used to love to play school as a kid and it became my childhood dream and passion.

Matador: What is your favorite teaching subject?

KB: Math, because it has always been my favorite subject.

Matador: What is your ultimate goal as a teacher?

KB: I’ve actually already achieved it. I obtained my NBCTU (National Board Certified Teaching) certificate. So I plan to continue to teach at the certified level.

WINNINGSTUDENTS TAIJA MCDANIEL-103 ANTONIO MONTGOMERY-104 BRIANA BRADY-203 SHAKEIRA WHITE-204 VALENCIA MELVYN-205 TAYLOR SMITH-206 RIANNA ROBINSON-207 MATTIE ROSE-208 ALFRED ROSE-301 BERNICE DANIELS-303

THE MATADOR 7

Science

and TECHNOLOGY

BY FRANK GETTRIDGE

T

his year Clara Barton began full implementation of its new Science and Technology program. Partnering with McGraw-Hill Education Corporation, students of Clara Barton Elementary will now receive science instruction through a new and engaging inquiry based Science and Technology program.

Science at a Closer Look (Pre-K – 5th-grade) and Integrated iScience (6th – 8th-grade) meets students where they are through engaging features and thought-provoking questions that encourage them to relate the science concepts to the world around them. The inquiry-based lessons provide active, hands-on explorations of the concepts. There is also a Student Edition that is available both as a textbook and as an interactive digital e-book.

Historically, students at Clara Barton have struggled with meeting and exceeding on the state Science test. This was in part due to there not being a consistent and aligned 8 THE MATADOR

school-wide Science curriculum. The schoolwide implementation of McGraw-Hill’s Science program provides Clara Barton with a solid foundation on which to begin improving its Science scores. Most importantly, this program will easily allow teachers and students to integrate technology into their educational practices helping teachers to prepare students to become 21st century learners, which is one of our goals at Clara Barton.

To achieve this goal we must be prepared for an ever-changing world, learning the skills needed to become innovators and critical thinkers. The framework for 21st Century Learning consists of core subjects and themes that revolve around three core skills: life and career skills, learning and innovation skills, and information media and technology skills. Through our Science and Technology curriculum we are able to address these necessary skills at our students’ individual learning levels.

JUNIOR ACTION

BY KERISMA JOHNSON

W

hen young children have a death in the family or the loss of a friend they often don’t really know what to do.

They should have a person they could come to so that they would be able to talk about what happened to that person. It’s important they have a good friend to turn to when someone in their family or a friend has died.

About two years ago my nephew died and I really didn’t know what to do or how to show my feelings. I had a friend I could tell all my problems to and when I told her about my

all of the answers. But it’s important to create an atmosphere of comfort and openness, and send the message that there’s no one right or wrong way to feel. You might also share any spiritual beliefs you have about death.

Kids from the ages of about 6 to 10 start to grasp the finality of death, even if they don’t understand that it will happen to every living thing one day. As kids mature into teens, they start to understand that every human being eventually dies, regardless of grades, behavior, wishes, or anything they try to do, according to the website.

nephew she gave me good advice.

According to KidsHealth.org, parents should be honest with kids and encourage questions.

This can be hard because you may not have

DESIGNED BY NATHANIEL JACKSON CORLISS EARLY COLLEGE STEM HIGH SCHOOL

THE MATADOR 9

Gang VIOLENCE

I

BY ALBERT SMITH

n Chicago there’s lots of gang violence and it’s all too common.

Each day there’s a story of someone being shot, killed in a car accident or robbed. Some kids have been killed for mistaken identity and parents and relatives’ lives are forever changed.

Chicago has become a very violent place for kids who are trying to learn and earn a good education to become better in life. For example, most kids would like to become a police officer, firefighters, chefs and teachers.

Kids need a chance at life not a gravestone.

What has the “Windy City” become?

Going GREEN

T

BY DAVID WELLS

o go green is to take care of the place you live, which is Earth.

Picking up litter isn’t our only solution. There are other ways to help:

When you drive, walk or ride your bike down the street, you might notice all the scraps and junk on the ground. Some areas of the South Side are covered in filth and it gets dirtier every day.

