Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Words But Prettier By Elaine Ching November 19, 2021 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 2

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 Articles Feature Back to Sections Team Respect: Life Not Only at North By Leandra Mina and Jasmine Munoz Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Original artwork by Leandra Mina and Jasmine Munoz North is an amazing school, and we hope that every single one of us is having a great time so far. Many students, such as ourselves, are “Remote Only,” and in 7th grade. This can be quite challenging, as we don’t really know the environment of the school. However, even with that, it is a school that gives you high expectations. For us, we have not been here long, so we do not know much. One thing we do know is that our teachers are working hard to make this as much of an enjoyable year as possible during these times. Teachers instill important values that you will need in life. They teach how to live up to your fullest potential. Our teachers have taught us so much already, and with that, we’ve worked hard to receive good grades. The values that are being taught are helpful as they are lessons to success that can be used throughout our lives. We are remote learners. It is not so wonderful because we really do not get to interact, but that is beside the point. While we may not get to experience the physical environment of the school, we still are having a fun time learning virtually at North so far! Respect Respect. You know what the word means, but do you really? Respect does not just mean you must be nice or have good manners; you need to really know what it means to have respect. People who have respect are those who have courtesy rules regarding other people’s belongings, letting other people speak, being courteous when listening, and, most importantly, respecting others’ opinions. Being on Team Respect has taught us all of these values. Not just people on team respect, but everyone should show respect, as it is an important part of life. A Big Piece of the Puzzle They’re one of the biggest parts of our life: teachers. They help us so much and push us to our greatest limits. Teachers help us get good grades and do well in life. They should really be appreciated more. Some of the teachers on Team Respect are: • Mr. Gordon (Science) • Mrs. Melluso/Mrs. Balducci (English) • Ms. Gray (U.S History) • Mrs. Andriano/Mrs. Filippi Quotes “The things that make me different are the things that make me.” (Winnie the Pooh) We all have sayings that mean something to us. So, we took several quotes that our teachers suggested to us to use in our life. These ideas are what our teachers go by and apply to their lives, too. Mr. Gordon “Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” In other words, don’t live in the past or worry about the future, just be grateful for all you have today. Mrs. Melluso “Always try and do your best, so you don’t wonder ‘What if?’” Mrs. Balducci Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is." Ms. Gray “Today I will not stress over things I cannot control.” Mrs. Andriano “Do the best you can. No one can ask for more than that.” Mrs. Filippi “It’s never too late to follow your dreams. Figure out what inspires you and follow through.” These quotes may give you hope, so you should try to keep these in your mind and keep them there because you never know when you might need them! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art Back to Sections The Importance of Lines in Art By Isabella Somma Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Original artwork by Isabella Somma Lines. Most people know what lines are: strokes across a page that connect the space between two points. But what is the importance of line in art? Lines make up the fundamentals of artwork, shape, and basically any object. It is one of the seven basic elements of art. Lines can be straight or curved, bold, or thin, and long or short. Lines can be used to define shape and style in 2D drawings or photographs but can also be used as a way to enhance and draw detail on 3D objects. Typically, in line drawing, artists avoid shading and color, so the attention of the piece is mainly on the lines of the objects in the painting -- how they connect and cross paths, and how their use impacts the rest of the piece. To create depth, dimension, values, and the illusion of a 3D image, lines can be drawn thicker or thinner, bolder or lighter. To achieve this look, you can use different shade pencils with different levels of hardness, or press lighter or harder with the medium you are working with.  Now that we know what line is, why is it important to art? Line, along with shape, form, space, texture, value and color, makes it a fundamental aspect to artwork. Line is used to draw attention to the shapes of objects and allows for more sophisticated composition. Line lets artists map out and frame textures, highlights and shadows. Although important, lines can be tricky to work with because typically when creating line drawings, photographs, or paintings, color and shading is eliminated from the piece. It is up to the artist to experiment and grasp the concept of the objects twists and turns and portray it into a masterpiece. