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Back to Artwork Pop Art Back to Sections Sophia Song - Pop Art Sophia Song January 14, 2022 Acrylic Volume 2 Issue 3

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Human Trafficking By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original artwork by Elaine Ching When asked about human trafficking, most people just know that it is a bad thing – that it is just “another dark thing that happens in the world.” However, most people do not know the full extent of it. Merriam Webster defines human trafficking as “organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor).” However, human trafficking is much more than a simple definition. Human traffickers are not picky when it comes to finding victims. Victims of human trafficking range from any age, including children. Any person, regardless of race or gender, can become a victim of human trafficking. A human trafficking victim can be from any country or social class. Anyone can be human trafficked. Human traffickers have many manipulation tactics that can be used in order to find their next victim. Traffickers have more tactics that just “snatching up people,” although that may be one of their strategies. They could use violence as a threat or promise relationships and friendships in order to lure lonely, vulnerable people in. They may also offer money or well-paying employment opportunities to those in need of financial help. In addition, human traffickers have many ways to keep their victims within the trafficking system. While fear is a tactic, the way that traffickers evoke these emotions is important. They could use physical and sexual punishment or manipulate law enforcement into an image of an enemy. Victims will not approach people in public out of the fear that has been instilled within them. You might be thinking, “What happens to these victims?” Well, what victims are forced to do and the effect of human trafficking on their health varies. While sex trafficking, the act of victims being non-consensually and sexually exploited, does exist, there are other forms of human trafficking, one of those being forced labor. Victims can be exploited in almost any way that relates to labor. This can range from restaurants, hotels, agriculture, factories, sweatshops, and illegitimate labor industries. The trafficking can also cause victims negative effects on their mental health. Symptoms can range from post-traumatic stress disorder, guilt, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and using drugs and alcohol to cope. The effects are not easy to undo. The common signs of human trafficking may not always indicate the issue. Sometimes the symptoms may be unrelated, such as signs of mental illness or domestic abuse. However, signs of human trafficking can also differ from the norm, ranging from school absences, a dramatic change of behavior, or no control self-control, such as freedom of speech. If you notice any of these signs or are suspicious of any human trafficking, the national hotline is: 1-(888) 373-7888. If you witness human trafficking, do not confront the victim or the suspected human trafficker, let the professionals handle it. Signs should be reported as you could possibly save a person’s life or prevent significant trauma. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections A Compliment to Lichtenstein By Kimberly Shrestha November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections XC Meet at Van Cortlandt Manal Layachi Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Cross Country Coach Varsity cross country boys at the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park. Left to right: North Star writer Andrew Lavoie, Charles Wu, Matteo Somma, Kevin Beltran, Frank Polizzi, Mateusz Grabowski, Chamar Borden. Members of the Varsity Boys Cross Country team competed at one of the largest cross country meets in the nation. 42 races took place on Saturday, October 14th, 2023. Seniors Kevin Beltran and Charles Wu, Junior Matteo Somma, freshman Chamar Borden and Frank Polizzi, and eighth grader Andrew Lavoie participated in this event. It was a cold and rainy day, but they raced well. The Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational (MCXCI) was founded in 1973 by legendary Bishop Loughlin High School coach and former Manhattan College distance runner, Ed Bowes. His vision was to provide a first-class cross-country experience on the nationally acclaimed Van Cortlandt Park course for scholastic runners of all abilities. I interviewed them and their coach Boyens: Andrew Lavoie: How did it feel to race at this prestigious meet as an 8th grader? It felt good to have this opportunity at a young age and I hope I will be able to do it again. 2. What do you love about running? If you could do another sport, what would it be? I love the competitiveness of running and striving to get better. If I could do another sport, it would be basketball because I have worked very hard in practice. Frank Polizzi: Did you get a faster time at this meet? If so, by how many minutes or seconds? I didn’t get a better time this race, but I’m still happy with how I ran because it was a hard course and was my first big cross-country meet. 2. If you learned anything from this racing experience, what was it? During this race I learned how many other schools and people that we normally do not race run. I also learned how to run better on different surfaces. Charles Wu: What was your racing experience at the meet? The Manhattan invitational was the hardest racing experience I ever had. Though I did not mind the rain, as I ran in worse conditions, the hills made it to where it was a difficult race to run. Being that it was my first time, I spent too much energy on the first half of the hills. Although it was only uphill for the first half of the race, I wanted that section to end much sooner, always thinking that it was about to end. Initially, I anticipated the steep downhills were going to be a much easier part of the race. However, running the down hills in the rain also proved to be a different, albeit less difficult, challenge than the up hills, as it was now finding a way to run hard without losing control. Despite the challenges this course presented, I am glad that I decided to run in the meet. My favorite part of the race experience was when there were geese in the middle of the course, and they decided not to move, leading to initial chaos. 