You can help by: *Always Recycling *Keeping electronics out of the trash *Turning off lights when you’re not in the room *Making a compost bin for any fruit scraps, etc.

To reduce all of this litter we can recycle all of this waste.

By recycling, we only recycle bags and bottles (plastic), glass and paper. Everything else goes into normal garbage cans, but people can’t even put trash in those. We need to make a change in Chicago.

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It will take even more solutions and a lot of effort, but I think we as a community will be able to make a change and go green!

Kids Using Disrespectful

LANGUAGE

BY BANETTE ATKINS

H

ave you ever wondered why kids use disrespectful language and say disrespectful things to one another? Do kids curse out of anger or do they just want to curse and say disrespectful things?

There comes a time in a child’s life when he or she experiments with using bad language. The reason why some kids curse is because they probably want attention, to impress others at school or often exert to make the choice to use bad language. They curse because of the things they hear in their environment.

When they hear people curse in the environment they feel like they have the right to go anywhere and at any time, even in front of elderly people.

The reason why kids curse is because society curses a lot more. When kids hear adults curse they think that it’s cool and that it’s okay. When you start cursing there is no stopping. Kids curse because of the media. Shows like “Family Guy” and the “Simpsons” are good examples. In the “Simpsons” Bart curses like crazy, that’s why kids curse because the media is teaching them how.

Swearing is often looked at as cathartic – it often frees us of the feelings of anger or frustration we hold and allows expression for these emotions.

Swearing can also be a useful substitute to physical violence.

Simply put, kids curse because they think it’s cool and because they hear their parents and friends do it. I think kids shouldn’t curse because those who do can grow up to be disrespectful.

THE MATADOR 11

NV

CPSSwag NC

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SWAGGING AT SCHOOL WITH A LITTLE FLAVOR ON THE UNIFORM

HOLIDAY

Cheer

TIS THE SEASON...

THE MATADOR 13

SPEAKER BOX

CATCHING UP WITH

Diggy & the OMG Girlz

BY BYRON UPTON

T

rue Star had a wonderful opportunity for a Clara Barton student to attend the Scream Tour’s Town Hall meeting in September to see celebrities tell who their role models are and how they are becoming leaders to their peers.

Diggy Simmons and the OMG Girlz shared how they’ve stepped into leading roles.

Diggy said his “mom and dad” are his role models “because they are good people” and he wants to be more like them.

Beauty from the OMG Girlz said she was and “is successful” because when people talked about her, or said something that wasn’t true about her, she would ignore it.

OMG Girlz M

eet Babydoll, Beauty and Star – the OMG Girlz.

The colorful singing and dancing trio from the Dirty South, well Georgia and Alabama, have quickly become a household name.

They’ve grown up together and are now sharing fame together. They’ve been on several tours with other teen entertainers such as Jacob Latimore, Mindless Behavior, Jawan Harris and Diggy Simmons and they’re looking to expand the OMG Girlz empire. They want their own clothing line and OMG dolls.

They’re well on their way.

16 THE MATADOR

INTERVIEW BY DEMARI FORD

JAWAN HARRIS’ Rise To the Top INTERVIEW BY DEMARI FORD

J

awan Harris has been lighting up the charts. First it was “Another Planet” featuring Chris Brown, then it was “Keisha.” The Chicagoland native has been on at least three tours within the last four years, most recently the Scream Tour: Next Generation with the OMG Girlz, Diggy Simmons and TK n Cash, that stopped in Chicago in September.

His latest project was a role in the recently released movie “Pitch Perfect.”

The Matador caught up with Harris before hitting the stage at the Scream Tour at the Arie Crown Theater.

Matador: Since you’ve been on the road for quite some time, when you’re not touring, what do you do?

Jawan Harris: I like to go home, whether it’s in Georgia or my hometown of Aurora (Illinois) and just chill with my family and friends, eat some home cooking and just relax.

Matador: You have a movie coming out.

Would you like to do more acting?

The Matador sat down for an interview with Babydoll, Beauty and Star while they were on their Chicago stop in September for the Scream Tour.

Matador: How has this experience been for you all?

