Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections North’s Student Art Scene: About the Heckscher Entries By Kimberly Shrestha Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by WILW Recently, many of North’s artists took part in an annual art exhibition hosted by the Heckscher Museum of Art, titled Long Island’s Best . In this gallery, participating students had to create artwork inspired by art showcased in the Heckscher Museum during the ongoing school year. While receiving hundreds of artworks throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties’ schools, only about 80 total artworks usually get chosen for display within the museum. All entries require a written artist’s statement explaining the correlation between student pieces and featured museum artworks. Fourteen of North’s student artists participated in Long Island’s Best this year , creating artwork currently visible in the library hallway display case. While only allowing six entries, each student participating created a beautiful artwork worthy of display in any gallery! Let’s recap the submissions: Entry 1: Inspired by Robert Carter’s Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More” This piece titled My Dream Closeted took inspiration from the idea of collage within art. This artist involves blue and purple elements as a source of comfort within her artwork, illustrating “What [she] imagines [her] future closet to look like” (artist’s statement). Entry 2: Based off of Howard Pindell’s artwork, this piece titled Reflection took inspiration from the depiction of one’s life and the impact words have on others. The artist “conveys love that is felt from the effects of war” and “wanted people to stop and stare and take in the impact of the words [she has] heard”. (artist’s statement) Entry 3: Inspired by Arthur B. Carle’s Nude with Red Hair, this piece titled An Artistic Escape took inspiration from the use of color, shading, and space. The artist mimics “the theme of a human form against a white background” and applies similar concepts of layering, shadow, and light reflection. (artist’s statement) Entry 4: Based off of Emma Stebbins’s Industry and Commerce, this piece titled Aura of David took inspiration from Renaissance art, and the artist’s application of color. The artist mimics “the marble statues made during [the Renaissance period],” incorporating “graphite and a watercolor background to bring life in the aura”. (artist’s statement) Entry 5: Based off of Winslow Homer’s Resting Shepherdess , this piece titled Memory Tree took inspiration from the calmness found within one’s environment. The artist “include[s] items which brought [her] the comfort… the original painting symbolized”. (artist’s statement) Entry 6: Inspired by Risaburo Kimura, this piece titled “Time” took inspiration from the formation and repetition of shape within art. This artist used shapes to create “repetition in Time, with there being multiple clocks, in different shapes and sizes”. (artist’s statement) Entry 7: Based off of Ralph Albert Blakelock’s The Poetry of Moonlight, this piece took inspiration from the feeling of calm at night. The artist creates “a clear night sky with a breeze, the black swirls depicting the wind, the bright yellow spots depicting the stars”. (artist’s statement) Entry 8: Inspired by Robert Carter’s Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More,” this piece took inspiration from the illustration of the feeling of love and security within a homely environment. The artist creates “a homely and intimate ambiance” and uses “space and layering… to create the same effect [produced within the inspiration piece]” (artist’s statement) Entry 9: Based off of Roy Lichtenstein’s Seascape , this photo titled Lake Harmony took inspiration from the depiction of the sea, trying to capture the perfect photographic representation of it. The artist captures “the rugged look that Lichtenstein did with the… blue dots” and implements her own artistic inclinations throughout the carefully taken photo. (artist’s statement) Entry 10: Inspired by Risaburo Kimura, this piece titled St. Basil’s Cathedral took inspiration from the bold and bright colors featured within the artwork. The artist chose to depict “cityscapes, particularly architecture” and focused on the beauty of religious architecture. (artist’s statement) Entry 11: Based off of Rosalia Rosato’s Loneliness, this piece titled Broken took inspiration from the visualization of sadness and emptiness. The artist “attempted to convey [feelings of] stress and anxiety… symbolizing how fragile and weak a person can feel during these moments” (artist’s statement) Entry 12: Inspired by George Grosz’s I was Always Present , this piece took inspiration from the portrayal of chaos through bold application of color. The artist creates a “skeleton figure [that] appears to be surrounded by wealth … and power but remains unhappy” to portray the idea that greed continues to limit and hold back people”. (artist’s