The Pritzker Press

May 2016
A STUDENT PUBLICATION OF A.N. PRITZKER SCHOOL
Volume 1, Issue 1
The Pritzker Press
A. N. Pritzker School, 2009 W. Schiller Street, Chicago, Illinois 60622
Festival of the Arts: A Magical Time
By Alyson Wong and Sofi Rodriguez
A.N. Pritzker School held its annual Festival of the Arts
(FOTA) on Friday, May 6, 2016. This year’s theme was
“Realms of Myth and Magic”.
Students and teachers celebrated FOTA by decorating the
school's classrooms and hallways to fit the theme. Each
section of the school were further divided into sub-themes
such as fantasy, fairy tales, science fiction, myths, legends,
fables and folktales. Some of this year's classrooms were
styled after Harry Potter, The Maze Runner, Atlantis, Dr.
Seuss,
Disney,
Narnia,
and
The
Chinese
Zodiac.
More Festival of the Arts pictures on Page 5
Superheroes was one of the many classoom themes during Festival of the Arts. Photo by
Sofi Rodriguez and Alyson Wong
History Fair Winners
By Joseph Winn
Three Pritzker fifth-grade students, Sydney Curran (room 303), Mia Fritsch-Anderson
(room 303) and Julien Stiehl (room 301) exhibited their work at the Illinois History Day
at the Prairie Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois, on May 5, 2016.
The students agreed that Illinois History Day was fun and enlightening. "There were
over 800 projects," said Curran whose own project was about how theater games
shaped the entertainment industry. Stiehl, whose project title was "Duck Soup", added,
"It was interesting and I learned a lot of new things." "It was fun and amazing," said
Fritsch-Anderson who did her project on the history of Irish dance. "It was the best day I
ever spent with Mr. Weissbuch."
Curran, Fritsch-Anderson and Stiehl qualified to go to State after first winning the
Pritzker History Fair and then the Chicago Metro History Fair at Lane Tech High School
on April 9, 2016. Other Pritzker winners who qualified to go to the Chicago Metro
History Fair were:
Festival of the Arts magician, Spellbinder, makes a bird
out of newspaper. Photo and caption by Amaia Ward
Also Inside:
School News
Page 2
Sports
Page 4
Entertainment
Page 6
Jabari Chiphe Room 308
Niya Yates Room 308
Julien Martinez Room 307
Merrick Johnsen Room 309
Eero Somers Room 304
Anton Milej Room 304
Erik Mirque Room 306
Elaina Young Room 308
May, 2016 Edition
School News
Do Division Street Festival: A
Time For Pritzker's Performing
Arts
By Caden Shapiro
Pritzker will once again take
center stage at the Do
Division
Street
Festival
Family Fun Fest on June 4th
and 5th. The Family Fun Fest
Stage willl once again
feature repeat performers
Pritzker's Music House rock
bands and the rock/blues
band
Cowboy Jesus and the Sugar
Bums (featuring Pritzker
students and brothers Caden
and Devin Shapiro ). But this
year, whoever wants to see
this year's musical, Lion King
Jr., again or the school's
concert band are in luck.
Pritzker's Concert Band will
take the festival stage this
year, and the cast of Lion
King, Jr. will perform a few
scenes and songs as well.
"The Lion King performance will only be up to 20 or 25 minutes Sunday
June 5th, at 4:00 p.m., depending on the time everything is set up. The
school concert band is performing Sunday June 5th at 12:45," confirms
Pritzker music teacher Dr. Jenai Jenkins . Concert band members have
been practicing and will be ready when the time Do Division Fest comes
around. Concert members who were interviewed said they are very excited
to play at Do Division. Many of the students in the Lion King Jr. production
are just as excited to perform. When the school’s drama teacher, Mr. Nat
Swift , announced during a recent rehearsal that the reason why they were
there was to practice for the upcoming festival, his words were responded
with cries of joy.
