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Back to Articles News Back to Sections P.S. I Love You Week By Everton Prospere Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by P.S. I Love You Day The Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the Wellness Center are working side-by-side to host Valley Stream North’s first P.S. I Love You Week, a time that brings awareness to mental health and bullying. Traditionally a single day, both organizations agreed to extend the celebration to an entire week from February 7th through the 11th. With a pandemic that has brought many extra hardships for students, the week seeks to bring love and joy to the entire North community. On April 23rd, 2010, the DiPalma family faced devastating news. The father of the family, Joseph DiPalma, committed suicide. This tragedy left a gaping hole within those who knew Joseph, particularly within Brooke DiPalma, his daughter. Rather than letting such a horrific event happen again, Brooke took action and worked with her family, school, and peers to annually designate February 11th as a day to ensure that no one ever feels alone. As the organization’s website states, “Tragedy should not be the force for togetherness; togetherness should be the force that ends tragedies.” P.S. I Love You Day is a day of togetherness, a day that will unite North and spread love to all. The SADD club and Wellness Center have planned several activities for the days leading up to February 11th in order to promote the event throughout the entire school: 1. The TikTok Challenge - This creative competition requires participation from all Spartans. Ending on February 9th, Spartans are encouraged to make creative videos on TikTok that bring awareness to mental health and bullying. The videos can include dances, pieces of art, or any creative media that promotes P.S. I Love You Week. The TikToks, which the administration will judge, can be made alone or in groups, with the winner receiving a $25 gift card. 2. Grade Level Purple Clothing Challenge - On February 11th, all the grades will compete against each other based on purple clothing. To participate, students should wear a purple article of clothing on the 11th to show support to P.S. I Love You Week. The grade level that collectively wears the most purple articles will receive recognition and a special award to their grade council. 3. Supportive Post-it Note Messages - Various clubs will come together on February 10th after school to make post-it notes with supportive messages. Every single locker will receive a personalized note, so all students are encouraged to visit their lockers on February 11th. The SADD club and Wellness Center hope that the North community comes together for this important cause with these events. This will, hopefully, be the start of an annual tradition at Valley Stream North. Mark your calendars for the first P.S. I Love You Week, from February 7th to the 11th! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Kobe Bryant Mural in Stairwell Jeselys Vazquez Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching A beautiful masterpiece, the Kobe Bryant mural by the stairwell was created by Mr. Nafte’s students. It all started with an assignment known as the “Pivotal Portrait” which had students from different classes participate in it. According to Mr. Nafte, “the assignment is usually geared towards teaching student artists about value, tints, shades, monochromatic understanding, and the use of the medium selected for the initial portrait study,” so this year, students in Drawing and Painting electives selected Kobe Bryant. Due to his death in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, it has been a popular theme in the art world all around to present or make something in his honor by fans and artists in different parts of the world. For instance, the Lakers continue to honor his memory; talented people have made canvas paintings, sharing them live on various social media platforms and have shared how they are affected by it and their thoughts. In this case, our North High School’s creative students voted on a Kobe Bryant mural for the 3rd floor stairwell. Prior to the creation of the mural, students were given an assignment stating that they had to research a person they believe would be an inspiration to our Valley Stream North community, and once they finished researching, they presented it to the class for a vote and whoever ended up with the most votes from the class was the winner that got to be the person who decided the subject of the Pivotal Portrait. Did you know that there was a lesson behind it all with the medium of watercolors? As Mr. Nafte explains, “this year’s Kobe Bryant was a lesson in understanding, using, and experimenting with watercolor and how to appropriately apply watercolor in layers to achieve a variety of tints and shades, bringing the illusion of space and 3 dimensions to the viewer”. This kind of project takes about three weeks. In the first week students begin researching, in the second week they practice a variety of techniques on smaller-sized portions of paper to get the basic dynamic of watercolors, the medium, in this case, and in the last week, the students enlarge the scale to create the portrait and make an impression on our remarkable Valley Stream North High School community! Not only does the Kobe Bryant mural stand as a testament to artistry but also as a poignant homage to an incredible icon in NBA history whose legacy and hard work continues to reverberate across the realms of art and beyond. I can’t wait to see what else Mr. Nafte has up his sleeve to shock us all and be part of the marvelous creations that “spice” up our way to class and make us take a moment to appreciate it. BACK TO TOP

Marco Alvarez LAYOUT TEAM & SPREADSHEET MANAGER Hello all! I am part of the Layout Team and I manage the spreadsheet for the North Star and Polaris Magazine. My goal is to help publish the works of your fellow students. You may have seen me around in other activities or classes, so know that I keep your interests in mind when I meet with other members and editors. I look forward to sharing your work with our community this year!

