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Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Goodbye Covid, the End is Near By Manal Layachi Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Original photo by Manal Layachi Masks and social distancing. Loss of loved ones, others are convalescing. Days full of sorrow and sadness. Loss of real interaction left me with virtual madness. Boredom is eating me up, as everything is on zoom. It fills me up with gloom. While quarantine can be dark, I found light in it. More free time for a hermit. More family time and freedom. Hello happiness, goodbye darkness, and boredom. Spring brings hope and cheerful faces. Soon there will be no masks in all places. Families and friends will be closer together as in the past. The sun and rainbow will take over the gloomy sky at last. Everyone will live in peace and harmony. Everyone will get through this as one of many. We will come out stronger than before. We will overcome this nightmare and live our dream even more. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Perspective Back to Sections Nayab Raja - Perspective - 1 By Nayab Raja December 16, 2020 Photography Volume 1 Issue 3

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Apples Never Fall By Anonymous Contributor Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Media Store Apples Never Fall, a compelling thriller by Liane Moriarty, is a mystery novel based on a true story. It takes place from 2019-2021, demonstrating its prolonged timeline and modernistic plot points. The novel follows the Delaney siblings after the disappearance of their mother, Joy Delaney. The police soon identify their father, Stan, as a person of interest. As the story progresses, readers eventually discover the circumstances surrounding Joy’s disappearance. I highly recommend this book, as it proves to be a compelling fictional thriller, leaving readers at the edge of their seat during the read. Happy reading! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections The Science of Studying By Alyssa Garufi and Hannah Lee Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by IStockPhoto Dear VSN students,  How do you study? With APs, regents, and finals coming up, it is important to master your studying technique to achieve higher grades on your assessments. Reading over notes and class materials repeatedly seems to be the first scenario that comes to mind when you hear the word “study.” However, according to scientific studies, this repetitive action of rereading notes and drilling random information into our brains tends to “go in one ear and out the other." Science shows us that our brains work best when we truly understand the topic rather than simply memorizing information that does not logically make sense to us. The way we can optimize the capabilities of our minds is through - just like learning how to ride a bike - trial and error. The more we challenge and quiz our brains, the better prepared our brains will be.  Chances are you have been taught that studying through repetition works, right? Wrong . One of the biggest misconceptions in students is that repetition is a valuable way of studying. However, scientists have found that repetition is not as effective as we have been led to believe. In fact, Ed DeLosh, an associate professor at Colorado State University, has found that “might be the worst [method] compared to a variety of strategies you might use.” In addition, we have also been taught to stick to our learning style and not stray from what works best. Turns out that is false as well. It may be better for us to deviate from our usual methods and try out new strategies. According to DeLosh, struggling while learning “actually has benefits for long-term learning.” One such strategy that has been scientifically proven effective is quizzing yourself. Typically, we perceive quizzes and tests as methods to evaluate the progress of a student from the beginning of the year. However, DeLosh’s research shows that “quizzing is actually among the best ways to prime the brain to remember material in the future.” In DeLosh’s class, students take quizzes on a weekly basis - but don’t be alarmed. These quizzes aren’t meant to place pressure on students in terms of grades. In fact, every quiz is open-book and students tend to do well on all of them. Each quiz tests a similar concept but has variations of questions. By answering varying questions on the same topic, students learn to master the concepts that DeLosh quizzes them on. Not only does this help his pupils learn the material, but it also gives them good grades and helps them study periodically rather than cramming everything at the end of the year. In the end, his students were very successful in mastering the course. DeLosh’s study shows us that quizzing is, in fact, a highly effective method of studying for tests. So, the next time you are studying for a big exam, gather a couple of your friends and quiz each other on the topics. While quizzing strategies help optimize the capabilities of our brain, without the motivation to take on quizzes, the information present will be of little help to most of us. You must strive to not only take on the best studying strategies, but consider strategies that are best for you ! A “perfect” studying schedule is different for each individual and it is important to try different methods of studying to find which works best and gives you the most motivation. Joshua Robinson, a Wall Street Journal reporter, states that listening to music while studying does aid your memory and improve attention, allowing you to grasp the information more. The next time you are not motivated to sit down and take practice tests, listen to your favorite song, and use it to make studying a bit less intimidating. If music is too distracting to you, try to find a change of scenery instead. Sometimes sitting alone in your room trying to study leads to distractions. Instead, bring your books outside, or to a library, or even just another room in your house. According to Cory Stieg, a Health and Wellness reporter from Make It , changing settings while studying can boost your overall wellbeing and mood, allowing you to do better on exams.  Now you know you can study effectively. You have hopefully learned a handful of new and effective studying strategies for your upcoming test, so go out and try to use some of these methods! With a ton of tests coming up, implementing these studying strategies may help you improve a lot. Remember, do not stress yourself out too much over tests and exams. You’ve got this!  