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Human Trafficking By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original artwork by Elaine Ching When asked about human trafficking, most people just know that it is a bad thing – that it is just “another dark thing that happens in the world.” However, most people do not know the full extent of it. Merriam Webster defines human trafficking as “organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor).” However, human trafficking is much more than a simple definition. Human traffickers are not picky when it comes to finding victims. Victims of human trafficking range from any age, including children. Any person, regardless of race or gender, can become a victim of human trafficking. A human trafficking victim can be from any country or social class. Anyone can be human trafficked. Human traffickers have many manipulation tactics that can be used in order to find their next victim. Traffickers have more tactics that just “snatching up people,” although that may be one of their strategies. They could use violence as a threat or promise relationships and friendships in order to lure lonely, vulnerable people in. They may also offer money or well-paying employment opportunities to those in need of financial help. In addition, human traffickers have many ways to keep their victims within the trafficking system. While fear is a tactic, the way that traffickers evoke these emotions is important. They could use physical and sexual punishment or manipulate law enforcement into an image of an enemy. Victims will not approach people in public out of the fear that has been instilled within them. You might be thinking, “What happens to these victims?” Well, what victims are forced to do and the effect of human trafficking on their health varies. While sex trafficking, the act of victims being non-consensually and sexually exploited, does exist, there are other forms of human trafficking, one of those being forced labor. Victims can be exploited in almost any way that relates to labor. This can range from restaurants, hotels, agriculture, factories, sweatshops, and illegitimate labor industries. The trafficking can also cause victims negative effects on their mental health. Symptoms can range from post-traumatic stress disorder, guilt, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and using drugs and alcohol to cope. The effects are not easy to undo. The common signs of human trafficking may not always indicate the issue. Sometimes the symptoms may be unrelated, such as signs of mental illness or domestic abuse. However, signs of human trafficking can also differ from the norm, ranging from school absences, a dramatic change of behavior, or no control self-control, such as freedom of speech. If you notice any of these signs or are suspicious of any human trafficking, the national hotline is: 1-(888) 373-7888. If you witness human trafficking, do not confront the victim or the suspected human trafficker, let the professionals handle it. Signs should be reported as you could possibly save a person’s life or prevent significant trauma. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Five Nights at Freddy's Security Breach By Augustine Magapan Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Steam It has been two years since Scott Cawthon, an American video game developer and writer, created a new game. He is also well known for his Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise. To those who are unfamiliar with the franchise, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a popular horror game that revolves around players monitoring robotic animals known as animatronics until a certain time, specifically from 12AM to 6AM. Although typically most Five Nights at Freddy’s games are about watching animatronics, Scott Cawthon released a new video game that is unlike the rest. Before getting into the actual details of the game, it is reasonable to look at the past of Scott Cawthon. On July 24th, 2014, he released a small project called Five Nights at Freddy’s which was only allowed to be played on the computer before it was on other platforms. Going back to the horror game franchise that revolves around the players monitoring animatronics in a pizza place, players play as a guard working a night shift. While monitoring the animatronics until 6AM, it should be noted that the animatronics are alive and move around in the premise during that time frame. There are four main animatronics: Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. The group wishes to murder the security guards and stuff them into animatronic suits. This transforms the game to instead of players focused on the animatronics, they transition to monitoring their own lives until 6AM. The only issue that players must focus on while monitoring themselves and the animatronics is the limited power accessed. The players are allowed to utilize the electrical power to shut doors and turn lights on and off to protect themselves from the animatronics. If either the players fail to monitor the animatronics from coming into the security room, or if all power is drained, an animatronic will pop up on the screen and frighten them. This is known as a jump scare, which implies the players lost…and the security guard is stuffed in a suit. For the next four to five games, the franchise revolved around the same gameplay, but with new environments, characters, and actions implemented. The small project became a whole franchise over the years, leading to Scott Cawthon’s success. Moving forward to late 2021, about 7 years from the first game, Scott Cawthon released a new game called, “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach.” This game is different compared to the other games that Scott Cawthon developed. The idea still revolves around winning by reaching 6AM; however, instead of playing as a security guard monitoring the animatronics, players play a child called, Gregory. Gregory was not able to leave the pizza place before it closes for the night causing him to be trapped; fortunately, Freddy, who is not an evil animatronic, assists Gregory with his escape from the pizza place. Instead of the game revolving around being stuck in one place, players are able to move freely around the enormous pizza place. While completing the goal of escaping the pizza complex, the other animatronics are on the lookout for finding Gregory. Not only the animatronics are looking for him, but also a security guard; therefore, players are able to utilize hiding spots in order to not be seen by any of them. Old and new ideas were implemented in the game such as new jump scares, old and new characters, and