Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections The Project By Kayla Duvert Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Glenda Cohen Remote learning. No matter how long we do it, it seems as if it’s a choice. A choice between you and yourself only. Whether or not you turn on your camera, raise your hand to answer a question or click Join when the meeting starts. It all seems easier to not do once you’ve already stopped doing it. It becomes a cycle of impulse. A cycle that seems never ending, until it does. A cycle that continues until a change occurs in your cycle. Change During my cycle of impulse, I heard my chorus teacher Mrs. Schneider say the word “project”. Sitting at home in my room - that’s now become my classroom - I hear the words, project… project… project project ! A Recycled Percussion Instrument Project .Then it struck me. We were actually learning from our computers. It actually counts. It seems so easy to avoid it, but it counts. So I start to do it. Pay Attention A Recycled Percussion Instrument. It seems easy to not do it, but it’s easy to do it also. Then the words reoccur in my head. An endless thought, it counts. My ears are sharp. I pay close attention to what my teacher says: “You will use ordinary materials from home to create a musical instrument”. I can do this. It’s easy to do. It counts. Do It I need to make an instrument. Drums, maracas, guitars, xylophones; they’re all instruments. So many, yet I don’t know what to choose. I don’t have a plan. So, I do what I know how to do: act on impulse. I grab things. I don’t have a full thought, but I grab things. I grab a plastic container from the cabinet, colored pencils from my sister’s pencil case, tape from the desk, rubber bands from the bathroom, push pins that have already been pushed into my wall and a drawstring that was once used for my pants. Still no plan, only impulse. I start the taping things, decorating things and tying things. Still no plan, only impulse. I’ve now created an instrument with no plan, no name, no idea of what it even is. So, confused by my acts of impulse. Confusion that I wouldn’t suffer if I hadn’t done it at all. Then I remember, it counts . I can play the instrument, it’s still an instrument, so it counts. ShowTime Weeks later my teacher utters the same words that initiated all of this. Project. A Recycled Percussion Project. She says, “You guys will present your percussion projects today if you have them”. I have my instrument, I’m ready, I’m here. While others play, I tune them out and practice in the meantime. Only hearing sounds from my instrument: my impulse enacted instrument. A voice breaks my train of thought, “Kayla do you have your instrument?” Of course, I do. I’m ready. It’s my turn. After all of that grabbing, taping, tying and decorating, it’s my turn. I play. Welcoming each note, I played and making it my only focus. Nothing except this project seemed to matter. My never-ending cycle of procrastination has been put to rest. I did something that counts. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Hofstra University: The Place to Be Cody Sung Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Hofstra University Many factors play into the search for a perfect college. Some people wish to move far away and try something new; others yearn for comfort and to stay close to home. If you belong in the latter category, Hofstra is one of your many choices. In Hempstead, New York, it is only 15 minutes away from North High School. Hofstra University was created from the estate of businessman William Hofstra. The university started as an extension of New York University under the name Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of New York University and held its first classes in 1935. It changed its name to Hofstra College in 1937 and according to Wikipedia became independent in 1939. From then on, it steadily grew and became a university in 1963. Today, Hofstra reports it has over 10,000 students, with over 6,000 of them being undergraduates. Hofstra is situated on 244 acres, or 0.38mi2, of land split in two by Hempstead Turnpike. It has 117 buildings, including seven distinctive towers, three stadiums, and an exhibition center. Much of the land is used by other sporting facilities, including tennis courts, a swim center, a rugby field, and a baseball field. In total, they house 21 varsity sports, 10 for men and 11 for women. The buildings on the rest of the campus house fourteen different separate schools of study, with around 175 study areas available at them. Hofstra also has 35 residence halls, including six high-rises – the seventh is a library. It has a vibrant student life, with six theaters, 220 student clubs, and an art museum according to their website. It has its very own radio station – WRHU, 88.7 FM – and a television studio. Of course, these are all factors that make Hofstra a great school, but statistics alone do not tell us the whole story about the school. I know, because I went there. Hofstra has programs such as Saturday gifted and summer classes for elementary and high school students to learn on campus. From there, I was able to do all kinds of activities. I was able to participate in mock trials, learn sign language, play Minecraft, drop eggs with protective contraptions from roofs, launch toy rockets, and even talk on the school radio about the latest sports matches. It was a fantastic series of experiences for me and the many others who participated in them. I was always mesmerized by the seven towers when I approached campus, and I vividly remember sitting on a basketball court waiting for my mom to pick me up. Walking around campus, I always looked at the maps posted in various locations. Even as I am writing this article, I enjoy panning around Google Maps and the satellite images it provides of the university. All of this does not mean that Hofstra will be the right fit for you; translating those special classes into real college life will result in discrepancies. However, to me, Hofstra should be a choice for you to research more if you want to stay local for college. Sources: www.Hofstra.edu/about/glance.html www.google.com/maps BACK TO TOP

