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Welcome to North Star, Valley Stream North High School's student news and literary magazine! Whether you want to read about your specific interests or browse the work of talented students, we have something for everyone. Welcome to Volume 6 Issue 1: Venus! Catch up on what you missed to start this new beginning. NORTH STAR VALLEY STREAM NORTH'S STUDENT NEWS & LITERARY MAGAZINE Purposeful Polaris Stories I Want to Knit POLARIS By Jasmine Roberts Read More Goodbye POLARIS By Leah Ally Read More Events and Advice Advice from A Senior ADVICE By Sahar Ali Read More College Essay EDITORIAL By Noa Cordova Read More History of Easter ART AND CULTURE By Leah Ally Read More VSN Past End of Year Highlights MSA Events MSA's Annual Eid Festival NEWS By Wardah Khizer Read More MSA Day of Unity Conference NEWS By Wardah Khizer Read More Fresh Features Senior Send-Off FEATURE By Leah Ally Read More The Ice Bucket Challenge: Does it help the Mental Health Cause? FEATURE By Mya Hans Read More Teacher Appreciation Week FEATURE By Ava Augello Read More Current Events TikTok Ban in The United States NEWS By Sahar Ali Read More Interview With the Seniors of Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Team SPORTS By Rehmat Kaur Read More Behind the Rallies: Your 2025 Girls’ Badminton Team SPORTS By Rehmat Kaur Read More Olympics of the Visual Arts FEATURE ART & CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA NEWS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLARIS EDITORIAL SPORTS ADVICE Sections ADVERTISEMENTS Add a Title Describe your image Add a Title Describe your image Add a Title Describe your image Add a Title Describe your image Add a Title Describe your image J1A & VSN Flyer Join Student Council Polaris

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections My Favorite Anime/Manga (By Women!) By Zoie James Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Amazon When quarantine first started, my passion for anime grew; I would binge-watch seasons of anime or even finish an entire series in one day. Many teens at our school have an interest in anime like myself, so I decided to write a list of anime and manga written by women since it’s Women’s History Month! Toradora! by Yuyuko Takemiya Toradora! describes the story of Taiga Aisaka and Ryuji Takasu, two high schoolers who have crushes on each other’s best friends. They agree to help each other woo their crushes while dealing with other chaotic predicaments and experiences at their high school. Will Taiga and Ryuji win their crushes’ hearts, or will they end up finding love elsewhere? Kids on the Slope by Yuki Kodama Kaoru Nishimi, the new student, doesn’t have many friends and keeps to himself often. When Kaoru first meets classmate Sentaro Kawabuchi, Kaoru is not too fond of Sentaro because of his bad reputation; however, after meeting Ritsuko Mukae, Sentaro’s best friend, she takes Kaoru to her family’s music store – where they find Sentaro playing the drums to jazz music! Ritsuko asks Kaoru to play the piano along with Sentaro’s drums, but Kaoru refuses at first. However, after playing together, Kaoru and Sentaro develop a friendship, and Kaoru slowly comes out of his shell. Kids on the Slope shows how music can bring different people together and helps others find joy during the toughest of times. Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi Kagome Higurashi, a middle schooler from Tokyo, falls down a well at her family shrine – and wakes up in Japan’s Sengoku Period. Kagome then meets the half-demon Inuyasha after she accidentally shatters the Shikon Jewel, and the shards scatter all throughout Japan. In this anime, Kagome and Inuyasha go on dangerous and mystical adventures to find all the shards of the Shikon Jewel before Naraku, an evil half-demon, snatches the jewel from them. Noragami (Stray God) by Adachitoka Hiyori Iki had a normal middle school life until she got hit by a bus while trying to save a stranger in the middle of the road - but the stranger is not human. He is the nameless god, Yato, who wants someone in the human world to make a shrine for him and hopes that Hiyori will do so when he offers to fix her body. Hiyori’s soul left her body after the bus accident; she can still use her human body, but Hiyori’s soul often leaves her body uncontrollably. After befriending Yato, Hiyori goes on many adventures with him and his friend Yukine while meeting other gods in their town. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun by Izumi Tsubaki Chiyo Sakura confesses her love to fellow student Umetaro Nozaki; in response, Umetaro gives Chiyo an autograph and asks her to work with him. He takes her to his apartment, where Chiyo later realizes that Umetaro is the manga author Sakiko Yumeno and agrees to take the job as his assistant for his latest manga, Let’s Fall in Love, where Umetaro and Sakura use students at their school as influences for the characters. Chiyo sees this as an opportunity to get closer to Umetaro, and hopefully confess her feelings to him once again – will they stay friends, or fall for each other? BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Back to Sections Isabella Mascetti By Isabella Mascetti Volume 3 Issue 1

Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Symbiosis By Keren Dial November 24, 2020 Colored Pencil Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections Senior Year By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by ibarna Senior Year, a time of change and growth, A journey of memories, both bitter and sweet, The end of one chapter, a new one to greet. Days filled with laughter, moments of tears, The future lies ahead, beckoning us to explore, Senior Year, a time to cherish, to adore. Endless nights studying, preparing for exams, Counting down to graduation day, Senior Year, a time we won't forget, come what may. To the memories, the love, and the tears, A time of growth, of laughter, and cheer, A bittersweet ending, but a new beginning near. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art Back to Sections Cherry Blossom Trees By Carolina Grace Figueroa Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by Country living Magazine Cherry blossom trees flower in the US between mid-March and mid-April and last for less than two weeks. These special blossoms symbolize that spring is in the air, represent signs of rebirth and renewal, and bring about love, hope, and joy. There are over 200 diverse varieties of cherry blossom trees, with billowy flowers ranging in color from white to ivory to rose pink to dark pink. These trees are special because they have many flowers and little to no fruit. Not all cherry blossom trees actually bear edible fruit; only some variations do. Cherries do grow on some of the trees, but they remain smaller in size than store bought cherries and are much too sour to eat (they are used largely for ornamental purposes). There were no cherry blossom trees in the US in the late 1800’s, so Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, an American world travel writer, was determined to change that. For 24 years, she tried to convince the US government to plant these special trees in Washington, DC. In 1909, First Lady Helen Herron Taft, the wife of President William H. Taft, agreed to accept 2,000 cherry blossom trees as a gift from Japan. The first shipment that arrived to the US in 1910 was infested with insects and diseases, so they were burned and destroyed. However, 3,020 healthy trees of twelve different varieties arrived in 1912 and were planted in the nation’s capital. To reciprocate, the US gifted dogwood trees to Japan in 1915. The cherry blossom trees became a symbol of the blooming relationship, growing friendship, and strong bond between the nations of Japan and the US heartland. This year signifies the 110th anniversary of the first cherry blossom trees arriving in America from Japan. Cherry blossom trees grow all across Japan, where they are called sakura , and have carried a very special meaning for hundreds of years. When they flower, they represent the arrival of spring, the start of something new, a revival, and an appreciation of life. It reminds us about new life, new beginnings, and to never lose hope in life. In an over 1,000-year-old Japanese tradition called hanami , people throw “flower watching” or “flower viewing” parties, where they gather under canopies of cherry blossoms to celebrate this wonderful time of year. The cherry blossom season depends on geographical location, climate, and weather conditions (temperature, winds, rain, daylight). The warmer the temperature, the earlier the trees bloom. They have been flowering earlier than ever in the past few years and scientists attribute this to climate change and global warming. Whenever they bloom, they don’t last very long. A few days after peak or full bloom, the delicate petals begin to fall off and float gently in the air to the ground. Millions of people across the US flock to see this naturally beautiful spectacle, especially at The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, (with over 3,800 cherry trees within the park) and the colorful display at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in NYC (at the Sakura Matsuri Festival). In Traverse City, Michigan, along Highway M-37, drivers delight