2. Do you plan to run in college? If so, where? Currently, I do not have plans to run on a team or club during college, but I have not ruled out that idea either. I will have more of an idea on whether to run during college based on my performance come the winter and spring track seasons. If I do decide to run for a college team or club, it will more likely be for winter and spring track than cross country. 3. Can you describe what the environment of the meet was like? Due to the rain, the ground was much softer than I preferred. There were points in the race where I felt like I was going to slip and fall, especially since this is my first time running in the Van Cortlandt Park course. The steep up hills, as mentioned prior, were the hardest part of the course. However, I felt as if the steep up hills did not get impacted by the rain as much, unlike the downhills. The steep downhills were made harder, as the ground was wet, making it harder to keep control when running down them. Although it was cold throughout the race, it did not impact my race as much as the rain had on the downhills. The different environment of the Van Cortlandt course, compared to other courses I have ran like in Eisenhower Park and Bethpage State Park, proved to be a challenge especially in the rain, but it was nothing I could not have handled. Matteo Somma: 1.  What is your goal for this cross-country season? While I am so pleased with everything, I have accomplished this cross-country season it is only right to strive for more each race. With the championship season approaching around the corner, I hope to place in the top 10 at the Section 8 Cross Country Championships at Bethpage State Park.  Following this next weekend, I hope to qualify for Cross Country State Championships at the State Qualifier meet. More than anything I hope to race my own race and focus on myself, so I am able to put my body to the absolute extreme. I would also like to wish everyone else racing for VSN in Counties good luck. We will be hoping to place amongst the top teams and come home with some hardware! 2.  Did you enjoy racing at this meet? Did it feel like a college race? This past weekend racing at the Manhattan Invitational was truly an amazing experience. From the professional athletes to the thousands of competitors there, it was awesome.  Even though it was pouring out and a very tough course I had a lot of fun and would definitely race it again.  I did not have the best performance (or the one I was hoping for) but that is what is so great about this sport, the ability to try again the next week and get better each time. The race was really well put on and it was so cool racing kids from all over the United States! Kevin Beltran: What did you place in the race? I was able to get 9th place this year at the meet, not a great finish but I am very proud of how we did as a team this year. 2. Do you love running? Why did you choose this sport? Yes, I absolutely do! I chose this sport as it is a sport where you can hold yourself accountable for what results you get. You cannot blame anyone else but yourself. Additionally running is a very liberating sport. Feeling the breeze of the wind rush through your face as you run and being able to move at high speeds is an exhilarating experience that I would never trade for anything in this world. 3. Do you plan to run in college? If so, where? Yes, I do! I plan to run at one of the United States Service Academies those being the United States Military Academy (West Point) or the United States Naval Academy. Time will tell for what school I will be running for so be on the lookout! Mateusz Grabowski: How were the running conditions at the meet and how do you think you performed? The Physical running conditions were tough, and separated those who were “there for to be there” VS. those who wanted it, BAD. It was pouring rain, there were strong gusts of wind, and freezing temperatures with no sun out at all. The course itself was muddy to where I slipped a few times, very narrow to where only a few people can fit shoulder-to-shoulder, and it was STEEP. 