WHAT’S UP WITH SAWYER STAFF:
JANETH MAMAHUA
ALEJANDRA EUDAVE ROOM 403 - 5TH GRADE
BRIAN SOTELO
ROOM 403 - 5TH GRADE
ROOM 208 - 7TH GRADE
ROOM 405 - 5TH GRADE
SANTIAGO LEYVA
KAYLEE MADRIGAL RAUL LEON
ROOM 310
ROOM 304 - 5TH GRADE
ADON CHAVEZ ROOM 304 - 5TH GRADE APRIL LEON ROOM 310
DAISY GUERICA ROOM 209 - 7TH GRADE
EDITOR/SPONSOR: MS. ROSENBERG 2 What’s Up With Sawyer?
DANNA NAVA ROOM 405 - 5TH GRADE
Room 102 - 8th Grade Catalina Rodriguez
Special Thanks
Room 211 - 6th Grade Brayan Jimbo
to project funder
Room 310 Sofia Diaz Sergio Bahena
Mrs. Roberta Friedman
Room 335 - 4th Grade Alan Madrigal
KEVIN REYES ROOM 109 - 7TH GRADE
VALERIE LOPEZ
ROOM 405 - 5TH GRADE
not pictured:
EMILY VENZOR ROOM 405 - 5TH GRADE
LESLIE NARVAEZ
Room 402 - 5th Grade Lisbeth Cortes
CONTENTS INTERVIEWS PAGE 4: MARVELOUS MR. MATY PAGE 5: DIALOGUE WITH THE DEAN
JUST FOR FUN PAGE 6: WACKY WORDS, BY KAYLEE MADRIGAL PAGE 7: CHEESY JOKES, BY ALAN MADRIGAL & KAYLEE MADRIGAL
FOOD FOR THOUGHT PAGE 8: MY FAVORITE FOOD, BY ALAN MADRIGAL PAGE 9: COOKING FOR KIDS, BY CHEF SOFIA DIAZ
AWESOME ARTICLES PAGE 10: WHO NEEDS TAEKWONDO, BY LESLIE NARVAEZ
REVIEWS PAGE 11: GORDITAS AGUASCALIENTES IS A RESTAURANT WORTH TRYING, BY LISBETH CORTES PAGE 12: “STRANGER THINGS” IS DEFINITELY BINGE-WORTHY! BY KEVIN REYES & BRIAN SOTELO PAGE 13: “GREY’S ANATOMY” IS A SHOW YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING, BY KEVIN REYES & BRIAN SOTELO
CREATIVE CORNER PAGE 14: POLICE CRIMINALS, BY SERGIO BAHENA POEM PAGE 15: D.I.Y. DOUBLE BUBBLE, BY DANNA NAVA PAGE 16: PHOTO COLLAGE
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON TRUE STAR JR. MAGAZINE CONTACT US: LETTERS TO TRUE STAR JR. 1130 SOUTH WABASH, SUITE 302 CHICAGO, IL 60605-2717 EMAIL: TRUESTARJR@TRUESTARMAGAZINE.COM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DEANNA MCLEARY SHERMAN & J. NA-TAE’ THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR MARTI PARHAM EDITORIAL INSTRUCTOR CAMRON SMITH ART DIRECTION DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION ANGEL D’AMICO-BAUER PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTOPHER BROWN
TRUESTARIS.COM TO DONATE TO TRUE STAR FOUNDATION, VISIT TRUESTARFOUNDATION.ORG
Interviews
Marvellous Mr. Maty BY SOFIA DIAZ & SANTIAGO LEYVA
M
r. Maty is a veteran teacher. Both of us were lucky enough to be in Mr. Maty’s class in third grade. Now you readers are lucky enough to read our interview with him. What’s Up With Sawyer: What inspired you to become a teacher? Mr. Maty: I love working with children and I wanted to help kids learn. WUWS: Were your original plans to be a teacher? Mr. Maty: No, I did not become a teacher until I was 40. WUWS: What grades have you taught? Mr. Maty: Third, fifth, sixth, and eighth. WUWS: What life lessons do you teach? Mr. Maty: I want kids to not only learn but be good people and do things because it’s the right thing to do, not the rule. WUWS: How long have you worked here at Sawyer? Mr. Maty: For 14 years. WUWS: What sets you apart as a teacher? Mr. Maty: Besides my grey hair, I think I have a pretty good sense of humor. WUWS: Who was one of your earliest role models? Mr. Maty: My father because he was a 4 What’s Up With Sawyer?
