![]() By Amber Ortiz Last year Hubbard was on probation for the first time. Hubbard had many problems including attendance and academic test scores. This year, that is not the case. Hubbard rose from probation to a Level 2, thanks to the teachers’ and staff members’ commitment and push. Last year, CPS had a 3 tier system where Level 1 schools show the highest gains, Level 2 schools meet expectations but need more improvement, while Level 3, also known as probation, do not meet standards and need interventions by CPS. According to Mr. Newman, CPS will change its 3 tier system to a 5 tier system starting next year. In this new tier system, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 schools will no longer need “academic improvement strategies” while Level 4 and 5 schools will receive targeted interventions. As a school, Hubbard must work together on attendance and test scores. Many suggestions were made at a meeting on October 9th, 2013. Ideas including robo-calls and split schedules were suggested by teachers. Our new administrators, Ms. Wiley, Ms. Philips, and Mr. Newman, are all dedicated to lifting Hubbard’s status to Level 1. Some people will doubt if we can make it, but as Ms. Wiley said, “Together as team, we’re going to push up to a Level 1.”
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![]() Beatriz Benitez Staff Writer Ms. Phillips is the new assistant principal at Hubbard High School this year. She used to be a teacher, but now she has greater responsibilities. Twelve years ago Ms. Phillips would have never imagined being an assistant principal because all she ever focused on was teaching; once Mrs. Wiley became the principal and chose Ms. Phillips to be the assistant principal, she was ready to take the position head on. As we all know, she has been very involved with making the school better. Ms. Phillips has been on top of enforcing the school rules - especially uniform and attendance. Ms. Phillips has been in Hubbard for her entire education career and she was excited to become the assistant principal, she said, “Hubbard is a great place to be. When the opportunity came I took it.” Hubbard has a magnificent body of students and staff; it’s like home. There’s no other place I would rather be at this point of my career. It’s a wonderful place and to be a part of something that is well structured. I know the students, the staff and that’s why I choose the position as assistant principal.” She misses spending time with her students inside the classroom and getting to know students and being able to help them on a one on one basis. Now that she’s the assistant principal she is more concerned with improving Hubbard. “We have to follow the rules and the school uniform is a rule. Although there are a lot of students that don’t take this seriously for personal reasons, I believe if you can follow the small rules, then you can follow the larger rules and you’ll be better and more productive in society. I know a lot of teachers don’t enforce the rules, which I wish they would, but until then I will continue to enforce them. I will make sure that every student will be in uniform everyday,” said Ms. Phillips. Ms. Phillips concluded, “Hubbard is a great school; it truly is. When I sit down and talk to other education professionals from other schools, we share stories and our school stories are not “bad” as other school stories. Our students are great students.” ![]() Frida Morales Staff Writer This year, Hubbard welcomes our new assistant principal, Mr. John Newman. He has lived on the northwest side of Chicago his whole life. Before coming to Hubbard Mr. Newman was a high school math teacher and mathematics specialist at South Shore School of Leadership for 7 years. He later worked as Hubbard’s ISL technician. After that, he decided to apply for an assistant principal role at Hubbard so that he could work more closely with our school. He stated that in order for him to become an assistant principal at Hubbard, he had to obtain an Illinois state 75 certificate. He feels fortunate to have obtained the position at the end of June, 2013. Now that he's an assistant principal he’s excited because there are good opportunities for him Hubbard. He explained to me that in order to be a principal, he needs to be an assistant principal in the first place. Mr. Newman hopes to learn from being an assistant principal in order for him to become a principal one day. Right now, he wants to take it slow and work with Ms. Wiley to improve Hubbard. His role involves assisting with teacher development in curriculum and instruction. He supports Mrs. Wiley with projects that are received by the school in order to increase student learning and achievement. His job is to also support the students by learning about their needs and making sure they follow school rules. He wants to keep expanding college opportunities for students. He said, "Only a bit of students enroll in college. I'd like to make sure to have the right alignment and curriculum for them."He wants Hubbard’s environment to be safe and well maintained. Mr. Newman said, “Hubbard is known or being a respectful school. I’d like to insure that everyone in Hubbard is treated the same, and that we keep that reputation as it is.” ![]() Maria Esquivel Staff Writer On October 23, the 2013 College Fair was held at Hubbard, bringing students together for an exploration of different colleges and universities. The 2013 college fair was an excellent way to kick of the year. The college fair was hosted by Mrs. Pinter. Kathleen Martinez, Div. 404, said “It was a helpful tool with a lot of information given to us.” Kathleen Martinez also told the Hubbard Cavalier, “I am very happy of all the colleges that