Back to Articles News Back to Sections Adelphi Press Day By Elaine Ching Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by North Student On February 17th, the staff of North High School’s School News and Literary Magazine, North Star and POLARIS, went to Adelphi University in Garden City to participate in Adelphi’s Press Day, an event in which school newspapers from all over Long Island and beyond gather to work with college professors, collaborate in workshops, and learn how to better their journalistic skills. North students got to dive into the topic of newspapers moving from print to online, the theme of this year’s Adelphi Press Day. Starting off the event, students were sat in the Ruth S. Harley University center. They listened to guest speaker, Chris Corry, a renowned and experienced journalist. Along with other speakers were the Editor In Chief and faculty advisor from Lynbrook High School’s award-winning newspaper, The Horizon . Speakers shared their experiences with the press to further inspire student journalists. After a Q&A with the panel of speakers, students were sent off to participate in two workshops of their choice. For their first workshop, North students participated in #AUPressDay Photo Challenge with Chris Corry , in which students got to learn some fundamentals of photography such as the rule of thirds. In addition, they were taught how to take the best photos, just by using cameras available to them, their cellphone cameras. Students went around campus taking photos and then later reviewed them with other students. For their second workshop, the North Star staff split into two groups. One group going to Finding Ideas: From the News Pages to the Book workshop with Paul Thaler, a professor at Adelphi, where they were discussed how to best use their journalistic skills in order to write for the newspaper and to further improve their writing skills. The other group went to the Share Your Online Successes/ Missteps , where they collaborated with other students in order to discuss their newspaper’s online presence. Due to North Star being an online-only publication , North Star staff took the opportunity to display their website for the other schools. After both workshops, students were provided with lunch by Adelphi and got to watch the Quill Awards, an Awards ceremony where Adelphi chooses school newspaper schools to be honored with wins in categories such as “Best Layout”, a prize North Star has taken home in the past. News Editor, Everton Prospere, shows the North Star website to other students along with Shinedip Kundlas, Editor in Chief, Kimberly Shrestha, Art Editor, and Christina Ossa, Feature Editor. (Names listed from right to left). Entertainment and Media Editor, Alain Deen, takes a photo of Elyas Layachi, Managing Editor, taking a photo of Everton Prospere, News Editor, during the # AUPressDay Photo Challenge workshop. Photo taken by Augustine Magapan, North Star staff. Manal Layachi, North Star staff, Elaine Ching, Social Media Manager, Navrosedip Kundlas, POLARIS Editor, and Kimberly Shrestha, Art Editor in the Ruth S. Harley University center. (Names listed from left to right) Photo taken by Shinedip Kundlas, Editor in Chief. North Star staff members, Nora Chery, Rachel Ezeadichie, and Manal Layachi in the Ruth S. Harley University center waiting for the event to start. (Names listed from left to right). BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Without Her Face 2 By Nora Chery Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by National Park Service (Note from the author: If you want to read the previous chapter, click here: https://www.vsnorthstar.com/articles/without-her-face ) Chapter Two: Secretly, beneath his easygoing nature and simple philosophies, he pat himself on the back. He prided himself on being the only kid his age with any common sense. Most teenagers in Snow Valley Square were below him. He thought of himself as a god. However, his dose of reality soon hit him like a bullet piercing between the eye and brain. Who would have thought that leaning, applying your 130-pound weight on a rotten, weak part of a wooden fence, would cause it to snap? Sending you, headfirst, down the tip of a hill. Barreling you towards a dark sea of trees, in the middle of the night. In the town of Snow Valley Square, in the forest below the hills, resided our false god. He was flat on his back, lying on damp, dark green leaves, and the murky shores of a muddy pond. His right leg was snapped and twisted like a twirled mop. With rose leaves as stickers on his face, and grass as hairpins, he bawled for help up the hill, hoping someone could hear him. No one did. Up there, the residents were religious. They had to sleep early, as they had church tomorrow. The boy mewled. His broken leg gave waves of pain, warning him not to move or else. Like a needle to an open wound, sobbed the boy from inside. The wave of nausea wasn’t a pleasant gift either. Oak and spruce trees were the only living things around to hear his shallow breathing. His tears joined the pond under him. He called out once more; the houses above responded by looming before him like a dead streetlamp a someone forgot to light. But just then, a hem of a cheap lemon-colored summer dress approached him from his right, followed by a pair of rawboned legs. When the boy looked up, he felt his eyes burn, swearing they’d cry out blood, as he saw the face of the hideous, gaunt creature. He could’ve sworn he saw his short life flash before him as the humanoid demon reached down towards him. Its pale, spindly fingers extended, and the claws came closer and... --- Two fingers, a pointer and thumb, adorned with blue polish, came down to pinch at Mr. Blue’s right cheek. The sudden action made him gurgle on his spit, but his eyes remained shut. Drool peeked out of the left corner of his mouth. The fingers, still clasping on, gave a couple good yanks on the skin. It was strong enough to trigger his eyes to snap open. His sleepy body bobbed alive; he inhaled as he straightened up on his seat. He drifted his eyes to the fingers, then up at Mrs. Blue, whom they belong to. They were the only ones on the bus. The other couple was still distracted with each other and missed the bus when the married pair had boarded. Mr. and Mrs. Blue sat on their green seats as the white lights shined. The sleeve of Mrs. Blue’s frock intertwined with Mr. Blue’s parka. She leaned on his shoulder, peering up at him, “Our stop is next. I would’ve used a much gentler approach to wake you—If you weren’t such a deep sleeper,” Mrs. Blue said. Mr. Blue hummed in response; his drowsy eyes stared at his right leg contained within his yellow cargo pants, solid and healthy. “Thanks,” he mumbled, smiling softly, still looking at his leg. “You had another dream, Mike?” asked Mrs. Blue. “Yeah, about a monster this time. It was gaunt and ugly,” jested Mr. Blue. “Again!? I’d protect you from those if I could.” “Thanks, Sophia. You’re a sweetheart when you don’t have venom.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections My Thanksgiving Family Traditions By Ismaela Andre Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by DOGO News Thanksgiving is a meaningful holiday for my family and me. We have many traditions. One is to eat dinner with each other. We all sit in the dining room and enjoy the delicious homemade food. Another family tradition is to give thanks. Before we eat the food, we sit down and go around the table to say what we're thankful for. I love sharing what I am grateful for every year, and most times, what I am thankful for does not change. Our last tradition is pie. Every year we get multiple pies like pecan, apple, shoefly -- a Pennsylvanian pie that is made with mostly molasses and sugar -- pumpkin, and many others. It is like a pie buffet! I love all our Thanksgiving family traditions; however, this year is going to be totally different. This year, my birthday is the same day as Thanksgiving! I am so excited and can't wait to celebrate it. My birthday is always near Thanksgiving, so I am extra excited for this year. One thing I look forward to the most this year is to continue our family traditions. I hope you and your families enjoy the holidays and create some traditions for yourself as well! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Eternal Love Nathaly Zavala Volume 6 Issue 3 June 8, 2026 Image Provided by Unsplash In the realm of love’s cruel game That love that actually makes us insane Is an impossible love, a cruel twist of fate This love that in this time, came late As they were dancing in the storm During the moon’s soft glow This love that was supposed to grow Actually just got destroyed instead of reformed A haunting presence, that does not hide But can’t shake the feeling deep inside That ghost that fights back In the shadows, there resides Here yearning for a love that cannot be Here we are trapped in this eternity that just gave us insanity I hold unto the echoes of your laugh A love that got complicated In the shadows of my mind I still hear your name My soul just told me that you’re still present in this day I remember this crazy night that just whispers by my side Telling me that our love is still alive So I carry this pain-love that does not load Missing you, loving you in this lonely road We all know loving you is a lost trend, a dead end But my heart refuses to let you go, knowing This is our eternal love BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Back to Sections Juliana Silva By Juliana Silva Volume 3 Issue 1

