Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Are You Part of It? Noa Cordova Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Clipart Library In school, we get graded on homework, projects, assignments, tests, quizzes, and another thing that you cannot turn in or put on paper: participation. So, what is participation? As I see it, participation is involvement or being a part of something whether it is a discussion, activity, or group. We are aware of the importance of participation in the classroom, partly because our teachers stress it every day, and Infinite Campus sends us notifications for our participation grades, but how are we of the importance of participation outside of the classroom? I would like to focus on the kind of participation we are not graded on or our involvement in the school community. Throughout September, we heard about the many extracurriculars that Valley Stream North offers at the club fair dedicated to displaying the activities of the different clubs to new students or others looking to get involved. The idea that we should attend school events, join clubs, or try out for sports has been discussed repeatedly, but for good reason. I think that we have become heavily focused on how extracurriculars look on paper for college applications and overlooked the reason it matters to colleges in the first place. I spoke with Mr. Brodsky, one of the guidance counselors here at Valley Stream North, about the importance of involvement in the school community, and he mentioned that, “not only will it enhance your college application, but it will also show the college that you are a well-rounded student and that you want to give back to the community.” A majority of the clubs here at VSN work for the betterment of the school community or society; however, are those clubs as popular as sports? At our grade level assembly, our assistant principal, Mr. Jara, asked us to stand to gauge the extracurriculars students were involved in. A majority of students participated in sports and other clubs, but several were only involved in sports. Of course, playing a sport is healthy, builds community, and demonstrates school spirit; however, I think participation outside of the classroom should go beyond athletics and include activities that directly work to benefit the school community because, as I discussed with Mr. Brodsky, it says a lot about a student when they dedicate time to serve the community and inspire others to do so as well. It is important that we all collectively understand the importance of joining clubs that work to serve the school community. The Alliance, BSU, Ecology Club, Key Club, SADD Club, STOP Club, and Wellness Center are examples of clubs that serve the school community. These clubs provide everyone with the opportunity to help support a cause that they are enthusiastic about, which matters to colleges because according to Mr. Brodsky, when colleges are working on admitting students, they want to know, “Will they enhance our community as they did in high school, or on a bigger scale?” These organizations are a space to participate in discussions, campaigns, fundraisers, decorating, and unique activities organized by these clubs which work to enhance the community. Participation in the school community is not limited to the few clubs or sports we choose to join; it includes supporting the clubs we are not a part of. Spirit days are popular amongst the clubs here at VSN and allow others to support the causes that other clubs advocate for. Spirit days are a simple way to uplift our school community or other communities by making the simple decision to wear a specific color, yet there seems to be a lack of participation. As a member of clubs like SADD, where we plan out spirit weeks to get others involved in our campaigns, I have noticed that several students do not participate in spirit days. Advertising does not seem to be the issue because flyers are displayed, morning announcements are made, and reminders are posted via teams. I understand that we cannot all participate in every spirit day because not everyone owns a pink shirt, cultural clothing, a lei, or has a favorite celebrity to dress up as, but we should try our best to participate in those that we can because supporting other clubs is a significant part of school participation. We can make a statement as a school community with a wardrobe choice and show our dedication to a particular cause. Some spirit weeks are just for enjoyment or school spirit, and participating in these days demonstrates your support for our school. Another more direct way to participate by supporting other clubs is by attending fundraisers or sales. Certainly, you do not have to buy at every fundraiser, and you should only spend money if your financial situation allows you to do so. As someone without a sweet tooth, it is understandable that not everyone would like to purchase a pie, cookie, or muffin, but clubs also sell practical items like pens, pins, water bottles, or bracelets. Recently, North's band held a fundraiser for the Daler community to help support them after the Farmingdale bus tragedy, an example of how participating in the school community can help another community. Students may not participate in fundraisers, spirit days, or clubs because they are unsure of how it helps or what it is for, so I would encourage everyone to ask. Ask advisors, teachers, and club members how you can get involved and participate in the many wonderful activities going on in the school community. Everyone has something to contribute, so ask questions and be part of it! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections Heckscher - Anonymous - 3 Entry 12 April 14, 2022 Acrylic Volume 2 Issue 6

