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Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Sisters By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Vector Shock My sister shines so bright Whenever we step out on a night She glows like a firefly I love how she isn't shy Because she's bursting with ideas so divine No wonder why my parents named her shine Brighter than the sun My sister always makes sure we have fun Her writing makes people wonder Why their writing doesn't bring that thunder She's bursting with ideas so divine No wonder why my parents named her shine Tennis and badminton are her favorite sports She owns all the courts Her kindness touches everyone's hearts Everyone is astounded by her smart After all, she's bursting with ideas so divine No wonder why my parents named her Shine BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Line Back to Sections Lillian Dolan - What is Line - 1 By Lillian Dolan November 1, 2020 Photography Volume 1 Issue 1 This picture displays the lines on a manhole cover. It was taken at around noon.

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Dear Society By Morgan Buly Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by The Inclusion Solution Dear Society, Why do you tell us to love ourselves, but bring us down? You tell us to be ourselves, as long as we’re doing it the right way. You tell us we can love anyone, any shape or size. Yet you still choose the love of our life. You tell us to love our skin, but kill our kind. You say we’re in a safe place. Yet teenagers are depressed, students are stressed, and laws forbid you from being yourself. Telling us no matter how hard we try, we’re never enough. You're more concerned in gender identity and race than poverty and shooting. You provide people with an internet-based way to harass each other. You teach us to not like our size, ethnicity, hair, clothes and home. You teach us to kill and hate. You took our youth away, You make kids afraid to go to the deli, knowing that there is a chance they could die. You tell us that because of the body they were born in, we must work harder. Sincerely, Me BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Anti-Bullying Week By Raj Singh Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Intro Film The Students Against Destructive Decisions, SADD, is a club dedicated to helping students of Valley Stream North High School not to hurt themselves, stop bullying, and stop kids from consuming harmful substances. Recently we participated in Anti-Bullying Week, and of course as SADD members we would step up and spread the message. On October 22nd, 2021, the Senior High Student Council, SHSC, and SADD set up decorations for Anti-Bullying Week. This included setting up streamers and pasting up anti-bullying messages and posters across the hallways and walls. This was done to increase awareness about bullying and spread positive, encouraging messages for the week. The centerpiece for the work, which was put up a week earlier, was a large poster with paper hands representing that we are one, and that we should all exemplify kindness, stop bullying in our schools, and create an equal environment. These statements would be on the halls for the whole of the next week, informing those who walked the halls what to do and how to behave kindly to others in our school. The club members and honor society members worked hard, but the reward in the end was great, leading to an exciting and happy Anti-Bulling Week that would propel our school forward as the free and successful place it is. Let us remember our core values of respect, integrity, and kindness. In conclusion, due to the hard work of our resident SADD workers, we had a successful campaign by spreading our posters and streamers across the halls and walls with assistance from the SHSC. As a SADD member who actively participated in these events, I am quite proud of what we have done, and you can bet we will do more in the future, and it will be even better. This will not be the last time you hear from us! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections CHESS By Augustine Magapan Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Wikipedia Pieces in white, and pieces in black; they form a social hierarchy to win the game of chess and must surround the opponent's king. Play games with your friends, grandmasters, or even your younger siblings. People of any age can learn to play this game if they put in the effort. Chess, a board game dating back to the sixth century, is regaining popularity. Before delving deeper into the game, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it today, chess has many complexities. The first step in learning chess is understanding the board and the pieces. Place the white square on the bottom right to set up the board. After putting the board in its proper place, pawns should be on the second row from the bottom, protecting the other pieces... hence the name “pawn.” The rooks should go in each corner, followed by the knights, or horses, next to each other. Then there's a bishop next to each knight, followed by a queen and king. If you're playing white, place the queen on the white square and the king on the dark square. We can discuss the pieces after everything is ready. A pawn is a weak, helpful piece of equipment for blocking or attacking the board. Pawns can only move one square forward in their first turn; if they have yet to be moved, they can move up to two squares forward in their first turn. To attack, the pawn should only move diagonally against the opposing-colored piece. Another method of attack, revolves around the opponent's first move with their pawns. You may attack diagonally if your opponent moves their pawn two squares forward, and it stands right next to your pawn. That is known as “ en passant.” The rook, which can move in straight, vertical, and horizontal lines, is typically used as a defense piece to protect the king. Then there's the knight, a horse-like figure who can jump over other parts and move in an L-shaped pattern. The bishop can move in straight diagonal lines, and the queen, the most powerful piece, can act as both a rook and a bishop. On the other hand, the king is similar to a queen but can only move one space at a time. Once you've figured out how to move the pieces correctly, you must checkmate your opponent's king based on the placement of your army. When a piece attacks the king directly, the king is exposed, but it can move away or defend. In this scenario, white's bishop is "checking," or directly attacking, the king in this position. Unfortunately, there is nowhere for the king to flee. As a result, Black can move its knight or queen to counter the attack. In this scenario, using the knight rather than the queen is preferable because the bishop could capture the queen after Black uses it to stop the check. White would have the upper hand because Black would have lost his or her most influential piece! It's a fascinating concept, but it wasn't always like this. Even before the 6th century, people in India