250+ feet of elevation to scale and conquer made this race the hardest course I have run through in my life. Despite this, the environment of people (especially my teammates) I was surrounded by was pleasant, people were never complaining about the conditions or racing, and this just put me in the zone to run a great race. I think when I ran that race in 15:36 I showed the school that I run cross country because I want to RACE. I have come a long way from running a 18:40 at the easiest 4k course in Nassau County last year to running a ~15:30 at arguably one of the countries’ hardest courses. I think the work I put in this last year and over the summer shined through this race, and I set myself apart from other kids in the county and on my team. All-in-all I think I performed great, and this is one of my best races yet but much more is soon to come. 2. Why did you choose running as your sport? What meaning does it have to you? I chose running as a sport because I believe that running is all about discipline. You don’t need to be tall, or short, or strong or weak. You don’t need to know how to do specific skills or accessory moves in order to be successful. The only thing you need to know how to do is to; get your butt outside and 1.) run every day and 2.) Race like you’re on fire. I wanted to see how I can perform in a discipline-based sport and if I can create a mind-to-body connection in order to push past the limits of my genetics and break some barriers in terms of literally; how fast my legs can move. To me, running is a sign of commitment. If you can get out there every single day, and run, then you are proving you can push yourself and that you want to succeed in your sport and for your team. To me running also signifies not falling victim to your genetics. A slow runner who runs every day will end up faster than the person who is born fast and does not run. XC is a mental sport, and if you can commit yourself, you can become stronger than you ever were before. Chamar Borden: How did it feel to race at this big meet as a freshman? How did you feel after your race? It definitely felt both exciting and nerve racking for me personally. This was my first time going to a meet this big, so one could imagine how much was going through my mind while waiting for my race to start. After I finished my race, me and most of my teammates felt sluggish, since unfortunately it was raining at the time, and we had to run up these very steep, unfun hills. Overall, it was a new, challenging, and unique experience for me. 2. What is your favorite running season? Personally, my favorite running season is Cross Country. I love Cross Country because it is a sport that many people tend to overlook and not realize how hard it is to commit to. It also offers many challenges, due to the rough landscapes that runners must run on, as well as the training that comes behind it. This, and many other unmentioned elements, is what I find interesting and fun about Cross Country. Tim Boyens (VSN Cross Country Coach): How do you think the boys did? I thought we did very well considering the weather and the level of competition.   2. Do you think they are ready for the County Championships? They are getting there.  They have been running 50 miles or more a week for many weeks now.  They are strong.  Now we must work on speed and cerebral fortitude. 3. What do you love most about coaching cross country? To me it is a great test of the kind of person you are.  The most successful cross-country runners are the ones that put in the work, battle through pain and injury and have the mental toughness to go places mentally and physically they didn’t think they could.   4. Do you have any life lessons and tips for runners? Just like in life, when you are concerned less about yourself and more about others/teammates there is no limit to what you can achieve as a person or a runner. I enjoyed interviewing my talented teammates and my coach! Upcoming news about the cross-country team: They will be competing in the County Championships on Saturday, October 28th, at Bethpage State Park. They have been working really hard, so please come out to support the team and wish them luck! Go Spartans! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Girl’s Badminton Celebrates the Senior Class By Garrick Neuner and Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Original photo by Garrick Neuner North’s Girls Badminton team closed out their season with their Senior Game early last week. The team’s underclassmen paid homage to the graduating class with personalized posters for each senior, awarded in a pre-game ceremony wherein Coach Schiavo congratulated the team on their best performing season in recent years. In his parting messages, he gave flowers to the graduates, thanked them for their mentorship, and lauded the accomplishments and character of the seniors, reminding them that “the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.” The entire team got involved in the day’s competition, with all seniors in scoring matches, and underclassmen assisting with scorekeeping or playing exhibition matches. Additionally, the players wore customized t-shirts designed by Olivia Neuner, a keepsake to remind the team of their high school athleticism. Congratulations to the team! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Depop: How I Made over $200 by Cleaning my Room By Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Alixe Wiley from the Philadelphia Magazine Have you ever stumbled across a YouTube video or Tiktok listing easy ways for teens to earn some extra cash? If so, you have probably heard the vague suggestion to “sell your old junk online!” Although this may seem like an outlandish task, selling your preowned (or as the thrift community says, “preloved”) items can be a fun and useful way to spend your free time. A few years ago, a good friend of mine told me about how she sold a bunch of her old clothes on a new app called Depop, which is like a trendy Ebay for teens. I was fascinated because I didn’t think people wanted stuff from a teen’s closet, let alone wanted to pay for it. Hesitant, I downloaded the app and checked out her page; I was shocked to see that she had sold over 20 items! Impressed, yet very busy with my million after school clubs, her success