statement) Entry 13: Based off of Robert Carter’s Mama Taught Me Piano and Much More,” this piece titled Him took inspiration from the depiction of meaningful people and moments in life. The artist creates “textured strokes of digital paint” to emulate “the applications of medium and illusion of space from Carter’s artwork”. (artist’s statement) Entry 14: Inspired by Joseph Hirch’s Moon Dreamers , this piece titled Breakfast at Kimberly’s took inspiration from the depiction of intimacy within art. The artist “used stylistic choices… to connect to the illusion and idea of landscape” and combines two pieces of paper “to develop the overall artwork”. (artist’s statement) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Questionnaire With Football Seniors Rehmat Kaur Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Sophia Song What was your most memorable moment playing football? Imran Paul : “My first game as a freshman. That was my real first ever tackle game. We lost but still a fun experience.” When did you start playing football? Who introduced you to this sport? Imran Paul: “I started playing 7th grade and who introduced me was Terry (Senior 2024). It was 6th grade summer going to 7th grade, Terry said I should come to the clinics, and I have been playing ever since.” Who have been some of your toughest competitors? Imran Paul: “Wantagh, Bethpage, Plainedge when they used to be in our conference.” What are you looking forward to in your senior year? Imran Paul: “Just having fun with the guys... it’s the last year, so having fun.” Favorite sports team? Nathan Smith : “Pittsburgh Steelers” Favorite movie? Nathan Smith: “Whiplash , no explanation, love it.” What coaches influenced you the most throughout your high school career and why? Nathan Smith: “All of my football coaches. They have pushed me a lot the past three years.” What advice do you have for up-and-coming football players? Nathan Smith: “Just push through with all the yelling because most of the time coaches are doing this not because they think you are bad but because they think you can do better.” Who have been some of your toughest competitors? Antonio Casoria: “Definitely in the past, Bethpage. Week one Saturday is gonna be a big game, kinda predict the way the season goes.” Do you have any regrets from playing football that you want to make up as a senior? Antonio Casoria: “I don’t think I have any regrets. If I was to do all this again, I would probably do the same way; wins or losses.” What are some of your hobbies besides football? Antonio Casoria: “Hanging out with my friends, going to the gym and going to work.” What are you hoping for as a senior this year for your team? Antonio Casoria: “ Take the team to the playoffs, get some more wins, and bring North some pride.” Who were your football heroes growing up and who are they currently? Jayden Gonzalez: “Definitely OBJ (Odell Beckham Jr.), Jalen Ramsey and right now, it’s Tank Dell.” What other sports are you part of and how did you do in them? Jayden Gonzalez: “Track and Field and received All-County for high jump.” What are you looking forward to as a senior this year? Jayden Gonzalez: “Make it to playoffs and try to win everything.” When did you start playing football and who introduced you to the sport? Samuel Vega: “I started playing in 9th grade, no one really introduced it, but in some way Luke Tartamella (Senior 2025) a little bit.” Are there any regrets playing football that you wish to make up as a senior? Samuel Vega: “Not really, maybe enjoy my year more, have more fun playing with all the people.” What is your best advice for any upcoming highschoolers? Samuel Vega: “Enjoy the time that you have because soon it’s gonna go away.” What is your favorite sports team? Muhammad Haseeb: “The Patriots” Favorite TV show? Muhammad Haseeb: “Cobra Kai” When did you start playing football? Muhammad Haseeb: “I started playing football back in 7th grade.” What are your goals for this football season? Muhammad Haseeb: “To win as many games as possible with my team.” What advice do you have for the up-and-coming football players? Muhammad Haseeb: “Just listen to Coach and if you don’t know something just ask questions, work hard in the offseason and just get better every single day.” When did you start playing football and who introduced you to the sport? Steeve Delma: “I started playing in 8th grade and Imran Paul (Senior 2025) introduced me to the sport.” What are some of your other hobbies besides football? Steeve Delma: “Sleeping.” Do you have family that played before you? Steeve Delma: “No, I’m the first.” What are your goals for this football season? Steeve Delma: “Score as many touchdowns as I can.” What are some of your memorable moments playing football? Christian St. Amand: “Having my best game against Lynbrook in 10th grade.” When did you start playing football and who introduced you to the sport? Christian St. Amand: “I started playing in 7th grade and my dad introduced me to the sport.” Do you have any other