actions (closing and opening doors, using power). One gimmick that has surprised players was that Gregory is allowed to go inside Freddy. Instead of being stuffed into him, Gregory is allowed to utilize Freddy to obtain access to other parts of the pizza place and hide from other animatronics. Today, Scott Cawthon’s Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise has impacted many people. It is astonishing how a small project that was developed years ago led to big ideas. It has peaked multiple times, for famous YouTubers streamed his games in the past and present. While Scott Cawthon developed his games, he left easter eggs, or clues and secrets inside video games, for the players who wanted more than just winning. This led to an abundance of theories and analysis on websites and articles. People were able to put the pieces together where it is not only a game, but also a story. The whole entire franchise is connected to a singular timeline leading up to Security Breach. Additionally, Scott Cawthon has a giant fanbase where some people draw their own characters, speculate about animatronics getting romantically together, making music of their own parodies of the games, and posting a lot on social media platforms like TikTok. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Creative Writing Review By Noah Gonzalez Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by Alphaspirit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Out of five, Creative Writing sits strong at a five out of five stars. When taking into account the refreshing change from a typical English course in terms of class work, the exploration of (perhaps) new and unfamiliar styles of literature, as well as the almost limitless number of ways to express one's creative capabilities, one cannot deny the overall benefits acquired from taking this course. First Star : A Fresh New Take - In almost every other course offered in this school, teachers and students must follow a set guideline of learning in order to prepare for either a Regents, AP, or final exam. This can result in students either losing their creative spark within the class or dreadfully following the same old course style they've been following since they entered 1st grade. Creative Writing, however, does not follow this same path. Unlike other courses like AP Human Geography, Regents Physics, or SAT Prep., Creative Writing does not focus on preparing its students for a crucial exam that will either make or break their future. Instead, the course opens up a new world of literature to its students that are generally unexplored in the students' regular English classes. Subjects such as short story writing, graphic novel creation, poetry analysis, and even screenplay writing open up the students' minds to new ways of expressing their creativity in a productive and beneficial manner. Second Star : Lack of Pressure - Similar to an art class, Creative Writing grades its students based on their effort and completion of their work as opposed to a strict point-based system. The pressure of hitting as many points as possible completely vanishes in this course as the most important factor to passing this class is your creativity, imagination, and your diligence to compete what's assigned. Third Star : Easier Grade - As stated previously, this course does not follow a strict point-based system. This means that unless you neglect to complete what's asked of you, you should receive a good grade for the semester you take Creative Writing. The teacher will look that you generally followed the daily lesson; however, other than that, your grade depends on your desire to express your creativity. In my opinion, that's a pretty easy good grade. Fourth Star : Utility Outside Class - Although Creative Writing might not directly influence your grades in other classes, the skills and content acquired within said course can potentially enhance your capabilities within other courses. For example, Creative Writing topics such as poetry creation and analysis provide students with the ability to interpret and create poetry in various forms such as haikus or concrete poems. During such process, students learned to notice figurative language in use, hidden meanings, and the purposes different poetical structures serve. While this allows for students taking Creative Writing to prepare better works of poetry for their class-specific assignment, it also allows for comprehending and completing work in other classes in an easier manner. In classes like AP English Language or Literature, students complete class work and test questions related to poetry analysis. Student who do not/have not taken Creative Writing only have access to their English teacher's lessons that may or may not have the greatest detail or advice because of the teacher's limit on what they can teach due to the need to follow course guidelines. However, if a student has/is taking Creative Writing, they will have a greater knowledge of poetical and literature devices than other students who are limited to their teacher's restricted curriculum capabilities. Fifth Star : Creative Cooperation - One of the greatest aspects of the Creative Writing class is the general freedom to choose how you go about completing the assigned work. Most of the time, if a student puts in the necessary amount of time and effort, they will have little trouble completing their work. While this holds true most of the time, there always exists the possibility where you'll hit a roadblock and cannot produce a creative idea. In most other classes, this problem translates to you either asking the teacher for help, attending extra help, or looking up extra material online. While you can do this in Creative Writing as well, it should be noted that students have an extra liberty in this class that students in other classes do not: the free and near unrestricted assistance from other students. If you're struggling in class like geometry, asking a student for assistance may be perceived by others as cheating. This issue does not transfer over to creative blocks in Creative Writing. In this class, both teachers and student start their classes by discussing ideas in the collaboration space in OneNote. This time allows for the best ideas to come about and for students to pick and choose what best suits their styles of writing. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Contemplation Back to Sections Self Portrait By Noorish Atif June 8, 2021 Graphite Volume 1 Issue 8

