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North's Art Honor Society donates 10+ portraits to the children in Syria through their partnership with the Memory project. Scroll below to view some. ARTWORK CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW ARTWORK MEMORY PROJECT LOAD MORE GALLERY LOAD MORE

North Star Halloween Costume Contest Vote for your favorite costume and photo! The Art Department The Art Department The Art Department The Haunted Maze- Art Club and Art Honor Society Jen ATC and Sam Jen ATC Hot Dogs Alexa D'Andrea and Amelia Muscatelli- Pink and Yellow Princesses Mrs. Meringolo's Class Alexa D'Andrea- Pink Princess Jayda Rutledge- "Joe Cool" Marcus Chiu and Aleeza Dhillon- Wild West Abigail Reichbach and Samantha Defalco- Plum Pudding and Strawberry Shortcake Arianna Hack- Tinker Bell The Art Department The Math Department- Party Animals Fiona from "Adventure Time"- Quinn O'Connor Sophia Reese- Founding Fathers The Math Department- Party Animals Elaine Ching, Melody Chen, Jack Voss VOTE

ALL ARTICLES NEWS ART & CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA FEATURE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLARIS EDITORIAL SPORTS ADVICE The Destructive Aftermath of Hurricane Melissa News Akilan Subramaniyan December 22, 2025 READ MORE North's Annual Club Fair News Wardah Khizer December 22, 2025 READ MORE For what is fear, if fear cannot kill? Polaris Jasmine Roberts December 22, 2025 READ MORE Introductory - Ekin Pinar Advice Ekin Pinar December 22, 2025 READ MORE Welcoming Mr. Bracco! Feature Mikayla Aziz December 22, 2025 READ MORE Enjoy the Silence Feature Jasmine Roberts December 22, 2025 READ MORE Zohran Mamdani: Stepping up Socialism Editorial Breena Bernabe December 22, 2025 READ MORE The Return of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Feature Ava Augello December 22, 2025 READ MORE A Story of Good and Bad Polaris Leah Ally December 22, 2025 READ MORE 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 ... 87

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Ask Ala: How to Manage Stress By Ala Paruch Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by The New York Times Q. Hi Ala! This year has been so crazy, and it just seems to be getting worse. How do I manage stress? A. Hello and thank you for asking! This is such an important question to ask, especially now, when everyone is put under even more pressure than during any other school year. Stress can come from many different sources. Getting to know the source can be a good first step in starting to manage the pressure life brings upon us. Even though that sounds easy, the process can become quite complex because stress can come from a mix of categories like personal, family, social, academic, and economic, though now we have been presented with an addition to the list - a global pandemic (Darity 1).  We can also be affected by the “unwanted, random, uncontrollable, and close together in time” type of events (Darity 1). Trying to keep a track of when your emotion changes occur and analyzing the events beforehand can help pinpoint the roots of the stress. Some people practice recording their day as it passes. Writing can help you unravel your thought patterns and recognize what triggers you. It’s important to take this process little by little, to have patience, because this is going to make it possible to work on your problems later on. As I mentioned before, this is a rather complex process, so don’t hesitate to seek professional help. You can share your problems with a professional and get yourself on the right path to figuring things out and learning concrete methods for dealing with all of the ways stress and anxiety affects you. It is important to know what influences you and address the source directly if possible. It is hard to make up scenarios that would answer everyone’s questions due to the intricate nature of stress, however I will try to provide you with as many resources as possible. In this article, Six surprising sources of stress -- and how to do away with them, Erinn Bucklan presents the readers with six sources of stress (such as your surroundings, relations with others, social media, or your attitude) and simple ways to go about dealing with them healthily. Maintaining “[s]trong healthy relationships with supportive friends and family are beneficial, and support groups and social activities, such as clubs … [and] [v]olunteering also provides benefits'' to your self-worth and self-confidence and gives you the validation many seek (Mental Health 2). Writers also recommend to cope with stress by exercising, enjoying nature, writing in a journal, and participating in other activities” (Mental health 2) They deem “[s]kills such as meditation, prayer, and relaxation exercises are also useful in dissolving stress” (Mental Health 2). Washington Post journalist Elizabeth Chang even suggests watching cute animal videos to calm down and feel happy. That definitely works or me! Her uncomplicated way of communicating coping ideas are perfect for high school students and adults during these difficult times. If you are ever dealing with something you can’t handle on your own, please reach out to others like your family, your friends, your guidance counselor or teachers, or even a hotline. You can always visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to learn more about mental health. Additionally, don’t be afraid to call 211 or visit 211.org to get help. You are important, and there always is someone to help you, so you must reach out for such help. You made a great choice reaching out to me, and I appreciate your trust. What you did may just help one of our readers recognize ways to manage stress or ask for help themselves. Everyone could use some help today during this extra-stressful year! Works Cited Life Events, Stress." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences , edited by William A. Darity, Jr., 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 443-444. Gale In Context: High School , link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3045301354/SUIC?u=nysl_li_vsnhs&sid=SUIC&xid=c5a14ce2. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021. "Six surprising sources of stress -- and how to do away with them." Washingtonpost.com , 25 Feb. 2015. Gale In Context: High School , link.gale.com/apps/doc/A403143888/SUIC?u=nysl_li_vsnhs&sid=SUIC&xid=5f9fc7da. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021. "Mental Health." Gale In Context Online Collection , Gale, 2019. Gale In Context: High School , link.gale.com/apps/doc/ULXUHX033802376/SUIC?u=nysl_li_vsnhs&sid=SUIC&xid=a7062c8e. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021. "Feeling election anxiety? These 12 articles about coping with covid stress may help." Washingtonpost.com , 4 Nov. 2020. Gale In Context: High School , link.gale.com/apps/doc/A640616471/SUIC?u=nysl_li_vsnhs&sid=SUIC&xid=680f56b4. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021. Nami Website: https://www.nami.org/Home BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Beauty in Nature Back to Sections Chris Cooper By Anonymous February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Two New North Clubs By Cody Sung Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by Chess.com There are now two new clubs at Valley Stream North High School. The first one is the Chess Club, run by Mr. Lepanto, one of our Social Studies teachers. The second one is The Readers, advised by Mr. Toffolo, our Library-Media Specialist. I was given the chance to speak with both about their respective clubs. First, I spoke to Mr. Lepanto. I asked him how the Chess Club was established. He said that students approached him and asked if he plays chess and if he would like to start a club. He is an outstanding chess player himself and would like to share his knowledge with students. He says that the Chess Club is for anyone, no matter what level of chess player. He also has his own commitment to the students of North, as he says he always wants to be available for his students. The club officially meets every three weeks on Mondays, but Mr. Lepanto says that “When I’m going to be at school working late on other days, they can stay in the library and play chess on their own.” He added that a lot of students were interested in the club. He was incredibly happy that there was a large amount of interest and said, “That’s stunning.” He hopes that they can play against each other competitively in tournaments and next year play against other schools. I also spoke to Mr. Toffolo and asked him about how his new club, The Readers, started. He said that it began with three students coming to him and saying that they wanted to start a book club. They also talked to Ms. Belbol, the head of the English department, and Dr. Small, the principal, about it. Both Ms. Belbol and Dr. Small informed the students that an advisor was needed, so they came to Mr. Toffolo. The club meets every other Friday. While The Readers is initially meant for the upper grades, he is looking forward to starting a junior high book club. The junior high book club would occur every other week as well, alternating with The Readers. Mr. Toffolo said that “Right now, our important thing is we are trying to find a good first book for us to read.” With that book, he plans to do things a little bit differently compared to a regular book club or an English class. He says that in a regular English class, you get to read, but “to study it, and not necessarily for pleasure.” Students seem to enjoy that idea. The club had many interested students at its first meeting according to Mr. Toffolo. He is hoping to have a steady member count, enough to become an official club. These two clubs have a very promising outlook and will hopefully do very well in the future. If you are interested in joining the Chess Club, please contact Mr. Lepanto at lepantob@vschsd.org . If you are interested in joining The Readers, please contact Mr. Toffolo at toffoloc@vschsd.org . BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Delete, Delete, Delete… Ban? By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Images provided by Tech Crunch For the past several years, the social media app, TikTok has taken over the globe with its popularity. For many, TikTok seems like a harmless app, where one can create content about music, makeup, books, college, and much more. However, TikTok is viewed by many policymakers as a symbol of totalitarianism and illegal surveillance. Gen Z's favorite social media service is in danger because of its parent company Byte Dance’s relationships with the Chinese government - and what happens next could have even broader effects. One solution is to completely ban the app, or to delete it off your phones. My question is, what good would that do? If a ban on the social media app could be enacted, some may argue that it would solve our national security concerns. This ban, however, could ultimately put our national security at risk and would also sidestep a broader issue — the fact that our nation has not addressed the massive amount of data we collect about ourselves digitally, especially when that information could be misused by external adversaries. There are some