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections 2023 Oscar Predictions By Alain Deen Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by US Weekly The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, evaluate and reward the creative prowess of films through an artistic and technical lens. The ceremony is largely regarded as one of the most prestigious nights within the industry, underscoring the talent, grit, and passion placed into the filmmaking process. As an aspiring filmmaker, writer, and actor myself, The Oscars are more than just an awards ceremony. The event proves to be pinnacle of creative, artistic, and introspective thought in terms of the past year. This year’s ceremony is taking place on March 12th, and there are various predictions regarding this year’s nominees. I will be covering the more popular categories, just as I did in my 2022 prediction article. Here are my takes. Best Picture: Top Gun: Maverick Women Talking Everything Everywhere All at Once The Banshees of Inisherin Triangle of Sadness The Fabelmans All Quiet on the Western Front Avatar: The Way of Water Elvis Tar In my opinion, Baz Luhrmann’s star-studded Elvis biopic takes the cake for this category. The unique editing, aesthetic, cinematography, and performances brand the film in an elegant, award-winning fashion. Compared to all of the other titles listed above, Elvis has generated the most fan fare by a landslide. However, it is worth noting that I personally believe Everything Everywhere All at Once is the better film in terms of pacing, writing and plot. Even so, I predict Elvis to win however due to its large cultural impact in the last eight months or so. Best Actor Brendan Fraser, The Whale Austin Butler, Elvis Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin Bill Nighty, Living Paul Mescal, Aftersun Austin Butler has emerged as one of the prominent faces of Hollywood this past year with the success of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. It is safe to say that Butler committed to the role in ways we cannot comprehend. For instance, Butler nailed his accent to the tea, to the point where it has remained almost a year after filming culminated. Therefore, I predict his performance to win in the best actor category. In contrast to the other actors nominated, Butler has displayed an exceeding level of commitment. Any actor willing to devote his time, grit, and fortitude in a role is deserving of winning this award, and Butler did just that. Best Actress Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans Cate Blanchett, Tar Ana De Armas, Blonde Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once For me, Michelle Yeoh’s performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once has to be one of the greatest I have seen in my 18 years of life. Yeoh’s multifaceted performance underscores the duality of livelihood. Her subtle motions, gestures, accompanied with her character’s (Evelyn Quan Wang’s) buoyant personality makes the performance award-winning for me. It takes a different skillset to play Evelyn, which Michelle mastered impressively. What makes her performance even more impressive is that this is Yeoh’s first leading role in a Hollywood film. Best Supporting Actor Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once The casting in Everything Everywhere All at Once, was seemingly written in the stars. Ke Huy Quan delivers a stunning performance as Waymond Wang, as Quan felt the screenplay was written specifically for him. Specifically, Quan portrayed three versions of the same character, whom he believes are all different representations of himself. Quan felt a deeper connection to Wang’s different personas, underscoring his natural connection to the role. Unlike Austin Butler (whom I predict to win in the best actor category), Quan did not put as much grit and sweat into the role. However, I am not implying he is undeserving, but rather emphasizing Quan’s raw talent and natural ability, to which he is greatly deserving of the award in this category. Best Director Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin Todd Field, Tar Ruben Ostlund, Triangle of Sadness Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once Daniel Kwan, Everything Everywhere All at Once Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, was nothing short of a captivating, compelling, and engrossing watch. Spielberg’s direction proves to be nuanced, complex, and brilliant in terms of his transition into modern storytelling. The film finds Speilberg nodding at his familial roots which bolstered his passion for film. Spielberg seemingly synthesizes the concepts of life and art, culminating in a beautiful ode to the craft of film and the genius surrounding the filmmaking process. Just from watching the film, viewers embody the passion and grit provided by Spielberg, making his direction extraordinarily memorable and quite deserving of this award. Best Supporting Actress Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once Hong Chau, The Wale Kerry Condon delivers a stunning performance in The Banshees of Inisherin. Playing Siobhán, Condon performed while channeling grief from her beloved dog’s death. This is an interesting way to approach a role, which surprisingly paid off for the Irish actress. While I was not exceedingly impressed with this category’s nominees, I believe Condon is deserving of the role, as she successfully examined the