Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Netflix Recommendations for each Genre By Isabella Menjivar Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Original artwork by Isabella Menjivar Over this year’s quarantine, we all can agree that we’ve found ourselves becoming more reliant on TV shows and movies to stay entertained. So, I’ve picked a TV show or movie from different genres that I believe are worth watching! Crime Unsolved Mysteries This show is 10/10 if you love making theories or seeing detectives piece together clues. As someone who now gets bored easily when watching TV, I can guarantee you this series even kept me entertained and in suspense while watching. What makes it so captivating is that watchers are left with only the clues and strong leads in the case, so how you interpret the unsolved mystery is up to you. The stories are as detailed as they can be, by including family members of the victim talking throughout the episodes. Adventure Enola Holmes Even though it takes place in the 1900’s, this movie switches between thrill and heartwarming scenes that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Watching Enola navigate her own life offers some beneficial life skills to the audience too! We also meet Enola’s two brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. If you’re fascinated with London, you’re in luck because that’s where this movie takes place. Millie Bobby Brown from the hit series “Stranger Things” stars in this relatable movie as Enola Holmes. Comedy Work It This movie will appeal to you if you’re a dancer! It involves an intense competition between two high school teams while one team seeks the help of an expert. Starring Sabrina Carpenter, Jordan Fisher, and Liza Koshy, this movie is filled with comedic moments that high schoolers will definitely enjoy. We also see the main character hilariously struggle to impress her college scout. The movie was super enjoyable, had impressive dance choreography, and characters young viewers can relate to. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Two Roads By Ella Cason Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by eLife There are two separate roads ahead which way would you go. On the right there's is one road is the sound of the world, on the left is the silence of the world. The decision depends on your life and whatever you choose is your life. The right road ahead is a road where you can do many different things. Communication to people while others are silent. The movement of words and movement to explore. The left is the silence of the world but connects in other ways. The communication of hands, emotion, and signs rather than ears and mouths So, they mute their ears and shut their mouths and proud of who they are. The two different roads that decide were you go. They may seem different but together in the same world. They value their culture like they value their souls. Everyday people lie on those to roads a head. A decision of life a decision of proudness and culture. and every day a new person is born on the two separate roads ahead. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Fall Sports Recap By Joseph Garofalo Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original photography by Joseph Garofalo Fall sports began on August 23rd for most sports, as tryouts and training got athletes in shape for the upcoming season. As the teams were optimistic, the student athletes worked day in and day out hoping to achieve their goals. Here’s how their seasons went: Girls Soccer : Under Head Coach O’Connell and assistant coach Tronolone, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team completed their season 4-7. In a tough conference, the girls held their own, competing in every game they played and even beating the No. 1 team in their conference, Mineola. Captain Tiffany Wong and goalie Gabriella Barrigo held down the defense while Karime Ribeiro, Sophia Barry, and Amaya Pagan led the team in scoring. Boys Soccer: In Conference A3, the boys under Coach Aguado, and Coach Frazer finished with a record of 4-4-1, their best since their last playoff appearance. Captains Jonathan Xavier and Godwin Eyiuche led the Spartans tremendously. Goalie Jorge Tellez made 34 saves in the 9-game season, and Derek Fuentes led in points. Jonathan Xavier also received All-Conference honors in A3 and Player of the Week recognition. Boys’ Volleyball: After competing in the 2020-2021 playoffs reigning Conference Champions for the first time in 26 years, the boys finished this season with a record of 9-5, third in the C2 conference. Captain Colin McAleer achieved All-Conference honors while leading the team with 63 kills; captain Jojo Garofalo earned All-Conference honors leading the team in blocks with 43; captain Steven Munson earned the Unsung Hero Award while leading the team in assists with 153. The team and I would like to extend our gratitude and thank Coach K for the time and effort he put into our team, and for changing the mentality of the team since the beginning. Girls’ Volleyball: Reigning Coach of the Year, Ms. Parisi, led our Lady Spartans to another Conference Championship, the second in the past 4 years, with a record of 12-1 in the A3 conference. Libero Ally Llubit left it all on the court accumulating 197 digs, ranking 14th in Nassau County. Junior Kayla Santo and Isabella Matura also ranked amongst the top in Nassau County; Santo ranked 21st in kills, and Matura ranked 4th in blocks for the county. Senior Captain Haley Nelson earned preseason honors from Newsday, ranking in the Top 50 of all girls’ volleyball players on Long Island. Coach Parisi, for the second year in a row, won the Coach of the Year as well. Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country: Coach Boyens led the Cross-Country team to yet another successful season with many personal bests and a State Qualifier! For the girls, All-County honors were awarded to senior Girls’ Captain Samantha Szabo and Junior Melissa Innocent; for the boys, All-County recognition was awarded to Jack Schwabe. All-Conference honors were awarded to senior Boys’ Captain Craig Papajohn-Shaw, senior David Pinos, and junior Elyas Layachi; Emily Dahl earned this recognition for the girls. Matteo Somma, Aleeza Dhillon, and Navrosedip Kundlas produced times that allowed them to participate in the State Qualifier meet. Junior Melissa Innocent, with a time of 20:38, triumphed in the race, punching her ticket into the State Championship race. Football: Under second-year Head Coach, Mr. Paolillo, the boys had a successful season making it to playoffs for the first time since they appeared in the Big Four in 2013. Senior leadership helped to bolster the team through tough games producing an overall record of 4-4 in the regular season. The success of the team brought life back to Valley Stream North, convincing students to be active at the games and create an atmosphere of spirit and enthusiasm, especially at Homecoming. Senior Angelo “Gelo” Morales broke North High School’s record for the most tackles in a single season, earning All-County recognition in the process. Adding to the boys’ impressive team, Brian Farrell earned All-Conference for the 2nd time. Joining Morales and Farrell in their athletic achievement is Vaughn Candelario and Andrew Lusterino, earning All-Conference recognition. Aside from Lusterino’s All-Conference achievements, he also earned Academic All-Conference, which he is eligible by receiving an academic average of 85% or better for 3 consecutive years. Morales, Farrell, and Lusterino will be representing VSN and Conference 3 in the Exceptional Senior Game. The game will take place on Thanksgiving morning at 10am at Mitchell Field. If interested in attending, please reach out to one of the participating athletes for tickets. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Back to Sections Trip to the Grocery Store Kimberly Shrestha February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Jaba By Luiginna Frederique March 28, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 5

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Truth By Huan Evo Alipio Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by Vincent Van Gogh In search for love, may he find the right one She walked, she strolls, she arrived quarter to two One foolish man running till three But yet she’ll never budge with great power for four Almost to the middle, with not intentions of meeting The time hit six, with the sun gleaming He or she never crossed the seventh path Which the eight can be revealed with a tremendous wrath He imagines to catch her and take her for a ride Though she assured him she will be her bride The time is twelve, what a shocking sound Then he got up, there he was in bed and bound BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Soldier By Nora Chery Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Medpage Today The soldier has survived the impossible. But there’s so much going on in that little helmet of his That he smacks it away, smacking it away. Until it goes away, except it never does. The soldiers says he’s fine, but those words quickly float away Without any meaning. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections World Cup 2022 By Leah Ally Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image produced by Leah Ally ince 1930, the World Cup has been the most popular and most watched sporting event as 32 qualifying teams go head-to-head in a series of games to determine which nation will hold the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Every four years, the World Cup has become a worldwide event beloved by soccer fans and even those who may not be too familiar with the sport. Undoubtedly, the World Cup will continue its long-lasting legacy for years to come. The 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar, starting November 20th and ending December 18th. This would be the first time the World Cup would be held in the winter, as it was determined that Qatar’s hot climate would not be suitable to be played in during the summer. With 64 matches to be played in eight locations across five cities, the contest took place over 29 days (about four weeks). Thirty-one teams were chosen from each of FIFA’s six regional soccer confederations based on their performances over the last four years, while the national football team of Qatar automatically qualified for the event, their first World Cup. Due to its treatment of women and migrant laborers, as well as its climate, lack of vibrant football culture, scheduling adjustments, and claims of bribery for hosting rights, the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has been controversial. The event was estimated to be the most expensive World Cup ever hosted, with $220 billion worth of expenses, which would result in a 40% increase in ticket prices since the 2018 tournament. Over the event, the World Cup was expected to draw 5 billion viewers, over half of the world’s population. This year’s event was bound to be emotional for fans and players as numerous stars announced retirement. These players include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Thiago Silva, and Guillermo Ochoa. As of now, Qatar 2022 will mark the last World Cup for these stars as they will continue their legacy off the field while hoping for their final victory. It is safe to say the World Cup of 2022 would be exciting for both fans and teams, with high hopes and anticipation as history would be made. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Two Birds on a Wire Shea Flanelly Volume 6 Issue 3 June 8, 2026 Image Provided by Jeanne Sammons The sun was just barely over the horizon, painting the sky in gold and rose. As if to give the sky company, a blue jay and a cardinal perched side by side on the old telephone wire. “You’ve been quiet,” said the cardinal, fluffing her feathers. “Something on your mind?” The blue jay ruffled his wings nervously, feathers drooping a little. “I… I think I need to fly alone for a while.” The cardinal’s head tilted, her scarlet feathers catching the light. “Alone?” “Yes,” he said, looking at the horizon. “Lately… I’ve been feeling… tangled up. My thoughts are a mess , and my chest feels heavy. I need to find new skies and clear my head. I can’t do that if I stay here.” The cardinal’s beak quivered a little. “I get that. I do. But I thought… maybe we could stick together, at least a little longer.” The blue jay let out a soft noise, almost like a sigh. “I don’t want to leave you. But I’d be holding you back if I stayed. You have your own flights to take too, and I need to find myself before I can really be here with anyone.” They sat in silence, listening to the gentle breeze of morning, the wire swaying beneath their feet. The cardinal finally whispered, “Remember the winter storms? How I held you under my wing until the wind stopped?” “I remember,” the blue jay said, a hint of a smile in his voice. “And you reminded me to sing when everything felt bad.” For a moment, they just shared the quiet comfort of the morning, the air around them soft and still. “Promise me something?” the cardinal asked. “Anything.” “Promise that wherever we go, we’ll remember this… the wire, the sun, the way we helped each other.” “I promise,” said the blue jay. With a final glance, they stretched their wings. One flew east, carrying the weight of his worries into the open sky, the other west, carrying hope and warmth in her heart. Though they flew apart, the memory of the morning stayed with them wherever they went, and their promise was unwavering. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections prejudice tastes like apple pie By Lucy Wu Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Pinterest i why are our apples not the same? i concede our exteriors may not match you arrive pristine untouched from neighboring orchards while i may still be bruised manhandled from my journey but if i wield a knife slicing through translucent veins and thin skin wouldn’t you agree we are the same? ii seventeen years ago my mother sowed her seeds passed down from her family a figment of her mother in a fertile promised land she spread her roots meticulously and eventually without fear my belonging a trellis pale petals wrapped around her backbone after sunset i built palisades shielding her fragile sapling from unforgiving wind the piercing stares so she could assimilate and flourish each year come gentle spring her tree bloomed borne from sacrifice watered with tears and we reaped her ripened fruit cherishing its sweetness yet in one day you intruded on our garden ravaging her tree drowning her roots breaking her branches in insult and scorn what’s more you claim her lovely apples my apples as your own a product of your generosity fallen from the tree that once was small and shriveled pale jade and longing there’s nothing left to promise me her daughter how dare you cut down my mother’s tree you take a bite but i hope you choke iii i walk to the market looking for apples scouring the aisles peering at the mountains it’s easy to spot the bruised with their browned skin sunken in i avoid those and you do too i handpick just a few with crisp sides taut and overflowing with their juices almost permitting myself to believe they’ll be perfect but i’m no fool i show you how i drag my blade piercing the core and examine for rotting interiors and disposing rinse and repeat you follow my lead however some elude me the most deceiving are the ones that appear perfect both inside and out they make it all the way into the oven seeping their spoiled rancid juices into my crust my foundation at the table only i notice the fragrance wafting in the air is wrong it’s faint but brimming with malice spiced with hate that’s the thing they don’t tell you about prejudice and pie the apples seem fine so naively you taste them and then they reveal their true flavors only in the critical moments in solitude after the pie whisked away you’ll realize in your throat the aftertaste souring bitterness lingers forever it’s a shock when my tongue deludes my eyes nothing similar in the slightest i should warn you it’s an acquired taste one you develop after years of picking them letting them ruin your pies it’s subtle yet their acridness so potent to me i hope maybe someday you’ll taste it too and possess the wherewithal to say something but until then i do not betray truth i cut a generous slice feigning a smile through my salty tears swallowing whispering it’s delicious BACK TO TOP