Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections About Me! By Chloe O'Connell Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Marketing Sage Hi, my name is Chloe O’Connell! I’m in 7th grade, and this is my section called “Ask Chloe”. Here’s a little about me. I am the oldest and I have two siblings. I have a dog named Bandit. Fun fact: I was born with plagiocephaly, which means I was born with a flat head, so I had to wear a helmet when I was a baby. When I grow up, I want to help kids and become a pediatrician. My family is Puerto Rican and Italian, and we are also a bit Irish. I hope this helps you get to know me! Please send in your questions for our new “ Ask Chloe” advice column to oconnelc3990@vschsd.org, and Chloe will try to help you navigate the wonders of middle school. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections The Compliment of Blue By Elizabeth Andre November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

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

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

Back to Articles Fiction, Polaris Back to Sections Emily Dickson By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Wikipedia Emily Dickinson was a prominent American poet born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830. Dickinson is known for her unique and unconventional style of writing poetry that often challenged the traditional forms of poetry during her time. She is recognized as one of the most significant and influential poets in American literature. Emily Dickinson was born into a wealthy and prominent family in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father, Edward Dickinson, was a prominent lawyer and politician, while her mother, Emily Norcross Dickinson, was a homemaker. Dickinson received her early education at Amherst Academy, where she excelled in her studies and demonstrated a strong interest in literature. As a young woman, Dickinson was deeply influenced by the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Transcendentalist movement. She began writing poetry at a young age and continued to write throughout her life. Despite her love for writing, Dickinson was a private person and rarely shared her work with others. Dickinson's writing career spanned over three decades, and she produced over 1,800 poems during her lifetime. However, only a handful of her poems were published during her lifetime, and it wasn't until after her death that her work gained widespread recognition. Dickinson's poetry is characterized by its unconventional style, including her use of slant rhyme and irregular meter. Her poems often explore themes such as nature, death, love, and spirituality. Dickinson's work is also known for its use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language. Emily Dickinson's poetry has had a significant impact on American literature and culture. Her unconventional style of writing and her exploration of themes such as death and spirituality has influenced generations of writers and poets. Today, Dickinson is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential poets in American literature. Her work continues to be studied and celebrated, and her legacy as an iconic American poet remains strong. One of Emily Dickinson's most famous poems is "Because I could not stop for Death." This poem explores the theme of death and the speaker's journey toward it. Here is the poem in its entirety: Because I could not stop for Death— He kindly stopped for me— The Carriage held but just Ourselves—  And Immortality. We slowly drove—He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility— We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess—in the Ring— We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain— We passed the Setting Sun— Or rather—He passed us— The Dews drew quivering and chill— For only Gossamer, my Gown— My Tippet—only Tulle— We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground— The Roof was scarcely visible— The Cornice—in the Ground— Since then—’tis Centuries—and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses’ Heads Were toward Eternity—   References: Franklin, R. W. (Ed.). (1999). The Poems of Emily Dickinson: Variorum Edition. Belknap Press. Sewall, R. B. (1974). The Life of Emily Dickinson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Smith, M. (Ed.). (1998). The Emily Dickinson Handbook. University of Massachusetts Press. Miller, C. R. (1997). Emily Dickinson: A Poet's Grammar. Harvard University Press. Vendler, H. (2010). Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries. Harvard University Press.   Emily Dickinson was a prominent American poet born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830. Dickinson is known for her unique and unconventional style of writing poetry that often challenged the traditional forms of poetry during her time. She is recognized as one of the most significant and influential poets in American literature. Emily Dickinson was born into a wealthy and prominent family in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father, Edward Dickinson, was a prominent lawyer and politician, while her mother, Emily Norcross Dickinson, was a homemaker. Dickinson received her early education at Amherst Academy, where she excelled in her studies and demonstrated a strong interest in literature. As a young woman, Dickinson was deeply influenced by the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Transcendentalist movement. She began writing poetry at a young age and continued to write throughout her life. Despite her love for writing, Dickinson was a private person and rarely shared her work with others. Dickinson's writing career spanned over three decades, and she produced over 1,800 poems during her lifetime. However, only a handful of her poems were published during her lifetime, and it wasn't until after her death that her work gained widespread recognition. Dickinson's poetry is characterized by its unconventional style, including her use of slant rhyme and irregular meter. Her poems often explore themes such as nature, death, love, and spirituality. Dickinson's work is also known for its use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language. Emily Dickinson's poetry has had a significant impact on American literature and culture. Her unconventional style of writing and her exploration of themes such as death and spirituality has influenced generations of writers and poets. Today, Dickinson is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential poets in American literature. Her work continues to be studied and celebrated, and her legacy as an iconic American poet remains strong. One of Emily Dickinson's most famous poems is "Because I could not stop for Death." This poem explores the theme of death and the speaker's journey toward it. Here is the poem in its entirety: Because I could not stop for Death— He kindly stopped for me— The Carriage held but just Ourselves—  And Immortality. We slowly drove—He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility— We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess—in the Ring— We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain— We passed the Setting Sun— Or rather—He passed us— The Dews drew quivering and chill— For only Gossamer, my Gown— My Tippet—only Tulle— We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground— The Roof was scarcely visible— The Cornice—in the Ground— Since then—’tis Centuries—and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses’ Heads Were toward Eternity—   References: Franklin, R. W. (Ed.). (1999). The Poems of Emily Dickinson: Variorum Edition. Belknap Press. Sewall, R. B. (1974). The Life of Emily Dickinson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Smith, M. (Ed.). (1998). The Emily Dickinson Handbook. University of Massachusetts Press. Miller, C. R. (1997). Emily Dickinson: A Poet's Grammar. Harvard University Press. Vendler, H. (2010). Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries. Harvard University Press.   BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections A Valentine's Short Story By Catherine Duong Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Original artwork by Catherine Duong Author’s note: This short story is a fanfiction based on a game called Sky: Children of the Light (Sky: COTL) made by the TGC company. In addition, this story is focused on Valentine’s Day, showing how that someone doesn’t have to be your significant other, it can be a friend. Key words: Daylight Prairie – The second realm in Sky: COTL. This place is typically packed with tons of players, especially ones who are new to the game. It is a perfect place for those who are social butterflies! “They love me, they love me not...,” she mumbled to herself, gently plucking the rose petals and letting them fall on the ground. After the last petal fell to the ground, she sighed in defeat, letting the green stem fall as well. “Looks like I won’t be finding someone special this year. Maybe next year I’ll try again.” She said quietly, aware that today was Valentine’s Day, a day when two people spend some quality time with each other, preferably with someone they loved the most. To Kalifa, she has been searching for that special someone for a long, long time and unfortunately, that special someone she desires is far from her reach. “Ah, it’s Ms. Hopeless Romantic again. No luck this time?” The person who called out to Kalifa was her childhood friend, Thea. The two met when they were born, almost like they were stepsisters. She wore a bull-shaped mask, representing one of her family traditions, like Kalifa’s family where they wore a weasel mask. Before she replied, Thea sat down across from her, admiring the rose that was encased in glass and glancing at the fallen petals and dried stems surrounding it. “You know the deal,” Kalifa simply replied. “I ask someone, and they reject, like usual. At this point, I’m questioning what the meaning of Valentine’s Day is. Isn’t it a day to spend time with your loved one?” As Thea was given a question, she replied, “Yes, that is true, however...” She paused, carefully lifting the glass covering and taking out the rose, placing it in her hand. “It doesn’t have to be someone you love romantically. Sure, it breaks the stereotype of Valentine’s Day, but I believe that it’s a day where you hang out with someone you care about the most. It can be a friend, a family member, the list goes on!” She then paused once more, placing her right hand on Kalifa’s shoulder. “All I’m saying is that you don’t need to go looking for a romantic date, that’s it. Now, I think it’s time for you to rest on the quest for looking for a girl to date because of this romantic day, all right?” Kalifa nodded; a bit embarrassed that Thea mentioned her “hopeless romantic” part. “Well, how about this,” she said, finding another flower around the Daylight Prairie field (1) and then returning to her spot. “If it is a day to also spend time with the closest friend, then... Would you be my Valentine?” After she asked, Thea had a small smile on her face, simply saying, “Of course.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Life is imperfect By Gabriella Basile Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Forbes Nothing is Perfect Life is imperfect, and that is ok Stress is leaving your body, As good things come your way Learning how to find the good is the hardest part, but once it is found, it’s relieved in your heart No more anxiety over every little thing, The “craziness” is over, and is slowly being recovered The good in your life is finally being uncovered Leaving Me Life without you was hard I didn’t understand why you left, you didn’t ever write me a card I wanted things to be okay You said you left for good things, but it felt like it was to just be away I searched for perfect, but realized it’s not what people said The Feelings of Anxiety The feelings of anxiety can make you feel crazy, When you can’t control it, you don’t even feel normal No one is perfect… that’s real moral The only way to feel confident is to let it out Keeping it in, my horrible feelings, just makes me want to shout. I wish I knew how to tell people about it, Because now I can’t believe how much I grew. BACK TO TOP