hardworking man who showed us love, provided for us and worked hard. WUWS: What was you favorite subject as a kid? Mr. Maty: I always liked Social Studies and History. WUWS: Why did you decide to become a teacher? Mr. Maty: One day I saw my son Brian on his tricycle. I knew I wanted to spend more time with him. I thought to myself hmm... my father didn’t spend much time with me. This is why I became a teacher. Now I get to spend more time with my sons. WUWS: What life lessons did you learn? Mr. Maty: To get respect you have to give respect and treat other people the way you want to be treated, and to be thankful of every day you have a healthy life. WUWS: What is the hardest thing you’ve done in life? Mr. Maty: Raising kids so that they’ll become good people making good choices. WUWS: Is there anything specific you learned from kids that you have taught? Mr. Maty: There’s more then one way to solve a problem. We are very grateful to Mr. Maty for sharing his wit and wisdom with us.
Dialogue With The Dean BY SANTIAGO LEYVA & SERGIO BAHENA
A
hoodie is a piece of fabric attached to a sweater that covers the head thus making a ¨hoodie.¨ For many years we have had a no hoodie policy at Sawyer Elementary. We wanted to know what’s behind this rule. We decided to do some digging. After carefully looking through the Code of Conduct we discovered in it nothing involving a hoodie. But we did find a part where it says we cannot wear any piece of clothing that has offensive or gang art on it. So we decided that Sawyer does not allow hoodies because it would look too informal. Our website says we can, however, wear crewneck sweaters. Here’s the interview with Mr. Jimenez, the Dean of Students, on the matter. What’s Up With Sawyer: As the Dean of Students what are your responsibilities? Mr. Jimenez: To ensure the safety of my students physically and emotionally; to have restorative conversations; to improve student issues; to improve behavior and achievement. WUWS: Where can we find hoodie information? Mr. Jimenez: It’s in the handbook on page 15. The hoodie rule has been in effect for three years. WUWS: Why was the “no hoodie” rule put into effect in the first place? Mr. Jimenez: The no hoodie rule happened because students that were in sports were wearing them whenever they wanted and letting other students wear them.
WUWS: What type of clothing can we wear over our uniform? Mr. Jimenez:The crewneck sweater with the Sawyer imprint on the sweater. WUWS: What are the chances the no hoodie rule will be no more, so we could wear hoodies? Mr. Jimenez: The chances are slim. The LSC makes the decision. The LSC is made up of teachers, parents, and community members. WUWS: For someone like myself I feel safe and secure and comfortable with a hoodie. How is it offensive? Mr. Jimenez: Other people may attach negative representation to it so for them it may be offensive. WUWS: Where would people go to find information on the no hoodie rule? Mr. Jimenez: They would look in the handbook or go to the LSC meetings. We want to thank Mr. Jimenez for giving us time for this interview. What’s Up With Sawyer? 5
Just For Fun
Wacky Words BY KAYLEE MADRIGAL
W
ords are wacky. Let’s see, there’s onomatopoeia. Those are words that sound like how they are pronounced, like hiss, squeak, and squawk to name a few. Then there are long words. Really long. Did you know that the longest word is actually smile! It’s smile because it has a mile in it! But actually, what is the longest word in the english language? You know, like the kind of word that has about a bazillion syllables in it. The longest word is:
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (NOO-muh-noh-Ul-truh-MY-kruh-SKOP-ik-SIL-i-koh-vol-KAY-no-KOH-nee-O-sis). Like I said, about a bazillion syllables. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is a word that refers to a lung disease contracted from the inhalation of very fine silica particles. Now that you know the longest word, do you want to know the second longest word? Well, here it is:
Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (SOO-doh-Soo-doh-HIGH-poh-Pair-ah-THIGH-roid-is-m).
Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism is a word that refers to a inherited disorder. Also known as PPHP, signs of this disorder are lack of growth, round face and short hand bones. As you can see, these words are pretty wacky, with bazillions of syllables. I’m challenging you guys to try to say these word three times fast! Or even try to say one word correctly at least once. 6 What’s Up With Sawyer?