valid concerns that TikTok may collect personal information from U.S. citizens. There was a recent report by Forbes about a plan to target journalists who have reported critically on the Chinese regime's ties with the company. In an internal investigation, TikTok corroborated all allegations and terminated all involved. Congress was right to ban the installation of TikTok on federally issued devices because the app could target users with special power, knowledge, or both. TikTok collects a lot of information about its users, such as their political inclinations, their locations, and likes and dislikes; however, it’s important to understand that anyone can buy such information on the public marketplace for consumer data or get it from elsewhere. Biographical data is consistently scoured from social media by intelligence agencies without owning TikTok and other social media platforms. While TikTok presents online privacy risks to Americans, it is not the first or most excessive one – and it’s improbable that outlawing or banning TikTok will solve the issue. Other nations won't see TikTok's banning as notably different from what China has done to its citizens by banning it under the same grounds. All Google products, Twitter accounts, and other apps are prohibited in China for its own citizens. It is more important to recognize the symbolic value of this irregularity than consider it unfair: The US triumphs when it demonstrates to the globe that it is a free and democratic nation. It is unclear whether the federal government can even impose a ban on the use of significant communications platforms or control online content to prevent disinformation under the First Amendment. I think the issue with banning TikTok ties back to the fact that many Americans would feel like banning the app infringes upon their rights. I believe that TikTok has its advantages and disadvantages. Our generation is growing up in the world of social media and is being influenced by these apps. However, I also think it is crucial to understand that at the end of the day, it is an individual’s choice to decide if they would like to delete TikTok. From a very young age we are taught that we have the right to certain freedoms: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. The U.S government does not have the ability to ban speech, and posting on TikTok is protected by the First Amendment since it’s a form of speech. This makes banning TikTok not an easy option. Letting the individual decide whether they would like to keep or delete the app would be the appropriate action. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections North Spring Sports Recap By John McCarthy Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Original photo by Michael Frazer It has been an exciting spring season for North athletics as we wind down to the end of the school year. All sports have been successful and some teams have done exceptionally well to find themselves in the playoff picture. Wrapping up the year in this final issue, we look back to the teams and their moments who made this shortened spring season a great summer send-off. Baseball The Varsity team has found a spot in the postseason with a key win over Plainedge on Monday June 7th after pre-game festivities honoring the late Spartan Club President Paul Kay and the team’s seniors. After starting off slow this season, the boys kept their spirits high, earning tight wins against Lynbrook, Floral Park, and Mineola. Moreover, varsity baseball swept their cross-town rivals from Valley Stream South with scores of 10-1 and 15-4. The boys look for more clutch moments as we arrive closer to the Conference 4 playoffs. Jack Lang has been the ace pitcher for the squad, being helped by clutch hitting and defense all season from Ryan Restivo, Andrew Lusterino, and freshman sensation Jimmy Strohlein. Michael Capolino and Luke Sibblies have also pitched very well overall, and the whole roster plays a role in making baseball at North memorable. Looking forward to playoffs, baseball wants to continue the legacy past teams have set by adding more playoff wins this season. Softball “North’s Girls Varsity Softball team, under the guidance of Dan Tronolone, continues their hard work as they head into their second playoff game against Mepham High School, after a 14-1 win against Manhasset High School. Starting pitcher, #8 Christina Ravo, Sophomore, has 58 strikeouts and 9 RBIs at the plate. Catcher, #15 Kayla Santo, Sophomore, batted .472 with 12 RBIs, 3 home runs, and 15 runs scored. She threw out 63% of runners who attempted to steal and picked off 5 base runners. Second basemen, #8 Emmy Saracino, Senior, has 9 RBIs. Starting shortstop, #10 Jillian Cosme, Senior, scored 9 runs and will be continuing her softball career at Queens College.” - Jillian Strojan, Class of 2021 Track and Field Track and Field has a great reputation at North for both boys and girls with banners covered with conference championships over the past two decades. With many athletes qualifying for All-County races and competitions which took place at North on Monday, Valley Stream North is about to wrap up another very successful year. While the boys finished league play with an astonishing record of 12-1, the girls had to outdo the boys finishing a perfect 13-0. Phenomenal athletes such as Ryan John and Thomas Siatsis won many events like the long jump, triple jump, and high jump for Ryan and long distance races for Thomas. As for the girls, Senior Danielle Phillip has not lost a race the entire season in events such as the 100m, 4X100m, and 200m! Accompanying Danielle, exceptional field