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Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections A Goodbye to North By Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by the LI Herald Like most people, I did not have a great 7th grade experience. Since about 5th grade, I had basically spent every free second with my best friend, Chloe. When her family decided to send her to Kellenberg, I was left to navigate middle school without her, which was extremely difficult. The few friends I had shared either one or no classes with me, so the only person I really had was my twin brother (which is great and all, but having no close friends felt AWFUL). I tried to branch out to little avail: I didn’t make the volleyball team, didn’t pass the audition for jazz band, and the people I tried talking to didn’t seem interested. I thought heavily about transferring to Memorial but feared it would be the same there. Nevertheless, I dragged through the next year and the next. I eventually did get a spot in the jazz band and made a few friends and reconnected with a few from Dever. As far as school goes, it all went up from there! After six years, I can say the tide changed the second half of my high school experience. In 9th grade, I joined North’s no-cut Badminton team, where I was welcomed with open arms and encouraged to do my best. I also joined the district Performing Arts Program, where I have spent the last four years singing, dancing, and acting with pride in my school. It was in these places that I made some of my best friends and met some of my favorite teachers. I am so thankful that I get to end out my year -somewhat- normally as I have been fully in person since March. I wanted to point out the differences in these years to show any younger North students that having a bad middle school experience is “normal”. It took a while, but I am finally happy with how my high school years turned out. Join everything you can! You’ll find your place, even if it’s not where you thought it would be. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Back to Sections Trip to the Grocery Store Kimberly Shrestha February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3