sat in my mind for about 1 ½ years. Then quarantine hit. I was longing for a purpose (other than sitting on the couch, chocolate in hand, and binge-watching Parks and Rec ). That’s when I decided to redo by room, and subsequently find a new home for some of my old items. The first few weeks of running my account was intimidating. I spent hours sorting through my closet and drawers for inventory, creating listings, and designing my store. Weeks went by and I was disappointed to see only a few measly likes; I felt like giving up but figured it didn’t hurt to keep trying for a final week. A few days later, I was shocked to see that I had sold one of my extra Broadway Playbills! One of my friends surprised me, and I was so thankful she was my first customer, especially since I didn’t think my Playbills would sell. The next day, I sold another Playbill, and the next day 2 more! From there, I’ve averaged about 1-2 sales per week, leaving me with 30 total sales and over $250 in earnings. If you are interested, I would love to share a few tips that helped me reach this success. Update your listings - In the height of this venture, I was updating every listing 1-2 times a day. This was around the same time I was averaging 3 sales a week. The more often you update, the more likely you are to have your items recommended to potential buyers. Learn how to use hashtags - This is outlined on the Depop help section, but it can be confusing if you don’t know where to start. Just like on Instagram, hashtags put you in specific section pertaining to your item. Using a mix of specific and basic hashtags can get you the most exposure, since the basics will give you a range (but you will be flooded by other listings) and the specifics will fit a niche (but will have fewer hashtag followers). List EVERYTHING (Even if you think it’s weird!) - You would be surprised by the amount of seemingly stupid junk I have sold - like the Playbills I mentioned earlier. As a musical nerd, I always grab the extra playbills left on chairs when I go to shows; sometimes I give them to friends, and sometimes I put them in a drawer. The majority of my sales have been from these! I also sold a rock/gem kit that I got as a kid for $50! I’m no geologist so I don’t know if I undersold, but at the same time I don’t care since I needed the closet space. Take good pictures- This one is self-explanatory- have good lighting, make a nice background, etc. BE YOU!- A lot of buyers value personality when making a purchase. If you don’t seem excited about your items, who will be? Have fun with your descriptions and make sure to include some fun facts or tidbits (ex: I wore this dress to my junior homecoming!) Hope you enjoyed and were able to learn a bit more about online sales! And if you would like to check me out or chat with me for more tips, my Depop account is @oliviaanalee 😊 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 To Mask or Not To Mask By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Deseret News Update 03/01/2022: On Sunday, February 27th, Governor Hochul announced she would lift the mandatory mask mandate across schools in New York State; school districts can decide whether to continue the mandate. On Tuesday, March 1st, the Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education voted unanimously to opt for a mask optional plan. Acting Superintendent Loper has amended the masking policy within his " District Reopening Plan ." Starting Wednesday, March 2nd, masks will no longer be mandated for students or staff within the district; Dr. Loper noted that the decision will now rest with each family and student. -------- In his first few weeks in office, newly elected Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-NY) already found himself embroiled in a dispute with Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY). One of Blakeman's pledges during his campaign is that he would manage the pandemic with "economic, social and mental health consequences in mind." As promised, he signed an executive order removing the mask mandate in Nassau County schools and giving local school boards discretion to decide how to proceed with regard to mandating masking. Hochul threatened to remove county board members who voted to toss the mask requirement and cut funds to those districts; the Governor claims state law supersedes local county orders. Even with the threats made by the Governor, on January 20th, the Massapequa Union Free School District Board of Education voted to end the student and staff mask mandate; districts such as Island Trees followed suit. This is not the first time the Massapequa School District attempted to drop the mask mandate; back in October, the district filed a lawsuit challenging the mandate's legality. Massapequa's Board of Education Trustee Cher Lepre emphasizes, "it can't always just be Massapequa willing to take a stand." Hochul's current executive order on the New York schools mask mandate is in effect until February 1st, and then renewed it once again until February 28th; the order can continue to be renewed at the Governor's discretion as long as the courts don’t rule it to be unconstitutional. The Governor has implied that she would decide whether to renew the order close to the deadline of the current mandate, as she will have to evaluate the severity of the pandemic at that time. The Governor is up for election in 2022, and her decision to renew may be influenced by the fact that she will first have to survive the Democratic primary prior to the general election. As New York State (NYS) sees a drop in daily cases with projections showing