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Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Ms. Santomauro Interview By Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Wikimedia Ms. Santomauro was a leave replacement English teacher here at North for the first marking period, filling in for Ms. O’Donohue. On her last day, I had the amazing opportunity to interview her about her experience at North High School. How has your time at North been? “My time at North has been absolutely wonderful. I’ve had amazing students and classes. All of my colleagues helped me every step of the way.” If you had a chance, would you continue to work at North High School? “Absolutely, I loved my time here.” What was your favorite thing to teach? “Each of the classes does something different. For the 8A’s I loved The Outsiders . I loved discussing “Stay gold,” because it thinks it’s relevant to your (8A’s) lives. 11AP: I loved doing argument because we debated all the time, and everyone got to share their ideas on controversial or just funny topics. Seniors: I loved doing college essays with the seniors because I got to know them really well.” Why did you become a teacher? “I became a teacher because I think the best gift you can give someone is knowledge and because as a student, my teachers made school a very good experience, and I wanted to give that to the future generation.” What about North High School made you want to teach here? “I really love the community aspect of North. Every teacher and every student is involved in something within the school and the community, which I really love. When I went to high school, I was very involved with the community and the high school, so that was something that I really liked about North. The opportunities for the staff to get involved in activities with the students is something that really drew me in.” As of your departure from North High School, what is something you learned while teaching here? “ I learned to always follow my gut no matter what it is...that I was trained to do this, and I know what I’m doing and to follow my gut. To always have the hard conversations; even though they may be hard, they are important. I learned to always make sure to value my students as people rather than just students because they are people outside of the classroom, and we need to acknowledge that and understand that in order to give them a well-rounded education.” What is something that you’re going to miss about North High School? “I am definitely going to miss my students and my coworkers. Every day was great because of the people I was surrounded with. Teaching is nothing without the people around you, and that’s what makes it such a great job especially if you’re a people person, so I will miss all the people I have worked with.” What advice would you give other teachers who come to or work at North? “My advice would be to get as involved as possible. We have very long days, and we do a lot of work, but taking that extra time to build relationships within the school and the community and with the students is really important. Showing people that you care about the people you work with, the students you work with, and the place you work in really helps build relationships and gets you more involved to make you a better teacher and a better colleague.” What advice would you give to students at North High School? “My advice to students would be to always keep up with the reading because when you fall behind, it gets really hard. And to be honest and open with your teachers. If you are struggling with something, you should be honest. If you could not complete homework because you had work or you had a personal issue going on, honesty is the best policy. Your teachers are very understanding. We are also people, and we understand that we all have personal lives, so it's always best to be as honest as possible and as honest as you are comfortable with being, so that we can help you in any way that you need.” Ms. Santomauro’s final goodbye to her students : “I am so very lucky to have had all of you in our classes and as a first-year teacher, you were a true blessing. You made me feel very comfortable and very at home in the classroom and I will always cherish all of the memories and relationships we built together as a class. Remember to always do your work!” Ms. Santomauro was a beloved teacher and member of North High School. She made students feel safe and comfortable with learning in the new class environment. We are glad and thankful that we were able to experience her first year of teaching with her. We hope that she excels in her teaching career far past North. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Ice Bucket Challenge: Does it help the Mental Health Cause? Mya Hans Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 You have probably seen it all over your Instagram past spring. It took over all of social media. You and I have probably both done it: The Ice Bucket Challenge. Back in April, thousands of people participated in this challenge, advocating for mental health. The first person to do it was Wade Jefferson, a student who attends the University of Southern California. He began this challenge to raise awareness and gain support for mental health efforts. After you do the challenge, you can nominate up to six people. Thus, this fun challenge spread quickly. However, if you kept up with trends and social media, you may have noticed that the Speak Your Mind ice bucket challenge