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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 Articles Polaris Back to Sections My First Memory of Stitches By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Pediatric Urgent Care of Northern Colorado Life is full of troubles. Just waiting to unfold As fragile as bubbles But for a five-year-old, I was still bold The day was full of delight. However, the horror was yet to come As I approached the swings, the boy took flight Smashing my head till I fell, wishing I had never come The nails on the floor poking my ear Hoping they would fill their hunger RRRRIP as the world disappeared The last thing I heard was my mom screaming in anger. When I woke up, the nurse’s smile was as bright as the sun But I knew this was no fun My mother was a rabbit, scared and small I wished instead of the park we had gone to the mall I wished instead of the park we had gone to the mall BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Careful Souls By Willene Exinvil April 22, 2021 Acrylic Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Artwork Nostalgic Musings Back to Sections Sophia Song - Nostalgic Musings - 1 By Sophia Song February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

< Back About the Course This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Your Instructor Brad Grecco This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left.

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections James Webb – A Technological Precedent By Elyas Layachi Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by NASA Introduction Space telescopes exist in many forms, whether they be from Target or Walmart as a child’s toy, or the over 11-ton Hubble Space Telescope. They have one main goal – to analyze, observe, and admire the sky. The first telescope was constructed in 1608 by spectacle-maker Hans Lippershey. It was made of wood and had several lenses. It was by far one of the simpler telescopes. As the years went on, the telescopes gradually became more complex and powerful, to the point where they took up entire buildings. However, in 1937, a new type of telescope, the radio telescope, was constructed. Its main purpose was to observe the different types of radiation in space. The years went on and astronomers and scientists began to think, “Why don’t we put a telescope in the sky?” So on April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope, named after Edwin Hubble, was launched, making it the first space-based telescope. However, it only operated within Earth’s orbit. Later, in 2006, the Kepler space telescope was launched. It stretched the limits of telescopes and was one of the first to operate outside of Earth’s orbit in the far reaches of the universe, searching for habitable planets. In October of 2021, NASA plans to launch the James Webb Space Telescope, representing the beginning of a whole new generation of telescope. Brief Overview of James Webb The James Webb Space Telescope, named after a former NASA administrator, James Webb. Sometimes, it’s even referred to as the “Next Generation Space Telescope.” According to NASA, it will be the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide with observations and information. The telescope is made of an 18-mirror array to allow for the reflection of light. It has a five-layer sunshield that “attenuates,” or “reduces the effect of,” the heat of the sun, and according to NASA, it reduces the heat of the sun over a million times. To analyze the stars like never before, the James Webb uses infrared technology: technology used to analyze heat signatures visually, which cannot be seen with the human eye. As we investigate the universe using the James Webb, we are looking back in time. Since light takes time to travel to our eyes, a planet that we see today that is 4,000,000 light years away, for example, will be seen like it were 4,000,000 years ago, rather than as it is today. We won’t see what that planet looks like today for another 4,000,000 years. Furthermore, infrared will allow astronomers to look past obstacles such as dust clouds, as well as allow them to analyze the “red shift,” or whether celestial bodies are moving closer or farther away from the Earth. This is the power of infrared: it enables us to peer into the past of the universe and better understand our origin. We are bound to make many important discoveries with the use of this telescope. A Bright Future Ahead According to NASA, the projected launch date of James Webb is October 31, 2021. It was previously scheduled to launch in March 2021, but due to the coronavirus pandemic as well as technical challenges, it was rescheduled. It is still undergoing launch checks and testing, and a private company, Northrop Grumman, is assisting in this. The launch and use of the James Webb space telescope will define the next generation of space technology. It will be, by far, one of the most powerful infrared telescopes, and it will give humans the ability to see past the dust and rocks that occupy space, allowing us to peer into the past, understand our origin, and discover more about our vast, unknown universe. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Next Level Electives Noa Cordova Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by The Guardian New School Year, New Electives Creative Writing, Public Speaking, Journalism, Intro to Film, and Theater are some of the many English electives offered here at North. What if students had the opportunity to take English electives that would prepare them for their English studies outside of the English classrooms here at North? For the 2024-2025 school year, the English department proposes five English electives, three that will provide North students with the opportunity to earn college credit from either Molloy College or Stonybrook University. How does will these new opportunities impact students’ future studies of English at the college level? Are they worth taking? Students should definitely consider taking these new English electives as they will encourage students to expand their horizons and delve into multicultural