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

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Senior Appreciation Article: 2022 By Shinedip Kundlas, Christina Ossa, Matteo Somma, Elyas Layachi, and Everton Prospere Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by the Motley Fuel Appreciation Messages Below are a few messages written by the non-graduating North Star staff to our seniors, showing their appreciation for everything the graduating upperclassmen have done for the club: Craig Papajohn-Shaw – Editor in Chief and Treasurer “Craig, your time at North Star was impactful, especially to me. As Editor in Chief, you ensured that the club ran smoothly alongside Mrs. Mansfield. Your ideas to promote the club, increase activity, and create a higher standard of writing helped the North Star become a great success. The precedents you set will continue to be used, so thank you for your time and contribution to this club. You will be missed, but congratulations on your graduation and good luck at the University of Richmond.” - Everton Prospere, News Section Editor “ Craig, since joining the North Star last year you have helped me in a multitude of ways, from helping write articles to even pushing in Cross Country. Without you being our EIC, our issues would never have happened, and our club would never have been found. Also, without you we wouldn’t have our sports section, or the creation of the Science section. Thank you for coordinating meetings and Issue dates with Mrs. Mansfield, and helping our club run smoothly. Speaking of everyone here at North Star, we are excited to see what you accomplish in the future. Thank you for also helping me pick out my schedule for the following years and balance school, life, and sports. I wish you all the best in Richmond, go Spiders!” I will miss you. - Matteo Somma, Jr Website Designer Lucy Wu – Senior Website Designer “Lucy, you’ve done so much for not only North Star , but for me too. I’ve appreciated the time we’ve spent together in classes and coordinating North Star issues; you’ve been extremely helpful to me ever since I joined North Star not only as a mentor but also a friend. You’ve had so many creative and brilliant ideas for the North Star website, and the hard work and time you’ve put into our paper has most definitely paid off. Our website always looks stunning thanks to you, and though it will be sad to see you go you deserve all the success in the world at Hopkins. I appreciate all the time and effort you’ve devoted to North Star and the help and support you’ve given me for all the time we’ve known each other. We’ll miss you very much, Lucy, but the North Star staff and I wish you the best of luck at Johns Hopkins!” - Christina Ossa, Feature Section Editor “ Lucy, I couldn’t begin to thank you enough for everything you have taught me this year. Not only have you taught me how to use WIX, but you also taught me to never be afraid to try something new or take a step forward. Thank you for helping me select classes for next year and thank you for always responding to my late-night texts when I need help. Though, you haven't just helped me, you help North Star as a whole. From making sure we get every article in to spending countless hours formatting our website, we couldn’t thank you enough! Without your help our club could never have happened, you along with Mrs. Mansfield and our other senior editors have helped to create a safe and creative place for all students at Valley Stream North High School. On behalf of our whole club, we wish you the best of well-deserved luck at Johns Hopkins, go Blue Jays!” - Matteo Somma, Jr. Website Designer Eva Grace Martinez – Polaris Section Editor & Lead Photographer “Grace, thank you for everything you have done for North Star ! Every meeting, you would always bring great ideas to the table to be included in each issue, and not only in your section, but for other sections as well! You were very helpful in giving new writers ideas for articles, and we all appreciated that very much! Your section has been a joy to watch develop and thrive, and I hope you continue to develop Polaris-like content wherever you are continuing your academic journey! Without your leadership and willingness to help members, I’m not sure if the North Star would be as successful as it is now. Thank you so much for your hard work, and we will miss you so much! Good luck in the rest of your academic career!” – Elyas Layachi, Science and Technology Section Editor Alicja Paruch – Advice Columnist “Ala, thank you for all your hard work and dedication to North Star . The advice column has helped so many students and inspired many. We appreciate your role in the North Star . Your dedication and contributions to North Star have made a huge impact on our issues. The advice column has worked as a resource for students to ask questions about school and other things. Thank you for always helping and guiding me whenever I needed guidance. You have always been helpful and supportive whenever I have any questions, which I truly appreciate. The advice column will continue to help our students, and we are grateful for your work as our advice columnist. Thank you for being an outstanding editor and friend. I hope after graduation you continue to inspire and help many with your advice and kindness! We will miss you, congratulations and best of luck with your journey ahead! - Shinedip Kundlas , North Star writer BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Junior spends summer in VietNam By Stephy Varughese Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Hotels.com For summer vacation,11th-grade student and North Star/Polaris member, Catherine Duong, traveled to Southern Vietnam for two months to visit her family. Catherine