Back to Artwork Portfolio Back to Sections Portfolio - Francheska Martin-Quesada By Francheska Martin-Quesada June 13, 2022 Sharpie Volume 2 Issue 7

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Anonymous - Memory Project - 1 By Anonymous March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Artwork Beauty in Nature Back to Sections Corner By Quinn O'Connor February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Fairy Light Circles By Sienna Munro January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Christmas By Christiana Fredriks Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Original image by Christiana Fredriks Christmas is the one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. It’s celebrated in December, the month of joy and magic. Christmas is a lot more than giving and receiving; it represents the joy of living and rebirth. It is the season of change, love and magic. For some, Christmas is a religious day, and for others, it’s a celebration. Christmas time is when you see families and friends spending the holidays together, gifting, sharing food, and making memories. So many families have Christmas traditions, something that binds them to their heritage, something of identity and belonging. Christmas has a meaning in the spirit of the season. Some people open one present on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas. Some only open presents on Christmas Day, December 25th. Some people describe Christmas Eve as a “review” (like the real test is on Christmas Day, but on Christmas Eve, we review to get ready). Christmas means different things to different people. And Christmas to me is the joy of the season. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the tree. A Christmas tree is one of the symbols of Christmas. Decorating the tree with tinsel and ornaments, hanging mistletoe, decorating the front and inside of the house with garland and lights, are all fun to do with family and friends. Leaving milk and cookies on the table for Santa, with carolers knocking on your door and singing, add to the joy while eating Christmas treats. Christmas isn’t the only holiday people celebrate this time of year, there is also Hannukah – which starts before Christmas this year – and there is also Kwanzaa. This holiday starts the day after Christmas and ends on the New Year. Enjoy the holiday season! “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” -Saint Nicolas BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Evolution of Growing Up By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by Aly Buyer I can’t wait to grow up. I can’t wait to go to high school. I can’t wait to drive. I can’t wait to live my life to its fullest. I wish I was like them. I wish I wasn't afraid of failure. I wish I could go back. I wish I wasn’t my own worst enemy. I wanted to live my life. “Life will only get harder from here,” we were told at a young age. We ignored the warning. But now that we are older, We understand that our dreams may not always become reality. And we just have to focus on the little joys of life. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections 1500m Racewalk By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Original photography by Michael Frazer Walking?...in Track? That’s a big no-no. In Winter Track, there are many different events one can try. There are distance and middle-distance runners, sprinters, jumpers, throwers, pole-vaulters, and racewalkers. Now, wait. You might be slightly confused. If you have never heard of racewalking, you have no idea what I’m talking about. However, racewalking isn’t walking. Not precisely. The first thing to know about racewalking is that it is not just speed walking. The most critical part of racewalking is the form. You start on your heel to racewalk and roll your foot to your toe. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but it is just as hard as it looks; trust me, I’m a racewalker, and it’s no piece of cake. There are only two rules that can get one disqualified. The first rule is: one foot must always contact with the ground at all times. If not, then you aren’t walking; you’re running. If this occurs during a race, one of the officials will show you a yellow paddle. This paddle will have a squiggly line on it, and the judge will give you a penalty. The second rule is the “no-bent knee” rule. When you land on your foot, your knee must be straight and stay straight until the other foot lands. If you have a bent knee, the judge will show you another yellow paddle with a sideways “L” on it. If you reach three penalties of any kind, the judge will show you a red paddle and remove you from the race. This is a disqualification, which means you have no place in the race; it doesn’t count. Besides the form, speed is also key to racewalking. If you aren’t keeping up a good pace, you can receive a disqualification for taking too long. After all, there are other events in a track meet. Some important things to know: The racewalk is typically either the first or last race in a meet. This means that the meet ends promptly. Additionally, there’s only racewalk for girls at the high school level, though boys may compete beyond high school. Racewalk at the high school level occurs only during the Indoor Track and Field season. If you walk for the VSN Track team, here’s a couple of tips from a racewalker. As Frazer, one of the VSN coaches, always says, “The faster you go, the better your form.” This is true, but you should also note that speed will always follow form. Only with the correct form will you succeed in racewalking. Otherwise, you will get disqualified no matter how fast you go. Racewalking is excellent exercise and will keep your health up. Watch a video and learn the basics. If you do not compete, it will still be a wonderful experience. As one of the best racewalkers and mentors, Eva Grace Martinez always says, “It’s an enjoyable event, and I’ve grown to love it more as the years have passed.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Aamna's Advice: Schoolwork Aamna Raja Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Inspirit AI Recently, I have been getting horrible grades in Social Studies. Even though I'm in an accelerated class, it's horrible. I even studied for this test and yet I still failed it. I never thought that I would be able to get such a low grade even though I studied almost the whole day for it. I expected better to be honest. My parents also didn't expect me to get such a low grade. They really don't like it when I get a low grade suddenly and they start suspecting that I'm doing something horrible, when really, I'm not. I got really upset when I got such a low grade even though I studied a lot. Social Studies is really a weak subject for me. -Anonymous Hello! Let me start off with this – High school is especially hard to adjust to when you’re first getting into it. I remember the first time I took an accelerated course; my grades were absolutely terrible. High school assignments are much harder than what you’re used to, especially if you’re taking a Regents Exam or an AP. I understand how you feel, and you aren’t wrong to feel this way. The feeling of studying and then failing even when you know you tried can be nauseating, and even worse is the worry of disappointing your parents. However, remember that you aren’t stuck in this loop of having