is just an iteration of the ALS ice bucket challenge. It actually started in 2014, but its purpose then was to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Despite all of these posts about the ice bucket challenge, very few donate to the cause. The official USC Mind Instagram stated in the post the simple instructions for the challenge. Participate, nominate friends, donate, and share the video. Many forget to do the donating part, which can be problematic considering that was the entire point of the challenge. Some people see it as a fun challenge to do with your friends and you nominate each other, but it was much deeper than that. Although the challenge raised “more than $245,000” according to Forbes, there is still so much more that can be done to advocate for mental health that doesn’t involve you simply recording yourself for friends to see and not actually helping the cause. However, it should be noted that most of the people that had participated in this challenge are young. There’s only so much that an average teenager could've done to contribute to the mental health cause, but this challenge is definitely proving to be a big step in the support and awareness of mental health in the younger generation. However, there are so many other things that can also take place for mental health awareness. Here are examples of activities you can do that advocate and contribute to the cause of mental health awareness: Donate to organizations that provide mental health programs such as: -Mental Health America -The National Alliance on Mental Illness -The Child Mind Institute There are so many programs that you can donate to help people struggling with mental health! Take part in mental health programs in your community or school There are so many activities like journaling, yoga, or walking that can be peaceful for some people. Those struggling with mental health could use a place that facilitates these relaxing activities. For example, at Valley Stream North, we have a Wellness Center where students can do arts and crafts, see a therapy dog, do yoga, and do much more during the week. Run a marathon or go on a walk for mental health awareness There are many marathons and walks that advocate mental health awareness, and a lot of funds are raised through those programs. Check if your local community might have one coming up! Participating in some of these activities can benefit the community greatly and reduce the stigma around mental health, leading to a more accepting and involved society. We should try our best to achieve this goal, and although some of the intentions may not be where they should be, the Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge has put the younger generation in the right direction of advocating for mental health. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Turkey and Syria’s Earthquakes By Sahar Ali Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Al Jazeera TURKEY & SYRIA – On February 6th, 2023, a tragedy occurred that changed the lives of millions. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Turkey and the border of Syria, causing more than 48,000 deaths. Days later on February 20th, 2023, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes the Hatay province in southern Turkey. As people slept, the earthquakes caused apartment buildings to collapse, resulting in many to be stuck underneath rubble for hours or even days. Rescuers were sent in to help and seek out those trapped underneath collapsed buildings. The earthquakes caused more than 45,000 deaths and millions of people were left displaced or homeless in Turkey. The damage caused in Turkey is estimated to cost around $34 billion. Across 11 provinces in Turkey, at least 230,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed. In northwest Syria, about 10,600 buildings were partially or completely destroyed. The mental toll these earthquakes have caused on Turks and Syrians are unimaginable. Hundreds of people lost their loved ones in less than a few minutes, people lost their homes and their prized possessions, and their dreams have been crushed. All of this happened in a period of just a few hours. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections VSN Girl’s Tennis Team Continues their Success By Alyssa Garufi, Hannah Lee Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original photography by Josephine Scalia The Valley Stream North’s Girls’ Varsity Tennis team annihilated their competition this year, coming in second place in Conference 4. Despite the challenging circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the girls played with ferocity and determination, finishing the season with 12 wins and only two losses. This achievement would not have been possible without the assistance of their new coach, Mr. Joseph Mando. Mr. Mando, a Valley Stream North alumni himself, now coaches the same sport he played during when he was a student here. Former girls coach, Ms. Kate Moran is brought back in a full circle, as Coach Mando uses skills taught by her in high school. Not only has Mr. Mando taught the girls tennis techniques and skills, but he has also left a big impression on all the girls by giving good advice and teaching them important life lessons. The Girls’ Tennis Team started the season off strong, with a 5-2 win against Uniondale on September 13th. First Singles, Claudia Sanchez, defeated her opponent in two sets, 6-2 and 6-2. No. 1 doubles Josephine Scalia and Ashrita Seelan won their match