literature, essay writing, film, creative writing, and theater at a college level, while earning college credits before ever leaving high school. Why Take Electives to Begin With? As we go through our years here at North, our schedules become fuller, and the workload becomes heavier; it’s easy to set aside our passions to focus on core curriculum classes. Although most electives don’t have any weight to your GPA, they do carry some weight apart from your transcript. By taking electives you can “identify and develop new skills that will make you a valuable addition to any workplace” (College Raptor, 2023). Electives can essentially help you learn more about yourself and your interests. You may discover a new passion while taking an elective, and discover it as something you may want to pursue a future career in. Apart from opening yourself up to new experiences, electives provide you with the power to control what you learn about and help foster an intrinsic motivation to explore different topics (Marzano 2023). Choosing an elective because you are passionate about it or because you want to try something new may feel like a breath of fresh air in a day packed with more traditionally structured classes. It’s a common belief amongst many highschoolers that your schedule must be packed with as many AP classes as possible, but it's time to consider that electives have a different type of importance; they may lead to the discovery to new passions, help balance your schedule and motivate you to learn. College Theater and Film: Behind the Curtain and Behind the scenes Theater and Intro to Film are electives currently offered at North; however, College theater and Film will be offered in cooperation with Stony Brook University. College theater will provide students with the opportunity to play all the roles in theater; students can play the role of an actor, director, and playwright. College Theater may be the perfect elective for those that participate in the VSN Drama Club productions regularly, but it may be equally suitable for someone who’s never stepped foot on a stage. Electives are your chance to step out from behind the curtain and into the spotlight. You may find yourself surprised by what theater can do for your public speaking and performing skills. Giving up your seat in the audience to learn about the backstage goings on of theater may prove to be an enlightening experience you wouldn’t have lived otherwise. I’ll also encourage you, whether you are a film buff or not, to move from in front of your screen to behind the scenes with the college level Intro to Film elective. In this half-year elective, you will learn the various components of film, from directing techniques to the social impact of film. Taking a walk-through time as you explore the different film styles from eras will expose you to the unique perspectives of accredited film makers and deepen your appreciation for the countless themes that those behind the cameras portray. For three college credits, Stony Brook welcomes you to take a walk behind the curtain and behind the scenes. College Creative Writing: Learning the Craft and How to Draft In cooperation with Molloy College for three college credits, our English department here at North offers a college creative writing class taught in a workshop approach. For those, like me, who took Creative Writing in the past, this course offers the chance to delve deeper into the writing process touched upon in Creative Writing. For aspiring poets, or those who can appreciate strong creative writing pieces, this elective will help you master the craft of imagery, creating dialogue and analyzing the many wonders of literature. You may want to consider taking this elective as a break from the typical non-fiction pieces that take up your class periods throughout the day and focus on something a little more personally realistic, like the deep ideas conveyed through creative writing. Finding Your Voice in Literature and English College Prep: Multicultural and Multifaceted Our Valley Stream North English Department encourages you to ‘’expand your horizons’’ and immerse yourself in ‘’diverse literary landscapes’’ with the new elective, Finding Your Voice in Literature. As we’re taught in Social Studies classes we live in a globalized society, meaning we should acknowledge and try to understand the different perspectives of the world around us. Exposing yourself to multicultural literature will enable you to hear the powerful voices of people around the world through silent letters of a page. Our English Department teachers remind us of the danger of having a single story, a reminder of what author Chimamanda Adichie talks about during her TED Talk, The Danger of a Single Story. You may want to think about welcoming multi-cultural literature into your world, not just in preparation for college, but for your own edification. On the topic of voices through writing, the English College Prep elective helps you learn to distinguish your voice from the thousands of other applicants through your college essay, a personal narrative. Your college essay gives you the freedom to show admissions officers who you really are, so I’d say it is worth your while if you're looking to wow the admissions officers. We all know by now that the college application process is multi-faceted and requires more than just a college essay; resumes can be equally as important. This elective will help you create a resume that will shine a light on your passions and the skills you have to offer, so that you can stand out. The transition from high school to college is far from easy, but you may decide to try this elective to help smooth your transition and make the multi-step application process seem less daunting. Will you consider giving these electives a try? If so, what will you choose? Will you explore what goes on backstage or behind the camera? Or will let your imagination wild with creative writing? Maybe you’ll learn to make your voice stand out. Whichever electives you choose to check off when Guidance comes around, you’ll surely be able to get an idea of the exciting college elective experience. Sources: College Raptor Staff. “Why Students Should Take College Electives - College Raptor.” College Raptor Blog , 23 Oct. 2023, www.collegeraptor.com/getting-in/articles/questions-answers/take-electives-electives-important/ . Marzano, Robert. “The Highly Engaged Classroom, Tips.” The Highly Engaged Classroom, Tips , www.marzanoresources.com/resources/tips/hec_tips_archive/ . Accessed 7 Dec. 2023. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections Two Flowers By Victoria Niksa Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image Provided by Elaine Ching “His eyes like a vorTeX- AHHHHHHHHHH” “CIRICE. IT HAS BEEN THE SAME ALBUM FOR THE PAST 2 HOURS!” Layla shouted as she dragged Cirice off her bed by her legs onto the cold, hard floor. Layla was Cirice’s childhood friend. They met in first grade and despite argument after argument, they were older now and more mature. “OH? YOU’RE MAD ABOUT THAT? HOW ABOUT WHEN YOU REWATCHED THAT SAME VIDEO FOR 10 MINUTES WITH THE SAME 6-SECOND AUDIO?” “OH, COME ON! I WAS SENDING IT TO FAY, YOU KNOW THAT!” Despite being older and more mature, they still argue over the dumbest things imaginable. People say that if you have different zodiac signs or almost nothing in common, you’ll clash with the other person and you guys can’t have fun. But Cirice and Layla were a perfect example of that being untrue. After a few minutes of bickering over absolutely nothing, the room held a long silence; until the two busted out laughing. “We are absolutely nuts. Fighting over nothing?” “It’s giving…” “Us in elementary school!” The two said in unison while wheezing with laughter. “Ok but I’m serious, I hear this album one more time I will burn all your CDs. Headphones exist too, you know!” “I’d use them if they didn’t give me a migraine every time I wore those dumb things.” “Ok, well please can you figure something out because I don’t wanna listen to songs about spirits in the form of heavy metal music again, please and thank you.” “Meh, yeah you’re welcome.” “Well, I did like that one at what I’m assuming is the beginning, the one in Spanish!” “Infestissumam? Layla… I hate to break it to you but that is in Latin!” “Oh…” “Yeah, you have quite a bit to learn. Also, once you find out the English translation you are probably going to hate it.” Whenever these two were together, chaos can unfold; and fast. The two girls are and have always been drama queens and sass lovers which to someone else who doesn’t know them would seem like a bad thing, but to these two and them only, it was something they could laugh about later. They can talk and talk for hours about the same subject whether or not it was interesting. Even if it was interesting for Layla and not for Cirice or vice versa, the other would be heavily invested regardless of the topic. The Next Day “Soo Ciri… How’s you and you know whoooo?” “Really? We can talk about any topic and you’re choosing him?” “Oh! I forgot… We have three to talk about now! Your pick, which boy do we talk about today?” “I regret telling you anything about this.” “Hmm…What were their names again? Ah, yes… Jacob, Ryder, and Liam!” “No way you remembered all that…” “Aww, and you think I don’t listen to you! Silly Ciri!” “Ugh, can we talk about Ghost instead?” “Yes! Once you tell me about your crushes~~” Layla doesn’t stop until she gets what she wants. She knows what she wants to know and when she wants to hear it. She’s just a little too impatient. “Ok, here, let’s make a deal. You can put on whatever songs you want. Ghost, Metallica, Nirvana, whatever. But you have to tell me about your crushes. Ok?” “Negotiation really is your middle name… ugh, fine I guess.” An Hour Later “Ok maybe I just set you up with someone, these boys suck! Ew, they’re so unromantic I can’t. It’s disgusting…” “I think you’re forgetting we’re in 8th grade…” “Tch, being in 8th grade doesn’t mean anything, if these boys aren’t at your feet, then leave!” Cirice was hoping one of her other friends would text her and get her out of this situation. She can’t even bear to listen to another word about how she deserves princess treatment from boys. She doesn’t like to think she deserves anything from anyone, especially not boys her age. She knows all she is to everyone else is, “The weird girl” or “The crazy one.” “Hello?! Are you even listening to me? I’m giving you valuable advice right now!” “Yes… sorry my mind is just all over the place…” “Sigh, well I guess I can just tell you everything later…” “Actually, there’s no need for that…” “Are you thinking what I’m thinking…?” “SLUMBER PARTY!!” The two shouted in unison. “Oh my gosh we should totally invite Alexis and Kassie!” “We should! It’s been so long since we’ve all hung out together!” “You text Alexis, I’ll text Kassie.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Back to Sections Olivia Muscatteli By Olivia Muscatteli Volume 3 Issue 1

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Traditions By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by Grateful My family’s full of traditions Big and small More are added like new additions What if I don’t answer the call? 10th Birthday Should I follow or not? Take a turn, enter a new hallway? Or should I follow what I was taught? A few months later It’s time for another Should I be the traitor? Or follow my mother? So many questions To be answered Can you offer any suggestions? Or will they be left unanswered? 3 years later Time to cross a boundary Tradition as big as an alligator I can’t break the rules voluntarily Traditions are the building stones For my family’s foundation Valued like my ancestor’s bones Break them you’ll end up in probation There are flaws in some traditions Bridges too old to cross I know my ancestors’ ambitions But I can’t afford the loss I want to explore Not be trapped in a house I want a dog to adore I don’t need a spouse I want to write As well go into the sciences I know it’s hard but why not take a new bite Just like we change appliances A little change wouldn’t hurt We can keep our ancestor’s legacies Change ourselves for the better spirt And in our heart keep their memories BACK TO TOP