positive cases will be even lower in NYS by mid-February, as well as an increase in people receiving their booster shot, there is even further doubt about whether the Governor will renew the order. The issue sparked further controversy when the Nassau County Supreme Court ruled Hochul's mask mandate unconstitutional. Prior to Former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) leaving office, the New York Legislature terminated his "emergency powers," which gave the authority to the Governor's office to institute a mask mandate. When Governor Hochul took office, she renewed the order of a mask mandate without having those powers granted by the legislature. At least 25 districts opted for a mask-optional policy on January 25th; this was until the Department of Health filed an appeal, at which point Appellate Judge Robert Miller issued a "stay" until he can review the matter of the case at the appellate level. In Valley Stream North's Advanced Placement (AP) Government and Politics classes, an anonymous poll was conducted questioning students: "Do you agree with Massapequa school district's decision to NOT require masks anymore for all students?" The AP Government class consists of 12th graders; 77 students responded to the polls, where 27 of the students "approved" of Massapequa's decision, with 50 "against" the district's decision. The poll results implied 65% of students across the three sections of the course feel wearing masks should be mandated in schools. While the 77 students may not be a holistic view of how all students (or staff members) feel in the building, it indicates Massapequa's decision does concern the students at North. In response to the poll results, a senior in one of the sections of the class voiced, "Personally, I agree with the majority of students on this issue. Our school has a large number of students, and while some of my classes have approximately 15 students, some have approximately 30. Continued mask-wearing allows me to feel safe interacting with so many different people on a daily basis." At the time of publication, The Valley Stream Central High School District had not indicated the desire to lift the mask mandate. In the event that the Governor does not renew the state mandate during the current school year, the Board of Education will have to vote on the matter, at which time they will have to consider many factors, including the safety of staff and students. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Senior Advice By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Lawson State Community College As another school year comes to an end, and the senior class approaches graduation, they would like to share some life and school advice with the underclassmen. We hope the knowledge we have gathered in the past 12 years of our education will help you and spark new hope into your lives. “If you’re studying past 12, you’re probably not absorbing the information anymore” -Jack Schwabe “Esta avise es para todo el mundo, pero más para personas que allá llegado de otros países, la mejor manera de conocer gente es unirte a actividades después del colegio puede ser algún deporte, arte pero has lo que te gusta y vas a conocer mucha gente y recuerda nadie es superior o inferior que ti, tú eres el único que se da el valor que de verdad te mereces” This advice is for the whole world, but more for the people who came from foreign countries. The best way to get to know people is to join after school activities, it can even be a sport, or art but do what you like and get to know many people and remember no one is superior or inferior to you. You are the only one who gives value and respect that YOU yourself deserve.” -Joshua Montero “Start your college essay over the summer and keep track of your deadlines.” - Tiffany Wong “Don’t catch senioritis too early.” - Micaela Creo  “School is not a democracy.” - Lucy Wu “Don’t worry about something you cannot control.” - Francheska Martin Quesada “Be kind to everyone.” - Zohair Khan “Enjoy every second because it goes by fast.” - Alex Benincasa   “Reuse your application supplements and keep them in one spot.” - Leema Caravan “Take every opportunity you can and live every day to your fullest.” -Ian Ramos “It’s better to try and fail than not try at all” and “The worst they can say is no.” - Eva Grace Martinez “Live life to enjoy yourself, not to appease others.” - Afia Kapadwala “Always remember there is a bigger picture.” - Daniel Ellis “Don’t give up near the end, you’re so close!” - Disha Bhalla “Live your life how you want and don’t let negative thoughts change it.” -Nimish Lotlikar “Make wise choices and don’t fear mistakes.” - Ahmik Muhammad “Don’t stress over a bad grade. When in doubt, don't send your SAT scores.” - Michael Munson “Try to go to a lot of school events and make the most of your senior year.” - Karen Ye “Don't be a tryhard. You’re more than a 100.” -Will Mullin “Don’t forget to live and enjoy the present. Often it is very easy to get caught up in the thought of the future and forget about what is happening right now.” -Mari-Angeli Lugo “Make sure to take the time and enjoy the little time you have left”- Jack DelCarpine “Take every opportunity you get. You don’t want to be left with regrets” - Daniel Amin “Do everything to the best of your ability.” - Matt Long “It’s okay to rely on your friends; they’re all in the same boat.” - Ashrita Seelan “Don’t run in the halls.” - Dahlia Valentin BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portfolio Back to Sections What I Carry By Emily Dahl June 13, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 7