hobbies besides football? Christian St. Amand: “Playing basketball for North.” What are you hoping for as a senior this year? Christian St. Amand: “Get All-County in both sports.” Do you have any advice for upcoming and future football players? Leden Sarmiento-Brugman: “Work hard, make plays on the field specially on a scout team.” How much does it mean for you to represent our school colors when you go to different schools? Leden Sarmiento-Brugman: “It means a lot.” What have been some of your core memories over the years at school? Leden Sarmiento-Brugman: “Messing around in AP Environmental Science instead of doing work.” What are you most excited for as a senior this year? Leden Sarmiento-Brugman: “Graduating and getting more free periods in the spring.” Favorite sports team? Luke Tartamella: “The Falcons” Favorite athlete? Luke Tartamella: “Julio Jones” Favorite TV show? Luke Tartamella: “ SpongeBob ” When did you start playing football and who introduced you to the sport? Luke Tartamella: “I started playing when I was four and my brother introduced football to me.” What are your goals for this football season? Luke Tartamella: “Hopefully win all our games and blowout every team we play” What advice do you have for the up-and-coming football players? Luke Tartamella: “ Make sure you work hard and keep your grades up.” When did you start playing football and who introduced you to the sport? Jasson Innocent: “I started playing football as a kid and in my sophomore year in school and my dad got me into this sport because we both like football.” What has been your most favorite sports memory? Jasson Innocent: “Last game sophomore year because everybody was getting emotional. It just brought everybody as a team to get better and work harder.” Favorite movie? Jasson Innocent: “ Home Alone definitely. It’s such a tough movie 10/10!” What has been your most favorite memory playing football? Jonathan Louis-Jean: “Watching my teammates play and getting amazing touchdowns in games.” What advice do you have for the up-and-coming football players? Jonathan Louis-Jean: “Just be comfortable and trust the process.” What is your favorite movie? Jonathan Louis-Jean: “ Chucky ” Danial Haq: Favorite sports team? Danial Haq: “Jets” Favorite athlete? Danial Haq: “Demetrious Johnson” Favorite movie? Danial Haq: “ The Batman ” Favorite TV show? Danial Haq: “ Avatar: The Last Airbender ” What are some of your most memorable moments playing football so far? Danial Haq: “The practices are always pretty fun” What advice do you have for the up-and-coming football players? Danial Haq: “Just do your thing and don’t let losses get to your head” Coach Paolillo What are your goals for the seniors this year? Coach Paolillo: “My goal for the seniors would be to make sure that they leave our program as respectable members of society. Football has so many lessons each day and we always stress to them that being a good person is the most important lesson to learn from football.” I thank everybody for answering the questions and being so polite. I hope this season welcomes the team with fun memories and great achievements. What a team. GO SPARTANS! (with special thanks to Sofia Songveeratham) BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Why Leaves Change Color By Manal Layachi Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Britannica Have you ever wondered why leaves change color? This year, it took the leaves a long time to change color and fall off trees because of climate change. Leaves get their color from chlorophyll, carotene, xanthophyll, and other leaf pigments. As you might already know, plants use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make oxygen and glucose. This process is called photosynthesis, and it occurs in leaf cells containing chlorophyll. In the fall, the leaves stop performing photosynthesis because of changes in temperature and daylight time. As a result of this, the chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and a yellow-orange color replaces it. Other chemical changes can occur, which form more colors because of the development of red anthocyanin pigments. These colors include red, purple, and brilliant orange. All these colors are created due to the mixing of the chlorophyll and other pigments. As leaves change color, other changes occur as well. A special layer of cells develops at the point where the stem of the leaf is attached to the tree. This layer gradually breaks apart the tissues that support the leaf. However, the tree seals the break simultaneously, so when the leaves fall from their own weight, they leave behind a “leaf scar.” Overall, the changing of color in leaves is fascinating and extraordinary! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections The Pros and Cons of Attending Multiple Schools By Isabella Somma Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Fine Arts America This interview discusses the positives and negatives of attending multiple schools, how that can mold you academically and socially, and compares the schooling system of Valley Stream North to a high school in Chesterton, Indiana. In this interview, conducted by Isabella Somma, Valley Stream North Senior Gurjosh Multani, a newer Valley Stream North High School student, reflected on his previous high school years. Question 1: Have you ever lived anywhere else besides Valley Stream? If so, where? I’ve lived in Germany, Indiana, and Queens. Can you explain the timeline? Yeah, so I was born in Germany in this little city called Ingolstadt. It’s the home of Ali. Then I moved to America in 2008 and then I lived in New York from 2008 to 2016 in Floral Park, Queens. Then I moved to Indiana in 2016 to this little city called Chesterton. It was actually one of the only Blue [Democratic] cities in all of Indiana, and then in 2020, I moved to another city in Indiana called Bloomington, where the University is: Indiana University of Bloomington. In August of 2020, I moved back to New York, here in Elmont actually, and I went to Elmont Memorial, and then in 2021, I moved to Valley Stream. Question 2: Out of all of the schools you attended, which is your favorite? Which has given you the best social experience? The best educational? The best social experience has definitely been North. The best educational experience has definitely been Chesterton High School in Indiana. What programs did they offer that made it superior in education? It wasn’t necessarily the individual programs; it was more of the school as a whole and the budget of the school that allowed for more opportunities. It was ranked in the 1,000s out of the 24,000 high schools in all of the United States. They had a cooler system for scheduling where the day was organized in blocks instead of periods. I really liked that I think about this a lot actually while comparing Indiana to North. So, I would have eight classes, but I would only take four a day and they would all be an hour and a half long so if I had work to do, I would have two days to do it because I take that class every other day. Question 3: How has living in multiple places shaped you as a person? It definitely has helped me socialize better; I know what to do now in any kind of social situation. I’m also very open to change because of this and I think it’s easier for me to make friends. That’s about it. Question 4: How has living in multiple places shaped you academically as a student? I actually think moving has ruined me academically. Well not “ruined,” but definitely made it worse because I was on the track to being an advanced student throughout high school in Indiana, which started in 9th grade, but then moving to New York in 10th grade put me in regular classes, and that really messed me up, but then I got back to AP classes in 11th grade. I still think that if I was in Indiana, I would be a lot smarter. Question 5: What are your plans for after high school? Do you wish to attend college? I do wish to attend college. After college, I definitely plan to stay in New York - just not in Valley Stream. Are there any colleges you have in mind? I am undecided right now, but probably in the state of New York. I definitely hope to get my bachelor’s degree in Engineering or some kind of computer science. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Your Local Film Nerd Reviews - The Wizard of Oz (1939) Jasmine Roberts Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Pinterest The 1939 musical film, The Wizard of Oz , is complete and utter craftsmanship at work, creating a lovely movie that has transcended time and still finds space within our hearts. Through whimsy and spectacle, this film was able to tastefully use Technicolor, beautiful costuming, and intelligent, yet playful original songs, to create a deeply magical film that details some of the most heartfelt truths, innate to all of us, while continuing to breathe life into the absurd. Starring the late Judy Garland and directed by Victor Flemming of Gone with the Wind , this movie wonderfully crafts a childlike glee that continues to thrive, even through the hardest of conflicts. Flemming uses the book and his imagination to curate a film worthy of all its accolades. As this was my first time watching T he Wizard Of Oz, (In fact the only reason I was going to review this movie, was because of the behest of my mother, which I am greatly thankful for... Thanks, Mom! ) this was my first impression of the film that I hope will promote your own playful, colorful whimsy and help you realize the true magic within. Dorothy, a farm girl from Kansas, and her Cairn Terrier, Toto, find themselves transported to a new land, with the help of an ever-foreboding tornado. After killing the sister of the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy is tasked by the Good Witch of the North, Glinda (my favorite character), to journey across the land in search of the Wizard of Oz, who will take her back home to Kansas, and keep her from certain death due to her possession of the