The two Pritzker Music House rock bands will be performing multiple cover
songs on June 4th at 5:00 p.m.. Finally, Cowboy Jesus and the Sugar
Bums will take the stage on June 4th at 4:00 p.m, performing older rock
music as well as an original song whose title is yet to be revealed. This
group of CPS students (two from Pritzker) met at the Old Town School of
Folk Music, a music school located in Lincoln Square. They have won a
Chicago Music Award for best musicians under 12.
Do Division Family Fun Fest, in partnership with LaSalle II, is one of the
school's biggest fundraisers. This group of CPS students (two from
Pritzker) met at the Old Town School of Folk Music, a music school located
in Lincoln Square. They have won a Chicago Music Award for best
musicians under 12.
Do Division Family Fun Fest, in partnership with LaSalle II, is one of the
school's biggest fundraisers.
Page 2
Daisies Lend a Helping Hand
By Abigail Winn
Girl Scout Troop 25232 is holding a
food drive. Food collected from the
drive will be distributed among local
shelters.
"The best thing about the food drive
is that you get to help hungry kids,"
said Daisy Madeline Huffman . After
discussing other options, the Daisy
troop decided to tackle hunger as
their service project. "They realised
that when kids don't have enough to
eat it makes it harder to be a kid,"
said Troop Leader Jody Van
Swearingen . "And when families
don't have enough to buy food it is
really hard, too. They thought that if
everyone at Pritzker could donate a
small amount it could help a lot of
people who don't have the money to
buy food."
Photo by Abigail Winn
To make a food donation, drop off
your canned goods at the donation
boxes located by the front office.
Celebrate Pritzker Party
By Brooklyn Bielke
Friends of Pritzker held its
Annual Dinner Party on Saturday
evening, May 7, 2016. The event
was held at Pizzeria Da Nella
(1443 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago,
IL
60614)
and
benefited
Pritzker's "One Stage, Many
Stars" campaign.
The party
included
a silent auction,
featuring items that were
donated by parents, teachers
and other members of the
Pritzker community, as well as
activities
with
teachers
including Mrs. Annie Chapman ,
Ms. Elizabeth Manon , Mrs. Maria
Pfister, Mrs. Mindy Schwartz ,
Mr. Jerry Weissbuch and Ms.
Marina Ziolkowski. Party guests
were treated to a live deejay and
food and drinks. The event
space was decorated with
flowers, giant sliver confetti
spread
across
gift-wrapped
tables,
and posters on the
walls.
According to the Friends of
Pritzker website, the "One
Stage, Many Stars" campaign
Photo from Friends of Pritzker's
Facebook Page posted on May 12,
2016.
aims to create a more functional
studio space for dance, drama, music
performances and rehearsals, expand
the Music Program by investing in
instruments
and
other
needed
resources, optimize the sound system
to ensure our children and teachers are
heard, and improve the lighting and
modernize the safety features of the
stage.
May, 2016 Edition
The Scoop on Standardized Testing
By Murphy Putz
Standardized testing is a very controversial subject. People say it’s good, and
some say it is bad. Some standardized tests that Pritzker students take are
Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and The Partnership for Assessment
of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) . I am here to give some facts.
Page 3
Student Spotlight
By Julien Stiehl
This issue's Student Spotlight is on Dalya Lessem Elnecave . Dalya is a fifth-grader who recently danced in
the Joffrey Ballet's production of Cinderella.
PROS
Standardized testing gives teachers lessons to learn and when to teach them. It
gives parents ideas of how their children are doing at school, and gives schools a
chance to compare to one another and see how each other are doing.
Standardized testing can compare subgroups to see what special needs they
have .
Dalya in costume
as the Summer
Page. Photo by
Jill S. Dodds
CONS
Standardized testing evaluates on only one day and not over multiple days so it
does not include external factors. Federal funds are only given to those schools
with good scores, and puts pressure on schools to do well on the tests. This
causes many teachers to “teach to the test". Teaching only what's on the test
can hinder a student's overall learning. It puts a lot of stress on students and
teachers, and can cause teachers to quit. Some schools have even eliminated or
reduced recess time to create more time to study for the test, and that can cause
emotional and social stress.