created the first version of chess, Chaturanga. The term "four-limbed" or "four-arms" refers to an army's various components, including infantry, cavalry, elephantry, and chariotry. Because the game is so old, it needs proper rules, particularly regarding how the pieces move. Some theories about the game can be related to modern chess. The game board was not checkered, but historians believe it was used for other games because it had markings irrelevant to the game itself. One fascinating aspect of the game was how their soldiers could promote it. The idea of promotion is still being determined where. In modern chess, some thought the soldiers could be upgraded to minister or queen, and some speculated that the soldiers would transform into whatever was originally on the board. Furthermore, there were various theories about how to end the game, with people believing that checkmating was not the way to win, which meant that even the King had to be captured. Chess.com has created a chart of the different pieces and a description. Like a pawn in modern chess, the foot-soldier moves only one square forward. As a result, the foot-first soldier's move must be at least two squares ahead. The elephant was similar to a bishop because it could move two squares diagonally. In modern terms, it is still unknown whether the piece can jump over details such as the horse or the knight. A chariot moves like a rook, and the minister can only move one square diagonally. Finally, the king... the most crucial piece in chess, moves like any other king today. The game influenced various nations in Asia and Europe before evolving into the game we knew today in the 16th century. Many people have theorized multiple ways to start their games or create strategic positions to gain an advantage since the 16th century. These are known as openings. The chess theory is a fantastic concept in which millions of people demonstrate their creative abilities and logical reasoning to gain an advantage by creating a solid opening. The player can win the endgame when the opening has done its job, and the player has achieved an advantage. An endgame occurs when the two players have few pieces remaining and must perform a checkmate as soon as possible. Chess does not have to be played on a board, and many people can play it online at lichess.org and chess.com . Students are becoming interested in the game due to the popularity of social media and the use of laptop computers in school. Tournaments and competitive chess play continue to grow as people strive for a specific ranking to demonstrate their skill. You can improve your cognitive thinking skills of logistic reasoning on real-life problems by studying or thinking about chess. Remember that "having the next move is the most powerful weapon in chess." BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections As More Republicans Announce, Should Governor Cuomo be Worried in 2022? By Logan Balsan Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by RochesterFirst Ever since allegations of sexual misconduct were publicized in March 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s re-election chances have been in limbo. Would he run for re-election despite these serious allegations? Would he resign? Would he be impeached by the New York State Legislature? As of April 8th, 2021, Governor Cuomo is still seeking a fourth term in 2022 despite the political backlash by many politicians, many in his own party. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and other prominent New York Democratic politicians have called on the Governor to resign. However, Cuomo responded that he doesn’t “work for politicians” and that the people should decide. In a poll run by RochesterFirst, Rochester’s local news outlet, a majority preferred a new Governor in 2022 over Cuomo. Over the past few days, several Republicans have announced their bids against Cuomo. On Wednesday, April 7th, Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, announced his intentions to run for the Republican nomination. A political novice, he has held no other political office. On Thursday, April 8th, Representative Lee Zeldin of Suffolk County announced his candidacy for the GOP nomination as well. Zeldin currently serves as Representative of New York’s 1st Congressional District since 2015 and previously served in the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2014. Two lesser known candidates are also vying for the Republican nomination: Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli and Businessman Derrick Gibson. Another potential candidate could be Representative Elise Stefanik, representing Northern New York in the House of Representatives since 2015, as she publicly expressed interest in seeking the office on Tuesday, April 13th. Traditionally, New York has trended to the left since former Republican Governor George Pataki retired in 2007. The last major Republican politicians in high state offices have since retired or lost re-election. Senator Al D’Amato, serving from 1981 to 1999, lost to now Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in 1998. No Republican has won the NYC Mayorship since Bloomberg in 2009. However, as Governor Cuomo is facing serious allegations and dropping approval ratings, there may be an opportunity for a Republican pickup, which would be the first since 1994 when George Pataki defeated Governor Mario Cuomo. Will the Republicans succeed in retaking the Governorship? It all depends on the long campaign trail ahead. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections XC By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by GWSports out of all the four seasons Fall's my favorite one for many different reasons but XC's the main one   the adrenaline keeps me going no matter how hard the race may seem it's all Boyens's doing that i managed to stay on the team   going up and down those hills really gives me chills all that running is tiring but Boyens's speeches are pretty inspiring   i've never met anyone who could be more understanding or anyone more hardworking it doesn't matter how many miles you can always count on him to crack some smiles   out of all the four seasons fall's my favorite one for many different reasons but XC's the main one   playing sports all three seasons makes me love XC for even more reasons other sports cannot compare to be honest, winter track is just a nightmare   winter track might be in the same tribe but it just doesn't give the same vibe badminton might be more relaxing but it takes a lot more adapting   out of all the four seasons fall's my favorite one for many different reasons but XC's the main one   we don't need announcements like other sports Simply for the same reason we don't need darn courts XC teaches you more than running it teaches you how to be cunning -Dedicated to Timothy Boyens, the best XC coach the world has ever seen. Thank you for everything you have done for North’s XC team. I appreciate all the hard work and effort you have put in. BACK TO TOP

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