Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Pi — It’s Waaaay More Than You Think! By Elyas Layachi Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by New Atlas Introduction March 14th of every year is the date all mathematicians and math-lovers yearn for: Pi Day. Its name comes from the number its date creates: 3.14, the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi. It’s an endless number, and while we use pi in our math classes, do we really know what the number is, its origin, and its uses in the real world? After reading this article, you will know everything there is to love about pi, in addition to a few fun facts! Brief History of Pi British mathematician William Jones is responsible for giving the value pi a Greek symbol, but the actual number comes from centuries of secular thought and experimentation. According to exploratorium.edu, the number has been around for almost 4000 years, with the ancient Babylonians (1900 – 1680 BC) being the first to try to find pi’s value. They calculate the area of a circle by taking three times the square of its radius, which gave pi a value of 3, but they approximated it to 3.125. In the same period, the ancient Egyptians found the area of a circle using a formula and produced 3.1605 for their pi value. However, it wasn’t until Archimedes of Syracuse that pi was accurately calculated. He was one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world, and, simply put, he used the Pythagorean Theorem (a^2 + b^2 = c^2) to find the area of a circle and the value of pi. Although he did not find the exact value of pi, he knew he was close, and produced a value between 3 and 1/7th and 3 and 10/71. Today, Syracuse is known as the creator of pi. Pi Uses Today What an interesting history! It’s crazy to think that it took the world’s most renowned mathematicians and minds, along with centuries of thought, to produce merely an approximation of the real value of pi. You may ask, what’s the importance of all this? I’m never going to need pi in my life, so why is it such an important number? Well, depending on what profession you’re thinking of pursuing, you will most likely need pi. Astronomers need pi for estimating the sizes of planets, architects and construction workers need pi to design buildings, pi was used to calculate the size of your car wheels, and even plumbers need pi form piping and tubing! Furthermore, sports manufacturers need pi to determine the amount of material needed to make a basketball or soccer ball. Anything that involves circles, cones, spheres, and cylinders needs pi. Fun Facts about Pi Pi is the most recognized mathematical constant in the world, with scholars considering it “the most important and intriguing number in all of mathematics.”1 Since the exact value of pi can never be calculated, we can never find the accurate area or circumference of a circle.2 Since pi is an irrational value, computers have been used to calculate it to more than 22 trillion digits!3 Conclusion I hope you guys learned something new about pi! I sure did, just from doing research for this article! So the next time you see pi on a math test or in class, take a second to appreciate the value of the number, the centuries it took for its value to be discovered, and its many uses in society. Happy Pi Day! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Creating a Kinder World Through Art By Alena Moreira Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Original artwork by Alena Moreira This is the goal of the Memory Project, a nonprofit organization with the simple purpose of promoting intercultural insight and kindness between children of different social backgrounds around the world through art. Their main program, sharing the same name as the organization, involves the creation of photographic or realistic portraits of children involved in the program. These children are often in orphanages, refugee camps, or similar situations, so the Memory Projects seeks to gift the children a little keepsake – a little memory – to give them something beautiful and personal to hold onto despite the difficulties they face in their lives. One could argue that the money and effort put into making these portraits would be better spent on living necessities, such as food and water, rather than marks on paper, and they might be right. However, we cannot underestimate the power of a simple act of kindness, even something as small as a drawing made with the happiness of only one person in mind. The process of making a memory project portrait is simple and straightforward. Teachers who reach out to The Memory Project organization are shown the children and countries that are involved and can choose a group based on if its timeframe works well with the teacher’s and their students’ schedules. Once a country is chosen, The Memory Project emails (postal mail, before covid) individual photos of the children, which include their name, age, and favorite color. Students then choose one (or more) of the children to make a portrait of. These portraits are all 2D media, including pencil, pastel, and even painting, and must be on 9”x12” paper or unstretched canvas. When finished, the art students write the child’s ID code and name, attach a photo of themselves and write their name with little message to the back of their drawing, along with an outline of their hand to symbolically touch the hand of the child who receives the portrait. These portraits are then sent off with a requested $15 per portrait; however, classes who cannot afford this contribution are still accommodated so they can participate, as the organization’s goal is to include as