I recently interviewed Dalya Lessem -Elnecave , a fifth-grade peer who is against it:
Me: Are you for or against Standardized testing?
Dalya: Against
Me: Why?
Dalya: Because there's so much of it, and it totals out to be about two days and it
doesn't prepare us for our future.
In the end it is your decision but I trust that all families can make the right
decision for themselves.
Playground for the "Older Kids"
By Brooklyn Bielke
Are you a 5th-8th grader who wishes you could still use the playground? Well,
here's a story for you! At a recent meeting, Friends of Pritzker (FOP) members
discussed to plans to create a space for the upper grades. They are in the inital
discussion phase to create a plan that will remove the cement circle by the
younger kids' playground and put a new play space in its place. The new area will
be restricted to 5th through 8th graders. Elizabeth Bielke, FOP member, said that
the group are discussing trying to make the new playground space more appealing
and usable to the older kids. No final plans have been made but it is definitely a
goal.
Potential future site of the new
playground. Photo by Joseph
Winn
How did you get to this point in your dancing career ?
I have been dancing since I was two years old and I now take
lessons at the Joffrey Academy Chicago which offers high
expectations and hard core teachers some from other
countries. I started classes in preschool and since then have
taken lessons at the Boston Ballet and ARCC Ballet and
Dance before coming to Joffrey.
What other performances have you performed in?
In addition to Cinderella, I have performed in Robert Joffrey's
Nutcracker in both the 2014 season (spanish doll) and the
2015 season ( party girl #3).
How many years have you been dancing?
Eight.
Did you ever want to dance as a little kid, age 5-8?
It depends what you mean. Though I have been dancing since
the age of two, after moving to Chicago when I was four I was
in more amateur academies. Through that time I did want to
be a professional dancer and take lessons at Joffrey.
Do your parents support your dancing?
Yes they do. Whether it is my mom doing my hair before a
show or my dad taking me to class, both of them show a lot
of support.
Have you enjoyed your dancing career so far?
Yes I have. I love the fact that in dance you can express
yourself through movement.
Who has been your influence so far?
Well, the entire Joffrey company but specifically;
Anastacia Holden, Amber Neumann, and Amanda Assucena.
How do you feel about missing days of school?
It is hard because I love school and it is sometimes hard to
make up work.
Page
May, 2016 Edition
Sports
Page 4
Girls Soccer Team Wins First Play-off Game
By Alyson Wong
The Pritzker Wildcats Girls Soccer Team's first play-off game resulted in a 3-2 victory
against Galileo Scholastic Academy at Burr Elementary School's athletic field on Monday,
May 23rd. Wildcat seventh grader, Isabella Bonilla , scored the first goal with an assist by
sixth grader, Alyson Wong .
Galileo scored during the last five minutes of the game, however, resulting in a tie. But there
can’t be a tie during the playoffs, so there was a shoot-off.
A shoot-off is when there are 5 players from each team who try to shoot a goal with only a
goalie trying to block the shot. The team that scores the most goals from the shoot-off
wins. If there is a tie, 1 player from each team shoots as a tiebreaker. During the shoot-off
both teams shot two goals each. Pritzker selected Maya Thompson , seventh grade, to
shoot the tie breaker. The other team took their first shot and didn't make a goal. Now, it
was all up to Thompson. She shoots and she scores! The Pritzker Wildcats win the first
playoff game.
2016- 2017 Cross Country Team
Needs Funds
By Jakob Moe
With the new school year coming up
(have we gotten this far already?),
there will be another Pritzker School
Cross Country Team. Coach Blythe
Hiss hopes that next year’s team will
be ‘upgraded’. This school year, the
team has been on the lower side of
funds which resulted in a lack of
assets. Next year, the team hopes to
get donations for some necessary
equipment. “[We would probably] like
to have a tent to warm up and cool
down, uniforms, shoes, and maybe
funds for buses if there is a bigger
team,” says Coach Hiss. There are no
definite fundraisers planned yet but
Coach Hiss hopes to get the Pritzker
community's support once there are.