Cheesy Jokes
To Get You Laughing
BY ALAN MADRIGAL & KAYLEE MADRIGAL
S
o, my brother and I were trying to think of ideas we could add to the magazine. I said, “Cheesy.” “Cheesy grilled cheese,” my brother said. No, “Cheesy,” I said. “Cheesy potatoes,” my brother said. “No,” I said to him. “Cheesy jokes,” he said. “YES,” I said with excitement. I thought that was a flabbergasting idea. So, here are some jokes we found just for you to enjoy!
5. What has eyes but cannot see? A potato. 6. What do you call an upset brownie? Frownie. 7. What is an astronaut’s favorite place on the computer? The space bar. 8. Callie: Knock, knock.
1. What do you call a cow with no legs?
Marina: Who’s there?
Ground beef.
Callie: Etch. Marina: Etch who?
2. What do you call a pig that does
Callie: Bless you!
karate? Pork Chop. 9. Why do seagulls fly over the sea? 3. Did you hear about the kidnapping at
Because if they flew over the bay they would
school? It’s ok. He woke up!
be called bagels.
4. Jessie: Knock, knock.
10. Why did Santa study music at college?
Kyle: Who’s there?
To improve his wrapping skills.
Jessie: A broken pencil. Kyle: A broken pencil who?
11. When does Friday come before
Jessie: Nevermind, it’s pointless.
Thursday? In the dictionary. What’s Up With Sawyer? 7
Food For Thought
My Favorite Food I first encountered cucumbers when I was about 7. The reason I love cucumbers is because they have no flavor but they are full of water and I LOVE water. You could literally put anything you want on cucumbers. This adds a variety of flavor. I always put Tajin on it to add flavor or spice. In speaking to other people, I found out they enjoy cucumbers as well. Santiago, in sixth grade and Kaylee in seventh, had the exact same answer when I asked, “Do you put any toppings on cucumbers?” They both answered, “Yes, Tajin.” There are benefits to eating cucumbers. They keep you hydrated, which is really good for you.
BY ALAN MADRIGAL
W
ould you believe that my very favorite food is older than my great-great-great (think many greats) grandfather? It is 1,000 percent true! Can you guess what it is? Here are some hints. It is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cucumiform fruits that are used as vegetables. There are three main varieties: slicing, pickling, and seedless. Still stumped? It is the cucumber! Now can you guess how old it is? It’s 3,000 years old! It was first cultivated in India but brought to Europe by the Greeks or Romans. 8 What’s Up With Sawyer?
Seeking the easiest way to gain vitamins? Eat cucumbers. Cucumbers flush out toxins and provide you with different skin-friendly minerals like potassium and magnesium. Cucumbers can help you lose weight deliciously, too. In my opinion, the cucumber is overall the best fruit in the world. I think you should try the cucumber if you haven’t already. Before I go, I want to share one more fun fact. Did you know that pickles began life as a cucumber? That same pickle that you put on your hamburger or comes on the side of a grilled cheese sandwich is in fact my favorite food in disguise. Cucumbers are amazing. I personally recommend cucumbers for all of you folks and further recommend that you put one of my favorite toppings on it. That’s right – the the spice TAJIN. ENJOY!
Cooking For Kids
BY CHEF SOFIA DIAZ
H
i readers! Chef Sofia is back with another safe, sensational recipe where you don’t have to be scared of getting a third degree burn. Some students told me that they would love to cook but they were scared of getting a burn. Here is a recipe that is fabulous, fun, and you can make it yourself! It’s called Chocolate Chia Pudding. See the recipe below.