ABOUT US Welcome to North Star, Valley Stream North High School's Student News Magazine, and POLARIS, North's Literary Magazine! Whether you want to read about your specific interests or browse the work of talented students, we have something for everyone. Any suggestions are welcome and should be emailed to northstarmag20@gmail.com . Happy reading! AWARDS 3RD PLACE BEST LAYOUT ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2021 1ST PLACE BEST VISUAL ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2022 2ND PLACE BEST OPINION PIECE ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2022 3RD PLACE BEST NEWS ARTICLE ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2022 HONORABLE MENTION BEST LAYOUT ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2024 3RD PLACE BEST VISUAL ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2024 HONORABLE MENTION BEST FEATURE ADELPHI QUILL AWARDS 2025 MEET THE EDITORS Read More Leah Ally She/Her/Hers EDITOR-IN-CHIEF allyl3497@vschsd.org Hi! I‘m Leah Ally, the managing editor of North Star. I enjoy writing about sports and current events. Outside of North Star, I’m apart of various clubs and sports such as, basketball and softball. Feel free to contact me with any questions through my VSN email and I look forward to working with you all! Read More Rachel Ezeadichie Any FEATURE SECTION EDITOR ezeadicr@vschsd.org Hello! My name is Rachel Ezeadichie, and I am the Entertainment and Media Editor for the North Star. I love watching new shows and analyzing all types of media. If you’re interested in the coverage of new or interesting shows, books, or movies, you can find it in my section. I’m also apart of Spartan Update and Drama Club, so you can see me performing or covering many school events. I’m excited to be an editor for North Star and can’t wait to keep writing! NORTH STAR SENIORS CREDITS FACULTY ADVISOR Mrs. Christy Mansfield EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Leah Ally MANAGING EDITOR Mikayla Aziz NEWS SECTION EDITOR Wardah Khizer FEATURE SECTION EDITOR Rachel Ezeadichie SPORTS EDITOR, HISTORY COLUMNIST N/A ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA SECTION EDITOR Mikayla Aziz POLARIS EDITOR Shea Flannelly ARTWORK SECTION EDITOR N/A LAYOUT EDITOR Max Ching SPREADSHEET MANAGER/ASSISTANT LAYOUT EDITOR N/A ASSISTANT LAYOUT EDITOR Kamil Grabowski SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Kamil Grabowski TREASURER Leah Ally STUDENT ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR Mrs. Amy Italiano PRINCIPAL Dr. Robin Small ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mrs. Jennifer Buonaspina ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mr. Fabian Jara ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Mr. Charles Loiseau LOUD AMERICAN Garrick Neuner

< Back About the Course Your Instructor

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections All County Athletes By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by VSN XC/TF Instagram Listed below are all the All-County winners from North’s Winter Track team: All-County Girls Nattaly Lindo (11th grade) County Champion – Shot Put, County Champion – 20lb Weight Throw Melissa Innocent (12th grade) 2nd place – 3000m, 2nd place – 1500m, 3rd place – 1000m Moanna Thelusca (11th grade) 2nd place – 20lb Weight Throw Sahar Ali (10th grade) 2nd place – 1500m Racewalk Gabriela Mensah (12th grade) 3rd place – Triple Jump Brooke Fessler (11th grade) 3rd place – High Jump Haley Quinlan (9th grade) 3rd place – 1500m Racewalk All-County Boys Joshua Lopez (12th grade) County Champion – Shot Put Kevin Beltran (11th grade) 2nd place – 1000m, 2nd place – 1600m Sedgeley Duperval (11th grade) 2nd place – 300m, 2nd place – Long Jump Ethan Smalls (12th grade) 2nd place – 25lb Weight Throw On February 7th, North’s winter track team competed in the County Championship at St. Anthony’s High School. Boys’ and girls’ teams placed second in the County, with many athletes getting a new personal best! The team was Conference Champions this year, their 15th championship in a row. All-Conference Melissa Innocent (12th grade) Conference Champion – 3000m, 1500m and 1000m Gabriela Mensah (12th grade) Conference Champion – Long Jump and Triple Jump Moanna Thelusca (11th grade) Conference Champion – 20lb Weight Throw, 2nd place – Shot Put Nattaly Lindo (11th grade) Conference Champion – Shot Put, 2nd place – 20lb Weight Throw Charis Hackman (12th grade) Conference Champion – 4x400m Relay, 3rd place – High Jump Sahar Ali (10th grade) Conference Champion – 1500m Racewalk Victoria Singh (10th grade) Conference Champion – 4x400m Relay Kyla Lodge (12th grade) Conference Champion – 4x400m Relay Anaiya Jarrell (11th grade) Conference Champion – 4x400m Relay Brooke Fessler (11th grade) 2nd place – High Jump, 3rd place – Triple Jump Ericka Leus (10th grade) 3rd place – 55m Hurdles Haley Quinlan (9th grade) 3rd place – 1500m Racewalk All the athletes on the team worked their hardest to have an amazing season. The coaches, Mike Frazer and Tim Boyens, are proud of all the improvements and progress their athletes have made. Great job to everyone on the team, and let’s hope for an amazing spring season. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Spartan Athletes: Melissa Innocent By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Original photo by Michael Frazer In this issue we are featuring yet another stellar North athlete, sophomore Melissa Innocent. Innocent started her journey in 7th grade at VSN. She has been on the Varsity Cross-Country and Varsity Winter/Spring Track teams since 8th grade. Melissa placed 20th out of 85 at the 2019 Cross-Country County’s as a freshman. She has devoted her time and effort into her sports. In this interview, Melissa answers some questions here about her sport. When did you first choose your sport? Why? I chose my sport when I was in elementary school.  I remember running in gym class outside and I wasn’t the fastest kid there, but I didn’t want to be first. I just enjoyed being in the moment and running around my school. In 7th grade I chose Cross Country as my sport. I loved competing and was proud of my achievements.  I gradually got better at running and stuck with it ever since. If you could achieve anything you wished for in your sport, what would it be? Being able to understand that you don’t always have to be first or get a PB meaning “personal best” in track, can be hard at first. This sport isn’t about anybody but your mind and body. I feel like everyone achieves a win in their own way with this sport. You're competing against yourself, so if I was able to achieve anything I wish for in my sport it would be putting my best out there but reaching for better next time. Which strengths do you believe you have that makes you a great athlete? Determination--because I feel like being a student athlete it takes guts and hard work to achieve your goal. It takes effort to continue doing track because it isn’t the easiest sport. Strength, I believe, makes me a great athlete because the workouts are not easy. Willingness to practice long and hard to continue working hard is a strength I have as well. What do you believe is the greatest challenge most high school athletes are facing during the pandemic? The greatest challenge student athletes are facing during the pandemic is not being able to be with your teammates and coaches. The track team really does feel like family and having the chance to compete with them for another season is so tremendous. My team makes me want to strive for better. Not having the whole team to cheer for, and being there when I win, is devastating because it helps me get motivated and want to seek for better. During the pandemic, I missed running and being with my team. I am really grateful to be back in season but there are many student athletes who are not able to play their sports. So, I think that is a big challenge for us during this pandemic. Describe your worst sports performance. What did you learn from this experience? My worst performance was in cross country in 2019 we were competing for the county title, and I was extremely nervous. I was doing wonderfully in the middle of the race all of the sudden I broke down in tears and I started to slow down. I was so upset at myself that I couldn’t finish strong but then there was this girl on the other team.  She saw me break down, and she said to me “It’s going to be okay, just stay with me.” From this experience, I learned to accept my failures because they're going to be successes. After my “worst performance,” I took this lesson in order to accept my “goods and bads.” How does being a student athlete inspire you to do well? Being a student athlete inspires me to do good because this sport brings out the best and worst out of people. The different emotions you feel before and after the races are hard to manage and go through on your own. This sport makes me not want to give up in life when things get hard. When my friends or someone I know goes through something it makes me want to help them out. Being a student athlete, you face a lot of challenges, which makes us stronger. This strength motivates me to be good to others and help others. Whether it be in sports, school, or personal issues, it is always good to keep a positive mindset. What advice do you have for other aspiring track stars? To not give up when it gets tough, or let it ruin your confidence throughout your journey. An example is when my coach always reminds us that you're not going to get better in a week. It takes dedication and training. Being there for practice and putting in the work is one step closer for performing well. ______________________________________ According to the NCAA Student-Athlete COVID-19 Well-Being Survey which was organized in spring 2020, a related survey organized in the fall revealed student-athletes continue to confront intensified mental health anxieties and obstacles to sport participation. We applaud Melissa and her team for their hard work and dedication to their sport during these challenging times. Go Spartans! Update: Melissa wins All-County honors during April 17th weekend! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Red Ribbon Week! Jeselys Vazquez Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by www.redribbon.org The SADD Club proudly presented Red Ribbon Week starting March 24th, 2023 and continued the celebration till March 31st. This was one of the major events for the SADD club where we decorate, develop a theme week of activities and what we wear, and make morning announcements on statistics about alcohol, smoking, drug abuse, and violence. Monday’s theme was “Don’t Be a Statistic Day.” Tranquil Tuesday’s theme was “Meditate, Don’t Intoxicate.” Wednesday was ‘’Stomp Out Drugs’’ Day by wearing boots. “Lei” off drugs was Thursday where we supported the idea that we should not rely on drugs as a decompress to our stress or anxiety but focus on more reliance on ourselves to be active and do what is best for mind and body as a whole. Lastly, on Friday we all wore red to support the drug and violence prevention awareness campaign. Volunteer members in the SADD club dressed all black and wore a paper on the front and back of their shirt represented a person who died from a certain abuse, such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and