Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Ask Ala: Other Questions By Ala Paruch Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images Q. Dear Ala, I feel like I have issues with writer's block, and sometimes do not know what to write in my story. Sometimes when I am writing a story, it takes me a half an hour to find a topic sentence. Furthermore, I get bored when I have to write something really long and time consuming. Finally, I have to read through my writing to make sure I did not make any spelling mistakes or grammar errors. What makes looking for errors in your writing hard is when you don’t know whether to put a comma or period after a word. Conclusion writing, I find, can be very hard and confusing for me. If you have any advice for me to help me be more efficient with my writing, then it would be much appreciated! Thanks! Sincerely, Writer’s Block A. Hello and thank you for the relatable question! Writer’s block is such a relatable issue for a lot of people, so I’m glad I get to answer your question. Inspiration is hard to find, so for the instances when you can’t find the topic sentence, I would just focus on the rest of the text or write something just to be there, knowing it is not going to be perfect. You can always come back to it and see what fits or edit it, so it works with the rest of your writing. To conquer long parts of the text planning everything out and dividing it into chunks could help. Let’s say the longer paragraph has 4 main points. Just do one at a time and take small breaks to refresh your mind a little bit. Proof-reading your own work can get pretty boring sometimes; I absolutely agree. To make the process more bearable, listen to some music. Be sure to listen to something that you enjoy, but doesn’t take up all your attention, so you can still focus on editing your paper. Looking for errors such as commas is quite tricky. You will learn more about them in English as you go along, though right now using a program such as Grammarly.com can help. Microsoft Word also has Grammar Check settings. I hope this helps and enjoy writing! Q. Dear Ala, Why do coronavirus cases get bigger in the cold weather? My mom told me it goes down in the summer because the heat kills the virus, but she also said it goes up in the cold weather, how does this work? -RonaQuestion A. Hello and thank you for the interesting question! Everything depends on the type of pathogen you are dealing with. Seasonality’s causes are something the science community is still not entirely sure about. So far, studies show that it is not so much that cases go down in the summer, but with coronavirus specifically, cases increased for the winter since people started gathering indoors where the virus spreads much more easily. Additionally, people are more likely to get sick during the winter as well, because your immune system is not as effective in the wintertime. Coronavirus does not seem to be affected by heat or cold, it’s more about what people are doing and where they do it. I hope this answers your question! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Ms. Byrne and Importance By Jeselys Vazquez Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original photography by Eva Grace Martinez Hello, loyal readers of North Star! For Women's History Month, we usually discuss women who've impacted history and changed women's lives for the better with the power of their voices and bravery. I want to share with you all the passion and impact Ms. Byrne has on her students and the people around her. If you do not know her yet, she is the lovely and kind lady in 113 on the first floor near the computer lab or dean's office. Ms. Byrne has been my Resource Room teacher since September, and she has impacted and pushed me forward to reaching my goals and dreams, even though she has been through a lot this year. Yet, she still is there for us in even the good and bad times. She has kept her students up to date, keeping them on top of upcoming test/quizzes/exam/projects dates to make sure they get what they need to get done with enough time. Also, she informs her students about activities and clubs outside of school they can participate in, enjoy, and make friends as time goes on. I always wanted to join a club and do something to help and have fun, but I had never been on top of it as much until Ms. Byrne suggested it to try it. If it wasn't for her, I would not be where I am right now. Now, I am a writer for North Star Magazine and a member of the Ecology Club. I enjoy participating and have fun helping our environment. That's only a little piece of her magic of what she has done for only one student; imagine what she has done for the rest. I've never met someone so caring, genuine, and strong as she is. I am so grateful to Ms. Byrne for what she has done and what she has to offer for both the rest of her students and me. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The Benefits of Running Manal Layachi Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Mother of Manal Layachi I have been on North’s Cross Country and Track and Field team since seventh grade and enjoy running every day. Whenever I feel stressed or just need to clear my mind, I go for a run, and I feel amazing and energetic like I just drank forty cups of coffee. Running not only improves your mental and physical health, but it provides individuals with important life lessons. I have learned over the years that it is important to be on time, persevere when facing obstacles, remain “hungry” for opportunities in which I can reach full potential, have a winner’s mindset, build self-confidence, and most importantly have fun. Firstly, running improves an individual’s physical and mental health. For example, running improves cardio health and lowers the risk of having cardiovascular diseases. Even if it is for just fifteen minutes a day, a little can go a long way. It also lowers an individual’s resting heart rate, thus leading to them having a more efficient heartbeat. Furthermore, running can improve sleep, knee health and back health. Running helps lower stress and clears the mind, which leads to better sleep and relaxation. It can even lead to a lower arthritis rate and improved back health as runners must have good running form, which includes keeping your back straight and relaxed. Lastly, running can help lower the odds of someone obtaining upper tract respiratory infections and leads to a better mood and energy. After every run, I always feel like a new person and become excited for the day. I also feel more productive when completing homework and am in a better mood. Additionally, running also improves academic performance and learning ability. In other words, exercise increases circulation throughout the body and enhances brain function, thus leading to academic achievement. For example, students that perform aerobic exercises daily may have higher test scores than those who do not exercise. I have seen this in my life as well because as a junior in high school and take multiple AP classes. Running after school helps me deal with stress and the workload of junior year. Coming home from school without running does not help me complete my homework, as I feel unmotivated and my brain overflows with thoughts from the school day. On the other hand, running after school helps me clear my mind, have fun, and prepares me for the schoolwork ahead. The next day, I ace my exams and get the grades that I want. In essence, running is a lifelong sport. Whether you are 13 or 45, running is for everyone. All you have to do is put on your shoes and start running. It is not a sport that requires a lot of equipment. If you decide to start running, start off easy, be sure to hydrate (Trader Joe’s Alkaline water is my favorite), eat foods heavy in protein and fruits and vegetables, and most importantly have fun and run with close friends or relatives. All in all, being on the team has brought me closer to the North community and I have made many friends that I would not have made had I not joined cross country and track. I would like to thank my brother and my coaches for motivating me to join Cross Country and Track and fight through the pain of running. I will miss running for North when I graduate; however, I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish in the 2024-2025 season. References: How Does Running Improve Your Health? ( webmd.com ) The Correlation Between Running And The Classroom ( coachweber.org ) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Party School | Jon Hart Jasmine Roberts Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Max Ching The line, “TTK is short for the Taliban King. He has an insane story. His parents had been in the Taliban, and he’s an orphan,’’ on page two of Party School was one of the first sentences I have ever read that made me take a step back from the page and do a double take. Though this was not how the novel first introduced itself, it is certainly a memorable line which could be critiqued for its nonchalant reference to a piece of history that traumatized many and has solidified itself as a harrowing, controversial part of American history. The line nonetheless lays the focal ground for the tone, ideas, and humor of what was to come. In a more subjective way, the tone of the book felt similar to that of what I would find in an 80’s coming-of-age movie, such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off , The Breakfast Club , or Heathers : raw, unadulterated, and relatable. Coming into this novel, I felt a breath of fresh air when I didn’t feel patronized by this idea of teenagers having a pure, innocent, prudent perspective of the world, ignorant of all its faults. The author did not hold pre-conceived notions of a young adult's ability to rationalize adult themes. With the growing influence of technology and social media, it would be a shame to see a novel for young adults try to filter out any of the reality of the hardships that come with growing up and discovering the core of adulthood, especially in more privileged stations. Thankfully, Party School does the exact opposite of my concerns, and I find myself connecting heavily to that feeling of drifting on a