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Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Macayla McCaffery - Memory Project By Macayla McCaffery March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Alliance By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by the vapride.com Hello everyone! My name is Eva Martinez, and while I am an editor here at NORTH STAR, I am also president of Valley Stream North’s LBGT+ affinity group: The Alliance. The primary goal of The Alliance is to make North a safer space for all students by creating a safe space for its LGBT+ students. We have many events throughout the year, such as the Social Justice Summit and participating in the National Day of Silence. The Alliance meets every other Monday at 3:15, and I can honestly say it is one of the best clubs North has to offer! We discuss all topics pertaining to gender and sexuality, as well as current events we decide are relevant. If you like to discuss how who you are intersects with our school environment, The Alliance is the place for you. Additionally, The Alliance is…well… an alliance. We welcome anybody into our club if they are interested. If you are curious about The Alliance, you are absolutely welcome to join us for a meeting. We have a fairly open attendance policy and promise we won’t be upset if you only show up once! If you need more convincing to show up to a meeting, I can tell you that few other clubs have felt as impactful as The Alliance in my high school career. When I started in The Alliance, the club only had a handful of members, and our biggest event of the year was a trip to an all-Long Island GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) conference. Now, we’ve held two Social Justice Summits where over 100 people tuned in to hear our voices. As the club grows in numbers, I cannot wait to see the wonderful rainbow-colored future our current members create! If you think that helping us paint the town rainbow sounds like the club for you, join the Alliance team, and help us brighten North’s future! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Poetry Out Loud Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Sofia Owen Students here at Valley Stream North have many opportunities to display their creativity. Whether through art, literature, community-led works, or performance, it is important to allow students to exhibit their talent and artistry, and this belief is best exemplified with an event like Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide recitation competition where students from 9th to 12th grade perform poems from the event’s anthology. The competition has 4 levels – schoolwide, regional, state, and national. Sixteen students from our school have been preparing for the schoolwide portion of the competition. Each student has chosen and memorized a poem to perform in front of a panel of judges. Students can earn points in 6 categories: physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. These students competed in the library on Wednesday, December 11th from 3 - 4:30 pm. In preparation for the competition, students went on two in-school field trips on November 26th and December 3rd to fully grasp their poems and the structure of the competition. On November 26th, Dave Johnson, a poet and former Poetry Out Loud emcee, visited our school and gave the competing students tips on how to improve their recitations. This workshop highlighted the importance of connecting with one’s poem and choosing a piece that spoke to them. Students were split into groups and were encouraged to ask the other students in their group about their poems. With everyone’s poem chosen, Johnson worked one-on-one with each student, discussing their piece with them and walking step-by-step through their thought process. An emotional connection with your poem is important to convey not only its meaning but its connection to you as an individual. To conclude the field trip, Johnson instructed each student to write a poem or a blurb based on their poem. After a couple of minutes, students performed their inspired poem for the rest of the group. Everyone who spoke had incredible control over their words and it was an insightful experience to see how each person viewed the world around them through the lens of their poem. On December 3rd, Johnson returned and this time focused on the accuracy of our recitations while still encouraging us to hone the emotional interpretations of our poems. Students split off into groups once again and discussed their poems with each other, reciting them and analyzing each line to better remember and understand their meaning. Volunteers from each group went in front of everyone and recited their poems, receiving encouragement and suggestions from Johnson on how to improve and change their tone. As he concluded his workshop, he gave advice to help everyone on the day of the competition. He advised students to take a breath and “plant” themselves and to visualize the poem as they recite it. Johnson closed with inspiring words to the whole group: “See what you say, and we will see what you say.” This competition allows students to lift poetry off the page and share their creativity through oration and performance. It serves as a wonderful opportunity for not only the students performing but those watching as well to expose themselves to new kinds of literature and creation. We at North Star applaud the confidence and dedication of the students who participated. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Kiss of an Angel By Gilana Etame April 22, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Athletes Supporting Athletes at VSN By Joseph Garofalo Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original image by Joseph Garofalo Valley Stream North Athletics is known as a strong dark horse program in Nassau County with stealthy good sports teams across the board. From volleyball to soccer, track and field to baseball, each program has seen its success rates rise over the past few years, even as players and coaches come and go. As the captain of the reigning Conference Champion Boys Volleyball team, I have seen the strong mentality, determination, and resilience needed to grow a program within our sports programs. My experience as a high school athlete has been one like no other; coaches support coaches, athletes support athletes, and the leadership on each team has been a large part of growing these programs. Starting September 13th, the first Girls Volleyball game of the season, the senior class had produced a plan to support our Lady Spartans as they took on conference rivals, Mepham. We wanted to create a true home-court advantage for our girls, an energy-filled atmosphere to help boost them to victory. As my practice was over, my teammates and I waited in the stands as the visitors arrived. Quiet at first, our girls began to turn up the pace, and the fans became more involved. A student section that started with just the 13 boy volleyball players evolved into a section packed with three varsity teams and two Junior-Varsity teams’ players within thirty minutes. This was only the beginning, as the girls went on to sweep Mepham in three sets, who were at the time second-place team in their conference. A dominant effort by the girls, supported by a crowd of over 100 kids, continued throughout the season and trickled into other sporting events. The student section began to grow for each game; VSN’s athletes were there for each other. When you weren’t playing or practicing, athletes were in the stands. As our fall season ended and playoffs loomed, our section was the largest it had ever been. Home or away, volleyball or football, we supported each other. With the backing of our student body, Valley Stream North sports has hit another level of extreme. Now, we hope to carry the energy into the upcoming winter and spring seasons and lead our Spartan athletes to more successful winning seasons. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Story Behind the Shot 02 By Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Original photos by Olivia Neuner Welcome back to the 2nd installment of “Story Behind the Shot”! My name is Olivia and I have a confession to make; I was that crazy puppy girl in first grade. Ok… now that we have that out of the way, allow me to introduce you to my beagle, Daisy! Last year, after my acting coach made an Instagram for her dog, Winston, I decided it would be a fun idea to make Daisy one too. Over the year we have had the account, Daisy and I have made furry friends from around the world, including some dogs from England, Germany, and Japan. It has been a great way to “travel” during the pandemic. (Top) Brought to you by my self-timer, this is my favorite picture and is currently my profile picture for my Instagram. I took this picture right after filming a lip-sync video for my musical theatre class. I had been in quarantine for a few months, and this was the first time I put on a nice outfit and makeup, making me feel confident and happy with my video. Daisy laid down next to me, and I felt it was only appropriate to get a picture on the best sunny day of the month. (Bottom Left) This picture is from Daisy’s 11th Birthday at Hempstead Lake Park. My family and I throw our dog a party every year, and even during a pandemic we wanted to continue the tradition. We had a great day filled with walks and treats, and even a dog cake. (Bottom Right) This picture features Daisy with her favorite drink from Starbucks; the puppichino. The drink is simple; but to us it’s more than just a free cup of whipped cream. During the first month of quarantine, my family and I feeling desperate for an outing hopped in the car and drove to our local Starbucks drive-thru. The line was over 30 minutes long, but nonetheless we were happy for any reason to get out of the house. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to go back once a week for the next few months; the time together in the car was a great way to catch up and clear our minds, and Daisy was always very excited to go for a ride. This picture was from the second time she ever had the treat, and her hesitant yet interested look is something I find translates well even if you don’t know her. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Trials and Tribulations of Modern Horror By Alain Deen Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Den of Geek Over time, horror has evolved to be one of the most revered genres of film of all time. From the earliest days of horror classics to the modern, brutal uprise of savage thrillers today, horror as a genre has simultaneously seen some of the worst and best films of all time. There are various sub-genres to horror, as it has branched out into many vessels. For instance, the earliest days of horror include Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological horror films. These films involve mental, emotional, and psychological states to frighten and unsettle audiences. For instance, Psycho and The Birds fit this description as they are two of the most well-known psychological horror films of our time. It is worth noting that psychological horror often overlaps with psychological thrillers, which are often more associated with mystery. What made Hitchcock’s films so unique was his elements of suspense, placing him into a category of his own in terms of horror. Hitchcock’s influence is reflected in the darker themes of modern horror, which have had mixed reviews amongst audiences. Since then, horror films have become increasingly gory, savage, and gruesome. For instance, slasher films rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, including cult classics Halloween (1978) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). These films took a less psychological approach and involved abhorrent visuals and cheesy murder sequences to frighten audiences. Modern horror films often involve both aspects, like 2007’s breakout Paranormal Activity . More recently, however, the line between horror as an art form and horror as a money grab has grown exceedingly thin. It is widely argued that modern horror movies pale in contrast to their predecessors for a variety of factors. Primarily, however, is the desire for profit. Most modern horror films seek to profit from merchandising, Halloween costumes, and other vessels of fan buzz. Additionally, it is worth noting that films produced today tend to boast the latest technological advancements to bolster the theatrical elements in a more realistic