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Quarantine Feelings By Cody Sung Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by Getty Images In this quarantine I have so many emotions One for boredom One for tiredness One for sadness. I am like a cake mix All the ingredients Of emotions Are mixed into me And then baked In the oven Of social distancing. But yet still I see hope Up ahead Down the road Of quarantine. Our actions are right Our feelings are just And We have hope inside As we know We are defeating a beast. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Purpose Back to Sections Gilana Etame - Purple Yellow Study By Gilana Etame November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

< Back About the Course This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Your Instructor Ashley Amerson This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left.

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Power Of Sunsets By Rehmat Kaur Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image Provided by Rehmat Kaur Exotic locations are not needed to appreciate a sunset's peaceful, gorgeous, and life-changing moments. The sun rises and sets every day, so, there's no reason you can't take a few moments to appreciate it. Health Benefits Viewing sunsets have a transcending spiritual component that is beneficial, therapeutic, creative, and restorative. It's a meditation that helps you cleanse your thoughts of anything happening outside of that moment. One of the best ways to decompress is to watch the sunset. According to research, being around nature and particularly natural light can help people feel less stressed and anxious. You can slow down, unwind, and enjoy the beauty of nature by watching the sun slowly sink behind the horizon. Sunsets may make us feel insignificant (but in a positive way), and in these moments, sublime; you feel a connection that reminds us of the infinite potential within each of us. They remind us of the beauty that exists in the world. According to 2012 research, participants who experienced the beauty and power of the sunset reported feeling like they had more time available and were less impatient. You can enjoy sunsets in several ways, including exercising, strolling, bicycling, or just sitting and looking. Exercise has been shown to reduce the signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, merely sitting and watching the sunset can also improve your health by allowing you to engage in mindfulness exercises. According to a study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science , mindfulness is "the nonjudgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment". It has been shown to have numerous advantages, including lowered levels of stress and enhanced cognitive function. Watching the literal passage of time as the sun descends below the horizon is a perfect way to practice being present. Many more gorgeous sunsets will inspire, raise us, and help us rise beyond the trivial to live a full life. Sources https://studyfinds.org/sunrises-sunsets-well-being/ https://www.ambong-ambong.com/blog/health-benefits-of-watching-sunsets/#:~:text=Watching%20the%20sunset%20can%20be,help%20reduce%20your%20stress%20levels . https://www.agoldlining.com/post/reasons-why-you-should-make-time-for-the-sunset#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20sunsets%20have,a%20reason%20to%20go%20outside . https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/minding-the-body/201407/how-admiring-the-sunset-changes-you-the-better https://communikait.com/2018/06/5-reasons-why-sunsets-are-good-for-your-health/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/make-time-for-sunset_n_5066629 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