in two sets as well, both going into tiebreaks. No. 2 doubles, Alyssa Garufi and Grace Scalia beat their opponents along with No. 3 doubles, Anna Persaud and Kimberly Shrestha. To finish off the match, Barnit Kaur and Shinedip Kundlas bested their opponents, giving the girls a definite win from the beginning of the season. In the middle of their season, the girls pulled a win of 7-0 at West Hempstead. No. 1 singles, Juliana Russell faced some setbacks during her first set with a score of 6-7, but eventually pulled through winning 6-3, 7-6. Claudia Sanchez, No. 2 singles, played an impressive double bagel of 6-0, 6-0, along with Jaela Cardoza-Alvarez, winning 6-1, 6-0. First doubles, Afira Mahmood and Josephine Scalia, won their match 6-0, 6-1, and all the other doubles players won with impressive 6-0, 6-0, all around, Ashrita Seelan and Sophia Trojanowski as No. 2 doubles, Grace Scalia, and Emily Seitz as No. 3, and finally Anna Persaud and Kimberly Shrestha as No. 4 doubles. The girls finished off their season with a win at Levittown Division. Claudia Sanchez, playing No. 2 singles, won her match 10-2, along with Jaela Cardoza-Alvarez, No. 3 singles, winning 10-3. These girls destroyed their opponents in their pro-set. All four pairs of doubles players won their match, with No. 1 doubles, Afira Mahmood and Josephine Scalia, winning 10-3, second, Hannah Lee and Ashrita Seelan, winning 10-1, third, Alyssa Garufi and Grace Scalia, winning 10-0, and fourth, Sophia Buonomo and Lindsey Jacob, winning an impressive score of 10-8. The six-to-one win at Levittown Division accurately represents the impressive victories of the Valley Stream North Girls Tennis team throughout their whole season. The Girls Varsity Tennis team owes great thanks to Coach Mando for teaching them the virtues of patience, strength, and perseverance. The girls persevered through a rough season with COVID-19 regulations and overall made Valley Stream North immensely proud. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Serena Williams By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Shutterstock When people hear the name Serena Williams, they probably think: tennis, No. 1 in women’s tennis, or think about her older sister, tennis great Venus Williams. However, Serena Williams is more than a great athlete; she is an inspiration for many young girls and women around the world. Serena was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan. She started learning tennis at 5 years old from her father on public courts in LA. At the age of 17, she defeated Martina Hingis and won her first Grand Slam. Serena has won three double gold medals at the Olympics and has won 23 Grand Slams, more than any woman or man during the open era. At the age of nine, Serena and her family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, so that she could attend the tennis academy of Ricci Macci. However, Richard Williams stopped sending his daughters to National Junior Tennis matches when Serena was ten because he wanted them to advance gradually and to focus on their schoolwork. Experiences of racism also drove Williams’s experience, as Richard had overheard white parents speak about the Williams sisters in a derogatory way during tournaments. In 1995, when Serena was in the ninth grade, her father pulled Venus and Serena out of Macci's academy. From then on, the Williams Sisters’ coaching at home started. Serena Williams is one of the supreme tennis players of our time; nonetheless, to win 23 Grand Slams, she has had to prevail over challenges most tennis players have not: Serena is a black female in a predominantly white sport, she was raised in a poor neighborhood while practicing on community courts that were not always safe, and she suffered penetrating scrutiny of her body, misogyny, and racism. Serena, still to this day, has racist and sexist calls against her. She still contends with critiques of her body that perpetuate racist perceptions that black females are masculine and unattractive. Despite these challenges, Serena has remained strong and fearless, making her a role model for many young girls and women, especially those of color. Not only is she dominating in the sports world, but she is also dominating in the real world with a philanthropic mission. Since 2011, Williams has been the UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador. Through this role, Serena operates to create schools in an attempt to offer quality education for susceptible children via UNICEF's Africa program and Schools for Asia Campaign. She created the Serena Williams Foundation to aid youth whose families have been affected by violent crimes, and to support minority youth around the globe in receiving an education by providing grants and scholarships. Since 2015, Williams has also volunteered to help immunize children in Ghana. Her career has been a rough yet amazing one, as she has been afflicted with injuries and has faced hardships both regarding her race and her being a woman. Serena continues to put herself back on the tennis court and play her best. Serena Williams is an astonishing example of how determination, practice, and motivation, can go a long way. She is an example of how no matter what color your skin is, and whether you’re a female or male, you can do it, and nothing can stop you from doing what you want to do. Sources: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/serena-jameka-williams-2831.php https://sportytell.com/biography/serena-williams-biography-facts-childhood-personal-life/ https://kidskonnect.com/people/serena-williams/ BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections COVID-19 Crisis in India By Matteo Somma Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 No Image available at this time Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic each person was impacted, some worse than others. One country, India, has been hit hard. From when the COVID-19 outbreak first started gaining infamous popularity, India was getting slammed with cases. As we surpass the one-year mark of the virus, India once again is increasing on daily cases rapidly. Death rates and reported COVID-19 cases have been rapidly increasing for the past few weeks in India, breaking massive global records and setting the COVID-19 death count to 3.41 million. One explanation for the recent activity with COVID-19 in India is that its total population is ranked the second largest, after China. With over 1,340,330,000 people residing in the country, India takes up 17.7 percent of the total world population. With COVID-19 being a highly infectious and contagious disease, the overpopulated cities and towns of India make it extremely easy for the disease to spread. Many hospitals are denying care to patients, both COVID-related and non-COVID-related. Another factor contributing to the crisis is the lack of resources. Hospitalization numbers during the peak of the pandemic also greatly increased. Because COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, medical device such as respirators and oxygen tanks are needed. Since India is a developing country, supplies and workers are limited leading many to increasingly die from the disease. India is also financially unsteady at times meaning they cannot buy the supplies they lack; healthcare workers are underpaid (which is causing many to go on strike), and the government can’t do anything about it. As you may see, even though the whole world has been impacted by COVID-19, other countries like India are suffering the worst. With no feasible fix to their problem, it is estimated for India to continue suffering for many more days, weeks, months, or even years to come. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Double Standards: State Instruction Allows for High-Risk Sports but Not Performance Groups By Craig Papajohn-Shaw and Lucy Wu Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Images provided by Robert Summerlin (top) and the University of Richmond Orchestra (bottom) On Friday, January 22nd, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) set forth guidance to allow sports that are classified as “high-risk” after much pushback from parents. The Governor advised local officials, who would make the final verdict on the play of high-risk sports, to determine “whether there has been a more transmissible variant of COVID-19 identified in the area; local rates of COVID-19 transmission or rate of positivity; and local ability to monitor and enforce compliance.” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) announced that high-risk sports will be permitted to begin play, while Nassau’s Executive Laura Curran (D) finalized and approved procedures a few days after.  During County Executive Curran’s press conference, she expressed two policies that were in contrast of Executive Bellone’s policies: athletes playing high-risk sports in Nassau would not be mandated to take part in weekly COVID testing, and two spectators per athlete will be allowed to attend Section VIII sporting events. However, districts can choose to opt-out of partaking in high-risk sports, or add additional safety measures, such as testing, as they see fit. The Valley Stream Central High School District has indicated mandated tests will be enforced for those athletes participating in high-risk sports. However, the letter released from the District Director of Athletics, Mr. Scott Stueber, on January 25th - which outlined the kick-off to Winter Sports - did not mention safety procedures. Reassuringly, Mr. Michael Frazer, the Valley Stream North Athletic Director, reiterated Curran’s mask and social distancing mandate in a message to students on February 1st. It is worth mentioning students who are “full-remote” may still come after school to participate in after-school sports in person, as per state instruction. High-risk Junior-Varsity and Varsity sports include basketball, competitive cheerleading, football, wrestling, volleyball, and lacrosse. The Winter sports of basketball, competitive cheerleading, and wrestling began tryouts around some districts in Section XI and Section VIII as early as Wednesday, February 3rd. The district further announced it would allow Junior-High sports for the modified “Fall” and Spring season. It is worth noting COVID-19 rates in both counties are still high; the 14-day average on January 28th was 6.6% in Nassau County and 7.1% in Suffolk County, but are slowly declining. These rates are still over the 14-day Nassau County average of 1.1% on September 6th when Executives deemed high-risk sports as well as low and moderate risk sports unsafe to go forward with. Many were unsure about student safety, especially in wrestling. Patrick Pizzarelli, the Section VIII Executive Director, which is the governing body of sports in Nassau County, stated he is "concerned about the safety of wrestling. We are already seeing the implications of allowing high-risk sports. Newsday reported on February 9th that 14 basketball teams and two wrestling programs had to pause their season in Suffolk County for either positive COVID-19 tests or contact tracing. While wearing masks is required for sitting on the sideline or spectating in the audience, when playing a sport, no mask is required. However, it is advisable to mandate masks while performing a sport. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) announced the mandate of masks while playing volleyball, a high-risk sport. While it was not a mandate of masks in all high-risk sports, it was a step in the right direction from the Association to keep everyone as safe as possible. In addition, according to NYS, the District will lose over a million dollars or a nearly 4% depreciation in total aid for the 2021-2022 school year. VSCHSD is within the top 10 school districts in Long Island that will suffer from losses to state aid, yet the district is still prioritizing sports programs even with the knowledge of the imminent future. Guide: Link here to Newsday [ 50 LI school districts would lose state aid under Cuomo's proposal | Newsday ] While high-risk sports will occur no matter the potential risk or cost, performance-based extracurriculars, and other music programs are still not allowed to take place. Currently, at Valley Stream North (VSN), Orchestra is the only music class where students are permitted to play instruments in person which started in September; everyone must be separated by six feet and masked, based on state guidelines. Chorus and Band, on the other hand, are only permitted if 12 feet of distancing between instrumentalists or vocalists is available; however, Mr. Holly and Mr. Morris’s band classes are playing with special masks at 12 feet apart, which just started on Tuesday, February 9th. Furthermore, performance-based extracurriculars are also not allowed to be held in the school district, regardless if proper distancing can be achieved. Music groups at VSN such as Breakfast Club, advised by Ms. Rebecca Hayden, 7:10 Downbeats, advised by Mr. Adam Thorn, Jazz Band, advised by Mr. Todd Holly, and Theatre Productions, directed by Mr. Joseph Moniaci, were all halted due to the pandemic. However, the commencement of high-risk sports raises the question if it is necessary to prevent these groups from performing. The only planned music performance for the entire school year is the Virtual District Music Festival (VDMF). It will consist of two pieces of music chosen by the respective conductors in the Orchestra, Chorus, and Band. Students involved will record themselves playing each piece individually and will send it to be incorporated in an integrated video. While many are grateful to have even one performance this year, although virtual, the music department will not hold its two regularly scheduled student concerts in the Winter and the Spring. If contact sports such as football and wrestling can occur, why can’t extracurricular performance groups perform in person when social distancing can easily be achieved? Furthermore, Dr. David Brown, President of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), has addressed the hypocrisy of choosing to allow sports but not music in an impassioned letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo. Guide: Link here to letter [ https://www.nyssma.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Letter-to-Governor-in-regard-to-Atheltics-and-12-Feet-for-Music.pdf ]. The double standard of prioritizing high-risk sporting events and sports in general, which debatably put students at a greater risk of contracting the virus, displays the misinterpreted message of “safety” that districts are attempting to exemplify. As we are approaching the one-year mark of the pandemic, many students feel desperate to go back to “normal.” On January 25th, the District sent an email to parents surveying the interest in hybrid students to go into school five days a week. To some capacity, this would combine cohorts A and B leading to larger class sizes. However, proceeding with this plan only contributes to the double-standard, especially when extracurricular performance groups cannot meet even when social distancing can be attained. Once again, this option raises safety concerns for students especially when some students and faculty members have failed to properly wear masks in certain instances. Because this is the case, musical groups objectively pose a smaller risk because they require no person-to-person contact and as in Orchestra groups, will mandate masks. When high-risk contact sports are allowed to practice and play games, and students will soon be ushered back into the building, what is to stop musicians from performing together in-person? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Winners and Losers – An Overview of Double Elimination Brackets By Garrick Neuner Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Wikipedia The single elimination bracket pairs opponents by predetermined seed in a cutthroat competition, where one loss brings the end of a competitor or team’s run. The NCAA March Madness tournament demonstrates the volatility of the system year after year, often losing some of its most highly ranked teams early on due to a single loss. Despite its flaws, the system is simple and understandable, helping cement March Madness as a household name to sports fans across the nation. Double elimination, though, requires a thorough explanation to detail its nuances. As the name suggests, a double elimination bracket ejects competitors after two