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections College Advice from a Senior By Shubhdip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Original photo by Shubhdip Kundlas Hello all rising freshman, sophomores, and juniors! My name is Shubhdip Kundlas and I am currently a senior here at North. I would like to give all of you advice on the college application process and to make sure you are prepared to the fullest extent. Applying to college can be extremely stressful, but remember one thing: it is only stressful if you allow it to be. If you make the necessary preparations and start on time, there will be a minimal amount of stress involved. That brings me to my first piece of advice: Sign up for SAT/ACT exams as soon as possible. With many test centers closing due to COVID-19 restrictions, many seniors, including me, had very limited opportunities to take these tests as many testing centers repeatedly closed and hindered our chances to achieve the score we wanted. Although we don’t know how the situation will be by the end of the year, don’t wait to find out. If you haven’t started to study for the test yet, don’t worry: it’s not too late! There’s still time to study and fully prepare for the next set of examinations that will start in March 2021. Many colleges have gone “test-optional” this year, but some of them have made it clear it would only be for current seniors. Will schools be test-optional next year as well? I don’t know if they will or not, but again - take it anyway because if you get a good test score, it will only help you. If you haven’t taken an SAT or ACT yet, there is no need to worry; instead, begin preparing as soon as you can. My second piece of advice: stay motivated! Freshman and sophomores, join as many extracurriculars that work for you, and for Juniors that are not in any club or sport and have not been a part of any in the past, I advise you sign up for some clubs that you are interested in as many of them still accept new members. Remember, you are competing against other students, so you want to build a strong application that is unique to you and participating in extracurriculars is an essential to that. Also, apply to honor societies. If you meet their criteria, and you are accepted, they can also boost your application. To all freshman and sophomores: grades are very important for gaining admission to your dream school, but it isn’t just about your GPA. There are an array of factors like extracurriculars, essays, and teacher recommendations. Taking AP courses makes you stand out to colleges who will know your motivation to complete rigorous coursework. Juniors, we are almost at the halfway mark of this year, and although it won’t be easy to make a drastic change in your GPA, it can still be done. Considering that we have 3 marking periods left, by working hard and putting in your best effort, you can definitely improve your GPA. Again, there is still time for you to drastically improve your application! Join extracurriculars and work hard on your grades. Although it may seem that you can’t make a difference at this point, you 100% can. Just start from today. Join extracurriculars, work harder, and just be confident. Confidence and motivation are key to help your success in the college application process, and it all starts from this point on. My third piece of advice: start early! Whether you are a freshman or junior, it is never too early to start preparing for college. Make a checklist consisting of tasks helping you prepare for college season including but not limited to: extracurriculars, grades, recommendation requests, scholarships and essays. Also, research your colleges! Make a list of colleges divided into three sections: reach schools (schools that will be difficult to get into but may have a chance), target schools (schools where you fall well within the range of their requirements and have a decent chance), and safe schools (schools that you have a high chance of getting into). Juniors, around May or June, think of teachers that you know might write you a stellar letter of recommendation and politely request it from them either face to face or by email (whichever option you are comfortable with) as it will give them an early notice and more time to write your letter. Research the schools you will be applying to and make a list of their requirements. I advise you to get a head start on your personal statement essay over the summer and make rough drafts so you can go over it with your English teacher in September. Working on your essay over the summer will allow you to pace yourself in a way that you are not rushed to complete it by the deadline and have a lot of time to think. By researching your colleges, you will get to know what supplemental essays they require, as some will require none, and some can require more than five. It’s all about planning, and the earlier you plan, the better the result will be. Please do not stress out! You will get through with this. It may seem as if it’s the most stressful time of your high school career, but trust me, it’s not. As long as you prepare yourself beforehand and have the confidence to tackle any setback, you won’t need to worry. Remember, plan out your goals for the rest of the year and make a list of tasks to complete by September. The sooner you begin, the more gratifying and successful the experience will be. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Battle of Saragarhi – 21 Sikh Soldiers vs 10,000 Men Rehmat Kaur Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Rehmat Kaur Background In the late 19th century, the British centered a number of stations along the Hindu Kush range. These fortifications were initially built by the great Sikh emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh during his Western expedition, in which the Sikhs and Afghans battled in the Battle of Jamrud in 1837, establishing the Sikh Empire's western frontier. Following the decline of the Sikh empire, the British took over these positions for the same reason. The British Indian Army attempted to manage the volatile northwest boundary. Despite their attempts, tribal Pashtuns frequently attacked British soldiers, resulting in skirmishes and confrontations with the tribes. Nonetheless, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also known as the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), was a key place for the Indian Army to hone its tactics and expertise. Afghans started a revolt through the NWFP to channel tribal rage against the British. The 36th Sikh Regiment was charged with guarding the defensive structures of Forts Gulistan and Lockhart, which were near one another. The Orakzai and Afridi tribes had launched attacks on Fort Gulistan during the last two weeks, but both had been repulsed. Saragarhi was established as a communication station utilizing heliographic signaling, a communication technology that involves reflecting sunlight using a mirror and transferring it through hidden signals. Because Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan were not in a visual line of sight due to topographical constraints, Saragarhi was critical to preserving the survival of the forts and the safety of the area. A Khanda, a symbol of righteousness, divine knowledge and charity in the Sikh faith The Battle On September 12, 1987, the 21 Sikh troops awoke and began their day by tying their turbans, doing daily meditation and prayers, and carrying out their daily responsibilities. However, another revolt began to lay siege to Fort Lockhart and Saragarhi, seeking to gain possession of the post. One of the lookouts yelled as the large bulk approached the horizon. 19-year-old Gurmukh Singh hurried to the signaling tower to operate the heliograph, which transmitted signals about the situation to Fort Lockhart. He requested that aid be provided as around 10,000 tribesmen marched towards them. The response he received was bleak, stating that if they dispatched relief, it would reach the post too late, and they could not leave their fort undefended. The defenders, operated by NWFP veteran Havildar Ishar Singh, opted to hold their base, which consisted of a tiny block house with loop-holed walls and a signaling tower. Ishar Singh instructed his soldiers to remain and fight. Despite the tense atmosphere created by the awareness that death is likely and being outnumbered by thousands of tribesmen, the Sikh soldiers refused to surrender. Gurmukh Singh returned to his signaling tower and remained there, documenting every occurrence that took place to Lieutenant Colonel Haughton, the commanding the 36th Sikh Regiment, who ordered that the events be recorded. The Sikhs began unloading ammunition at the dense multitude, which was coming down on them and storming the outer wall. A bullet from one of the guns struck Sepoy Bhagwan Singh, who died on the scene. Naik Lal Singh, although severely hurt, managed to move Bhagwan's body to the inner wall with the assistance of another sepoy. However, Lal Singh would eventually fall due to his injuries. The tribal chiefs had been arguing with the surviving Sikhs to surrender, promising them protection, and presenting rewards of riches and rank if they simply vacated their positions. But no man acknowledged the proposal because they were determined to continue fighting until the end. As the afternoon progressed, the tribesmen devised another strategy: they set fire to the area surrounding the post, allowing them to breach the wall. Havildar Ishar Singh, who had been gravely injured, shouts a piercing battle cry and surges forward with sword and pistol in hand, heroically combating the attacker before being overtaken by his severe injuries. Knowing the end is close, the few remaining Sikhs rush to confront the charging attackers. One by one, the tribesmen kill the Sikh soldiers in return for more of their dead. There remained only one Sikh defender: Sepoy Gurmukh Singh in his signaling tower. He sent one last message, requesting permission to take up his rifle. When Lieutenant Colonel Haughton approved, Gurmukh Singh packed up his heliographic equipment and grabbed his gun as the tribesmen burst through the door. The Colonel looks in astonishment via his telescope as the young detachment signaler kills man after man, a total of 20 tribesmen. The Colonel watched him in awe through his telescope as the young detachment signaler took down 20 tribesmen one after one. Smoke began to rise as instead of confronting Gurmukh Singh, the tribesmen set fire to the tower. Gurmukh Singh sat down, content with his fate, and screamed the Sikh battle cry, “Bole So Nihaal, Sat Sri Akal (Victory belongs to the ones who chant the divine name of God with pure heart).” He was the last to fall in Saragarhi. The signal post had been seized, but the valiancy of the 21 Sikh soldiers allowed forces from neighboring forts to attack the rebellious tribesmen. Finally, the British reclaimed the signaling post near the highland village of Saragarhi. Their Legacy The British Parliament gave the Saragarhi soldiers a standing ovation, and Queen Victoria commended their heroic deeds The Battle of Saragarhi was the first instance in British military history where every soldier who participated in a combat operation received the Gallantry award, the highest military honor. They also received the Indian Order of Merit Class III. Saragarhi Day is commemorated by the Indian Army's Sikh Regiment on September 12th each year. BACK TO TOP