in a floral spring show of about 2 million cherry blossom trees that line the roadway. It is important to remember “Don’t pluck or break off a cherry blossom in Washington, DC, or climb a cherry blossom tree, as you could get fined or arrested” (It is viewed as vandalism of federal property). As the buds burst open in parks and streets across the country, people throw picnics and outdoor hanami (“watching blossoms”) parties with friends and family “to appreciate the fleeting beauty of the flowers and to welcome in the warmth of the weather”. Hanami picnics are even more spectacular at late-night, when Japanese hang paper lanterns in cherry blossom trees to illuminate them to give off an ethereal glow. There are many seasonal cherry blossom treats and snacks all across the world that one can enjoy during a picnic, hanami , or cherry blossom festival celebrating the change of seasons: Baskin-Robbins has a frozen treat cherry blossom flavored ice cream in Japan, getting its taste and pink color from sakura extract (from edible cherry blossom leaves), while Haagen-Dazs in the UK included cherry blossom flowers in their favorite ice cream jubilee. Georgetown Cupcakes, a bakeshop in Washington, DC, offers this designer baked beauty cupcake every spring. Their vanilla cupcake has fresh cherries inside, cherry-infused cream cheese frosting, and a decorative cherry blossom flower on top. Japan’s largest doughnut chain, Mister Donut, offers a selection of cherry blossom doughnuts. Here they use dough with the special flowers baked right in, as well as sakura-flavored icing and whipped cream. In different regions of Japan, there are individual variations of the iconic mochi dessert, which consists of sweet chewy rice balls filled with red bean paste ( anko ) and wrapped in aromatic pickled cherry blossom leaves. The leaf (and flower petal blossoms) is edible and adds a slightly salty taste. Cherry blossom flavored French macarons are offered at Olivia Macaron in Washington, DC. These sweet and subtle fragrant treats are the perfect springtime bite. Cherry blossom madeleine cookies are delightfully buttery, slightly sweet and salty, with a hint of cherry blossom fragrance. As for beverages, sakura infused versions of Coke and Pepsi have a light, delicate cherry and flowery taste. You can pair up a sweet treat with brewed sakura blossom tea or a cocktail, or enjoy one of Starbucks seasonal sakura-themed lattes. Cherry blossom trees grow all over the world, from Australia to Brazil to France to Turkey to Japan to the US. Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan and help us to appreciate the beauty of nature all around us. They are used in Japanese art, film, poetry, literature, dishware, stationary, and musical performances. In the US, “Japanese Cherry Blossom is a top-selling fragrance from Bath and Body Works, with 30 million units of the mixture of cherry blossoms, crisp pears, mimosa petals, and sweet sandalwood sold each year”. Besides being charmingly pretty and sweetly scented, these notable flowering trees have years of heritage and rich history, as well as many festivals hosted in their honor each year! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections North Drama Club Glows in “Radium Girls” Cody Sung Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image Provided by Amy Italiano North’s Drama Club presented Radium Girls which ran on the cafeteria stage for three performances from Friday evening, November 17 to Saturday evening, November 18. Described as a “powerful” and “engrossing” drama by critics, it follows the early 20th-century story of young women who applied radium to watches under the belief that it was a substance with no harmful side effects. In time, the devastating side effects in fact wreaked havoc on their bodies, leading to a major lawsuit against the US Radium Corporation, the company that employed them. The play begins with the girls working at a radium watch factory owned by the US Radium Corporation. They cleaned the radium-covered brushes with their mouths under the impression that it was safe – after all, Marie Curie, played by Zaida Ayestas, had told them so. However, after a few years, the girls begin to fall ill stemming from a jaw condition – this leads to one of the girls, Irene, played by Gianna Perlaza, dying. Irene’s two friends from the factory, Grace, played by Isabella Mascetti, and Kathryn, played by Quinn O’Connor, question the factory and its owner, Arthur Roeder, played by Rachel Ezeadichie, over the mysterious deaths of Irene and other girls from the factory. While they begin to question the radium factory, Grace and Kathryn begin to fall ill themselves. This only