magical ruby shoes coveted by the Wicked Witch. On her way, she meets three eccentrics, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion. Together, they leave for The Emerald City, wanting to find not only the wizard but also happiness for themselves. From the beginning, this film grants us the pleasure of viewing such a beautiful piece of art. Each color is fully saturated and vibrant, and care is expressed in each stroke of paint brushed upon a canvas for the scenery, in ways modern-day CGI can never fully emulate. From the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City fortress, this film used great creativity to portray such a fantasy without the help of modern technologies. The costumes of characters, such as Glinda, were such a divine presence in the movie. I was beginning to wonder if replicas could be bought for my own closet. It was obvious that every button and stitch of the Munchkins’ or Eccentrics’ costumes were scrutinized meticulously, which is shown in the way the backdrops and dressings promote a sort of escapism, similar to that of Dorothy. I have a great affinity for actors. From the beginners who struggle to express strong emotion without punching a wall, to thespians who have dominated the Hollywood scene even post-mortem, I have always believed that a bad script, does not inherently ruin a film, but instead, it can be elevated with the help of talented actors. I am happy to say that the actors in this movie are wonderful in all the best ways. I have seen, time and time again, how some actors can be when playing whimsical roles. Unnatural and frigid are the usual descriptors I use, but this movie shows how the fantastical can be masterfully played, with the right actors. Judy Garland was sixteen when filming this film, and you can feel it. She is so free and careless, yet stubborn, confident, and courageous, it is not hard to understand why she is so apt to follow the rules of the land. Billie Burke, who played Glinda, allowed herself to freely connect to a character who I believe is hilariously detached from the environment around her, as she is completely unfazed by the Wicked Witch threatening Dorothy. This woman is utterly done with everyone’s madness and finds contentment in sending little girls off to harrowing quests, a psychopath indeed. These two are not the only ones that have attracted my attention, either. The three eccentrics were also gleeful in their performances and greatly contributed to this fantastical epic. The ideas in this film are very complex once one has peeked through the mystical veil and has found themselves genuinely inspecting each frame. I have watched many dissections of this film, as anti-capitalist, and as an honest criticism of the government, and to that I agree, but this is not the brick road we will be departing on today, instead I found the concept of the hero’s journey and the great escape, to be prominent themes. As humans, we find ourselves living like rats in our society, forced to follow a race where nobody hears us and nobody cares, so we are stuck with the voice in our head of self-hatred and doubt. To live such a boring life leaves you to be consumed by pain and anguish, but to have the ability to escape into a world of magic and mystery, so those terrifying hurdles meant to faced in the real world are filtered into a reality where everything makes little to no sense, with a few gumdrops on the side, is refreshing. A universe like the one in the film allows struggles to be faced head-on and rebirth to arise from those ashes. The opening song of this musical, “Over the Rainbow”, fully encapsulates the meaning, as Dorothy imagines a world away from her black and white origins in Kansas. This film was based on a child’s book, and in that vein, I realized how remarkably it illustrates how children process trauma. As Dorothy finds herself in a dilemma, in which her cruel neighbor wants to take Toto away, the adults around her seem too to care little about the situation, a tornado comes into her town and destroys all she knows. The girl full of life has consumed and processed these strong feelings into a separate world, one where all the people of her reality are turned into characters, embodying what they mean to her in the real world. Such delicate minds, like those of children, need time and patience to comprehend such pain and agony, and thus the brain turns to a concept that is a bit comprehensible, like good and evil, and dancing people, a place where there is more gratification than pain. Even adults do this. Running away from home for Dorothy is like running away from the gruesome realities of adulthood for adults. It’s the only way we stay sane in such an insane civilization. As Dorothy travels closer and closer toward the Emerald City, we join her in meeting three of the eccentrics and comrades on her journey, depicted as, the Scarecrow without a brain, the Tin Man without a heart, and the adorable, opera-singing Lion, who is without courage. These faults