Best of luck,  Hannah and Alyssa BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Artistic Perspective By Olivia Muscatelli Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Original artwork by Olivia Muscatelli The images I enjoy taking the most are of landscapes. Like Ansel Adams, a famous landscape photographer, I visualize each picture before taking it. I think about the way I want the picture to look in the final image before I start shooting and prefer a realistic approach rather than relying on heavy editing. I also believe careful composition and balancing the contrast between the light and dark areas of an image lead to the best results. These were all techniques Ansel Adams applied to his work. Although he is known for black-and-white photographs, I also like to use color to bring more life to certain images. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Ramadan and Eid in Islam By Nidha Dar and Mairaab Jahangir Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by India TV Have you ever seen or heard Eid and Ramadan greetings and wondered what they are all about? Why do Muslims celebrate Eid and Ramadan and when do they do so? What is the Muslim way of celebrating Eid and Ramadan? These are only a few questions out of a plethora that many people typically have about the Islamic month and holidays. In this article, we will be explaining a bit about both Eid and Ramadan. To begin, it is almost necessary to start with Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and occurs when the new crescent moon is first sighted. Because the Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon, Ramadan goes back approximately 10-11 days each year. Ramadan mainly holds significance in Islam because it is regarded as the time when the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). Additionally - it is a time of year when Muslims overall truly acknowledge the blessings that they have, and overall thank Allah for them. During Ramadan, it has been taught to Muslims through the actions of the prophet to fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset, and fasting being one of the five pillars of Islam. Fasting includes abstinence from drinking, eating, immoral activities, and rage. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran, and charitable giving are encouraged during this time. During the month, Muslims rise early almost every day to eat suhoor , a pre-dawn meal, and break their fast with iftar , a meal occurring at sunset. Not all Muslims are required to fast though - children, the elderly, those who are pregnant, those who are menstruating and those who have medical related health problems are exempt from fasting. If a person cannot fast, it is recommended that they make up their fast later in time, but if they cannot, they can make charitable payments known as fidya or kaffara . These help to provide to those who are less fortunate with a meal to sustain them for a day, which in turn is equivalent in action to fasting. Eid directly translates from Arabic into English as the festival or feast. In a typical Islamic year, there are two major Eids, Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year (in the Islamic month of Shawwal) and Eid al-Adha later on in the year (in the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah). Both are extremely important holidays in the religion of Islam, both with their respective and differing purposes. Eid al-Fitr simply means "the festival of breaking the fast", and is usually a three-day lasting celebration with special morning prayers. People exchange ceremonial embraces and greet one another with the phrase "Eid Mubarak," which translates as "Blessed festival." Meals are prepared at home, and gifts or money are given to younger members of the family and those in need. People will typically dress in their very best clothing, usually of their own cultural background. Muslims are taught to forgive and to seek forgiveness during these days. Practices on the days of Eid-al-Fitr vary from country to country, culture to culture, and even household to household. The other Eid, Eid al-Adha, is known as the "Festival of Sacrifice." It comes at the end of the Hajj, a pilgrimage that millions of Muslims undertake (if they are able to afford it) to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia (Hajj is also one of the five pillars of Islam). Eid al-Adha commemorates Allah's command to Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son Ismail (may peace be upon him) as a testament of his faith. The story, as told in the Quran, depicts Shaytaan or Satan’s attempt to tempt Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) into disobeying Allah's command. Ibrahim (may peace be upon him), on the other hand, remains dedicated to his actions and informs Ismail (may peace be upon him), who agrees to be sacrificed. But, just as Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) is about to slaughter his child, Allah intervenes and a sheep is sacrificed in his place. Muslims slaughter an animal during Eid al-Adha to remember Ibrahim’s (may peace be upon him) sacrifice and to remind themselves of the need to submit to Allah's will. Most of the meat from this Eid is donated to those less fortunate, or given to local family friends. A small portion of the meat is kept to the family who paid for the animal, mainly as a token of charity. On this Eid people wear their best clothing as well, and spend time with family. Both Eid and Ramadan prove to be pivotal times in Islam. With the variety of culture in the United States, more and more people are learning about what they are, and further educating themselves about Islam. As of two years ago, the Valley Stream schools close for Eid. May everyone who celebrated Eid and Ramadan have had a pleasant time, and for those who didn’t, we hope you learned a little bit about Eid and Ramadan. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections SADD Club’s Contribution to the Island Harvest By Jeselys Vazquez Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Island Harvest The SADD club (Students Against Destructive Decision) once again has contributed to promoting and working with the Island Harvest Food Drive. For those who do not know what that is, the Island Harvest Food Drive is an organization that works to help end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, especially when Thanksgiving and Christmas come around. Our high school has donated 900+ food items to Long Island Harvest, and this year we planned to donate even more, but we could not have done it without your help. Did you know how many people have suffered just on Long Island from hunger at some point this year? 283,700 people. As a matter of fact, 182,000 people will go hungry on Long Island tonight, and 72,980 of those people will be children. It is crazy to hear how many people are affected by this hunger crisis, and 316,000 people in need rely on the Long Island Harvest food bank and other local pantries. This number of people has been increasing since the pandemic due to mortgages and taxes our parents and adults must pay, as well as inflation. Even though we have provided so many resources, Long Island is still struggling to meet the demands of living in Nassau and Suffolk County. A donation could’ve been as little as one can of food, but with everyone contributing, it certainly has added up. I hope we can have another successful donation season next year! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Autumn Sees Leola Garcia Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 Autumn watches all the children play on a windy fall day. Leaves are falling from tree to tree because of the gentle breeze. Autumn hears the children scream, not from fear, but from glee. Children forced to wear sweaters from Autumn has brought cool weather. The children are happy to play all day because Autumn is here to stay. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections A Change in Pitch By Kayla Duvert Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by How to Sing Smarter For a while now, my peers from Mrs. Schneider’s chorus class were accustomed to using our voices as instruments, changing our pitches as the notes changed as we would with instruments. Holding out full notes in music, as we would with instruments. Now with an airborne virus amid us, our instruments were instructed to be put to rest. Our instruments, the only instrument some of us knew how to play, were considered a threat to the health of others and an accomplice to spreading a virus. Though our instruments can’t be used, that doesn’t mean that we can’t find another: an instrument that’s navigable through our fingers and not our mind. An instrument unfamiliar to us, but it becomes familiar once we start playing. An instrument known as the piano to most, but as a substitute to us. As with every instrument, we first learned the basics: the different staffs and notes. Then we put our knowledge to test. Playing the songs, we used to sing with an alternative instrument. The notes we used to sing together, we now play alone at whatever volume we desire. With our voices being the only thing that connects us, playing an almost foreign instrument alone is often undesirable. It was foreign to both our fingers and our minds. Making music alone is foreign to us, but there is comfort in the fact that we are learning it together: learning, playing and performing it together, but in walls that continue to separate us. Those walls that separate us will be the one thing that protects us long enough to unite us, so we could continue to use our vocal instruments alongside our newly introduced one. An instrument with a change in pitch now represents a change in our lives. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Vice President's House By Cody Sung Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Wikipedia Have you ever wondered where the vice president of the United States lives during his/her time in office? Personally, I always believed that the vice president lived with the president back in the White House. But that is not the case. Instead, the Vice President resides in Northwestern Washington D.C., at the address of Number One Observatory Circle. First, we need a little bit of context. The house in question was built in 1893 on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory, a government organization which provides information on positioning, navigation, and timing for the United States Navy and Department of Defense. The organization also performs research operations, and much more. Originally, the house was built for the superintendent of the organization. However, in 1923, the chief of naval operations removed the superintendent due to his fondness for the house. He then moved in himself. Prior to 1974, vice presidents and their families lived in their own private homes, but since the cost of securing those homes steadily increased, Congress agreed to tidy up the house and make it the vice president’s residence in 1974. Interestingly enough, no vice president lived there for three years. Gerald Ford was president before he used the home, and Nelson Rockefeller (Ford’s Vice President) used it for entertainment purposes only. Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter’s vice president, was the first to use the home in 1977. Since then, George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden have all lived in the home. Currently, Mike and Karen Pence reside in the house. So, what is it like in this home? The rooms, besides what you would normally see in a home, include a reception hall, garden room, a master suite, a study, and a sitting room. There are also new additions to the home with each vice president. For example, George H.W. Bush installed a horseshoe pit on the house grounds when he was vice president. Dan Quayle also made additions, such as a swimming pool and an exercise room. Karen Pence has added beehives to the grounds. Overall, at least at first sight, the house is fancy, but not as fancy as the famed White House. Unfortunately, there are no tours offered of the house, as it’s hidden from the street. Although not as famed as the White house, the vice president’s quarters has its fair share of events. The vice president usually uses the house to host important figures, such as politicians and world leaders. For example, Joe Biden hosted Enda Kenny, Ireland’s former prime minister for St. Patrick’s Day. Number One Observatory Circle also gets decorated for Christmas, including a Christmas tree and general Christmas decorations. The Pence family have also decorated for Halloween and have greeted trick-or-treaters. There are also general events and parties, such as the Pence family hosting an annual pool party for veterans. Number One Observatory Circle is quite the house, constantly shaped by new residents moving in every 4-8 years. Just 2.5 miles from the White House, Jill Biden has said that the house provides a contrast from the nature of Washington life. Just like lots of other homes in America, decorations pop up there for Christmas, and events and parties are regularly held. So, the next time you ever wonder where the vice president resides, just think of the quiet home on the site of a government observatory. With that said, let’s welcome Kamala Harris and her husband, the second gentleman, Doug Emhoff to Number One Observatory Circle. Harris will be the first female Vice President, as well as the first African American and South Asian. As for her husband, Emhoff will be the first second gentleman in the history of the United States. BACK TO TOP