heightens their suspicions about radium and its side effects. As more women die and the government begins investigating the plant, members of the press, played by Justin Levine and Carolina Caraballo, brings the story to national attention. Grace, driven by support across the country, begins the process of suing the US Radium Corporation, while the company scrambles to mitigate the reputational damage, hiring investigators and lying to the government about the results. The heightened pressures on Grace take a toll on her relationships with her boyfriend, Tom, played by Giancarlo Oliveri, and her mother, played by Laney Ching. Continuing to press on with her lawsuit, she rejects substantial cash offers from the press for exclusive coverage and from the US Radium Corporation to halt the suit. Eventually, the situation reaches a tipping point, with internal conflicts inside the company over the mismanagement of the crisis and the founder, Edward Markley, played by Bryce Sloane, revealing that radium is, in fact, extremely dangerous. The judge for the lawsuit, also played by Laney Ching, lets the lawsuit advance to a trial, despite the Corporation’s continued attempts to delay the trial. Eventually, the affected women and the US Radium Corporation reached a settlement for the company to pay each woman a substantial cash sum and to pay for their medical bills resulting from their radium illnesses. Grace returns to a more normal life, although she is severely debilitated. The performance was a masterpiece and captivated the audience’s attention and emotions throughout with the strength of the actors’ performances and the seamless work of the stage and tech crew. Dr. Small claimed that it “was a shining testament to the talents of the young actors and stage crew,” while Ms. Belbol, the English Department Chair, commented that the “performances were deeply emotional, leaving the audience in tears and in shock at this deeply troubling story in our American history.” A phenomenal job by the Radium Girls cast and crew! Sources https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/26052945 https://www.playbillder.com/show/vip/Valley_Stream_North_High_School/2023/Radium_Girls_155523 Amy Italiano: RADIUM GIRLS REVIEWS ARE IN! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections Two Flowers By Victoria Niksa Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image Provided by Elaine Ching “His eyes like a vorTeX- AHHHHHHHHHH” “CIRICE. IT HAS BEEN THE SAME ALBUM FOR THE PAST 2 HOURS!” Layla shouted as she dragged Cirice off her bed by her legs onto the cold, hard floor. Layla was Cirice’s childhood friend. They met in first grade and despite argument after argument, they were older now and more mature. “OH? YOU’RE MAD ABOUT THAT? HOW ABOUT WHEN YOU REWATCHED THAT SAME VIDEO FOR 10 MINUTES WITH THE SAME 6-SECOND AUDIO?” “OH, COME ON! I WAS SENDING IT TO FAY, YOU KNOW THAT!” Despite being older and more mature, they still argue over the dumbest things imaginable. People say that if you have different zodiac signs or almost nothing in common, you’ll clash with the other person and you guys can’t have fun. But Cirice and Layla were a perfect example of that being untrue. After a few minutes of bickering over absolutely nothing, the room held a long silence; until the two busted out laughing. “We are absolutely nuts. Fighting over nothing?” “It’s giving…” “Us in elementary school!” The two said in unison while wheezing with laughter. “Ok but I’m serious, I hear this album one more time I will burn all your CDs. Headphones exist too, you know!” “I’d use them if they didn’t give me a migraine every time I wore those dumb things.” “Ok, well please can you figure something out because I don’t wanna listen to songs about spirits in the form of heavy metal music again, please and thank you.” “Meh, yeah you’re welcome.” “Well, I did like that one at what I’m assuming is the beginning, the one in Spanish!” “Infestissumam? Layla… I hate to break it to you but that is in Latin!” “Oh…” “Yeah, you have quite a bit to learn. Also, once you find out the English translation you are probably going to hate it.” Whenever these two were together, chaos can unfold; and fast. The two girls are and have always been drama queens and sass lovers which to someone else who doesn’t know them would seem like a bad thing, but to these two and them only, it was something they could laugh about later. They can talk and talk for hours about the same subject whether or not it was interesting. Even if it was interesting for Layla and not for Cirice or vice versa, the other would be heavily invested regardless of the topic. The Next Day “Soo Ciri… How’s you and you