was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Southern Vietnam. Her ethnic background is of both Chinese and Vietnamese descent. Health and safety concerns forced her family to move from Southern Vietnam to the US when she was two. I interviewed Catherine to discover more about her visit to Vietnam and to learn more about her recent experience there. --- Why did you go to Vietnam? Whom did you go with? "I went to Vietnam to reconnect with my mom's side of the family after a few years since I've traveled due to COVID. I went with my younger sibling and my mom for the two-month vacation." What was the terrain like? "Vietnam's general terrain is mountainous and mostly jungle." What sites did you see? What were your favorite spots? "I didn't go sightseeing this year, but I've encountered a lot of large religious temples and some mountains!" Where did you stay? "I stayed at my grandma and grandpa's house, having three floors in total." What did you do? "During my vacation, I have mainly spent good quality time with my mom's family, having one grandma/grandpa, four cousins, and four aunts and uncles. We visited the beachside in Vung Tau, Vietnam, going on a yacht ride, to the HUGE malls, and simply playing board/card games." How was the food there? Are there any special dishes? "The food in Vietnam commonly has some spicy flavor, whether it's Sriracha sauce or peppers at the side or incorporated. Vietnam also is somewhat known to use the freshest ingredients to make their dishes by buying from outdoor/night markets that have the animal still alive. Dishes like Pho and Banh Mi (baguettes) are some dish examples that are famously known and enjoyed across the world!" What surprised you about Vietnam? Did you learn anything new while you were there? "I'm surprised that I didn't know this at the start, but one thing I've noticed is that in EVERY house/store you come across, there will be at least one small Buddhist shrine. Vietnam's main religion is Buddhism, and based on that observation, I can assume they are semi-religious or fully." Are there any celebrations/traditions you were part of while in Vietnam? "There was one! It was where I was at the yacht party for a family member's birthday, and that was a fun time for sure. A personal tradition my family would do is they would have a full family feast once in a while at a fancy restaurant." Was there a language barrier? "Between my family, there is barely a language barrier since most of my family knows how to speak English or understood the basics, but between strangers? Yes, there was. The problem I have was to speak back in Vietnamese (which I didn't study much of) in order for me to communicate to them, but I've been relying on my mom for translating and communication." What do you dislike about Vietnam?  "I will say that how Americans view Vietnam is what I dislike since the Vietnam War has been seen to be some kind of joke (the "Vietnam flashback") and how communism restricts citizens/foreigners from [discuss]ing certain topics. I've tried talking to my family about communism, which made them very uncomfortable." What do you want people to know about Vietnam? "I want people to know that between Vietnam and the USA's inflation rate is VERY high. Having one dollar is equal to about 23,865 Vietnamese Dollars (VND)! Even a penny is worth a lot in Vietnam, which citizens in the US have the upper hand with the economy." Do you recommend people to visit Vietnam? "Since I've only been to Southern Vietnam of Ho Chi Minh City, I can recommend people visiting there! Just be sure to bring LOADS of sunscreen and swim gear since Vietnam is known for its humid weather and wet/dry seasons. If you are a person who loves to go out to shop, whether it be day or night and explore, then Vietnam will be a perfect place for you! " -------- It was interesting to learn about Vietnam from Catherine. There were things I didn't know about Vietnam, such as its many Buddhist temples and the different foods there! I was fortunate to view the many fascinating pictures she shared with me, which leads me to believe that Vietnam is now a beautiful place to discover and enjoy. It’s truly a wonderful place to explore. If Vietnam seems like a place you'd want to visit, put it on your bucket list for your next vacation! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Black American Artists Back to Sections Into Bondage By Aaron Douglas February 12, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 5 Medium: Oil on Canvas, Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Back to Artwork Nostalgic Musings Back to Sections Sophia Song - Nostalgic Musings - 4 By Sophia Song February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Except from Eve Mikayla Aziz Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Olga Kawa from Pinterest Twisted and Bent and Burnt and finally Remolded, Finally, a girl made anew. I don’t even recognize her anymore; Hopefully he won’t either. Now she stumbles around, Head still high pumped with false confidence. She speaks with someone else’s tongue, Looks through someone else’s perspective, But she still thinks with my brain. That we still share; For now. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections California Wildfires Sahar Ali Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 On January 7th, California’s powerful winds mixed with dry conditions created the perfect conditions for a wildfire to ignite around the Los Angeles area, specifically the Palisades and Eaton. The Palisades Fire ignited in the early morning of January 7th, as a brush fire according to NBC News. Eventually, the brush fire engulfed 23,448 acres of land and destroyed more than 5,000 buildings in its path (NBC News). Regardless of firefighters’ greatest efforts, the fires began to spread throughout the Los Angeles area; only hours after the Palisades Fire ignited, the Eaton Fire was set ablaze, covering 14,021 acres and damaged more than 10,000 structures according to NBC News. Unfortunately, Los Angeles County officials have confirmed that the fires took the lives of 29 people. The Los Angeles medical examiner’s office claims that the Eaton Fire caused least 17 deaths while the Palisades Fire caused the other 12 deaths; however, the medical examiner’s office asserted that it could take weeks to verify the identities of the victims. Recently, California’s department of forestry and fire protection announced that the Palisades and Eaton Fires have been contained completely, three weeks after the fires initially went ablaze. Even though the fires are no longer raging throughout Southern California, Los Angeles must rebuild its cities; however, the Los Angeles Times claims that the total economic loss and expected damage to be between $250 billion and $275 billion according to AccuWeather, a forecasting service. The cost of repercussions makes the natural disaster one of the worst in the history of the United States (Los Angeles Times). Yet, the initial cause of the fires remains unclear. However, drought-like conditions are one of the main factors as Southern California “has had less than 10% of average rainfall since Oct. 1” (NBC News). Mix these conditions with powerful offshore winds, and you have perfect conditions to start a fire. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist, brought attention to California’s weather in recent years that was highlighted by drought or heavy rainfall, both of which “are a key element of the fire weather gripping the region” (NBC News). Swain additionally asserts that even though the warming climate results in drier conditions, the constantly varying weather in the state creates a risk in the Southern California area. Climate change, an issue affecting the world severely, may be a factor for the fires, but it is unclear to say if the changes in the ever-changing environment played a vital role in the blaze. Recent studies find that climate change worsens already extreme conditions such as those that had started the fires in California (NPR). Human activity is also a factor that led to the Palisades and Eaton Fires as “there were no lightning storms at the time that would have sparked the fires” (NPR). UCLA’s director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Alex Hall, claims that the “ignitions were undoubtedly due to human activity” (NPR). The Palisades and Eaton Fires have affected almost 200,000 people and many people lost their homes and business. There are multiple resources that we can use to support those in California. This website provides links to donation centers that are working to help those affected by the natural disaster. Through our donations, we can help Los Angeles build up the beautiful city it used to be, along with providing California residents with hope for the future. SOURCES: California wildfires: What we know about L.A.-area fires, what caused them, who is affected and more Estimated cost of fire damage balloons to more than $250 billion Los Angeles’ Palisades and Eaton wildfires are now fully contained Here's how climate change fueled the Los Angeles fires BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Rollercoasters By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by UnSplash Life's a rollercoaster, don't you see? It doesn't matter which you pick, you'll still scream Full of twists and turns, no one said it's easy Life's the same way, can't you see? One day you're on top of the world, the next day you're on the ground crying   One spins you, until your head's dizzy The other it drops you from extremes Sometimes it feels so slow waiting Then you're on but not you just want to get off Life's the same way, can't you see? One day you're on top of the world, the next day you're on the ground crying   Life speeds by just like a coaster You just sat in and the ride's already over Friends are the riders next to you Some stay and others leave you Life's the same way, can't you see? One day you're on top of the world, the next day you're on the ground crying BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Family Problems By Ala Paruch Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by BigStockPhoto Q. Dear Ala, I need your help. I want more privacy. My parents don't seem to think that’s important. I also want to tell them that I have bad anxiety, but they don't think it’s real. I am twelve years old and I feel like I am still treated like my 8 year old brother. I was asking for my bedtime to be at 10:00. In my mind that’s reasonable because I still sleep at 9:30 at the same time as my brother. Thanks. Sincerely, Hello:) A. Hi! Thanks for asking! I agree, 10:00 pm would be a reasonable time. I would advise you to have a conversation with your parents and explain to them why you believe your bedtime should change. You can prepare a list of reasons for your statement and prepare for how you think they could answer your proposition. In your list you can include all the rationales you put in this letter to me, since they are pretty strong arguments, as well as more if you can think of those. Your parents will most likely think something is important if it is important enough for you to prepare in this way. So, if you put effort into this and show them this would help you, they might change their minds. Also, maybe you could ask them to “make it a rule” that anyone who wants to come in your room must knock first. Hope this helps! Q. Dear Ala, I share a room with my dog and I haven't been able to get much sleep because she