assisted and the variety of colleges and universities because I got to see some colleges that I was interested and I got to converse about the majors they offer.” The college fair was a helpful tool for the 2013 senior class by helping them expand their college options. Seniors weren’t the only ones to benefit from talking to their future school. Many underclassmen that attended also got an idea on what schools offer for their planned majors or just to look at schools and prepare for their senior year college search. “I got a chance to see what colleges offer and to see their majors,” said freshman Javier Soto Div. 707. The college fair was a great way to see colleges and universities at their best without stepping foot in their campus. ![]() La’India Cooper Staff Writer Many Hubbard High School students have the dream of becoming a professional athlete, but only few achieve their dream. One former high school student with the same dream achieved that goal. Kelvin Hayden was born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago; he graduated from Hubbard in 1999. Hayden’s dream was to become a professional football player, and he achieved it. Hayden is a former football player for Hubbard; now he is the corner back for the Chicago Bears. He is currently on the injured reserve due to a torn hamstring and will miss the entire 2013 season. However, Hayden is a perfect example of how you can come from a rough neighborhood, not have the best in life, yet still become successful and live your dream. Q. What got you started playing football? A. “When I was a kid I always had a passion for baseball and basketball, one day me and my boys was at the swimming pool and after we got out the pool we went and tried out for a football team, and I haven’t stopped playing since. It was fi ve of us and after two weeks I was the only one still going. I get a different love for football that I don’t get from other sports.” Q. What was your experience at Hubbard like? A. “It was a great experience. Especially me coming from a neighborhood where there are all African Americans and to get that diversity atmosphere, it prepared me for the real world, it prepared me for college, and it just gave me a different insight in how the same we are.” Q. What has been one of your greatest accomplishments as an athlete? A. “Being a kid with a dream and being drafted into the NFL." Q. Who is a “hero” in your life and why? A. “My Hubbard family because I didn’t see potential I had but they did and they didn’t give up on me. My mother of course; she raised me by herself, she’s a strong woman and it takes a lot to be a single parent. Q. Do you have a saying or motto you live by? A. “Started from the bottom now I’m here, Everything I’m not makes me everything I am, and If it was easy anyone would do it.” Q. What was the best advice you were ever given? A. “My mom would always tell me, be a leader never be a follower and I still live by that motto. Don’t let anyone lead your life for you.” Q. What advice would you give to high school students with a dream? A. “Hold on to your dream, don’t lose focus. There will be plenty of things that will try to distract you from your dream, but if you have a direct vision and passion of your dream don’t ever lose sight of it I guarantee something great will happen if you keep your dream, a prime example is myself; I had a rocky road at one point but I just didn’t give up.” By Fernando Mora
Staff Writer On September 30th, Hubbard brought in October 2013 with spirit week. One of the highlights of the week was on Thursday with the pep rally and the homecoming game. The Hubbard High School After School Band led by Mr.Stahlberg and Fernando Olaguez, saxophone player, displayed their Greyhound pride by performing some of the new music they’ve learned. Some of the songs played included “400 Degrees”, “ESPN”, and “Big Ballin”. One of the things everyone looks forward to from the band is the explosive drum line. This year the drummers played “Drumline Cadence” which really pumped up the crowd at the pep rally. Fernando lead the rest of the After School Band through each song at the pep rally and the homecoming game. With this being the first pep rally since 2010, the band helped make it one of the best. At the homecoming game on Sunday, the band played a few popular songs of 2013 including “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell. The band blasted their music towards the field for the crowd and players to get hyped. As the game started, the loud cheers from the crowd pumped up the band to play better and the players to do their best on the field. The band brought excitement to the pep rally and the game; they will keep bringing it to all the further games and concerts still to come. By Marlene Maya
Staff Writer This year’s spirit week was a success! It started on Monday, September 30th, with “Twin/Mix and Match Day”, Tuesday was “Sports and Hollywood Day,” on Wednesday students were excited to dress up for “Blast from the Past/SuperheroDay.” On Thursday students were able to represent their class pride with class t-shirts, and students who bought game tickets were able to attend the pep rally and barbecue held at the school. The barbecue was shortened due to the rain which also caused the homecoming game to be postponed until Sunday with a victory for the Hubbard Greyhounds. On Friday, students were able to wake up and go straight to school not worrying about being in their pajamas as it was “Pajama Day.” Later that night was the Homecoming Dance, an event that was looked forward to the whole week. Throughout the week I interviewed a few people on what they thought about Spirit Week and what they would change for next year. Sylvia