know whoooo?” “Really? We can talk about any topic and you’re choosing him?” “Oh! I forgot… We have three to talk about now! Your pick, which boy do we talk about today?” “I regret telling you anything about this.” “Hmm…What were their names again? Ah, yes… Jacob, Ryder, and Liam!” “No way you remembered all that…” “Aww, and you think I don’t listen to you! Silly Ciri!” “Ugh, can we talk about Ghost instead?” “Yes! Once you tell me about your crushes~~” Layla doesn’t stop until she gets what she wants. She knows what she wants to know and when she wants to hear it. She’s just a little too impatient. “Ok, here, let’s make a deal. You can put on whatever songs you want. Ghost, Metallica, Nirvana, whatever. But you have to tell me about your crushes. Ok?” “Negotiation really is your middle name… ugh, fine I guess.” An Hour Later “Ok maybe I just set you up with someone, these boys suck! Ew, they’re so unromantic I can’t. It’s disgusting…” “I think you’re forgetting we’re in 8th grade…” “Tch, being in 8th grade doesn’t mean anything, if these boys aren’t at your feet, then leave!” Cirice was hoping one of her other friends would text her and get her out of this situation. She can’t even bear to listen to another word about how she deserves princess treatment from boys. She doesn’t like to think she deserves anything from anyone, especially not boys her age. She knows all she is to everyone else is, “The weird girl” or “The crazy one.” “Hello?! Are you even listening to me? I’m giving you valuable advice right now!” “Yes… sorry my mind is just all over the place…” “Sigh, well I guess I can just tell you everything later…” “Actually, there’s no need for that…” “Are you thinking what I’m thinking…?” “SLUMBER PARTY!!” The two shouted in unison. “Oh my gosh we should totally invite Alexis and Kassie!” “We should! It’s been so long since we’ve all hung out together!” “You text Alexis, I’ll text Kassie.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Interview with Elyas Manal Layachi Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Elyas Layachi Elyas Layachi (left), in a picture with Otto the Orange, Syracuse’s mascot. Elyas Layachi, a North alumnus class of 2023, currently attends Syracuse University. I interviewed him to see how his college experience is going so far.   Why did you choose to attend Syracuse University? I chose to attend Syracuse University because of its beautiful campus, wide range of educational opportunities in so many majors/areas of interest, its big school feel, and its location in the heart of upstate New York.  What do you miss the most about North? The one thing I miss most about North is definitely the people, including both the students and staff. I made such great relationships with my teachers and peers, and I miss them all very much.  How is the college experience going so far? So far, college is going pretty well! I was able to adjust to it pretty quickly, but it is still definitely overwhelming despite having fewer classes and more free time than in high school. The classes are also a lot more difficult than I expected them to be, but so far, I have adjusted well. How did you transition from high school to college? To be honest, I didn’t really think much about my transition from high school to college. I kept busy over the summer working at one of my favorite places - Mid-Island Day Camp - while also spending time with family and going dorm shopping. The only time I thought about my transition from high school to college was the few days leading up to my move-in. I was originally very stressed at first, since I didn’t know what to expect, and I wasn’t mentally prepared to move into a new home. Once I moved in, however, everything settled into place, and I found that I love Syracuse University very much. It is already starting to feel like my second home! What extracurricular activities are you participating in? I am currently participating in STEM Initiative, a club that takes undergraduate students studying a STEM-related field to the local middle and high schools to educate students about STEM, and I am also a part of the running club here. I also like to watch home soccer and football games. (Go Orange!) Do you participate in the music program at Syracuse? If so, how is it? I do participate in the music program here at Syracuse. I auditioned for the orchestra a week after I moved in, and I made the cut. It is a very enlightening and fun experience, and I love having the opportunity to play beautiful, complex music with such amazing musicians, most of whom are music majors in the Setnor School of Music.  