smoking abuse at a young age. According to research, “An estimated 79,117 Americans died from drug overdoses between January and September 2022” (The Commonwealth Fund). According to the National Institute of Health, “Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes.” The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) states that there are “more than 480,000 deaths annually from cigarette smoking, including deaths from secondhand smoke.” Throughout the day, a volunteer could not interact with friends and had to remain silent until the end of the school day to bring awareness and getting people’s attention just by reading and seeing how many people just die each year from overdoses and abuse in consumption. Friday is when we all wore Red to finish it off and participate together in saying no to drugs, making better decisions when come across these things, and helping others not fall into the dangerous habit of being dependent on substances because they feel it is their only solution. Society now has many ways of getting information out there - whether with a good purpose or not, people become informed much more quickly and can affect someone deeply where they know how to manage and cope, so they lean on to others’ advice or suggestions. We should always lean on to what is more wise and beneficial advice and recommendations to others to go on the right path and not make those mistakes without having a friend look out for them or correct them. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The 2021 Homecoming Game By Gianna Spallino Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Hudl This football season for North has been amazing with varsity winning the Homecoming game and making it to brackets! Brain Farrell threw the ball to Ethan Ramnarain and made a touchdown of 16 yards. Mike Capolino made a touchdown of 1 yard. Brain Farrell threw the ball to Andrew Lusterino who ran 60 yards. Josh Lopez made a 7-yard touchdown. Those were some highlights of the game. I spoke to Coach Paolillo to get his thoughts. He wanted to stay on top the whole homecoming game. He was very proud of the outcome of the game and wouldn’t have done anything differently. He enjoyed watching his team grow up into the young men they are today and he enjoyed the community’s support. I would like to give a special shout out to the other Spartan teams. The Junior Varsity team also did a great job this year, and the 7th - 8th grade team did an amazing job this year they won 5 out of 6 games. We’re so proud of our players and their coaches of our teams here at North. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Standing On the Ledge: VSN Mental Health from a Student Perspective By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Ohio Department of Education When I first entered South Side High school to take my ACT in December, I found myself bombarded with posters and signs advertising their mental health resources. I saw the faces, names, and locations of guidance staff, school psychologists, and various other student support services professionals, just by walking in the front door.  My first thought was: Something must have happened here. Sadly, I was right. A quick google search showed two students had committed suicide in 2019. I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the students who died. It is not uncommon for schools and other institutions to respond to mental health issues after a crisis. Studies show that teen suicide rates are on the rise and have more than doubled since 2007. [1] The global pandemic has amplified this particular issue. Students are hurting for so many different reasons. Here is my story: The lowest point I remember came at the beginning of my sophomore year. I dangerously teetered on the edge of an emotional cliff I felt would have been impossible to climb back up. I was sad, anxious and depressed. Despite the helpful efforts of my teachers, my grades were falling lower than they ever had. I was sleeping erratically, either 2 or 12 hours a night. I could not eat; I lost 8 pounds from skipping meals. By November, I was too focused on seeing the next morning to care about whatever work I had been assigned the night before. I sat there, cold, tired, and apathetic to it all, and worse, I refused to ask for help. My talkative and happy demeanor created an easy mask for the problems I was facing. Every potentially concerning thing I said was passed off as “just a joke.” Despite how difficult it is for students to talk about their emotions and problems, I have supportive parents to whom I could turn for help, and I was ultimately able to receive help outside of school. I began treatment, and I can happily say, I am doing better than ever. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students across the country is well-documented, but difficult to see happening to young people all around us – some who are on our screens only during the school day. Many students have spoken out to their friends or in extra-curricular club settings, saying the pandemic has “sent their mental health down the drain,” or otherwise negatively impacted their well-being. Students around me are voicing deep feelings of loneliness, even writing to the advice column in the North Star to ask about making friends virtually. As a school community, we have to check in frequently with each other because we are not okay. There are many steps a school can take to publicize and destigmatize mental health services at school. Signs around the school communicating facts about how common mental health challenges are can help to take away the shame that I and others feel when they experience symptoms; studies on a national scale show small steps like signage actually work. [2] Small changes or additions can actually have a significant impact. What