fashion, which does not resonate well with viewers. In other words, most horror lovers prefer gut-wrenching horror produced by practical effects as it is perceived as the most authentic. In terms of modern horror, innovative technology presents exceedingly realistic gore, monsters, and supernatural figures by way of special effects. As mentioned earlier, modern horror is widely contested amongst audiences and film critics alike. This highlights the fickle nature of the horror genre, as it seems to be a case of nostalgia overriding rationality. For example, the setting of 70s and 80s horror films alone contributes to their acclamation. Middle-aged adults exhibit exceeding levels of nostalgia when watching the fashion within these films, along with the funky scores of the late 20th century. However, it must be noted that the 2000s have seen some intriguing, suspense-filled horror films such as Us (2019) and Get Out (2017) These films reflect a more subtle form of horror. In contrast to 20th classics, modern horror films feature diverse films with complex and nuanced plots. This sharpens the edge between horror and reality, leaving viewers at the edge of their seats. In regards of modern horror tribulations, reboots tend to tarnish the reputation of once revered classics, namely the Halloween franchise. For instance, 2021’s Halloween Kills received lackluster reviews, with most critics naming it a sloppy money grab with no real passion, depth, or insight into the being that it is Michael Myers. The same concept applies to 2022’s Scream reboot. However, unlike Halloween Kills , Scream utilized a combination of brilliant performances, blood-curdling gore, and a slightly nuanced plot. Overall, the future of horror is looking bright, with more nuanced plots, fewer reboots, and more innovative screenplays, horror is on the rise. Who is to say this new era of horror will not haunt us more than Hitchcock’s rampant birds? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Fire Prevention Week 2023 Max Ching Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by WETM The Chicago Fire of 1871 is known as one of the most brutal and tragic fires in history. As a result, in 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the very first National Fire Prevention Day Proclamation. Starting in 1922, Fire Prevention Week was celebrated to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire and inform the public about the importance of fire prevention. Fire Prevention Week is celebrated every year on Sunday through Saturday, the week of October 9th. Every year has a different theme, and this year the theme is, “Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention.” So, something you are probably asking is, “What’s so important about cooking safety?” Well, this is no laughing matter since cooking has been the leading cause of home fires and fire-related injuries, and has resulted in more fire deaths in 2014-2018, than in 1980-1984. So, I am going to be telling you some ways to keep yourself safe in the kitchen. But first, I believe that we must identify hazards in the kitchen in order to know how to prevent them. Something you should not do at all is to leave your food unattended, as this is the leading cause of cooking-related fires. Multiple objects in the kitchen that are flammable and incredibly dangerous - this includes oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, and curtains. Other dangerous objects in the kitchen are pot handles, mainly because some people may bump into them, and either cause a grease fire, burn themselves, or spill something that is boiling. Something dangerous about microwaves is that some people use extension cords to plug them in, although you should always plug them in directly into the kitchen wall. A final piece of information you should know before I move on is that frying-related fires dominate most cooking fires. So, now that we have identified some hazards in the kitchen, let us get onto how you can keep yourself safe. Since you are probably thinking about frying because of what I just told you, I will first talk about how you can safely fry. You should stay in the kitchen whenever you are frying, and you must also keep an eye out for what you are cooking in the first place. You should heat the oil slowly to the temperature you desire. Something else you should do is keep a lid beside your pan. If a fire breaks out, you should slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover, let the pan cool, and do not throw water over it. Also, if you see smoke, turn off the burner and remove the pan, as smoke is a sign that the oil is too hot. If the fire does not go out or if you do not feel comfortable, get everyone out of your house, and call the fire department. Now, with frying out of the way, there are a few more things I should tell you. Referring back to what I stated about flammable objects, clear the area of those objects before cooking. You should also turn the pot handles away from yourself, and towards the back of the stove to prevent something from falling. Also, for quick meals in the microwave, you should make sure the microwave is at a safe height that is comfortable for all users. You should also open the food slowly, away from your face to prevent burns. To conclude, I should tell you some facts about cooking fires, to make sure you know why fire prevention is important. To start, two-thirds of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other materials that are used in the kitchen. Clothing is also the first item ignited in less than 1% of these types of fires. However, this has caused 8% of home cooking fire deaths. A third and final fact you should know is that ranges, or cooktops account for three-fifths of home cooking fire incidents. Hopefully, the information and tips provided will help you be safer when cooking, and when in the kitchen in general. SOURCES: NFPA Applied Research Public education - NFPA Fire Prevention Week (FPW) ( nfpa.org ) BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections The Compliment to Cezanne's Complimentary Colors By Isabella Somma November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Anonymous - Memory Project - 1 By Anonymous March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6