What is your favorite thing about Syracuse? Right now, my favorite thing about Syracuse has to be the community. There are so many nice people on campus and the staff are awesome and always willing to help. I also love the sense of community that arises every Saturday when we have a football game. It gets super fun here on Saturdays and all of the town comes to watch the games. It truly makes me feel a part of something bigger and I love that feeling. What do you look forward to the most when you go home? When I go home, the thing I look forward to the most is seeing my family again. I miss them so much. Even though I’m not too far from Long Island, and I love coming back home to see them every once in a while. What is your favorite thing to do in Syracuse? My favorite thing to do in Syracuse right now is watching the football games with friends and getting immersed in the energetic athletic environment of the university.  How is college different from high school for you? There is definitely a lot more freedom in college. I had a lot of freedom choosing my classes, as well as a lot of free time in between classes (sometimes up to 3 hours) in which I would either study, practice violin, or just relax. How is dorm life for you? Do you miss home? Dorm life is pretty fun. I enjoy living with people I just met, and it is definitely an eye-opening experience living with people from different cultural backgrounds, states, and even countries. Do you have any tips for juniors and seniors that are looking at colleges? I would definitely say do not stress the college application process, and keep in mind that regardless of whether or not you get into your dream school, you will end up where you want to be. Originally, I did not even think of applying to Syracuse until I took Syracuse chemistry with Mrs. Schroeder, and I am so glad I applied here. Even though I got rejected by my dream school MIT, I still love Syracuse University and I am super glad to be here.  What are you majoring in? I am currently in the aerospace engineering program, but I am switching to mathematics education for grades 7-12 next semester. What profession do you hope to have in the future? I hope to one day become a middle or high school math teacher.  Is there anything else you would like to add? College is awesome! Also, I miss you VSN! I enjoyed interviewing Elyas about his college experience. Be sure to wish him luck at Syracuse. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections World Cup 2022 By Leah Ally Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image produced by Leah Ally ince 1930, the World Cup has been the most popular and most watched sporting event as 32 qualifying teams go head-to-head in a series of games to determine which nation will hold the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Every four years, the World Cup has become a worldwide event beloved by soccer fans and even those who may not be too familiar with the sport. Undoubtedly, the World Cup will continue its long-lasting legacy for years to come. The 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar, starting November 20th and ending December 18th. This would be the first time the World Cup would be held in the winter, as it was determined that Qatar’s hot climate would not be suitable to be played in during the summer. With 64 matches to be played in eight locations across five cities, the contest took place over 29 days (about four weeks). Thirty-one teams were chosen from each of FIFA’s six regional soccer confederations based on their performances over the last four years, while the national football team of Qatar automatically qualified for the event, their first World Cup. Due to its treatment of women and migrant laborers, as well as its climate, lack of vibrant football culture, scheduling adjustments, and claims of bribery for hosting rights, the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has been controversial. The event was estimated to be the most expensive World Cup ever hosted, with $220 billion worth of expenses, which would result in a 40% increase in ticket prices since the 2018 tournament. Over the event, the World Cup was expected to draw 5 billion viewers, over half of the world’s population. This year’s event was bound to be emotional for fans and players as numerous stars announced retirement. These players include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Thiago Silva, and Guillermo Ochoa. As of now, Qatar 2022 will mark the last World Cup for these stars as they will continue their legacy off the field while hoping for their final victory. It is safe to say the World Cup of 2022 would be exciting for both fans and teams, with high hopes and anticipation as history would be made. BACK TO TOP