intricacies of a woman’s dignity, intelligence, and nuances. Best Animated Feature Turning Red Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Marcel the Shell with Shoes On The Sea Beast Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Along with the other categories, one must not forget the importance and cultural impact of animation. I believe Pixar’s Turning Red , is greatly deserving of this category’s award due to its coming-of-age plotlines, risk, and minority representation. Pixar took a risk when developing this film, conjuring dialogue which deals with puberty along with a critique on traditionality. This very concept brands the film in an award-winning fashion. It is worth noting that Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio was an underrated masterpiece and deserves the credit where it is due. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Strange Results of The Reverse Flynn Effect Max Ching Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Max Ching As society and technology have evolved with multiple inventions of life-changing machines like the radio, telephone, airplane, and many more, a theory stating that humans become smarter every decade has developed. This theory is called The Flynn Effect. According to The Debrief, James Flynn, who discovered a 13-point increase in an IQ test between 1932 and 1978, developed this theory in 1984; this theory has been fully accurate for the time being. However, researchers have claimed that in recent years, the average IQ has dropped. This is called, “The Reverse Flynn Effect.” As previously stated, The Reverse Flynn Effect is the exact opposite of The Flynn Effect , where IQ test scores drop instead of increase over decades. According to The Debrief , this effect has presented itself in Norway, Denmark, Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and the United States. So, why is this happening, and is there any way to prevent this from happening any further? There are many reasons why this trend is occurring. According to The Debrief , some researchers have suggested that education quality, poor nutrition, and a lack of confidence in test-taking among children contribute to the effect. Also, children may no longer respond well to IQ tests. This does not mean that humans have become mentally less intelligent in the past decades, but instead, maybe their ability to take exams has worsened. Even researchers have supported this claim. Doctor Elizabeth Dworak, a research Assistant Professor of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, states, “It doesn’t mean their mental ability is lower or higher; it’s just a difference in scores that are favoring older or newer samples.” She has also said, “It could just be that they’re getting worse at taking tests or specifically worse at taking these kinds of tests.” So, this also proves that children are not actually becoming less intelligent, it is just that they may have a problem with taking exams. So, now that we have discovered why this event is occurring, we will now cover how to prevent this event from evolving even further. Well, according to The Debrief , environmental changes have been attributed to this effect; increased air pollution and lead exposure have been associated with drops in IQ levels. To prevent this effect from progressing, we could decrease air pollution by taking better care of plants, using less energy, limiting backyard and city fires, and using fewer fossil fuels. Also, not all mental skills are decreasing for children. Researchers have found that IQ scores related to spatial reasoning, or the ability to visualize 3D objects and draw conclusions based on limited information, have increased over time ( The Debrief). So, in conclusion, we have learned that the Reverse Flynn Effect is the exact opposite of the Flynn Effect, where it is evident that IQ scores have decreased over the past few decades. However, we have also learned that this could be because children just are not comfortable with taking tests. Also, we have learned that IQ scores relating to spatial reasoning, and the ability to draw conclusions and visualize objects has increased. So, although some might think that society is soon to be doomed due to the apparent dwindling IQ scores, this is not the case, as this effect can be reversed. SOURCES: https://thedebrief.org/new-study-reveals-sharp-decline-in-american-iq-scores-as-the-reverse-flynn-effect-takes-center-stage/ https://www.verywellmind.com/the-flynn-effect-7565614 BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Kobe Bryant’s Lasting Legacy By Alain Deen Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Image provided by NBC News On January 26th, 2020, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna unfortunately passed away in a helicopter crash. Seven others also passed away: Gianna’s basketball teammates, their parents, coaches and pilot, Ara Zobayan. Kobe Bryant’s passing left the world in shock, primarily due to his heavy influence on basketball and society as a whole. Bryant certainly left a lasting legacy to the world, one which will be remembered for generations to come. Kobe Bryant entered the NBA soon after high school, to then lead a successful 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, won five NBA championships, and Kobe was a two-time NBA finals MVP. On top of that, Kobe was the 2008 NBA most valuable player, and a two-time scoring champion in 2006 