bad grades. It’s only the beginning of the year- once you get used to the course, you’ll find yourself performing better than you did initially. Further than that, remember that your worth is not equal to your grades in school. You may worry about failing a class and disappointing your parents, but I’m sure that your grades aren’t the only thing they see in you. They see how you are as a person, how you behave, and how you are morally. If you’re looking to improve in social studies, I’d recommend attending extra help. If you know any upperclassmen who’ve taken the course, you can ask them for advice on how they studied and learn from them as well. If you don’t, I’m here, you can always ask me. Every teacher in the social studies department here is very friendly, so asking one of them for help is a good idea. Now, I have definitely dealt with teachers whose style did not match up with my learning style, and I struggled. Unfortunately, you cannot transfer classes to get a different teacher. However, depending on the subject you’re taking, there are other ways to get the help and teaching you need. If it’s is a math class, for example, you can attend the math lab in room 114 during your lunch period and other teachers will be there to help. If anything, ask a friend in a different class when their teacher has extra help, and you may be able to find some helpful resources. This next part is a little controversial, but trust me, it works. Chat GPT is often used for cheating, which you should NOT do as it’s plagiarism, and that can get on your permanent record. HOWEVER, it can be an incredibly helpful learning tool, and you can ask it to explain concepts to you in a comprehensible way. I’ve used it to study for many of my exams. You can even ask it to give you practice questions and explain why your answer is correct or incorrect. AI is very powerful when used properly. You can even ask it to explain concepts in terms you’re more efficient in, such as an analogy to a video game. Good luck to you! High school can be extremely academically challenging, but just remember your grades don’t define who you are, and there’s always room for improvement. And hey, even if there isn’t, appreciate the fact you worked hard and care about school. That shows you have sound morals. Remember, I’m here if you need me! Signed your friend and Advice Columnist at North Star, Aamna <3 BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Johnny Depp Court Case By Sahar Ali Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Marca So, many of us have heard about the now-infamous case between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, right? You might have consumed some information via social media regarding the exes’ lawsuits against each other. You might have even seen memes surrounding the case through apps such as TikTok or Instagram. In this article, I aim to efficiently outline and explain the events that led up to the case, specifically in hopes of providing necessary context. The case revolves around famous actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Depp is best known for playing Captain Jack Sparrow in the movie series, Pirates of the Caribbean . Heard is best known for her roles in Never Back Down , Drive Angry , The Rum Diary and Aquaman . In February 2015, the pair wed; however, their marriage only lasted until January 2017. Later in 2018, Amber Heard wrote an op-ed published in the Washington Post . It was headlined “I spoke up against sexual violence – and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.” Heard never mentioned Depp’s name in her account, but she makes it abundantly clear that her ex-husband abused her during their short marriage. After the publication of this op-ed, Depp sued Heard in March 2019 for defamation. In short, defamation is a false statement asserted by a third party about an individual in public. This may damage one’s reputation. It may include statements in written or verbal form. In this case, only the written op-ed was considered. In simple terms, Heard’s op-ed is the root of this case, and Depp won the suit. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The Amazing Kayla Santo By John McCarthy Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Original photo by Kayla Santo Today, we are featuring one of the most incredible athletes at North and beyond, Kayla Santo. She is a three-sport varsity athlete, and has played sports all of her years at VS North. Not only is she a three-sport varsity athlete, she has been a varsity athlete for four years already, and she’s only in 10th grade. Many athletes only start playing varsity sports in 10th or 11th grade. For Kayla, she played Varsity Softball in 7th grade: he only one to do so, ever. Moreover, her talent at an early age doesn’t stop at softball; she started playing Varsity Girls Volleyball and Varsity Girls Basketball in 8th grade. In a virtual interview with the amazing Kayla Santo, she gave inspiring answers to my questions. Here were her responses: Q: How do you balance your schoolwork with practices and games? A: “In the past I’ve learned to make a schedule to help me get through the day with less stress. My normal routine that I follow now is I do my homework right after school and try to get it all done, then I will go to practice or my games and if I don’t finish my homework before I have to leave I will finish it before I go to bed.” Q: From what I understand, you played Varsity Softball in just 7th grade. How did playing with older students make you feel, and how do you think it has affected your athletics later on? A: “At first I was really nervous and excited because it was a whole new experience with people I’ve never met before, but as the season went on I became super close with them and created great friendships. Playing with the seniors especially has taught me a lot. I believe playing with them made me stronger mentally and physically because they always pushed me to be my best as well as learning to understand and trust new people that I’ve never played with.” Q: How much of your personality do you think can be explained by sports? A: “I believe a lot of my personality contributes to sports. With my team in practices I would definitely say I’m very energetic (even in the mornings) and I absolutely love to hype my team up. When it comes to game time I get really competitive mostly because I am kind of a sore loser but I think that benefits me and helps me get through the game strong.” Q: Is there any advice you would like to give our young athletes at North? A: “For anyone who wants to branch out and try new sports, now is definitely the time to do so. Playing another sport or a new hobby can teach you so many interesting things that you never knew and can really bring a light into your life.” Q: Finally, favorite sport? A: “I would say my favorite sport is definitely softball. I’ve played softball since I was 6 and It has shaped me into the person that I am today. I wouldn’t give it up even if I was offered $1,000,000.” As you can tell from her answers, Kayla is a dedicated student-athlete and has great passion for all the sports she plays. A true inspiration for young athletes looking to defy the odds, only a sophomore, Kayla still has much left in her sporting career. Whether it is on the court or outside on the field, she will continue to do amazing things. Go Spartans! BACK TO TOP