raft, where the tides seem to rise and set around you, channeling wherever they desire. Yet, you are stuck on those planks of bamboo, going whenever the wind feels like stirring, with little autonomy of your own. Trapped, some might say, by expectations, friends, romances, and society as a whole. The main character of Jon Hart’s novel, Dylan Millis, is your average, less than average, all-American boy, who finds himself in a place which goes against what is expected for a boy in his environment: a party school, or a college known for students being for attentive to parties than academics. The foundation of this storyline is overdone to the extent that a museum could be erected just for boys of this persuasion in literature. Though, it can still be entertaining when done right, that could explain why the trope is so popular. Dylan isn’t a perfect protagonist; he gets into more than enough instances of conflict, that are down-to-earth enough to be understandable yet done in a way that keeps the reader wanting more. For instance, Dylan’s internal struggle with his maturity and existence, and his external struggle in maintaining a relationship with his high school sweetheart, Rosemary, who encourages they experiment with dating. A high school relationship is starkly different from a relationship with two adults, who can drink, pay taxes, stay up as long as they want, have their hormones steady and frontal lobes better developed. This turmoil between internal and external conflict, between a more subconscious deep-seated problem versus a more, to be honest, issue that only two eighteen-year-olds would have, adds a layer of complexity to Dylan’s situation. It serves as a good example of when seemingly trivial conflict fosters deep character development. As we see within Dylan, once he slowly matures, gets his driver’s license, and finally rationalizes who he is. One of the rare things which all humans desire, is to understand. There’s a desire to understand yourself, the fears, the hopes, the pain, and the joy. Learning these things, as Party School shows, comes from experience, in ways that are unconventional, yet stick. Overall, I enjoyed the novel. It's pleasant enough for a quick read, as you drink tea and watch time buzz around you. It's sweet, funny, down-to-earth, and honest. It is definitely, a true American novel, with all the type beats that one would expect in an American, coming-of-age piece: sports, humility, romance, humor, and a bit of underdog charm. As this is Jon Hart’s first novel, I would say it is a strong first start, and I desire to see where he brings himself in the future, growing and evolving as an author. The publisher The Sager Group, sells itself as a multimedia content brand, for the artist and their free will. Though I have been skeptical of such things in the past, it is nonetheless nice to support the arts directly. So, I shall end this article the exact same way the novel ended itself. “Well then, I’m in,’’ (page 212). BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Beauty in Nature Back to Sections Nick Ottomanelli - Beauty in Nature By Nick Ottomanelli February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Articles News Back to Sections MSA Day of Unity Conference Wardah Khizer Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 Image Provided by Afas Aswad and Walt Whitman High School On April 11th, 2025, Valley Stream North High School’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) attended their first Day of Unity Conference at Walt Whitman High School. I had the pleasure of interviewing the President of the MSA, Afaf Aswad, and have her share her thoughts on the experience: How did your MSA first hear about the Day of Unity, and what made you want to attend? Aswad: “Dr. Loper and Dr. DiMaio shared details about the fourth annual Day of Unity Conference, following an invitation from Mr. John Murphy, the principal of Walt Whitman High School. Mr. Murphy extended an invitation to our MSA to participate in discussions aimed at promoting unity, diversity, and overcoming prejudice in schools. We wanted to attend because of this year’s theme of "Acceptance" and the core discussions of the Day of Unity Conference align with the missions and goals of our club. The event promotes creating an inclusive environment for students on Long Island, regardless of their religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds.” Were there any speakers or activities that really stood out to you? Why? Aswad: “ The speakers and activities that stood out to me were the Huntington Anti-Bias Task Force, presented by Joanne Polichetti and Helen Boxwill, which emphasizes the importance of understanding among community members and addresses instances of intolerance, prejudice, and discrimination. Additionally, The Zen Den, led by Kristen McDermott, advocates for peace, tranquility, and the significance of meditation in daily life. Ms. McDermott led a meditation session that was soothing.” Were there any interesting conversations or moments of connection between your group and others? Aswad: “ I thoroughly enjoyed the group activities that took place after each main presentation. Engaging with fellow Muslim students from various schools across Long Island was a wonderful experience. We were frequently organized into groups based on the color or number of our wristbands. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to draw images representing what resonated with me during those discussions.” What did the Day of Unity teach you about unity, faith, and diversity? Aswad: “ The Day of Unity was an informative experience that focused on themes of unity, faith, and diversity. This event featured five presentations from various organizations, including the Huntington Anti-Bias Task Force, the Zen Den, the Eid Holiday Coalition, student presenters, and the Interfaith Initiative. The presentations emphasized the importance of community members being understanding toward one another, the need for individuals to advocate for peace and tranquility, and the necessity for schools across the United States to provide resources and tools for celebrating various religious holidays. Additionally, the event highlighted acceptance through collaboration among different school districts.” Attendees’ Opinions on the Day of Unity Conference: What was your favorite part of the Day of Unity field trip, and why did it stand out to you? Asra Aftab: “ My favorite part was meeting other MSA members from across the county. It was such a pleasant and inspiring experience to see how many students are working toward the same goal, promoting unity, understanding, and appreciation for all religions. What really stood out to me was how different this felt compared to previous years. It showed me that our school, along with others, is making real progress in recognizing and celebrating all religions. Being part of something that brings people together and encourages respect across different communities meant a lot to me, and it made me proud to be involved.” Naomi Gonzalez: “ I enjoyed the meditation aspect of the Day of Unity because I felt like, especially with AP Exams coming up, this was a very needed and calming activity, not only for me but for a lot of other students who attended. In addition, I loved how Walt Whitman High School included students from Suffolk and Nassau and brought them all together. I thought that was a very nice concept. This was truly a day of unity.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Gas Prices Continue to Increase By Raj Singh Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by USA Today I’m sure that if you have been watching the news, listening to your parents, or paying for gas itself, you know how expensive gas is. As of April 7th, in Nassau County, New York, gas prices per gallon were $4.268, which is a lot compared to last year’s average of $2.901. You might wonder, “Why is gas so expensive?” It’s a lot more complicated than you think, with a multitude of reasons. Firstly, COVID-19 has caused plenty of damage to the world economy, and one of the reasons is inflation. Let’s say in 2019, 5 barrels of oil cost $15 (this is a hypothetical); with shipping slowing during Covid has the number of barrels decreased, which wouldn’t be so bad as the barrels would be worth $6, right? Nope, inflation has caused the price of the, let’s say, only 2 barrels to go to $20, inflation has caused prices to rise at the same time stock of oil has decreased, causing the price of oil per gallon to rise a couple of dollars. (A link below will show the actual prices of barrels of oil.) Covid restrictions have become increasingly damaging as workers aren’t allowed to work, and production decreases are stopped entirely. In China, they have a “Zero Covid Policy,” which shuts down entire cities and areas in order to keep Covid cases at 0; this has caused lots of cities to be shut down and also oil refineries, which of course, ramps up the price of oil to nations that import Chinese oil like Australia, and even though here in the US we don’t use Chinese oil that high price impacts here too since the global economy is connected increasing our prices more. Now for the biggest and most prominent cause for the increase in price, the War in Ukraine. Foreign companies and investors have been running out of the country; they have left Russia due to its “Humanitarian Violations.” It is because they felt that other companies and investments would leave Russia, so they did it themselves, causing a chain reaction. Anyways, this lack of investment and foreign companies has caused the Russian economy to shrink and start collapsing. In turn, this has caused Russian oil and gas to collapse too, causing prices in Europe to rise and, in turn, the rest of the world. This is the leading cause of the current spike in price. Here is a reason that only has a mild effect currently and has a more significant impact in the future, America, and Canada have been producing more oil than ever before; in fact, in America, imports from the Middle East have been declining, and what oil we still import mostly comes from Canada, oil produced here has to come from shale and sand adding an extra process. At the same time, in the Middle East, they take it straight out of the ground, refine and sell it. This has caused North American oil to be a bit more expensive, the effect is small, and it’s an overall positive since soon America will be an overall oil exporter rather than an importer, and we probably won’t join any more wars in the Middle East since they don’t hold our oil interests anymore. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections “What is the Best Christmas Movie?” Mya Hans Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Beaver Tales With the Holiday season approaching, there are a lot of activities to do. Whether it’s making gingerbread houses, caroling, or putting up Christmas lights, everyone is getting festive. Typically, as December starts to roll around, people watch Christmas movies. My personal favorite is Elf . It is about a human named Buddy who grew up thinking he was an elf but figures out that he was actually adopted by Santa Claus. He travels from the North Pole to New York City in hopes of finding his real parents. This simple plotline makes for a hilarious yet heartwarming story. I look forward to watching it every year. Despite my opinions on the best Christmas movie, many people might think otherwise. There are so many to choose from. What do the students and teachers at Valley Stream North think the best Christmas movie is? Tenth grader Naomi Gonzalez says Home Alone is her favorite because she likes the “creativity” and the “planning process Kevin has when he sets up the traps for the burglars.” Eleventh Grader Afaf Aswad says her favorite Christmas movie is The SpongeBob Christmas Movie . She likes it because it has her favorite cartoon character, and she likes the aesthetic of the movie. English teacher Nicole Ryan’s favorite is Elf because she loves the actor, Will Ferell, and the scenes where he goes to New York City for the first time. Other student and teacher favorites included The Grinch, A Christmas Story, The Princess Switch, Die Hard (debatable), The Polar Express, The Nightmare Before Christmas , and more. There were many answers, but the majority of the students and teachers at Valley Stream North thought Home Alone was the best Christmas movie, saying it was their favorite. This is a staple Christmas movie, which makes sense why it was favored the most. Have you seen this Christmas classic? If so, do you agree? Happy Holidays! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections World Language Week By Everton Prospere Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Bilingua From March 28th to April 1st, Valley Stream North’s annual World Language Week will occur. The school-wide event, spearheaded by the Language Honor Society and Culture Society, seeks to spread awareness of the cultural diversity within North and heighten school spirits as pandemic restrictions ease. World Language Week, hosted nationally by many schools and organizations, celebrates cultures and languages from around the globe. Primarily because of North’s unique environment, World Language Week brings important information to students and staff on the variety of our students’ cultures in the building. It highlights the importance of an inclusive school environment. According to the nonprofit organization GreatSchools, a reputable informative source on education around the United States, North’s student population has a wide range of races: 33% of students are White, 26% are Hispanic, 19% are Asian, or Pacific Islander, and 19% are Black. These statistics stress the significance of hosting a culturally celebration week to inform about and highlight the backgrounds of our students and staff. The Language Honor Society and Culture Society have planned several activities for World Language Week in order to promote the event throughout the entire school: 1. Daily Trivia - Every day on the North Microsoft Teams page, a set of trivia questions based on a selected country will be posted through a Microsoft form. The unique questions will not only introduce a competitive environment to World Language Week but also inform students and staff of interesting facts about countries around the world. 2. Culture Day Event - Language class levels four, five, and Advanced Placement will be invited during their class periods to a fun event in the library that promotes World Language Week. The event will include several activities including dancing, arts and crafts, language lessons, and cultural games.  3. Culture Night - On April 1st, the biggest event during World Language Week will occur - the annual Culture Night. This event invites North families to learn more about the cultures in the school and attend a wide range of activities. The event will include live performances, a fashion show, and food tasting. In addition to these events, countries worldwide will be represented with decorations throughout the school and daily informative announcements. The Language Honor Society and Culture Society hope that the North community comes together for this World Language Week, so mark your calendars for March 28th to April 1st! BACK TO TOP