OMG Girlz: It’s been stressful, entertaining and a real blessing.

Matador: When you’re not on stage, what do you do?

OMG: We definitely sleep, work out and hang

J.H.: Yes. I love performing and any chance I can get to perform, whether it’s on stage or in front of the camera, I’m open to it. My career is limitless.

Matador: Talk to your peers about utilizing their talents and trying to make it in the entertainment industry?

J.H.: Keep going as far as you can go with what you do best. Don’t stop. Life holds the key to many opportunities. It’s about getting your foot in the door and doing the work on your part to make things happen.

Matador: What’s your favorite candy and are you on Twitter?

J.H.: You can follow me on Twitter at @singerjawan. All my fans know that I love gummy bears! #TeamJawan

with our friends and family.

Matador: Do you go to a regular school or are you homeschooled?

OMG: We are homeschooled. It’s cool to not have to change clothes to go to school. We can just stay in the house with our pajamas on.

Matador: What’s your advice for young upand-coming artists?

OMG: Keep your head up and don’t let people bring you down. And always put school first.

THE MATADOR 17

Lyric Breakdown What These Lyrics Mean To Me

NCVB NCVB

Zendaya Coleman:

“Fashion is My Kryptonite”

BY DEVENE PARKER “Fashion is My Kryptonite” relates to my personality. I’m the type of girl that can’t walk pass a sale! I love expressing myself through clothes, which also inspires my music. If I could I’d shop all day without a care in the world, but I think my dad would be mad if I maxed out his credit card! LOL!

Frank Ocean “Thinking About You”

BY RIANNA ROBINSON

This song shows that everyone has a different sense of style and you shouldn’t judge them because of the way they are. It also shows that you should have fun with your sense of style; you don’t have to look like everyone else to fit in, be yourself. If they tease you because of the way you are, walk away and tell yourself, “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!” The song says, “Walk, walk, work it right, fashion is my kryptonite.”

Zendaya is my inspiration because she has fun and doesn’t care what people say about her, she cares about the music she writes, that’s exactly like me!

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When Frank Ocean said, “it would never get old, not in my soul, not in my spirit, keep it alive!” that makes me feel like his love would never die for a special girl. When he said, “since you think I don’t love you, just thought you were cute that’s, why I kiss you,” that makes me feel like he was being sarcastic. She feels like he does not love her but he really does. Every time I listen to this song, I get put in a happy place because the beat is so steady and the rhythm just flows with the song. I just want to get up and dance and sing softly along with the song. The chorus is so soothing that I just see rainbows of my feelings shooting everywhere! This is one of the best R&B love songs on the charts.

BVCN Adele: “Rolling in the Deep”

BY GLORIA JONES

Chris Brown: “Don’t Judge Me”

BY MARSHEA FAIR

“You’re hearing rumors about me and you can’t stomach the thought of someone touching my body when you’re so close to my heart. I won’t deny what they saying because most of it is true, but it was all before I fell for you, so please baby, so please don’t judge me and I won’t judge you, because it can get ugly before it gets beautiful, please don’t judge me and I won’t judge you, and if you love me then let it be beautiful!”

In this song Chris Brown is telling his partner to not judge him on his past and the bad decisions he has made, and if their relationship was based on love then the relationship would be good or beautiful.

I like this song because it is by one of my favorite artists and I like songs that are kind of slow and I like how he tells his partner they should let the past be the past and focus on their future. This song makes me feel like people in relationships should not judge their partner’s past because it can get worse before it gets better, and, if you love your partner then the relationship will be beautiful.

“You had my heart inside of your hands and you played it with a beat” meaning she gave her lover her heart and love, but he didn’t feel the same.

I believe Adele’s message is to inform all women that before you fall in love make sure the person you are in love with loves you back so you won’t get your heart broken.

When I listen to this song, it makes me wonder: what was so good about that person that she fell in love with?

Chief Keef: “Love Sosa”

BY MARTELL IRVIN

“Love Sosa,” I think, refers to the rapper Jojo and how a rival ended between the two artists.