snores to loud. I need some advice on how to help me get some better sleep or to try to get her to stop snoring. If you are able to help me that would be greatly appreciated Sincerely, Cat A. Hi Cat! Thank you for asking! Hmmm, sleep is important, so solving this problem is important as well. Firstly, I would advise to take your dog to the vet to see if this isn’t happening because of an infection or anything more serious. The vet will definitely try to help you out. You can also try to see if it’s possible if your pet can sleep in the hallway or any other room that is not occupied at night. Hope that helps! Q. Dear Ala,  I was wondering if you can help me with a problem. My sister, who is 19 and away at college, doesn't call me anymore. I want to talk to her, but truly, I don't know what to say or what she would respond back to me. She might not even want her little sister to be texting her. She still treats me like I'm five, but I'm really 14. Please give me some advice. Thank you, Ala! You really will be a big help to me. - Little sister issues! A. Hi! Thank you for the question! I think that the best option for this would be to simply reach out and tell her you want to keep in contact. Ask her how she’s been doing and how the workload is. Be supportive of her decision to go to college. Put together a nice message for her telling her you wouldn’t want the fact that she’s college drift you two apart. Hope this helps and good luck! ~Ala Q. Dear Ala, My parents won't let me bake in the house anymore because they think that I leave a big mess, but I do clean it up! Do you have any advice on what you think I should do for them to let them let me bake again? Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Furious Baker A. Hi and thank you for the question! Baking is such a great passion, keep it up! Ask your parents what part of the kitchen you specifically didn’t clean up to their liking and to give you one more chance to prove yourself. Then, make sure to clean up as you go, and to clean up at the end. Glad I could be of help! Good luck! Q. Dear Ala, I am in need of some help. I play on the same game console as my brother and we can never come up with a game to play together. Do you have any idea what we should do because it is getting really annoying. Hope you can help. Have a nice day. Sincerely, Me A. Hi! Thanks for the question! I don’t really know much about video games, but I asked my friend, and he recommended two games that you might like and are on most current major consoles. The first one is “Rocket League”. It is a multiplayer game that combines racing with soccer. The second one is called “Overcooked!” which is a game designed to play regardless of your skill level. In this game, you and your friends run around a kitchen and try to prepare a meal while being faced with obstacles. I hope this helps! Q. Dear Ala, I have a younger brother, and he won't leave me alone. He finds ways to bother me and when I tell him to stop, he doesn't listen. He always comes into my room and doesn't leave when I tell him to. I hope you can help me find a way to get him to listen when I tell him to stop. Thank you! -Bothersome Brother A. Hello and thank you for the question! Your younger brother is not someone you can just tell what to do and expect him to listen to everything you say. He is still his own person. A good way to approach this would be to talk it out with him. Tell him it is bothersome and ask him if he has a specific reason for coming into your room. There is a possibility he simply wants to be able to spend more time with you but doesn’t know how to express it well. Then come up with a system like he has to knock and ask you if it’s okay to come in. If you say no, he should not enter. Hope that helps and good luck! Q. Dear ALA,  Hello! I have an older sister who is 16 years old. We don't share a room, but her room is right next to mine. When it is 12 midnight, she is on a call with her friends. She makes so much noise, I cannot sleep. When I try to tell my parents, they think I am lying. Can you help me find a way for my parents to believe me? Or can you help me find a way for her to listen and stop? Bye. Have a great day. From, Younger Sister A. Hello and thanks for your question! Communication is key, and talking to her about it first would be a great idea. Confront her and tell her why you it is bothering you so much. She might try to brush it off saying that she’s older, but be confident and explain your argument. Calmly explain that how old a person is does not influence this argument. Regarding your parents, you can explain to them the effects the lack of sleep is causing you to show them that what you are saying is true. Be sure to tell them and express your troubles. Maybe if you say it will affect your schoolwork, they will pay more attention to your problem. Thank you, have a nice day as well and good luck! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Recent ISS Crew Dragon Mission By Elyas Layachi Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by NASA Introduction The Commercial Crew Program is a program created by NASA helping to facilitate the development of U.S. commercial crew space transportation capabilities. The program’s main goal, like the Flight Opportunities program, is to achieve safe, reliable, and cost-effective access to and from low Earth orbit and the International Space Station. Through this program, NASA now tasks private companies, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, to transport both astronauts and cargo to the ISS, allowing NASA to focus their resources on developing the technologies necessary for larger missions such as a lunar return. The Commercial Crew Program works specifically with Boeing and SpaceX, who developed