Chocolate Chia Pudding Ingredients: ¾ cup of any preferred milk 2 tsp of maple syrup or honey 1 tsp of pure vanilla 3-4 tbsp chia seeds 1 tbsp of cacao powder
Instructions: •Get a mason jar or any container with a tight lid preferably a glass container add the milk, maple syrup, and vanilla. Next, add the chia seeds and cacao powder. •Whisk the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined. That means to stir it well. •The pudding will be better if stored in the fridge for at least 4-5 days. That way it will be less clumpy. When you think that the pudding is ready, take it out of the fridge and enjoy it by yourself. Or you can share with friends family or whoever you want. Stay tuned for more recipes in our next issue. Happy eating! What’s Up With Sawyer? 9
Awesome Articles
Who Needs
Taekwondo? BY LESLIE NARVAEZ
W
ho needs Taekwondo? Everybody needs Taekwondo! Whether you are 6 or 66 it’s a great form of self-defense for everybody. What is Taekwondo? No, Taekwondo is not Karate! Taekwondo is a type of Korean martial arts. People around the world have Taekwondo tournaments. In the tournaments, you get tested on your forms, sparring, or breaking. Sparring is another word for fighting. What are forms? Well, forms are movements mixed with hand and foot techniques used when you spar with a partner. Every belt has a form even when you get higher than a black belt. Forms are supposed to be remembered by your brain, which is pretty hard. Are you confused? Now, people wonder, what happens after you get your black belt? Do you stop or keep on going? That’s the choice of the martial artist, but stopping when you are a black belt is like stopping when you have just begun. There are different kicks in Taekwondo from the simplest to the hardest. For instance, there is the snap kick. For some it’s hard, but not for me. Then you learn the roundhouse kick. You turn your waist, put your leg up and there it is. Next is the side kick. You just turn your body and kick sideways. It’s kind of tricky. The tornado kick is when you turn while jumping and do a roundhouse. That one took me a while. There are a lot of other kicks and combinations. 10 What’s Up With Sawyer?
Q&A with BRIAN BLACK BELT What’s Up With Sawyer: What are some benefits you learned while doing Taekwondo? Brian: I got rid of the feeling of fear, stayed healthy, and I learned how to defend myself. WUWS: How many years have you been doing Taekwondo? Brian: Three years. I began in 2015. WUWS: How did you start Taekwondo? Brian: My dad suggested Taekwondo. I tried it, I enjoyed it, and stayed with it. Personally, I’ve been practicing Taekwondo for two years. I’m a high red belt, almost a black belt. I never thought I would be doing such a deadly art. The higher you go, the harder it gets. Remember, Taekwondo keeps you fit, and you can defend yourself in a dangerous situation. Goodbye. I’m kicking right now…KYAAA!!
Reviews
Gorditas Aguascalientes Is A Restaurant Worth Trying
BY LISBETH CORTES
M
y journalism club recently took a field trip to the new restaurant Gorditas Aguascalientes. The service was good and the staff was polite to everyone. Child or adult, they treated everyone with respect. There was one really excellent waitress who was polite and fun. Other staff members didn’t know what to do with 20 guests in one party.
to order, but I declined to eat it. The star of the dessert was the ChocoFlan. It was served on a fancy plate and the chocolate sat on the bottom and the flan was above it. Then, the waiter drizzled chocolate syrup in a path on the plate that zigzagged all over. Once I took a bite, I knew this was the best ChocoFlan that I’ve had in my life.
The environment is creative with neon signs and art on the wall, but it seemed a bit hollow and empty to me. That could be because we were the only customers there. Also, it was cold and dark. The more customers that came in, the warmer and brighter it became inside the restaurant.
I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone who appreciates a wide variety of fantastic food:
Now, here’s the part you’ve been waiting for,
Hours:
the food! The carne asada taco I ate for the main course was delicious. The only complaint that I have was the size of the taco. It was a little small, but still great to enjoy. There were a variety of gorditas which everyone enjoyed. When it came to the dessert options, there were plenty. The rice pudding was tasty and the bananas wrapped in caramel with peanuts on top was another option
Monday - Thursday 8am - 10pm Friday and Saturday 8am - 12am Sunday 8am - 10pm
Gordita Aguascalientes 5249 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60632
Phone Number: 773-471-8220 Rating: 3.5 Stars
What’s Up With Sawyer? 11
“Stranger Things” Is Definitely Binge-worthy!
BY BRIAN SOTELO & KEVIN REYES
“S
tranger Things” is a stunning Netflix Original TV show that premiered on July 15, 2016. The show has many awesome cast members. This fascinating, original piece stars actress Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers. The show begins in 1983 with Joyce, who lives in Hawkins, Ind. When Joyce’s 12-year-old son, Will Byers, goes missing, she begins a terrifying investigation into his disappearance with the local sheriff’s office. They investigate for answers and untangle a course of extraordinary puzzles elaborating classified government experiments, supernatural forces, and a very abnormal little girl. The Duffer Brothers are the creators and writer-directors of this show. Brian Sotelo: The character Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is my favorite. She is an amazing actress. Without her, “Stranger Things” wouldn’t even be the same. Brown’s choice of words makes the show more fascinating. She 12 What’s Up With Sawyer?