My favorite part of this song was when Chief Keef said, “Hit him with that cobra now that boy slumped over.” The rival was between Chief Keef and his gang, and Jojo and his gang. It made me feel like if someone were going to get hurt it was going to be Jojo. Now that Chief Keef is famous, and got out of Chicago, he feels he wants to come back to the lifestyle he’s used to.

THE MATADOR 19

PLAY BY PLAY

The Dangers

of Sports

BY LATANYA PITTS

I

am a girl who plays basketball and there are ways to stay safe and healthy while playing basketball.

I know that women and girls, especially girls my age or in my age group, are known to be 2 to 8 times more likely to obtain knee injuries such as torn ligaments. A ligament is the rope-like tissue that connects structures in our bodies such as the anterior cruciate ligament, which connects the shin bone to the thigh bone. If you tear this ligament you can’t play basketball for months or a lifetime. This is why it is good to take care of yourself especially while playing sports.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, which is part of the National Institutes of Health in the US, the most common sport injuries are due to accidents, poor training practices or using the wrong gear or equipment. People can also hurt 20 THE MATADOR

themselves because they are not in shape, or because they don’t warm up or stretch enough.

While I don’t play football, I do know that it’s a dangerous contact sport. When you are playing football getting hurt is one of the risks you have to take. For example, when playing football you can get concussions. Concussions are injuries to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall or an impact of a collision. This is why you have to be very careful when playing a dangerous sport like football.

The most common sports injuries are: • Knee injuries • Sprains and strains • Swollen muscles • Achilles tendon injuries • Pain along the shin bone • Fractures and dislocations

Barton’s Flag Football Team

BY ANTONIO MONTGOMERY

C

lara Barton’s 7th and 8th-grade flag football team had a good season but didn’t make it to the playoffs.

Joplin, Jackson and Gresham. Most teams had to forfeit and that went on Barton’s record for more wins, but they didn’t count that.

They played only four games this season because the strike cut off a lot of the games. If all the games were played, they would’ve had more of a chance to make the playoffs.

Players who made touchdowns were Antonio Montgomery, Jordan Price and Derrick Smith.

Antonio had six touchdowns; Jordan had about two touchdowns and a couple of good passes; and Derrick had two touchdowns. The entire team contributed in each game.

Their record was 3-1. They lost the first game because they didn’t have any plays. But, as they practiced more and learned some new plays, they won the remaining three games against

The 5th and 6th-grade team made it to the championship but we didn’t win.

THE MATADOR 21

BARTON BULLETIN

Top 10

Movies of 2012 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Sparkle Step Up 3D Madea’s Witness Protection 21 Jump Street The Odd Life of Timothy Green Hunger Games Let It Shine The Avengers Resident Evil: Retribution

Top 10

Songs of 2012 You Come First – Jacob Latimore OMG Girlz – Where the Boys At? Turn on the Lights – Future Something to Dance For – Zendaya Coleman Dance For You – Beyonce Mrs. Right – Mindless Behavior Girls Talkin’ Bout – Mindless Behavior 4 Letter Word – Diggy Simmons Let It Shine – Coco Jones Wide Awake – Katy Perry 22 THE MATADOR

Top 10

Video Games of 2012 Resident Evil 6 Max Payne 3 Assassin Creed 3 Call of Duty: Black Ops II NBA 2K12 Madden NFL 12 Halo 4 Sniper: Ghost Warrior WWE 12 Angry Birds Space

Top 10

TV Shows of 2012 A.N.T. Farm Rickey Smiley Show Glee Tia & Tamera T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle Good Luck Charlie ESPN 30 for 30 Phineas and Ferb Jessie Beyond Scared Straight THE MATADOR 23

Are You A

TRUESTAR? WINTER 2011

A DAY IN

THE LIFE OF

JACOB LATIMORE

SIMMONS

INSIDE THE

LONGER

SCHOOL DAYS

FOR CPS

STUDENTS

MINDS OF

FASHION

GOTH YOUTH

TO THE 80s

FLASHBACK

F

R

E

EMO AND

E

THE REAL DIGGY

REAL TEENS REAL ISSUES STYLE TRENDS CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS HEALTH, NEWS, SPORTS AND MORE! check out www.truestaris.com 24 THE MATADOR