athletes such as Sasha Smalls, And Oluwatobi Adebowale finished league play with amazing throws in the discus. Here, we have a statement from the aforementioned Sasha Smalls, part of North’s talented Senior Class, describing her reflection on her final North sports season. “The 2021 spring track and field season was bittersweet. I have to say of all the other sports I did this year (winter track and volleyball), the spring season was the most normal. We were fortunate to have spring track run during its normal months which was relieving; I can’t say I enjoyed wearing volleyball spandex in the middle of March. I enjoyed the usual warm weather and longer days that I associate with spring track but as a result of the pandemic, we were not allowed any invitational meets this year. Invitationals are by far my favorite part of competing for the track and field team. It’s an opportunity for a vast number of high schools to gather to improve their times, jumps, and throws without the competitiveness of a normal league meet. There’s a chance to win medals and buy a thrifty shirt to commemorate the experience. Although it wasn’t the most ideal senior season I can’t say I didn’t enjoy time spent with my team and especially all the underclassmen. I'm super sad to be leaving behind this year.” -Sasha Smalls, Class of 2021 Tennis Boys’ Tennis had an extremely successful season this year progressing into Nassau County’s playoffs and featuring two incredible juniors primed for an even better senior year. The boys finished 6-2 in league matches this season and Craig Papajohn-Shaw finished the season undefeated. He and fellow junior Daniel Ellis qualified and will compete in the individual Nassau County Championship at Eisenhower Park. Finally, the third athlete in the tennis Big Three, Everton Prospere, played great sets all throughout the year contributing to the great record the boys earned. Overall, the record for the team was good enough to place 2nd in Conference 3B, an impressive feat on its own. Badminton Coach Schiavo’s Badminton team has had an amazing season and the girls have fun while playing great badminton! Senior Victoria Ling and Junior Ayla Iqbal have placed well in singles matches all season to help rack up team wins for the North Badminton squad. Also, Seniors Erin St. Angelo and Caitlyn Coogan have contributed to the team’s success with doubles wins this season. This season of spring sports could not have been more fun for me, a part of the playoff bound Varsity Baseball team. I’m sure many other athletes feel the same. North has a great tradition of excellence in athletics and the students who make the school proud have fun doing it. High school sports bring out the best in an athlete and brings great moments, full of excitement and oy to the forefront. And don’t forget about racking up those W’s. Go Spartans! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The History of Myanmar and Their Coup By Cody Sung Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 No Image available at this time The date is November 8, 2020. The Myanmar elections saw the leading party, National League for Democracy (NLD) win by a landslide. The military said there was widespread fraud as its party was blown away in the landslide. Fast-forward almost three months, and we arrive at February 1st, the day of the coup. The military arrested Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically-elected leader, and other government officials, and installed the commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, into power. What led up to this, and what’s in store for the future of Myanmar? Let’s rewind to 1948. Myanmar was a British colony, pushing out any native people before colonization. Then, it gained its independence from the British Empire, which by now was rapidly falling apart. Named Burma at the time, the country elected its leaders under a democracy, though its stability was weak. The military, angry at the weak civilian government, performed a coup in 1962, starting off 49 years of military rule. The military dictatorship was socialist, and like other socialist military dictatorships, brutally suppressed protests and opposition to its regime. The dictator tried to do so during a peaceful revolution in 1988. They ended up succeeding, but Ne Win, the leader at the time, resigned, and elections were held. The NLD swept the election with 80% of the seats awarded to them, but the military refused to give up power, and so the military dictatorship continued, up until 2011. In 2011, the military dictatorship was dissolved, after the dictatorship tried to move toward democracy in 2008, and held elections in 2010, but the election is widely considered to be fraudulent. With the military dictatorship at its end, the country transitioned towards true democracy and a mixed economy. This leaves us to where we are right now. The military has taken control over a country that just became a democracy. The military declared a 1-year state of emergency, but it must now deal with protests against their regime. Even with these protests, civil liberties are being restricted, with curfews being put in place for major cities. Will these protests be successful? Will democracy prevail? Sources: BBC News Myanmar coup: What is happening and why? - BBC News Council on Foreign Relations Myanmar’s Troubled History: Coups, Military Rule, and Ethnic Conflict | Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org) Wikipedia (to use as a starting point for my research) Myanmar - Wikipedia Myanmar coup: What is happening and why? People across Myanmar are taking to the streets after a