of the characters are universal. We all feel these ideas about ourselves, whether truthful or not. We put so much blame on ourselves that it is hard to see humanity inside ourselves. We find it hard to understand that perfection has long been eaten out of existence. We can only change from within and not from how we want to portray ourselves to those who might shame us for existing. The Scarecrow considers himself without a mind yet is clever enough to find a way to get apples from the angry talking trees. The Tin Man says he has no heart, yet frequently cries when a situation becomes distressing, and the Lion had the courage to come on such a dangerous way-worn trip in the first place. These characters say they don’t have certain traits, but their eyes have been so blinded by the fog of society, that they have ignored these attributes within themselves. This is amplified even more at the end of the film, but for anyone who desires to watch the film due to my review, I will leave it be and hope the themes are discovered personally, especially those I have not thought of myself. Overall, this movie was brilliant, and I am deeply grateful to my mom for requesting I watch it and review it! This one is for you. 10/10 Horribly Singing Jasmines BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Line Back to Sections Obedson Renelus - What is Line By Obedson Renelus November 1, 2020 Marker Volume 1 Issue 1

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections What is Being Done About Mental Health at VSN? By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by HRZone On Sunday, January 24th The New York Times reported the Clark County school district in Nevada, the 5th largest district in the nation, announced they would begin to allow in-person school for students. With 18 teen suicides of youths between the ages of 15 and 19 (double the number of adolescent deaths by suicide than in 2019) and 3,100 alerts of suicidal searches flagged on the district’s iPad devices from March to December 2020, the school system has linked the online, full-remote period to an increase in students' mental health issues. Additionally, the New York Post reported on February 11th that 12-year-old Hayden Huntstable hanged himself after battling depression amid COVID-19. His father stated he had limited insight on his son's struggles with depression. Hayden’s story demonstrates how crucial it is for mental health issues to be addressed in school so there are outlets available. Further on the adolescent mental health crisis, according to the American Health Ranking, the global pandemic has resulted in increased suicides. In 2019, the death of adolescents between the ages of 15-19 was 10.2 per 100,000 from suicide, while in 2020, it increased to 11.6 per 100,000 nationwide. These startling statistics would make one think schools would attempt to do anything in their power to reach out to students to provide resources and/or produce a safe outlet for students to talk about their mental issues that may have arisen due to the pandemic. However, Valley Stream North and surrounding school districts alike have taken limited observable action to address the mental health issues resulting from the student-teacher disconnect in the classroom. The district took the liberty of putting together a Summer Bridge Program to “provide social-emotional resources to the school community” as described on the district’s website. The five-volume newsletter released in the Summer of 2020 provided insight into the “new normal” in the classroom. The district presented some resources on stress management, but has done little to promote the resources to the school community. Since the release of the fifth Summer Bridge issue back on August 28th, the district has not supplied nor advertised flyers and/or meetings to help students cope in this everchanging world. While the district may be at fault for not providing enough mental health resources to the schools in Valley Stream, each respective school administration has fallen flat regarding raising awareness about the mental health complications evident in their schools. The World Health Organization found half of all mental health conditions start at age 14, but most cases go undetected, unreported, or untreated. As a result, this statistic would make one think addressing mental health issues in schools would be a priority. The rise in mental health issues, attributed to the pandemic, has also been evident in the classroom environment. In an interview with Spanish teacher Ms. Milazzo-Soto, she expressed, “Students just seem like they’re not enjoying school like they used to. Many appear bored and disinterested. Most seem reluctant to participate and interact with each other.” While she cannot postulate that the disconnect is solely due to the students’ mental state, she does say that more should be done by the administration to address mental health. She does “encourage all students if they are having difficulties [to] reach out to