inspired me to express my feelings or thoughts, not just to keep them to myself. Another reason why I like this Netflix Original is because it’s not a little kid’s show like “Barney,” but it’s not an adult show that will bore you out of your mind either. It is an ideal PG-13 TV show that is perfect for adolescents like me. “Stranger Things” is a breathtaking TV show. I would give it a rating of 10/10. It will make your eyes bulge right out of your head. I know, it’s that good. Kevin Reyes: I think that “Stranger Things” is a really eye opening show. It will take you from the most sour mood to the most epic mood you have ever been in. Judging from what I have seen, I totally recommend this show. It will give you a fright of pure suspense, but will also tickle your funny bone. So we both feel if you are looking for excellent entertainment, look no further. “Stranger Things” is the show for you.
“Grey’s Anatomy” IS A SHOW YOU SHOULD
Be Watching
BY BRIAN SOTELO & KEVIN REYES
B
American drama series that will make you want to watch it again.
premiered 13 years ago on March 27, 2005. It is a series in which a group of surgical doctors start off as interns and residents and progress as the show goes on. Ellen Pompeo plays the lead role of Meredith Grey in this medical series. If you watch this show you will see that her and other characters go through many struggles and tragedies that will make you sob all night. Based on my opinion of this show … trust me, you will. I already finished “Grey’s Anatomy” and it has inspired me to be a neurosurgeon (a doctor that performs surgery on the brain and spinal cord).
Kevin Reyes: This show really portrays the real world. It’s as if you were watching a reality show. This show has a little bit of everything in it. It has lots of funny scenes, scary scenes, and all of the above. Like Brian says if you want to pursue a career in the medical field, or anything related to it, the show is inspiring. I am barely in season four and it took me about three months to get to where I am. The show has lots of characters that you can relate to. Most of the characters experience troubles that most teens have now like problems and struggles with friends.
It’ll take a pretty long time and it won’t be cheap, but it will be worth it. “Grey’s Anatomy” is not like any other show; it’s unique and it will get you in an intense mood. This show gives you a lot of information about how surgeries are performed. Overall, “Grey’s Anatomy” is an excellent
Brian & Kevin: So far, this show has a total of 14 seasons. Out of all these seasons there are new characters coming out every episode and every season. There are also some scenes that are a bit mature for kids our age, but as we will repeat again, this show is one of the best!
rian Sotelo: “Grey’s Anatomy” is an amazing medical drama/romance that
What’s Up With Sawyer? 13
Creative Corner
Police Criminals BY SERGIO BAHENA And have you ever wondered why it takes so many tries Been telling them to stop something that’s happening out there Can they stop it at all? Does it take a chokehold? Will they ever notice that he said I “can’t” breathe 11 times? For someone to notice that a pattern is happening in society Great days yeah but, Honestly do they even care? I know they are under stress Just tell them that they have to go easy Know that they were unarmed Let’s talk about Stephon Clark Man, was that wrong Not this again Oh Stephon, what is going to be your future? Poor Poor pitiful people Questioning why? Righteously bad things are happening in society Stop the violence United and proud we are in this belief Very disappointed with what’s in the past What can we do about it Xray our brains to seek solutions You know the answer is in there Zooming in depth for lasting peace
14 What’s Up With Sawyer?
D.I.Y. Double
BY DANNA NAVA
D
.I.Y. is conquering the world! D.I.Y. stands for “Do It Yourself” crafts and projects. This is very popular for kids because they are easy to complete. Some of the projects that I tried didn’t quite work out as planned. The one project that did work was when I made bracelets with faces on them. The bracelets were funny and cute. One I remember doing was a Pikachu D.I.Y. project. It was adorable. But my very favorite D.I.Y. project is making double bubble gum. You can do it too.
Bubble
Here’s how: First, you spread the gum over your tounge. Second step, blow a bubble. Step three, is to get the other gum that is not in the bubble. The fourth step is to spread the gum on your tongue again. The fifth step is to make another bubble because you have a tiny hole, and when you make the bubble it will go inside the bubble that you made before. It looks really cool by the way.
Here’s a fun fact: Bubble gum is made of chicle which is another form of rubber. Now that you know how to make double bubbles you are in for hours of fun with friends and family! What’s Up With Sawyer? 15