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections April Showers Bring May Flowers By Manal Layachi Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Original artwork by Manal Layachi You may have heard the someone say, “April showers bring May flowers,” but what does it actually mean? The meaning of this phrase is very simple. It is a reminder that the most unpleasant events can bring about enjoyable results. In this case, the rain in April helps bring flowers in May. This phrase also teaches a lesson about patience. While waiting for the rain to stop is boring, being patient pays off because in return, flowers will bloom. Even though the rain might make you feel gloomy, when the sun comes out and it is May, flowers will start to bloom and that will change your mood from sad to happy. You might be wondering where this phrase originated. Thomas Tusser, a poet from England, wrote a similar line in a poem during the 1500s. The phrase that he wrote was “Sweet April showers do spring May Flowers.” In England during the month of April, there are huge weather swings with the jet stream going northward at the start of springtime. The month of April is typically the time when the final bit of snow turns to rain as temperatures climb. Increased rain shower activity sparks the beginning of flowers, trees, and plants that start blooming. April is a soggy month based on the position of the jet stream. Since that area has a cooler climate, the lower temperatures push back the appearance of flowers to late April and early May. So, the next time you hear the phrase “April showers bring May flowers”, remember what delightful and surprising things are brought during that time. Sources : www.army.mil and www.wearegreenbay.com and blogs.missouristate.edu BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Godwin By Kimberly Shrestha March 28, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 5

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Anonymous - Who Am I? - 6 By Anonymous November 19, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections North Star Advice Aamna Raja Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 “ Hi, Aamna! I wanted to ask your advice on some feelings I’ve been having. Recently, I started having feelings for one of my close friends. I really like everything about them! I have been friends with them for a while now, and I don’t want to ruin the relationship we have now by telling them how I feel. I’m worried that things may become awkward between us if I say something, and I’m scared to lose the friendship we have, but at the same time, I feel like I need to just tell them how I feel. What should I do?” -Lego Fortnite I hope you’re having an amazing day, Lego! First of all, I totally get where you’re coming from; your feelings are valid. The fear of losing a friendship that you value over a confession is common and very justified. But remember, feelings can’t and won’t just disappear because you ignore them. In some situations, ignoring your feelings can even make your inner turmoil worse, and the stress can start to spread to other parts of your life. That doesn’t mean you have to rush into a dramatic confession, but to reduce your stress, you should address them. Consider testing the waters first—see how they respond to compliments and deeper, more personal conversations. Sometimes, you’ll get a sense of whether the feeling is mutual without having to spell it out. If you’re still unsure, think about how your current dynamic works. Are you both good at handling emotional honesty? If you are, that’s a sign you shouldn’t fear an open conversation about your emotions, and a confession won’t hurt your bond. If you choose to tell them, keep it simple and low-pressure. Something like, “Hey, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I really value our friendship. I’ve started to like you as more than a friend, but I don’t want this to change anything between us if you don’t feel the same” can communicate your feelings while also letting them know that there’s no pressure to change your current dynamic. And if they don’t feel the same? It might be awkward for a bit, but true friendships bounce back. Just give it time. If they do feel the same—well, then you’ve opened the door to something even better! You’ve got this, Lego. No matter what happens, being honest with yourself is always the right move. Wishing you luck, Aamna BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature, Science & Technology Back to Sections NASA Got Its First Asteroid Sample Cody Sung Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by NASA/Keegan Barber On September 8, 2016, NASA launched a spacecraft to an asteroid to collect a sample of rocks and dust from its surface. Seven years later, on September 24, 2023, the craft landed on Earth, carrying the first NASA samples from an asteroid in its history. The spacecraft’s name is OSIRIS-REx, standing for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer. This name sounds complex, and it is, but it simply means that the craft’s goal was to fly to an asteroid, scan it, take a sample from it, and return to Earth. The asteroid used for the mission was called 101955 Bennu, considered a near-Earth asteroid. Bennu is only around one-third of a mile wide at its equator but is a time capsule from the Solar System’s early days – it gained its present composition only a little bit after the formation of the Solar System. NASA suspects that it may have organic molecules in its carbon-rich environment like those that helped start life on Earth. To find out more about Bennu, NASA began developing the mission with help from scientists at the University of Arizona and built the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. NASA equipped it with a camera suite, laser technology, light and heat scanners, an X-ray imaging device, and a sampling device. These pieces of equipment, along with the rest of the craft, weighed around 4,650 pounds. On September 8, 2016, the Atlas V rocket carrying the craft launched from Cape Canaveral and about 55 minutes after launch separated from the rocket and deployed its solar arrays to power it in space. Around a day after the