many artists as possible despite the financial struggles they may face. Started in 2004, The Memory Project portraits are a high level or advanced project, meaning the students who participate must be talented enough to make highly realistic portraits. While art is accepting to people of all styles and abilities, the reality of the program is that the children involved wouldn’t like to receive a beginner-level drawing of themselves or an abstract interpretation of what they look like while their friend receives a photorealistic and expertly drawn portrait. However, The Memory Project offers another program for artists K-12 and of all artistic levels. Called the Art Exchange, this peacebuilding program involves a one-to-one exchange between American students and kids from culturally different countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Nigeria. Check out our North Star Gallery (the Artwork tab at the top of the page) to see past and current submissions to the Memory Project. North’s Art Honor Society has sent portraits to Malaysia and Venezuela, and is currently sending portraits to kids in Cameroon, a country in Central and West Africa. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections DeBlame is on De Blasio By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by AP News, background image by Craig Papajohn-Shaw Taking office in 2014, self-proclaimed progressive Bill de Blasio (D) entered the mayorship of New York City with the hope of further building on the success of his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg (I). De Blasio, now 59, has completely let the city run rampant. His family values and unprecedented progressive agenda at that time, were all he required to be elected as, debatably, the most powerful mayor in the United States. De Blasio’s directionless agenda is clear in the sanitation as well as the homeless problem in the city. While some may want to believe that his progressive agenda of universal Pre-K, extended paid sick leave, and overseeing the 15-dollar minimum wage hike was a step in the right direction, his insincere, arrogant, behaviors and decisions should not be present in a leader. De Blasio’s low approval ratings, hovering around the 40 percent range, can be attributed to the severity of the homelessness problem as well the sanitation of the city. In 2018, a report released by BusyBee, which combines data from the Environmental Protection Agency, displayed infographics that indicates New York City leads other cities in its “dirtiest index” of 427.9. While this is horrendous in itself, it should be noted that the mayor has also done the bare minimum to fix the rising homeless problem. With over 40,000 New Yorkers living on the street, one would think the mayor would put many of his efforts into mending this issue. This is not to mention there is an all-time high of 20,210 single adults sleeping in shelters. It was back in December of 2019 when De Blasio made a promise saying, “We will help every last person experiencing long-term homelessness off our streets and we will do more than we ever thought possible to bring them home.” He said he would do this by implementing a six-point plan that would marshal critical resources. Since then, the homelessness rate has risen, and while this spike can be partially attributed to the pandemic, the mayor has not solidified further plans or proposed new legislation to help the homeless. Altogether, the response to COVID-19 was mediocre from the mayor. To start off, on March 16 he would attend his Brooklyn gym, even though he can exercise at a local gym in Manhattan instead of traveling over 15 miles each way. It is worth recalling that on this day closures around the nation, including New York City, were beginning to be implemented, with Governor Cuomo expected to close gyms and movie theaters that day. A spokesperson for the mayor stated on the 16th, “The mayor wanted to visit a place that keeps him grounded one last time.” The selfishness of his personal schedule displayed his limited priority for the global pandemic. Furthermore, de Blasio’s attention-seeking attempt at a run for President, where his highest poll ratings in the primaries hit barely one percent, was a distraction from the issues citizens in his own city were facing. Some of de Blasio’s most infamous public embarrassments include the multiple occasions during which he clashes with politicians in his own party such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (NY-14), Representative Max Rose (NY-11), and especially with New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo (D). The strained relationship between him and the governor is prolonged and counterproductive. Throughout the pandemic, there were debacles between himself and the governor, such as when De Blasio announced on April 11th that the New York City public school system would continue distance learning for the remainder of the year. Cuomo quickly opposed this statement, stating, “You can’t make a decision just within New York City without coordinating that decision with the whole metropolitan region, because it all works together.” This is just one instance of many during his six-year tenure in office that the mayor has had issues with the governor. His unwillingness to compromise and follow the chain of command demonstrates his incompetence as a leader, or what many view as petty politics between two politicians that negatively affects so many New Yorkers. With only a year left in office, the race for his seat is in contention with approximately 17 people pledging to run. With COVID cases in New York City once again on the rise, the mayor needs to work cooperatively with politicians, especially those in his own party, in order to help his citizens get through this crisis rather than focusing on his cherished political publicity stunts and power plays with Governor Cuomo. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Chalk Pastel Peppers Back to Sections Chalk Pastel Peppers- Ava Sloane Ava Sloane November 6, 2023 Chalk Pastel Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Sophomore English Class: 2A, or Not 2A, That is the Question Noa Cordova Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Vecteezy Scheduling season is upon us, and recently we’ve been tasked with picking our classes for the upcoming year. For those who know which classes they’d like to take, the process is a breeze. For others, it may be a difficult decision. I remember the winter of my freshman year when the guidance counselors presented us with our options for our sophomore English classes. For students in English 1A, our options were English 2A or AP Capstone Seminar. Based on the explanation provided, English 2A would essentially be a continuation of English 1A, and AP Capstone Seminar would be a research-based class. Needless to say, both of these courses offer much more, but these were the main ideas I kept in mind to help guide my decision, and I ultimately chose English 2A. In hopes that our sophomore readers will find it useful, I’ve outlined factors I’d consider as a freshman who is undecided about their choice of English class for 10th grade. Coursework As indicated by the name of the course, AP Capstone Seminar is an Advanced Placement course, so it entails a faster-paced course and heavier coursework than a traditional English course. The coursework you can manage is for you to decide, and counselors and parents can provide additional guidance. Apart from the amount of coursework, the kind of coursework is essential to consider when choosing between AP Capstone and English 2A. AP Capstone is research intensive; there are group and individual research projects and presentations as a part of the course. If you’re someone who enjoys researching collectively and independently, a research-based course like AP Capstone may be for you. Personally, I felt research projects would add stress to my sophomore year, and I knew there would be plenty of presentation and research opportunities throughout my school career, so I didn't feel the course would enhance my high school experience. English 2A resembles your typical English class with both fiction and non-fiction literature analysis with an emphasis on writing and grammar skills; if a traditional English class seems fitting, and if you love fiction, English 2A may be a better choice. Remember, you need to choose the class that will work the best for you and enrich your high school experience the most. Structure As a traditional English course, English 2A follows an organized, set curriculum suitable for those who prefer a more structured learning environment. AP Capstone, as a research-based class, allows for more freedom in terms of coursework. Based on experiences my classmates and sophomore sister shared with me, it seems that the independence the course offered made it appealing to them. Whether you prefer a little more structure or more freedom is for you to decide. Opportunities for creative and academic freedom are abundant here at North, and you may choose to take advantage of them through other classes as well besides AP Capstone. English electives are a great way to balance structure and freedom if you’re leaning toward English 2A rather than AP Capstone. Exams The structure of the English 2A course does come with its benefits in terms of future exams, including standardized tests, the Regents Exam, and AP exams. English 2A is a more grammar-intensive course, meaning that teachers will spend more time on grammatical aspects often assessed on the SAT and ACT, including punctuation, clauses, redundancies, and prepositions. Although many colleges and universities have become test-optional for admission, you may still opt to take one of these standardized tests and find the knowledge from English 2A helpful in the verbal section. While not everyone chooses to take the SAT or ACT, high schoolers must take the English Regents in their junior year of high school. English 2A definitely prepares you for these exams, as the course incorporates Regents prep into the curriculum. Although AP Capstone focuses on argumentation skills in writing, the argument essay is only one of three tasks required of students on the Regents exam. English 2A not only focuses on argumentation skills through writing but also text analysis and reading comprehension skills-the other two tasks tested on the regents. Naturally, your junior year English teachers will review these skills before the regents, but I found the prior knowledge useful as a junior who took the January Regents exam. Future English Classes Fast forward to the winter of your sophomore year, and assume you chose AP Language and Composition for your junior year English class in anticipation of taking AP English Literature your senior year; a majority of students who take either English 2A or AP Capstone decide to continue their English studies with AP Lang and AP Lit. AP Lang concerns itself with non-fiction texts more familiar to AP Capstone students in terms of genre; however, much of AP Lang focuses on rhetorical analysis which is more prominent in the English 2A curriculum. As a current junior in Mrs. Brodsky’s AP Lang class, I can't count the times she’s started her sentences with “if you had me in 10A” when discussing