Bernal, Div. 406, suggested pep rally should be “cheaper and have better themes.” Vanessa Valle, Div. 406, said she liked “the fact that this was our last year the seniors went all out.” She also said that if she could change any day she would change blast from the past to cartoon day. Other students like Alejandro Alberto, Div. 405, said he felt indifferent about the days of spirit week. Alejandro Alberto mentioned he would like to have “Super Villain Day” or “Celebrities That Went Downhill Day.” “I thought it was wonderful and great, I think the kids really enjoyed it and the pep rally was great, Mr. Benson did a great job,” commented Mr. Flavin to The Cavalier. Hubbard students were enthusiastic and displayed school pride during this year’s spirit week, leaving motivation for the following classes to come. ![]() Lizzete Garcia and Maricarmen Avila Staff Writers Student Life? What’s so important about that? Well you never really know the full experience of being engaged in your school until you are a member of a club. Hubbard High School has a wide variety of clubs offered to their students, ranging from academic clubs to their favorite hobbies. Most people don’t know how passionate many of the club sponsors are towards making clubs interesting and entertaining for students. For example, this school year’s new club “Cooking Masters”, sponsored by Ms. Castro and Ms. Maria has risen to be one of the most popular clubs joined at Hubbard. Cooking a variety of foods enjoyable to all has captured great interest among the students. “What is great about our club, isn’t only that it’s something the students seem to really enjoy, but also that it teaches them an important life skill” as Ms. Castro stated. Hubbard also has more ethnic oriented clubs such as African American Club, Asian Club, Metzli Club, Otaku Club, and others. Metzli is a Latino organization club, sponsored by Virginia Garcia, who provides students with college aid, and helps students earn their Community Service Learning Hours. This organization not only keeps students on track but sponsors events to raise money to donate for good causes. This school not only offers these associations but has plenty more to offer! The National Honor Society has been one of the oldest clubs active at school is sponsored by Ms. Costigan. NHS isn’t just a boring nerdy club like many may think. With their help, we have been able to create blood drives and save many lives. They recognize outstanding students at our school, and it’s a prestigious club to be in because not anybody can join. You have to have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and tutor other students for at least two hours per month. Joining a club can provide opportunities for students to become well rounded, show leadership, and learn new skills while also having fun. Like Thomas Vasquez said, “No one ever discovered anything new by coloring in the lines.” Jennifer Ortega
Staff Writer How many times have you passed by the mural outside the school lunch room and had to stop dead on your tracks to marvel over the work? The mural was inspired by the book “Where the Wild Things Are” and was painted during the 2013 Summer Freshman Segue – which allows incoming freshmen to experience high school life in a stress free environment. When asked why they chose that particular theme for the mural, Jocelyn Romero, Div. 404, explained, “Because Hubbard is where the wild things are!” During the Summer Freshman Segue, freshmen and senior mentors teamed up to create the mural. It was a creative outlet that helped freshmen bond with the school and to feel as though they were already part of the Hubbard family. “Students would bring their friends to show them the mural that they helped create,” said Ms. Breslin, the art teacher and sponsor for the mural. She added that it was also done to beautify the school. ![]() Angel Arellano Staff Writer The number of Hubbard students coming to school tardy has become a viral problem leading to stricter consequences for late students. The attendance and tardy policy, which have been enforced by the attendance staff, mandates for every morning tardy an after school or morning detention. Starting Friday, October 18, students that come in after 8:15 are served lunch time detentions. Students are given a bag lunch and serve detention in a designated room. After school and morning detentions are now given to students who have excessive tardies and cuts.If students choose not to serve detentions, they will be given an in-school suspension. Why are students forced to serve morning or after school detention for being late? During the week of October 14, 180 students were tardy. As a school, we are on a point system by CPS. If we fail to meet this point system, we will feel the negative effects as a whole. The poor attendance of students may affect Hubbard’s ratings, thus giving way to the enforcement of this policy. “This policy is expected to continue until attendance and tardies at Hubbard start to show improvement,” said Mr. Crotty. “All students must be ready with a plan for the sake of themselves to avoid falling prey to the new policy and so they can be on time,” he continued. Mr. Crotty said that other interventions have been made besides detentions. Robo-calls have been sent out for the last two weeks informing parents that students have to be in school by 8:05. Parents have been called in for conferences for students that have been chronically tardy. Building a good foundation within your high school career will help you to build good habits of being on time, become responsible for your actions, and understand that with tardiness comes a consequence |
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