launch, OSIRIS-REx crossed the Moon’s orbital path at roughly 240,200 miles away from Earth. Three days later, it began to orbit the Sun. About a week later, on September 19, 2016, the mission team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center began to activate the craft’s scientific instruments. To position it for a gravity assist from Earth, the craft fired its main engine on December 28, 2016. This assist came on September 22, 2017, when OSIRIS-REx passed Earth at roughly 10,710 miles above its surface, took high-resolution pictures of the planet and the Moon, and used the energy from Earth’s gravity to tilt its orbit to match Bennu’s. Nearly a year later, in August 2018, the spacecraft sent a grainy image of Bennu 1.4 million miles away from the asteroid. In early November, it took more detailed images of the asteroid’s shape and certain surface features. Its official arrival would not come until a month later, on December 3, 2018, when OSIRIS-REx completed its journey and arrived at Bennu. From there it mapped the asteroid in detail while NASA’s mission team searched for a safe sample site on the extremely rocky and hazardous surface. After a year of deliberation, the team selected a site named “Nightingale,” a young crater with freshly exposed rocks and dust. The team reckoned it would provide a pristine sample of the asteroid, and OSIRIS-REx collected the sample on October 20, 2020, with an extremely brief touchdown called a “Touch-And-Go" maneuver. Two days later, images confirmed it had collected more than enough material and on October 28, the mission team commanded the spacecraft to close the sample capsule. With the sampling complete, on April 7, 2021, the craft completed its last flyover over Bennu and took fresh images of the sampling site. After flying for two and a half years and orbiting the Sun twice, OSIRIS-REx returned to Earth on September 24, 2023, releasing the capsule with the sample from the rest of the craft. It landed at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range where scientists retrieved it. The spacecraft, however, did not land and went to explore another asteroid, Apophis, with the new name OSIRIS-APEX, standing for OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer. The sample is currently in a clean room at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. In the meantime, NASA has reported that the initial analysis revealed carbon and water in the sample and there was so much extra material that it slowed down the sample collection process. The analysis will continue for the next two years; after that, NASA will keep at least 70% of the sample at the Johnson Space Center for future research, the fruitful reward of a highly successful mission by NASA to study the cosmos. Sources https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex/ https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-bennu-asteroid-sample-contains-carbon-water/ https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex/in-depth/ https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/101955-bennu/ https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/ BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections “Once On This Island” is coming soon! By Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by Once On This Island Musicals are a wonderful way to bring people together. Whether you act in them or watch them, they are entertaining, fun, and a great way to show your talent. From Broadway premieres to high school productions, it takes hard work and dedication to pull the show together. Speaking of high school productions, North High School has a Drama Club of its own, performing our rendition of “Once On This Island.” “Once On This Island” takes place in the French Antilles, specifically Haiti. Two kinds of people live on this island: peasants, who live off the mercy of the gods and grand hommes , wealthy French people who reside on the other side of the island with fancy cars, houses, and lives. “Once on This Island” stars Ti Moune, an orphan adopted by Mama Euralie and Tonton Julien. As Ti Moune grows older, she longs for a grand homme to marry her. The girl’s prayer makes two of the gods, Papa Ge and Ezrulie, make a bet. Ezrulie, Goddess of love, takes on that love is stronger than death; Papa Ge, the demon of death, takes the opposite view. This lays the pathway to the rest of the musical. This musical’s central theme is classism. Ti Moune cannot marry a grand homme because she is a peasant, but she is determined to try. I thought I was not going to like this musical, but I was mistaken. It has fantastic songs, and after just the first listen, you will fall in love. Of many of the productions I’ve watched, all the diverse ways these characters were portrayed had me mesmerized. I could feel how each character felt just through the way they sang or presented themselves. Though this show may be one act, I feel like with North’s talented cast, the experience and creativity of our directors, and the behind-the-scenes work of our stage crew, this show will be a fantastic success. Listen for the annoucements and check the North High School Teams page for information about dates, times, and tickets! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Implications of Capitol Hill Attack By Simar Thind Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 No Image available at this time On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump held a rally in Washington D.C. to call on politicians to reverse the results of the election. By making claims to his supporters that action must take place to “Save the Steal” and vocally denying the outcome of the election, Trump contributed to the violent rhetoric that allowed for the attack on Capitol Hill to take place. This was planned. Extremists planned the January 6 insurrection, and the evidence is apparent on many conservative websites (Timberg). Many wonder about the lack of security preparations leading up to that day. Protesters holding Blue Lives Matter flags while fighting the police to trespass into the Capitol building truly captures the irony of that day. In the moment, we could not comprehend the full picture of the attack. However, as we slowly see footage that pieces together the events, the brutality reveals itself. Rioters shout threats against Vice President Pence and the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Pipe bombs and guns were found at the scene. Members of Congress were under lockdown and hid for their lives (Reeves). Terrorists trespassed into the building as windows were broken and officers trampled, some holding zip ties to handcuff lawmakers (Timberg). Anti-Semitic symbols and Confederate flags accompanied pro-Trump signs among the crowd. Five people died during the attack; one rioter was shot, one police officer was beaten to death, and three others died after facing medical emergencies (Healy). Horrific; undemocratic; cruel; despicable; barbaric. We do not use the word “love” when describing domestic terrorists, but it seems like President Trump did not get the memo. He attempted to reverse his actions of inciting violence at his rally by tweeting a video telling rioters “We love you and you’re very special…but go home…” (Caldwell). The failure of security and threats on their lives pushed Congress to confirm Biden’s presidential win that next morning, having the opposite effect the rioters intended. Following the confirmation, Trump conceded the election, stating that a new administration would rise to power without explicitly mentioning Biden or Harris. He claims he wants a peaceful transfer of power, but later tweeted that he would not attend the inauguration; his reasons for this are not stated. The incident acts as a harbinger of bad luck for Trump’s political future. Many urged Pence and the cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment, which would declare Trump unfit for the presidency and have Pence take his place until the inauguration on January 20th. The path to removing Trump from power through this method remains unprecedented. House Democrats have pushed an alternative option. Headed by Pelosi, they formally introduced their plan to impeach Trump to hold him accountable for his role in inciting the insurrection, and the number of Republicans supporting the impeachment continued to grow (Wagner). To this date, this second impeachment has passed the House. Much remains uncertain due to the limited amount of time before the transition of power. The exposure of vulnerabilities and potential risks of national security must be discussed. Due to this event, the United States is vulnerable to attacks from foreign entities as well as domestic threats. The attack portrays the U.S. as weak to the outside world. But that is not our biggest worry. Currently, the FBI warns of potential insurrections surrounding the inauguration in all 50 state capitols (MacFarquhar). Hopefully, states heed warnings this time around as tensions continue to escalate. Many governors’ personal safety is at risk. For instance, Gov. Brad Little of Oregon and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan both faced plots for their kidnapping. The insurrection poses many questions for the American public to consider. First, why was there more security for Black Lives Matter protests than this incident, especially when there was evidence of its planning on the internet? Further investigations will take place to evaluate the lack of security and to ensure the safety of state capitols throughout the nation. Second, is America a true democracy? It is a fact that the presidency allows certain corruptions to occur. When a man such as Donald Trump is elected President with no experience in politics and less than a majority of the popular vote, we must evaluate the system. Furthermore, we cannot allow anyone to contribute to violence that threatens national security, especially (and ironically) the President of the United States. We must remember that all government officials are public servants, and when they fail to govern a nation effectively and are a symbol of hatred and violence, the public must urge their removal from office. Many members of Congress state January 6th, 2021 a day that will live in infamy. Now we must consider how this incident will shape the country and whether the nation can grow from it, or if we will become further divided. As students, our responsibility concerns always evaluating all sides of a multi-faceted issue and behaving with empathy. Works Cited Caldwell, Travis. "Trump's 'We Love You' to Capitol Rioters is More of the Same." CNN , www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/politics/trump-history-comments-trnd/index.html. Healy, Jack. "These are the Five People Who Died in the Capitol Riot." NY Times , www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/us/who-died-in-capitol-building-attack.html. MacFarquhar, Neil, and Mike Baker. "State Capitols on High Alert, Fearing More Violence." NY Times , www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/us/politics/state-capitols-protests-trump.html. Reeves, Jay, et al. "Capitol Assault a More Sinister Attack than First Appeared." Associated Press , Jan. 2021, apnews.com/article/us-capitol-attack-14c73ee280c256ab4ec193ac0f49ad54. Timberg, Craig, et al. "Capitol Siege Was Planned Online. Trump Supporters Now Planning the Next One." The Washington Post , www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/09/trump-twitter-protests/. Trump, Donald J. "'Save America' Rally Speech." Rev , 6 Jan. 2021, www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-speech-save-america-rally-transcript-january-6. Speech. Wagner, Meg, et al. "House Pushes to Impeach Trump after Deadly Capitol Riot." CNN , www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-impeachment-news-01-11-21/index.html. 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