We Can Do: Some examples of dispensing information widely might include: Posts on teams with the names and locations of student support services personnel to take the place of in-person signage for the many students who are virtual or hybrid right now. Well-documented and well-known protocols outlining the steps students, parents, and teachers can take to get access to school resources in a transparent, simple and confidential way. Increase in overall mental health awareness by holding more, and well-advertised, events to provide support. The Student Wellness Forum over the weekend of March 6th was a good start, and the second in that series is March 13th. We also can introduce a “SAFE” club. “SAFE” stands for Suicide Awareness and a Friendly Environment, this club may also focus on mental health in general, instead of just specifically suicide prevention. This is similar to what was done by students at Southside after both suicides had taken place. [3] A focus on Mental Health Awareness Month this May. We could hold a hallway decoration competition similar to Red Ribbon Week (THIS WEEK!) for drug awareness. We could ask each club to bring up Mental Health as a meeting topic during a meeting in May. For my part, as a leader in The Alliance club here at North, I’ve been engaging with the club’s members in discussions which helped me construct this article, and I feel like if we all work together as a school, every small step we take can add up to a big positive impact on students. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Mystery Behind the Gabby Petito Case By Alisson Alas Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by CNN Twenty-two-year-old Gabby Petito, born on Long Island, New York, was not heard from again since late August after going on a road trip with her twenty-two-year-old fiancé, Brian Laundrie of Florida. Before her disappearance, she sent a text her mother found very strange saying “Can you help Stan? I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls.” Her mother Nichole Schmitt claims her daughter did not call her grandfather by his first name “Stan.” Brian Laundrie returned to his parent’s home in Florida on August seventeenth, a few days after the videotaped interaction he and Gabby had with the police on August twelfth, in Moab City, Utah. This case blew up pretty quickly, mostly thanks to social media. I saw many speculations on Tik Tok about this case; some of them proved true. One thing I noticed was that many people put their heads together on social media to figure this out by noticing tiny details. I saw and read about so many theories, and it is crazy what happens when so many people work together to figure something out. There are still so many details to this case that we do not know about. In my opinion, this case is heartbreaking, and it feels awful to know that Gabby was only six years older than me, that she went to school here on Long Island and grew up here. It is honestly terrifying how such a thing can happen to anyone in general. So many kids, women, and men go missing every year, every month, and every day. Some are found and others, unfortunately, are not. It is also very upsetting how someone so close to you, someone you trust, could be able to hurt you. Right now, we do not know what exactly happened with Brian and Gabby, what they fought about, how long it had been going on, or how bad it was. We only know of what we have seen from the police bodycam and the things their friends have told. Hopefully, her family can get more answers. I interviewed some staff and students at North to get to know their opinions about this case. What do you think about the Gabby Petito case? “I was very upset to hear about the disappearance and passing of Gabby Petito. It's always sad to see someone lose a life but it's especially sad when it's a young person with so much life ahead of her.” “I think it's sad anytime that there's someone who is so young and has their whole life ahead of them and they die and have their life cut short. It's tragic and I feel bad for her parents to see something so tragic happen to their daughter... It's every parent's worst nightmare.” “I believe the Petito case is very sad and disturbing. As a father of a daughter, I worry that this could happen to my daughter, or one of my female students. It should serve as a lesson for all that domestic abuse should be taken seriously because there could be terrible consequences if not addressed appropriately. Women and men need to know what rights they have and how to handle an abusive partner” How do you feel about the fact that her boyfriend knew she was missing but said nothing? “It's concerning that he did not report she was missing, and we always hope that people do the right thing, and if something happened between them, like regardless of the status of the relationship, we hope that as a human being he should have let the authorities know. What do you think about the fact that her boyfriend might have killed her? “We don't know that he killed her but obviously has something to do with her, and it's sad that someone so close to you can do something like this. The case won't be solved until Brian is found, but I don't feel that they will get answers from him because in cases like this the other partner commits suicide.” What could have been correct for his parents to do in this situation? “The correct thing should have been for his parents to not let him go out, to pay more attention and to have let the authorities know because if he wasn't guilty, he should have not run away. If it had been my kid, I would have checked more and I would have guessed something was being hidden, but as parents, yes, it's true we have to protect our children, but Gabby also has parents, she is a daughter and she and her parents both should have justice.” BACK TO TOP