and 2007. Although his remarkable statistics classify him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kobe did not let his statistics define who he was. Bryant had multiple interests besides basketball. He enjoyed watching soccer (“football” in Europe) and was a fan of FC Barcelona. Kobe was also friends with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. Kobe also founded the Mamba Sports Academy, where many young athletes developed their skills using Kobe’s winner mindset. After retirement from the NBA, Kobe Bryant focused on being a good father to his children, raising them to be successful young women. Kobe also wrote several children's books, as well as a short film. Kobe’s drive toward versatility emphasizes that he was much more than just a basketball player. That same short film, “Dear Basketball” went on to win an Academy Award in 2018, breaking boundaries. In the film, Kobe told of his early roots which developed his love for basketball. He explained his mentality, as well as his mindset which pushed him to strive for more. Kobe’s message and drive inspired many current NBA players, like Lebron James. As for Kobe’s daughter Gianna, she was an avid basketball player, expected to join the WNBA when she got older. Gianna, along with her teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, played on the Mamba Basketball team together, with hopes of making it big one day. Kobe Bryant’s inspiring legacy will leave an imprint on all future generations of basketball players, filmmakers, athletes, authors and philanthropists. Kobe emphasized when you stick to your dream with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything, which is the Mamba Mentality, In the words of Kobe, “Mamba out.” R.I.P Kobe Bryant 1978-2020. R.I.P Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections James Webb Space Telescope: Where Is It Now? By Elyas Layachi Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by NASA Rendering Three issues ago, I wrote an article describing James Webb: a space telescope capable of seeing billions of years into the universe’s past. Named after one of NASA’s former administrators, construction on the telescope began in 1996, with a planned launch in the year 2007. Due to technical problems, budget limits, and extensive delays, Webb wasn't launched until December 2021. Now, it’s about five months after the observatory’s launch, and Webb is getting closer to sending back observational images of neighboring stars, galaxies, and galaxy clusters. You may ask, “Why is it taking so long for Webb to begin operations?” This is because of several factors, including the time it takes for it to travel to its observational destination, as well as the countless maneuvers and tests that must be performed on Earth by NASA to make sure it's functional. Webb’s destination is the second Lagrangepoint (according to NASA, a Lagrange point, named after 18th century mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange, is an orbiting point where the Earth, Moon, and Sun’s gravities create a fixed gravitational field), which is about one million miles away from Earth. It took Webb about 30 days to reach the second Lagrange point. After its arrival at the Second Lagrange Point, Webb had to undergo a series of tests and maneuvers, including the unfolding of its sun shield and the realignment of its 18 mirrors. Such a process is meticulous, as telescope operators need to make sure all parts of the telescope are functional and in their proper positions to begin taking photos. Scientists then took an experimental photo to test the mirror arrangement, and they were successful! However, the mirror alignment process also requires the cooling of many of its components to extremely cold temperatures to prevent heat from interfering with the infrared photography, which takes over a month. The telescope is currently – at the time of this article’s writing – on its last mirror alignment stage, the final cooling MIRI stage. According to NASA, in this stage, the telescope’s near-infrared instruments are operational at their required low temperatures, but the Mid-Infrared Instrument cannot be cooled to its necessary temperature by space alone. Using helium gas, the telescope is cooling MIRI to its operational temperature of 7 degrees Kelvin, which is almost absolute zero. After this stage, all mirrors will be corrected for the last time, and the instruments will be tested one last time before images are taken. Hopefully everything goes well, and within the next few weeks, we should be seeing James Webb’s images! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Ask Ala: Friends By Ala Paruch Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Infared Q. Dear Ala, I am in seventh grade and I don't have many friends. I had a lot of friends in elementary school, but most of them went to Memorial. That on top of Covid-19 is making it difficult for me to talk to the ones that are in North. It is hard for me to socialize because we have to wear masks and socially distance. Do you have any advice to help me make new friends? Sincerely, “Too” Socially Distant A. Hello and thank you for the question! Making friends in this new environment is definitely something we have to get used to. Firstly, I would advise you to try to still talk to your friends that went to Memorial. You already have a connection, and it would be a shame to just let that go without trying. To make