the Crew Dragon and Starliner. The first official flight under this program took place on November 16th, 2020, with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. This mission, also known as the Crew-1 mission, had a goal of both transporting astronauts to the ISS and proving that private companies are viable and safe sources of space transportation. This was the first mission in history in which a third-party manufacturer created a crewed vehicle used in a space mission. The Crew-1 mission transported four astronauts (Shannon Walker, Victor J. Glover, Michael S. Hopkins, and Soichi Noguchi) along with their scientific material and other resources to the ISS. They returned safely to Earth after a 6-month mission aboard the ISS and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at 2:56 A.M. on May 2nd, 2021. Crew-2 Mission Overview The Crew-2 mission is the second of six missions under the Commercial Crew Program, launching just over a week before the Crew-1 mission had returned. The astronauts were launched using SpaceX’s second crew capsule, the Crew Dragon Endeavor, and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. According to NASA, this mission has several firsts, including being the: First commercial crew mission to fly two international partners. First commercial crew handover between astronauts on the space station as Crew-1 and Crew-2 astronauts will spend about five days together on station before Crew-1 returns to Earth. First reuse of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket on a crew mission. First time two commercial crew spacecraft will be docked to the I.S.S. at the same time. Not only does this mission have the purpose of proving the viability of the Crew Dragon and SpaceX’s technology, but it has scientific purposes as well. The astronauts will continue the scientific research of the Crew-1 astronauts, which included important investigations and technological demonstrations that prepare for future Artemis missions to the Moon. Additionally, the crew will perform over 200 experiments, including medical research and studies of Earth’s own climate. Some experiments will even help scientists on Earth combat disease, while also helping space agencies around the world better understand how space affects the human body so they can better prepare astronauts for future, long-duration space travel to the moon. Meet the Astronauts The Crew-2 mission’s crew is described as an “international crew” since its astronauts have diverse backgrounds. The astronauts are from the United States, Japan, and France. Each have different educational and experience backgrounds, making the crew even more diverse. Below is a description of each of the astronauts and their backgrounds: Shane Kimbrough Shane Kimbrough, also known as Robert Shane Kimbrough, is a retired United States army officer and NASA astronaut. He was part of the first group of candidates selected for NASA astronaut training following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Born: June 4, 1967 (age 53 years), Killeen, Texas. Space missions: SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, Expedition 50, Expedition 49, Soyuz MS-02, STS-126, STS-400. Spouse : Robbie Lynn Nickels Total EVAs : 6 Rank: Colonel, retired, USA. Siblings: Michael Scott Kimbrough K. Megan McArthur Kathrine Megan McArthur is an American oceanographer, engineer, and a NASA astronaut. She has served as a Capsule Communicator for both the space shuttle and space station. Born: August 30, 1971 (age 49 years), Honolulu, Hawaii. Space missions : SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, STS-125, STS-400. Spouse : Bob Behnken Education : University of California, Los Angeles. Children : Theodore Behnken Parents: Don McArthur, Kit McArthur Akihiko Hoshide Akihiko Hoshide is a Japanese engineer, JAXA astronaut, and current Commander of the International Space Station. On August 30, 2012, Hoshide became the third Japanese astronaut to walk in space. Born: December 28, 1968 (age 52 years), Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan. Space Missions: SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, Expedition 32, STS-124, Expedition 33, Soyuz TMA-05M. Total EVAs: 3 Education: United World College of South East Asia Thomas Pesquet Thomas Gautier Pesquet is a French aerospace engineer, pilot, and European Space Agency astronaut Pesquet was selected by the ESA as a candidate in May 2009, and he successfully completed his basic training in November 2010. Born: February 27, 1978 (age 43 years), Rouen, France. Space Missions: SpaceX Crew-2, Expedition 65, Expedition 50, Soyuz MS-03, Expedition 51. Spouse: Anne Mottet Selection: 2009 ESA Group Total EVAs: 2. Education: Institut Superieur De L’aeronautique Et De L’espace. What does this mission mean for the future? This mission is only the second of six crewed missions facilitated by the Commercial Crew Program using SpaceX’s transportation modules. If all these missions, including Crew-2, are successful, they will prove that companies can viably use their technology to transport humans to space. Furthermore, the success of these missions increases the application of commercial technology to be used to transport normal people into space, for tours and sight-seeing. Additionally, the experiments the crew will perform on board will help scientists further understand and learn about the effects of long-term exposure to microgravity and intense radiation on the body. Such findings will prepare NASA and SpaceX to send astronauts back to the moon, and later to Mars. Featured Quiz Want to see how much you learned about the Crew-2 mission from this article? Take the quiz by clicking the link below! Good luck! Crew-2 Quiz Microsoft Form BACK TO TOP