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Back to Artwork Back to Sections Elaine Ching By Elaine Ching November 7, 2022 Volume 3 Issue 1

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Family Photo By Luiginna Frederique January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Artwork Perspective Back to Sections Kaitlin Barry - Perspective - 2 By Kaitlin Barry December 16, 2020 Photography Volume 1 Issue 3

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Fairy Light By Sienna Munro January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles News Back to Sections LIFSA By Manal Layachi Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Original artwork by Hannah Lee On Saturday, February 5th, 2023, the 67th annual Long Island String Festival Association concert took place at Uniondale High School. Long Island’s best orchestra players performed beautifully on stage. Seniors Elyas Layachi (12th grade) and Hannah Lee (12th grade) were selected to participate in this festival. I interviewed both of them about their experience of playing in the LIFSA orchestra. Elyas’s Responses: What made you choose your instrument in elementary school? “I originally wanted to list the trumpet as my first choice, followed by the violin, and then percussion, but my dad convinced me that the violin should be my first choice because ‘it can play a wide range of songs.’” How did you feel when you got selected for LISFA? “I was very excited! I’ve heard of the festival since the fifth grade, and knew it was very hard to get into, so being selected was an absolute honor.” How did it feel to have five-hour rehearsals? “They were tiring, but by the second rehearsal I was used to it. I found it fun to work on music with people I did not know, and I was able to make some cool friends.” How did you feel when you were performing on stage? “It felt amazing. I felt very connected to the music and the group as a whole, and I had so much fun!” Did you like the music selections? “Yes, they were great selections and so much fun to prepare and perform.” What was your favorite part of LISFA? “My favorite part of LISFA was the performance for sure.” Do you plan on playing your instrument for the rest of your life? “I most certainly do! I hope to join an orchestra in college and continue taking lessons, as well as hopefully playing in a community orchestra after college.” What does music mean to you? “Music is a way of expressing myself in ways other than verbally and physically, and I find learning and playing music fun, challenging, and rewarding!” Hannah’s Responses: What made you choose your instrument in elementary school? “Honestly, I didn’t choose the violin in elementary school. I actually chose the flute in 4th grade. I had been taking private lessons for the violin and continued to play it in the school because the music teacher, Ms. Shannon, offered for me to join the elementary school orchestra.” How did you feel when you got selected for LISFA? “I was really excited when I was chosen for LISFA. It hadn’t been held since I was in ninth grade, since before COVID. I was so excited because to me it meant two things. The first is that the world was slowly returning to the state it had been in before COVID. The second was that I would be able to see people I had met in prior years at LISFA.” How did it feel to have five-hour rehearsals? “The five-hour rehearsals were so tiring. It was very draining to have the rehearsal for that long of a time period. However, I think it was worth it, as we sounded really great afterward! I also bonded with my stand partner during both rehearsals, which was nice!” How did you feel when you were performing on stage? “Performing on stage was wonderful. The exhilaration of playing in front of an audience and producing music that I had practiced for weeks on end and spent hours on was amazing. It was very exciting and a lot of fun!” Did you like the music selections? “I liked the music selections a lot. They chose good music; it gave interesting parts to all sections of the orchestra. My part was not too difficult, but still fun to play.” What was your favorite part of LISFA? “My favorite part of LISFA was talking to my stand partner in between section rehearsals. When the conductor was talking to other sections, I would whisper to my stand partner, which helped us get to know each other and bond a lot!” Do you plan on playing your instrument for the rest of your life? “I don’t know if I plan on playing it for the rest of my life. I will definitely play in college and join the orchestra there. However, beyond that I’m not sure if I’m going to continue to play. Perhaps I will for the fun of it, perhaps I won’t. Only time will tell!” What does music mean to you? “Music is a form of release. It’s always a good way to get rid of pent-up emotions. Transferring them into your playing is a wonderful way of creating expressive music and having an outlet for your emotions. I love music because it’s a sanctuary where I can let my emotions flow through the piece I’m working on.” The performance was incredible and breathtaking. Be sure to congratulate Elyas and Hannah on their amazing accomplishment. GO SPARTANS! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Anonymous - Who Am I? - 10 By Anonymous November 19, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Equality By Anonymous Contributor Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Grand Rapids Pride Center They tried to take it Equality and love Of those who want the same as you, Of those who were created the same as you, Of those who are the same as you, Of those who love same The same as you do BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Aamna's Advice: Schoolwork Aamna Raja Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Inspirit AI Recently, I have been getting horrible grades in Social Studies. Even though I'm in an accelerated class, it's horrible. I even studied for this test and yet I still failed it. I never thought that I would be able to get such a low grade even though I studied almost the whole day for it. I expected better to be honest. My parents also didn't expect me to get such a low grade. They really don't like it when I get a low grade suddenly and they start suspecting that I'm doing something horrible, when really, I'm not. I got really upset when I got such a low grade even though I studied a lot. Social Studies is really a weak subject for me. -Anonymous Hello! Let me start off with this – High school is especially hard to adjust to when you’re first getting into it. I remember the first time I took an accelerated course; my grades were absolutely terrible. High school assignments are much harder than what you’re used to, especially if you’re taking a Regents Exam or an AP. I understand how you feel, and you aren’t wrong to feel this way. The feeling of studying and then failing even when you know you tried can be nauseating, and even worse is the worry of disappointing your parents. However, remember that you aren’t stuck in this loop of having bad grades. It’s only the beginning of the year- once you get used to the course, you’ll find yourself performing better than you did initially. Further than that, remember that your worth is not equal to your grades in school. You may worry about failing a class and disappointing your parents, but I’m sure that your grades aren’t the only thing they see in you. They see how you are as a person, how you behave, and how you are morally. If you’re looking to improve in social studies, I’d recommend attending extra help. If you know any upperclassmen who’ve taken the course, you can ask them for advice on how they studied and learn from them as well. If you don’t, I’m here, you can always ask me. Every teacher in the social studies department here is very friendly, so asking one of them for help is a good idea. Now, I have definitely dealt with teachers whose style did not match up with my learning style, and I struggled. Unfortunately, you cannot transfer classes to get a different teacher. However, depending on the subject you’re taking, there are other ways to get the help and teaching you need. If it’s is a math class, for example, you can attend the math lab in room 114 during your lunch period and other teachers will be there to help. If anything, ask a friend in a different class when their teacher has extra help, and you may be able to find some helpful resources. This next part is a little controversial, but trust me, it works. Chat GPT is often used for cheating, which you should NOT do as it’s plagiarism, and that can get on your permanent record. HOWEVER, it can be an incredibly helpful learning tool, and you can ask it to explain concepts to you in a comprehensible way. I’ve used it to study for many of my exams. You can even ask it to give you practice questions and explain why your answer is correct or incorrect. AI is very powerful when used properly. You can even ask it to explain concepts in terms you’re more efficient in, such as an analogy to a video game. Good luck to you! High school can be extremely academically challenging, but just remember your grades don’t define who you are, and there’s always room for improvement. And hey, even if there isn’t, appreciate the fact you worked hard and care about school. That shows you have sound morals. Remember, I’m here if you need me! Signed your friend and Advice Columnist at North Star, Aamna <3 BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Back to Sections Camille Malcom By Camille Malcom Volume 3 Issue 1

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Shape and Form Study By Kimberly Shrestha April 22, 2021 Study Volume 1 Issue 7