new friends at North, I would join some clubs that interest you, and don’t be afraid to reach out to the people who attend them. You can check out the Virtual Club Fair channel on the North High School Team and see what clubs you might like. Hope this helps! Q. Dear Ala, My friend and I are starting to fight a lot more often, and it usually ends with us not talking to each other for a while. I always try to avoid arguing, but sometimes we just start to disagree, and disagreeing turns into arguing, and arguing turns into not talking to each other for days on end. How do I avoid fights with my friend so that we don't engage in passive-aggressive bickering almost every day? From, Arguing Friend A. Hello and thank you for the question! It seems to me that you and your friend have to realize having different opinions is not bad thing. Everyone has different viewpoints on situations and topics, and disagreeing is inevitable. Additionally, when you realize that the “disagreeing” is turning into “arguing,” that might be a good point to take a moment for yourself and calm down. Taking time to sort things out is also not bad, it is actually crucial. Keeping up a relationship, any type, requires work and patience such as talking things out and taking time for yourself. If you are not in the right space, keeping up a friendship is off the list. Hope this helps and good luck! Q. Dear Ala, I'm angry at one of my friends, but I don't know how to let her know. I've tried giving her subtle hints, but she either doesn't notice or doesn't care. Since she can be sensitive sometimes, I'm afraid that if I tell her, she'll take it too much to heart. I just really don't want to ruin the friendship. Thanks for your help, Sensitive Friend A. Hello and thank you for the question! The best option would be to just confront her about it. Be straightforward with what is bothering you. If the matter is important to you, it will also be important to her. I’m glad you are trying to look out for her and consider the fact that she is sensitive. However, after this much effort, you can’t keep sacrificing your emotions for her. This will be a little bit of a wakeup call for her to pay closer attention to what you are trying to tell her in the future. Good luck! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Mundane Boredom By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original artwork by Elaine Ching Sad sarcastic showrunners speak He keeps her company Echoes of past moments flood her thoughts Illustrations of future dreams pitter-patter in the back of her mind Sounds of nothing but quiet and casualness make up the setting Brimming with nothing but comfortable, quiet company Or the calm butterflies that still sit in their stomachs after all this time Right hand intertwined with his left hand Eyes looking down at their separate pens and papers Dabbling in their philosophies as they borrow lessons learned from their other Imaginative ideas flow from their pens as they use inspiration from real life. Dutiful loyalty fills them as they sink into this mundane comfortable life Every moment that they’ve spent with each other is forever burned into their skulls, but not all are brought up As they let the background noise fade away, they focus on the current moment So, in tune with each other that they realize they need a break Exiting their chairs, they walk outside She grabs his hand as she opens the door, feeling the fresh spring air on her face Clicking her tongue in acknowledgment, she turns around to joke about the weather As she turns to where he is, she realizes. Pretty much everything from her past few hours is gone. Eventually, she realizes none of it was ever confirmed, especially her bored companion. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Winter Track By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by NYSPHSSA Keep your eyes open Run your warm-up laps Avoid getting frozen Stretches and claps That's winter track   Don't let Boyens catch you late You'll end up cursing your fate Don't forget to smile Or else Frazer will make you run a mile The racewalkers are ready to strike some poses Leaving their competitors to wipe their noses The sprinters dash to the finish line As everyone watches from the sideline The pole-vaulters launch themselves into the sky Spread out their wings ready to fly Whoosh- the distances runners take everyone by surprise Their competition mortified   Keep your eyes open Run your warm-up laps Avoid getting frozen Stretches and claps That's winter track   Long jump, triple jump, high jump The jumpers really know their stuff Making the other teams look like dump Too bad they don’t have Boyens to make them huff Watch out for the hurdlers Owning the track, they look like rulers Thump- the throwers amaze the crowd Shuffling, spinning to great lengths Leaving everyone to bow down Cuozzo knows all their strengths Diaz takes out his clock New potential to unlock Look out for the middies Their a different kind of species Every day we do core It doesn’t matter how sore Put all of us together All the other teams are ready to surrender We’re hard workers None of us are lurkers Thanks to our coaches No team dare approaches Boyens, Cuozzo, Diaz, and Frazer Shaped our team sharp like a razor As we all leave the meet We know the victory was sweet To a goodnight’s rest Knowing we did our best Sore bodies, but we don’t complain With Boyens, better to let it remain BACK TO TOP