military coup that saw its leaders detained. www.bbc.com BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Thirty-Four Minutes of Kindness Noa Cordova Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Noa Cordova (Based on Charlie Mackesy's Illustrations) “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “Kind.” It is truly an admirable response and captures the main theme of  The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse . Its central theme of kindness inspired one of our AP English Language teachers, Mrs. Brodsky, to show us the film “in the spirit of Thanksgiving.” Initially, she planned to connect the film to our AP English Language curriculum but decided that its lessons were more valuable than the lessons of rhetorical devices and grammar instruction we are taught daily during period 4. I have to say, keeping a room full of high schoolers quiet for a solid thirty-four minutes can be a challenge, but it was something that this film was able to do. Most of us had exams and other commitments stressing us out, but for thirty-four minutes, we focused on something worthwhile; we focused on the depth and beauty of the film. Before Mrs. Brodsky, we have Charlie Mackesy to thank for the experience. The story started in a book written and illustrated by British illustrator, Charlie Mackesy. Inspired by the social restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mackesy sought to draw something that would keep us connected as humans regardless of the circumstances at the time. In his interview on CBS Sunday morning, he revealed that when he draws, “it starts as a feeling.” He describes the book as “a story for everyone”, and I’d have to agree; the story’s message, although ironically conveyed by animals, is a story about humanity. Apart from his work on  The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse , he worked with Nelson Mandela on  The Unity Series . When he is not working with his pencil in hand, he is co-running Mama Buci, an organization that supports bee-keeping communities in Zambia. I’d say it’s evident that Mackesy is a pure soul and dedicates his time to worthwhile causes he is passionate about; it is not surprising he told such a moving story with simple illustrations in just thirty-four minutes. A lost boy, a sensitive mole, a lonely fox, and a wise horse teach us a whole lot about kindness, friendship, and emotions as they embark on a journey to bring the boy home. We are first introduced to the boy who is feeling lost, as many of us have at one point. Next, we meet the mole who reminds us of the importance of appreciating the beauty of life and worrying less. He reminds us that often our worries have simple solutions, like cake. Like the mole, we all have our equivalent of cake; we each have something that makes us forget our worries, even if it’s just for a while. Under more ominous circumstances, we meet the fox, who becomes an unexpected friend to the boy and the mole. The fox embodies character growth; he teaches us the importance of second chances and seeing the good in others. The horse is the last to join the trio and provides them all with a great deal of wisdom throughout their journey home. He reminds us about the bravery in asking for help, the love of true friendship, and the validity of our emotions. By the end of the thirty-four minutes, it’s easy to see a little bit of ourselves in each of these four friends. Mrs. Brodsky shared the film with us in the spirit of Thanksgiving, Charlie Mackesy released the film last year on Christmas Eve, and I’m encouraging you to watch the film or even read the book to start the new year; it goes to show that its lessons are timeless. I think that since the new year kicks off the winter season, it makes it a perfect time to watch the film as its snowy atmosphere will make you want to wrap up in some blankets with some tea and of course, cake. As we think about going into the new year, watching this film may change your perspective on some things. As you write your New Year's resolutions maybe you’ll be reminded of the things that really matter like kindness, friendship, and love. As the boy reminds us from the beginning, growing up to be a kind person should be our ultimate goal; it should come before any other career choice because “everything happens on the inside.” This year, we can all apply a lesson or two from the film. Although like the mole we may feel small in such a vast world, we’ll be reminded that we do make a difference. I think the mole would likely appreciate Mahatma Gandhi’s saying that “in a gentle way, you can shake the world.” Maybe we’ll choose to accept some unexpected, new people into our lives as the characters did with the fox. Maybe we’ll learn to be someone people can lean on or a source of comfort, as the horse was for his new friends. Maybe we’ll discover what it means to have a home, like the boy. Hopefully, we’ll surround ourselves with people who are glad we are all here and remind us that we each have a purpose. According to the boy, that purpose is primarily to love, and I’d say it's hard to disagree. I’d say this film has a lesson for everyone, so I encourage you to find yours. The profound connections and touching lessons are heart-warming enough to keep us (and the boy who only has a hoodie even though it's snowing) warm this winter season. It is truly impressive how much you can learn about kindness in just thirty-four minutes. Watch The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - Movie - Apple TV+ Charlie Mackesy Charlie Mackesy's lessons in kindness ( youtube.com ) Mama Buci - honey in its purest form BACK TO TOP