their teachers, guidance counselors, or any other adult in the building.” However, it is difficult to reach out to adults who have not yet introduced themselves. For instance, Valley Stream North employs three school psychologists: Ms. Kehoe, Ms. Christiansen, and Dr. Byrne. However, the failure to introduce themselves would make it difficult for a student to feel comfortable or even know where to talk to the psychologists, regardless of their qualifications. Prominent staff members generally have not addressed the drastic change in the learning experience which has taken a toll on the mental health of students. A perspective from a student at the school reads, “I feel as though many teachers do not take into consideration how hard it is to be a teenager during these times. We are constantly staring at a screen or being assigned an endless amount of work and this is very mentally taxing on the adolescent brain. Most of us have been forced to put our mental health aside to get all our schoolwork done. The limited outreach by staff has also made it difficult to stay committed to virtual learning. Most teachers do not even respect the ten-minute breaks we received which have been reduced to 5 minutes in the second semester, and most students end up with no break causing them to attend classes back-to-back, and it is not okay.” I reached out to school psychologist Dr. Melissa Byrne and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Mr. Christian Bowen to see how they are exactly attempting to address the mental health crisis on a school and district level. However, both did not respond to the opportunity to comment for this article. My intentions are by no means to solely criticize the school and the district, but rather to shine some light on the issue and how perspectives from teachers and students further prove my claim about the limited action taken to address mental health issues. It is difficult to understand the necessities of students, especially during a time where no one, adult or adolescent, has any prior experience or frame of reference. Solutions that I recommend would be first, for the school psychologists to make an introductory video. This would allow for students to know what they look like and to understand their job descriptions and how specifically they can assist students. Once that is done, the PPS, or Pupil Personnel Services, team should implement an optional mental health survey per grade level to evaluate students’ wellbeing in order to grasp the number of students who may be dealing with mental health issues and then maybe meet with students who are struggling. Lastly, utilizing students’ Outlook emails to send them weekly to monthly emails with links to resources on how to better attend to common mental health issues such as stress management. Students need to know administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, and psychologists care; however, in some instances, staff neglects to convey their care for students' mental well-being. With suicide being the third leading cause of death by adolescents between the age of 15-19, it is crucial that Valley Stream North emphasizes how the difficult encounters teens may face during the pandemic contribute to mental health and it needs to be addressed. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Shattered By Alena Moreira January 20, 2021 Pastels Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections K-pop By Ismaela Andre Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Channel Korea Music is always around us. There are many genres to choose from and many to listen to. Many people listen to rap, pop, and R&B. However, more genres are taking the world by storm. One of them is K-pop. K-pop is Korean music that consists of Korean and English or only Korean. This music genre is taking over the music industry. Most K-pop music is made by groups. Some popular groups are BTS, NCT U, 127 and Dream, Twice, Itzy, Enhypen, Tomorrow x Together, Ateez, Stray Kids, Blackpink, and more. Even some solo artists like IU, Kang Daniel, also fit into this category. This musical genre is very inspirational. Most songs send global messages and inspire their listeners to come together as one. At the beginning of the school year, I talked to two seventh graders. They both told me that they liked K-pop, and ever since then, we always say “Hi” to each other whenever we see each other in the hallways. In that example, I connected with two kids that are three years younger than me because of K-pop. This shows how K-pop can bring many people together. Also, K-pop artists aren’t all Korean. Some are Japanese, Thai, American, or French. Musicians of various races sing K-pop, and all races should feel comfortable listening to it. I recommend K-pop to everyone because it is a unique and diverse music genre. You may be hesitant at first because the lyrics are not sung in English; however, you should go for it because it is a fantastic experience. Have fun listening! BACK TO TOP