losses, not one. At the onset of a traditional double elimination tournament, all competitors are seeded into the “winners' bracket,” much like in March Madness. The winners of each match move on to face the winner of a different match, repeating the process until the contest’s finals. Following a competitor’s first loss though, they are sent to the purgatory unique to double elimination: the “losers' bracket.” In this bracket, competitors play matches in a field that grows with the passing of each round as more players fall out of the winners’ bracket. Thus, to keep the size of the losers’ bracket stable, more matches are played. Losing your first match early is not a death sentence, but a grueling challenge. Competitors who succeed in the slog of losers' bracket are said to have a great “loser’s run,” commending their extra effort for staying in the tourney. The pattern of a shrinking winners’ and slowly dwindling losers continues until the apex of the tournament: the finals matches. While March Madness has a rapid one-game determination of a winner, a double elimination bracket has three matches to declare a champion. The first of these is “winner’s finals,” wherein the remaining two perfect players battle for a spot in the grand finals. The winner of that match enters grand finals undefeated on the “winners' side,” while the loser is sent to “loser’s finals.” This match pairs the latest loser with the last competitor battling through the loser's bracket. The loser of this game is eliminated at 3rd place, while the victor enters grand finals on the “loser’s side”. Now for the final twist. Remember how a competitor must be eliminated twice to exit the tournament? This law still holds true in the grand finals. For the combatant on the loser's side, this means beating the undefeated player in the tournament twice ! That player can “reset the bracket” by defeating the winner’s side champion, thus setting both players to one loss in the tournament. At this point the second grand finals match determines the first-place finisher. If the winner remains undefeated through match one of the grand finals, though, they win the tournament with a perfect record. Through all this explanation, you may ask, why bother? Why use such a complicated system when single elimination is so much easier to understand? You see, the kinds of games that hold double elimination tournaments rely on at least one of two key factors of their brackets: more matches and more drama. One major group of double elimination brackets is children’s sports leagues such as the Little League. For players so young, the experience of playing more matches and continuing on after a loss provides valuable experience, strengthening skills and having more fun on the field. The other major group, my personal favorite, are fighting game competitions. In these convention-style events, hundreds of competitors meet and pay considerable cash to battle for glory. For the brand new to average players, double elimination gives more tournament experience for their dollar, once again providing invaluable teachings. For spectators, though, the double elimination bracket provides drama . Watching your favorite player lose a heartbreaking set early on, only to climb their way to grand finals is a sensation unparalleled by single elimination. The mythos of the winner’s bracket puts palpable pressure onto the best of the best, urging them to win or be sent to a much more difficult loser’s run. The grand finals most importantly supports a built-in underdog story, making the conclusion of every tournament a heart-racing brawl. In these settings, the confusion of the bracket is outweighed by aspects of the sports themselves, breathing a new life into these already fascinating games. Click to view the table summary here Winners’ Bracket - for undefeated players, similar to a single elimination bracket Losers’ Bracket - for players who have lost a game in winners and are on the brink of exiting the tournament. Winners’ Finals - the last match in the winner’s bracket, with the winner exiting on “winner’s side.” Loser’s Finals - the match following winner’s finals, pitting the loser of that match against the champion of the loser’s bracket. The winner is sent to grands on the “loser’s side” Grand Finals - the last match(es) of a double elimination bracket Bracket Reset - when the loser’s side competitor defeats the winner’s side entrant in match one of grand finals, triggering a second and final match where both competitors each have one loss. 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 Precious Memories Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 High school life, what a ride, As a junior, with dreams so wide. Books and tests, and late-night cram, Sometimes, it feels like a big exam.   Lockers jammed with secrets and chatter, Every day, something new to matter. Prom on the horizon, we're almost there, Hoping for a date, and the perfect hair.   Teachers, some strict, some really cool, In this high school world, we're no fool. Homework piling up, stress on the rise, But with friends by our side, we'll reach the skies.   Lunchtime gossip, and cafeteria food, Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's crude. Navigating cliques, and teenage drama, As a junior, life's like a never-ending saga.   But as we grow, we learn and find our way, With each passing moment, we seize the day. Junior year, it's a journey we'll survive, For in these high school memories, we'll thrive. BACK TO TOP