something grammar-related. In my opinion, this emphasizes that English 2A provides a strong foundation for students going into AP Lang. As for AP Lit, I can't speak from experience as I have not taken it yet, but classic literature is at the heart of the course. Students who chose English 2A would likely be more familiar with AP Lit texts as we were exposed to works like To Kill a Mockingbird , Othello , and Of Mice and Men . Although AP Lit texts are new for most students, AP Capstone students may find the genre more foreign unless they are avid fiction readers outside of school. I found the English 2A coursework enriching as it had a diverse curriculum that incorporated various aspects of English education into one course. One course is not necessarily superior to the other; it is a matter of individual needs and preferences. Guidance counselors, parents, and teachers can serve as trust-worthy consultants when making your choice, but ultimately you are in control. Talking to upperclassmen about their experiences in AP Capstone and English 2A may also help you get a better sense of which one is for you. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Here Comes the Street By Nora Chery Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Adobe Here comes the street The street that never lies Beneath the simmering crimson sun. Beyond the street The street turns to grass Beneath the time where words and paper never Shackle us. Then comes the grass The grass that never dies Under our tired feet. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Israel-Hamas War: Choose Peace, Not Sides Editorial Staff Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by OnOurSleeves.org As of early October, the conflict referred to as the “Israeli-Palestinian War” has shaken the Middle East and devasted Muslim and Jewish communities globally. Arguably, the conflict would most appropriately be referred to as the “Israel-Hamas War,” as it is not a war between the two countries; it is a war between Israel and a terrorist group based in Palestine. Although October 7th, 2023, marked the start of the recent Israel-Hamas War, the root of this conflict can be traced back decades. According to the Center for Preventive Action, in 1947, the United Nations implemented the Partition Plan, dividing Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. The plan heightened tensions between Arab groups that opposed the plan and Jewish groups. When Israel declared independence in 1948, it resulted in the Arab Israeli war which ended in Israel’s victory. As a result, the region was divided into the State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes. According to U.S. News, following Israel’s attacks on Egyptian and Syrian forces in 1967 was a Six-Day war that resulted in Israel gaining control over Gaza, the West Bank, and the Sinai Peninsula. Between 1987 and 2000, there were two Palestinian uprisings against the Israeli government, referred to as Intifadas according to U.S. News. In 2006, Hamas rose to power after an electoral victory against Fatah, the previous political party. So, the question is: what is Hamas, and how did it rise to power? Hamas was founded in 1987 and is considered a terrorist organization because of its persistent violence against Israel. The organization was founded as an Islamic resistance organization to conquer Israel and establish an Islamic homeland in its place. According to the Center of Preventive Action, this organization has been governing Gaza after winning elections against Fatah and forming a government. It is important to note that Hamas’s rise to power can be attributed to the political instability of the Palestinian government. Many supporters of the organization felt that Fatah was corrupt, and they needed new leadership; Hamas was promising to the younger population that made up the voting majority. Hamas’s rise to power can be compared to that of other leaders in politically unstable countries; it is ultimately an example of history repeating itself. Moving on to the present, a lack of understanding of the situation has caused many to view the conflict as one in which it is appropriate to “pick a side,” usually resulting in unnecessary tensions between Jewish and Muslim communities, and angry online and social media rhetoric and traffic. Even here in the US, there have been protests at schools and universities, business boycotts, and endless social media posts over people and groups being “Pro-Israel” or “Pro-Palestine.” Ironically, some of these protests have resulted in violence when that’s what people should protest against instead of favoring the individual countries’ plights. Understandably, those siding with Palestine feel that the Palestinians have been the most devasted by the conflict as they have suffered a grossly higher casualty rate than the Israelis. We can all agree that it is heartbreaking to hear about the innocent civilian lives lost in Palestine as a result of the conflict; however, the Israeli forces are not entirely to blame. Hamas has positioned itself behind Palestinian civilians, using them as a shield from Israeli forces. Unlike Hamas, the Israeli forces are not looking to cause harm to civilians, but they unfortunately have encountered them while trying to confront their target. Hospitals serve as an example of this, as Israeli forces have raided them throughout the war because of the belief that Hamas was using them as a war base. Apart from the high casualty rates, the issue of hostages has been prevalent during the conflict. In efforts to rescue Israeli hostages, Israeli forces agreed to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages. It