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Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections Zaiden Jackson - Prism By Zaiden Jackson November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Sophia Rhall - Lights On for Education - 2 By Sophia Rhall April 22, 2021 Graphite Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Thank You! Cody Sung Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching It has been an amazing five years at my fantastic school. I truly enjoyed my time here and I will miss North dearly. I would like to thank everyone for their support and made my educational career a success so far. I started at North going into eighth grade at nine years old. I was very confused, but thanks to many people, I am graduating from North a bit less confused. I want to start my appreciation first by thanking Dr. Small, the principal, Mrs. Buonaspina and Mr. Jara, the assistant principals, Mr. Brodsky and Ms. Bloeth, my guidance counselors, and the Valley Stream Central High School District for all their support during my high school years at North. I would also like to thank all my amazing teachers and club advisors who always offered their guidance and support and always made me feel welcome. I could always stop by and discuss any questions or difficulties I had. They helped make my experience at North unbelievably special. Thank you to the security guards, maintenance crew, and other staff for helping me whenever I needed assistance – especially the security guards, they handled a lot of pretzels. Thank you to my wonderful classmates, peers, and friends – those who have graduated before me, those who are graduated with me, and those who are graduating after me – for all your support. Thank you for helping me when I couldn’t open my locker, or when I dropped my books and water bottle down the stairs, or when I didn’t know where my classes were. Thank you to Mom and Dad for supporting me and always pushing me to the next level – and to my brother, I love you. Finally, I would like to thank everyone at Willow Road, where my educational career started, for all their support. Congratulations and good luck to the class of 2024. -Cody Sung BACK TO TOP

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Back to Articles News Back to Sections Peer Diversion Court By Everton Prospere Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Nassau County Are you interested in law and criminal justice? Perhaps you have an innate desire to help other teenagers in Nassau County? Peer Diversion Court, a restorative justice program that offers a second chance for young criminal offenders, creates a unique experience for the entire courtroom.  A decade-long special youth court program run through Nassau County’s District Attorney’s Office, the Peer Diversion volunteers and adolescent offenders all are under eighteen years of age. The young malefactors, charged with a real crime, face two options from a family court judge: face a real trial with the possibility of being found guilty with jail time and, in turn, have a permanent criminal record, or face a jury in Peer Diversion Court. If young offenders choose the latter, they admit guilt, but face a much lighter sentence, and a record that will not affect their futures. Nassau County’s Peer Diversion Court Coordinator, Michael Jasmin, and the Special Counsel for Adolescent and Juvenile Justice, Arianne Reyer, divide the program into two parts, the volunteers/interns and the defendants. The volunteers and interns apply for the program and undergo an extensive screening process. If accepted, these volunteers attend training sessions to understand court proceedings. After successfully completing the training, the volunteers can serve as either a bailiff, court clerk, defense advocate (a simpler version of a defense lawyer), or community advocate (a simpler version of an adult court prosecutor). The defendants, or the criminal offenders, are briefed before their assigned court date by Mr. Jasmin and Ms. Reyer and begin community service to ensure their commitment to the program. A typical court case takes two days during a week. Tuesday, the preparatory day, focuses on the defendants and the advocates. The advocates read a police report that provides personal information about the defendant, the crime committed, and any evidence or witness statements. After reading the police briefing, the defense and community advocate sit with the offender and begin to discuss the case. This provides a chance for the defendant to explain their story without a police report that can possibly consist of vague information or a biased witness statement. Thursday, the trial day, emphasizes an environment about the defendant. While many youth courts may focus solely on the volunteers and their criminal justice experience, Peer Diversion Court highlights the adolescent offenders. The court proceeding begins with an explanation of the case by the judge, usually a former volunteer that has outgrown the program, the bailiff, and the clerk. After the defense and community advocates make opening statements, the defendant is called to the stand to testify. After questioning from the defense and community advocates, the court gives the jury and witnesses in the room the opportunity to ask questions. The jury consists of former defendants who must complete a certain number of jury duties as part of their sentence. This, in turn, forces the jury members to reflect on their own case and engage in other cases that may have similarities to their own situation. After the questioning from all parties, the court goes into recess and the jury begins their deliberations, which may take anywhere from five minutes to over thirty minutes. Once the jury enters a decision, the court resumes its session and a jury member reads the disposition. Regardless of the sentence, the defendant will have to serve a number of community service hours and jury duties. In addition, the community advocate often asks for more requirements, such as a letter of apology or therapy. After the jury announces a decision, the court comes to a close, and the defendant must immediately begin their sentence. The exhilarating experience at Peer Diversion Court makes all parties, whether volunteers or offenders, connect through the restorative justice system. As a volunteer for Peer Diversion Court, this program has changed my perspective on the world as I have participated in cases on marijuana possession, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and assault. However, whether I work on a case with a defendant from East Meadow, Garden City, or Hempstead, a commonality exists among all the offenders, the desire for a second chance and to improve on their lives. If you have an interest in Peer Diversion Court, you can fill out this application and contact Arianne Reyer at areyer@nassaucountyny.gov .  BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections An Artistic Escape Entry 3 April 14, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 6

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections Nature’s Gentle Touch By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Elaine Ching By the ocean's edge, Seashells scattered on the sand, Nature's gentle touch BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Emily Rung - Portrait - 1 By Emily Rung January 20, 2021 Graphite Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Artwork Black American Artists Back to Sections Le Jazz By Romare Bearden February 12, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 5 Medium: Graphite on Wove Paper, Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Dear Society By Morgan Buly Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by The Inclusion Solution Dear Society, Why do you tell us to love ourselves, but bring us down? You tell us to be ourselves, as long as we’re doing it the right way. You tell us we can love anyone, any shape or size. Yet you still choose the love of our life. You tell us to love our skin, but kill our kind. You say we’re in a safe place. Yet teenagers are depressed, students are stressed, and laws forbid you from being yourself. Telling us no matter how hard we try, we’re never enough. You're more concerned in gender identity and race than poverty and shooting. You provide people with an internet-based way to harass each other. You teach us to not like our size, ethnicity, hair, clothes and home. You teach us to kill and hate. You took our youth away, You make kids afraid to go to the deli, knowing that there is a chance they could die. You tell us that because of the body they were born in, we must work harder. Sincerely, Me BACK TO TOP