Photo by: Elaine Wong
The remaining playoff games will be held at Burr Elementary
School’s field on multiple days. The Pritzker Wildcat Girls
Soccer Team made it to the playoffs despite not having won
any games during the regular season. However, because of
the short soccer season and not enough teams, Pritzker and
all other teams still qualified for the playoff games.
CPS Cross Country championships at
Washington Park, October 31, 2015. Pritzker
Cross Country team after a one mile race.
Photo by: Friends of Pritzker Instagram,
Washington Park
May is National Bike Month
By Jakob Moe
As you may or may not know, May is National Bike Month
(celebrated everywhere), and Take Your Bike to Work Day was on
May 20th. Here is a short history of National Bike Month.
Yoga was one of several activities during Family
Fitness Night on May 17th. Photo by: Laurel Shapiro
It was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956, and
was made to “showcase the many benefits of bicycling[,] and
encourage more [people] to give [biking] a try”. The highest rate of
participants in National Bike Month is in Denver, Colorado. Many
people have unique reasons and ways of biking. For example, one
school actually has a ride your bike to school day. Also, there are
cycling competitions, like CycloFemme, which celebrates
Mother's’ Day (which is also in May). What about you-- how do
you celebrate National Bike Month ?
Visit the National Biking League website today to find out more
details: http://bikeleague.org/bikemonth
Photo at a city hall (city unknown), with two people holding up a National
Bike Month banner. Photos by Matthew Roth
May, 2016 Edition
Page 5
Festival of the Arts Gallery
Photo by Sofi Rodriguez and Alyson Wong
Mr. Bester's student, Elaina Young, dressed as
Black Widow. Photo and caption by Amaia
Ward
Cruella De Vil and her dogs dancing. Photo and
caption by Amaia Ward
Photo by Sofi Rodriguez and Alyson Wong
Photo by Sofi Rodriguez and Alyson
Wong
Photo by Sofi Rodriguez and Alyson Wong
Photo by Sofi Rodriguez and Alyson Wong
Classic Disney Princesses perform. Photo and
caption by Amaia Ward
Photo by Sofi Rodriguez and
Alyson Wong
Photo by Sofi Rodriguez and Alyson Wong
May, 2016 Edition
Entertainment
Page 6
A Revolution of Flavor
By Caden Shapiro
Revolution Brewing is not (despite its name) only a brewery. It is
also an amazing restaurant. It has won multiple Chicago Tribune
Dining awards, including first place in the Time Out Chicago:
Dining Out Awards in 2013. Also the staff there are super
friendly and not to mention the great service. The food is great
as well; it’s not just your typical bar food. Its menu is packed
with various types of chow ranging from kale salads to
applewood smoked wings.
Plus it’s kid-friendly with an
awesome menu with smaller, kid-sized meals. Kid meals come
with free drinks and awesome things to do.
Speaking of food, Revolution Brewing also has some of the most
appealing appetizers. My personal favorite is the Mushroom
Fries which are sliced portobello mushrooms that are cooked,
breaded, and covered and in an amazing sauce. Also, their burger
selection is not your typical burger selection. Although they do
have just your everyday average cheeseburger, they also have
other incredible original versions such as the Hombre Burger
which has smoked poblano pepper, avocado, Chihuahua, red
pepper crema, and tortilla strips. They also feature a great
selection of vegan and vegetarian items such as veggie burgers,
many different salads, and a curry vegetable wrap.
Photo source: Revolution Brewing website. https://revbrew.com/brewpub/brewpub
I give this restaurant 5 out 5 paws .
If you want to stop by, Revolution Brewing is at 2323 North
Milwaukee Avenue .