is uncertain that they will negotiate another deal as Hamas recently announced that there will be no more hostage releases until the end of the war. To have to bargain for human life is beyond horrific, but it goes to show that the conflict has little to do with Israeli and Palestinian civilians; it is about power, and the devastation Hamas is willing to cause to get it. Not only has the war caused catastrophic conditions for Palestinians and Israelis, but it has also impacted foreigners who unfortunately got caught up in the conflict. The notion that one of these groups was living peacefully before being attacked by the other is simply inaccurate. If we are looking to support a more accurate notion, we can acknowledge that both Israeli and Palestinian civilians had their lives significantly disrupted by brutal Hamas attacks. If you are someone without religious or familial ties to the situation, your perspective of the war may be limited to religious division and geographical conflicts, or what you have read in social media posts. We need to shift our perspective and think about the individuals grouped under the titles we hear repeatedly in the media. There are men, women, and children that make up the Muslim, Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian communities; they cannot simply be deemed enemies because of a war they did not start. Often overlooked are the attempts at peace and cooperation among the groups. For example, Jewish people living in kibbutzim, have taken in refugees, and provided medical attention for those impacted by the war. The Nova Music Festival held on the Jewish holiday Sukkot this fall, which brought a diverse crowd together to celebrate unity and love in southern Israel, is another example. Tragically, the event intended to bring people together but ended in a massacre of civilians by Hamas. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones and the hostages, including Americans, who have not been able to return home. It would be unrealistic to expect everyone to support the United States’s position on the matter, but it is important to recognize that Israel is a US ally, so it is our country’s duty to aid them in their time of need. Some argue that the United States’s decision to aid Israel implies that they are against the people of Palestine, but it is important to not lose perspective when assessing the situation. The war has devastated both countries, but it is not between the countries. As Americans, we should be in support of both countries and against the terrorist group Hamas. The United States is a part of the United Nations, meaning that our country stands for the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR recognizes dignity, freedom, and peace as its core values, so as Americans, we should remember what we stand for as a country when assessing this conflict impacting millions globally. The details of this conflict greatly surpass the content of this article, so I would encourage you to inform yourself. Inform yourself to understand what the Israeli and Palestinian people are facing. We must remember that before countries and religious differences, we should support humanity. Let us choose peace, not sides. Sources: Why does Israel target Palestinian hospitals? Psyops, say analysts | Israel-Palestine conflict | Al Jazeera A Timeline of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict | Best Countries | U.S. News ( usnews.com ) December 20, 2023, Israel-Hamas war ( cnn.com ) What Is Hamas? | Council on Foreign Relations ( cfr.org ) Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | Global Conflict Tracker ( cfr.org ) U.S. Ready to Back U.N. Resolution to Allow More Aid Into Gaza - The New York Times ( nytimes.com ) Israel Gaza: Hamas says no more hostage releases until war ends ( bbc.com ) Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Lessons Learned in the Pool By Angelina Somma Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by the Long Island Aquatic Club Upon entering the Long Island Aquatic Club Freedom pool, your eyes are immediately drawn to the patriotic-colored banners hanging from the ceiling.  The words GRIT, FRIENDSHIP, and COMPETITIVE GREATNESS printed in bold letters across these banners describe the three greatest lessons I have learned from competitive swimming. The quality of one’s swim practice is determined by yardage and speed. The accepted notion is that yardage and speed equate to strength and ultimately success. I spend fourteen and half hours each week in the pool.  During each practice, I swim seven to eight thousand yards at a considerable speed.  After a week of this training, my arms and legs ache, my mind and body crave sleep.  I often find myself questioning whether I can complete another week of training.  However, I continue training in the pursuit of a successful swim meet.  At certain meets I race my best, and in others I don’t.  When falling short of my best, I question why I train.  In those moments the words “grit,” “friendship,” and “competitive greatness” become a source of great encouragement.  I have learned to confront the challenge, to surround myself with friends for support, and to rise to the occasion. The swim community to which I belong has shaped the person I am today in many ways. Many view athletics as just a method of staying in shape or a hobby. However, each sport provides athletes with a unique community: a community to learn from and to rely on. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Purpose Back to Sections Unknown Study By Elizabeth Andre November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2