Authors We Like
Rick Riordan: The Right Blend of Humor and Action
By Frank Ward
Rick Riordan was born on June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas. He is now 51years old,
and has published over 46 books. His books have skyrocketed to being some of the
most-read books in the country. I have personally read 16 of Rick Riordan's books and
they are all jaw-dropping, fantastic, and wonderful. It has the perfect combination of
everything my friends and I like in books.
His Percy Jackson series was one of my favorites. Every book in the series gets better.
Out of the series, The Last Olympian is my favorite because of the war that takes place
in Manhattan during the battle. Riordan manages to fit in heartbreak and drama with a
lot of action.
Another book in the Magnus Chase series was one of my all time favorites. The
character had zero fighting skills but still manages to save the day. Riordan has a way
of adding humor and sarcasm in the heart of battle. This series is also hilarious and
action packed.
I think everyone should read Rick Riordan's books. So if you're looking for a good read,
go to your local library and grab one of Rick Riordan's many books.
Photo source: Rick Riordan Wikipedia page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Riordan
May, 2016 Edition
Page 7
Pritzker by the Numbers
Captain America vs. Iron Man
By Alyson Wong
Captain America: 50%
The new movie, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War,
has a battle between Captain America and Iron Man.
This poll was taken to see which side people
belonged. The results were 50- 50. Out of 20 student
polled, 10 were on Captain America's side, and 10
were pro-Iron Man.
Iron Man: 50%
How Do You Play Your Video
Games?
By Joseph Winn
This poll was conducted to see how the Pritzker community plays its
video games. 55 Pritzker students and teachers were asked to what
game platform they use the most. X-box had the most users at 33%.
Wildcat, What Do I Do?
Dear Wildcat,
Dear Wildcat,
How do you define if you're a
pessimist or optimist?
I ran out of frosting while making
cupcakes
for
my
sister's
birthday. What do I do?
-DaWaffleChidori
- Nina McBob
Dear Ms. McBob ,
Simple; you can use whipped cream and top it off with fruit and
or sprinkles. A little trick I learned from the space chinchillas.
At your service,
Wildcat
Dear Waffle ,
Well, there are many more types of
personalities other than pessimist and
optimist. There are realists, surrealist, etc.
You should first start with assessing your
life choices. Do you play it safe? Do you go
for against the odds choices? Do you base
your choices off of evidence you've seen? Do
you often go for creative ideas? Then you
should asses personality. Are you often dark
gloomy and nervous? Are you happy and
posses tenacity? Are you honest and
analytical? Are you creative and open
minded? These questions will often define
your answer.
At your service,
Wildcat
Dear Wildcat,
My brother's girlfriend's mom's cat's previous owner's puppy ate all of
my math homework! I need help!
- George McBedford Jr. 1\2
Dear 1/2 ,
Try printing out the sheet or workbook sheet from online, or you can ask a
classmate to scan and e-mail it to you. If not, try remembering the
questions and writing them down on a piece of paper. I would also check
on the puppy; try taking her\him out for a walk so they can pass the Illustration by Abigail Winn
paper.
At your service,
Wildcat
Do you have a question for Wildcat? Drop a note in the question
box in the lobby. Disclaimer: There is no guarantee that Wildcat's
responses will be accurate or logical.
May, 2016 Edition
Page 8
The Pritzker Press
Staff
Brooklyn Bielke
Allegra Coleman
Conner F. Johnson
Jakob Moe
Murphy Putz
Sofi Rodriguez
Caden Shapiro
Julien Stiehl
Julian Urbaszewski
Amaia Ward
Frank Ward
Abigail Winn
Joseph Winn
Alyson Wong
The Pritzker Press staff after a question and answer session with guest, DNAinfo
reporter Alisa Hauser on Thursday, May 12, 2016. Photo by Dorothy Jagonase
Notices
Please e-mail us at
[email protected] to submit
suggestions, ideas or to post notices on
behalf of your club or organization.
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