Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Cool Creatures: Episode 2, The Axolotl By Matteo Somma Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by BBC At first glance, the axolotl ( ak ·suh·laa·tl) may look like a scene from a nightmare, but it actually is a mystical and mysterious creature about which scientists don’t know much. Indigenous to only Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in Mexico, the axolotl inhabited the regions for the last 10,000 years. However, they are now critically endangered. Being a type of salamander, the axolotl is an amphibian, spending most of its time in the water. Recently, axolotls have been forced into the pet trade, as more are bred in captivity due to more people wanting this mysterious creature as a pet. Unfortunately, this does mean multiple accounts of severe animal neglect occur both in pet stores and at people's homes. What many don’t realize before buying these animals is how large they grow and how complex their diet is. Similar to other amphibians, axolotls are carnivores. They require a large variety of foods such as mollusks, different kinds of worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, and even small fish. However, many of these dietary items can be difficult to find. Axolotls are not just “fish,” they are complex creatures that need adequate care to thrive, let alone survive. In the wild, as well as in captivity, axolotls are known to be tough and healthy. They can survive in waters as cold as 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Considering they are from the warm climate of Mexico, that’s pretty impressive! Axolotls are often described as forts stuck in their tadpole phase, due in large part to them having both long tails and legs. Furthermore, axolotls are much larger than normal-sized amphibians, growing up to 18 inches long. Overall, the axolotl is a super cool, mysterious, and mystical creature. Unfortunately, due to large amounts of pollution, water diversion, and an expanding human population, their habitats are slowly disappearing. However, there is hope for the future, with many captive breeding projects for the species in the works. Thanks for tuning in for Cool Creatures Episode 2! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The Comeback of Winter Track and Field By Joseph Garofalo Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Original photo by Coach Michael Frazer: Ryan John, Junior, 300m January 4th was a great beginning to the new year for many student athletes across Long Island as low and moderate risk sports could begin playing again. Though many sports are still on hold in the modified Winter season, such as all Junior High Sports and JV/Varsity Basketball, New York State classifies Winter Track and Field, Fencing, Rifle, and Gymnastics to be low and moderate risk sports, allowing these teams the ability to return to a sense of normalcy. As a track athlete myself, it feels a little strange due to all the new protocols; however, it is a great feeling to be back on the track. As we are two weeks into the season already, the protocols have become normal rather than a distraction, and we are all hard at work again. On the first day of practice, we began in the gym, all 6 feet apart with masks on as Coach Frazer and Coach Boyens instructed us in the new rules. Some included masks while we run, indoors and outdoors where we cannot keep 12 feet of social distancing, sanitizing weights, poles, and other equipment before another person uses them, and no more indoor meets at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington, which to many, was the best part of the meets. All this aside, many aspects were still the same including many events, practices, and just our team being together in general. As we were hard at work the past two weeks, Friday, January 15th was our first track meet in the “new normal.” With it being held on our home field, and with only North athletes attending, it was a great success even with the cold weather. Many athletes got outstanding scores for their first track meets of the season including junior Ryan John who jumped 20 feet - 3 inches in the Long Jump, and Senior Danielle Phillip who had a 45.00 second run in the 300 meters (both former state qualifiers). We also had great performances by 9th graders Nicola Petruccelli, Zaiden Jackson, and Nattaly Lindo in their first meet on the Varsity Track and Field team. It was a great feeling to be back, and we hope to see other sports return soon. Do your part by wearing a mask and keep your physical distancing up so that many other athletes can participate in the modified Fall and Spring seasons. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Presenter and the Friend By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Migration Navigator I look out towards the crowd Suck in my breath and turn around 1…2…3…4 Deep breath in and deep breath out Introductions are made The lights start to fade Turn around and address the mass As time slowly starts to pass Clear my throat a couple times Sweat drips as I read my lines Mind starts to wonder I forget to ponder I look out towards the crowd Suck in my breath and turn around 1…2…3…4 Deep breath in and deep breath out Focus on the task Emotions flood my face, unable to mask At the end of the room My friend smiles, allowing me to resume Careful hand gestures Taking careful measures A smile blooms on my face As I remember my case I look out towards the crowd Suck in my breath and turn around 1…2…3…4 Deep breath in and deep breath out Traditions fly out my mouth Cultures from the north, west, east, and south I talk about them all Big or small The sun hits the class Showering us all, making us look like glass The shiniest of us all Is my friend who leans agaisnt the wall I look out towards the crowd Suck in my breath and turn around 1…2…3…4 Deep breath in and deep breath out But this time I hear applause I smile knowing what I cause I couldn’t do it without the friend Who never takes credit for all she mends BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Words But Prettier By Elaine Ching November 19, 2021 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections Nature’s Gentle Touch By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Elaine Ching By the ocean's edge, Seashells scattered on the sand, Nature's gentle touch BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Team Respect: Life Not Only at North By Leandra Mina and Jasmine Munoz Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Original artwork by Leandra Mina and Jasmine Munoz North is an amazing school, and we hope that every single one of us is having a great time so far. Many students, such as ourselves, are “Remote Only,” and in 7th grade. This can be quite challenging, as we don’t really know the environment of the school. However, even with that, it is a school that gives you high expectations. For us, we have not been here long, so we do not know much. One thing we do know is that our teachers are working hard to make this as much of an enjoyable year as possible during these times. Teachers instill important values that you will need in life. They teach how to live up to your fullest potential. Our teachers have taught us so much already, and with that, we’ve worked hard to receive good grades. The values that are being taught are helpful as they are lessons to success that can be used throughout our lives. We are remote learners. It is not so wonderful because we really do not get to interact, but that is beside the point. While we may not get to experience the physical environment of the school, we still are having a fun time learning virtually at North so far! Respect Respect. You know what the word means, but do you really? Respect does not just mean you must be nice or have good manners; you need to really know what it means to have respect. People who have respect are those who have courtesy rules regarding other people’s belongings, letting other people speak, being courteous when listening, and, most importantly, respecting others’ opinions. Being on Team Respect has taught us all of these values. Not just people on team respect, but everyone should show respect, as it is an important part of life. A Big Piece of the Puzzle They’re one of the biggest parts of our life: teachers. They help us so much and push us to our greatest limits. Teachers help us get good grades and do well in life. They should really be appreciated more. Some of the teachers on Team Respect are: • Mr. Gordon (Science) • Mrs. Melluso/Mrs. Balducci (English) • Ms. Gray (U.S History) • Mrs. Andriano/Mrs. Filippi Quotes “The things that make me different are the things that make me.” (Winnie the Pooh) We all have sayings that mean something to us. So, we took several quotes that our teachers suggested to us to use in our life. These ideas are what our teachers go by and apply to their lives, too. Mr. Gordon “Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” In other words, don’t live in the past or worry about the future, just be grateful for all you have today. Mrs. Melluso “Always try and do your best, so you don’t wonder ‘What if?’” Mrs. Balducci Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is." Ms. Gray “Today I will not stress over things I cannot control.” Mrs. Andriano “Do the best you can. No one can ask for more than that.” Mrs. Filippi “It’s never too late to follow your dreams. Figure out what inspires you and follow through.” These quotes may give you hope, so you should try to keep these in your mind and keep them there because you never know when you might need them! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art Back to Sections The Importance of Lines in Art By Isabella Somma Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Original artwork by Isabella Somma Lines. Most people know what lines are: strokes across a page that connect the space between two points. But what is the importance of line in art? Lines make up the fundamentals of artwork, shape, and basically any object. It is one of the seven basic elements of art. Lines can be straight or curved, bold, or thin, and long or short. Lines can be used to define shape and style in 2D drawings or photographs but can also be used as a way to enhance and draw detail on 3D objects. Typically, in line drawing, artists avoid shading and color, so the attention of the piece is mainly on the lines of the objects in the painting -- how they connect and cross paths, and how their use impacts the rest of the piece. To create depth, dimension, values, and the illusion of a 3D image, lines can be drawn thicker or thinner, bolder or lighter. To achieve this look, you can use different shade pencils with different levels of hardness, or press lighter or harder with the medium you are working with.  Now that we know what line is, why is it important to art? Line, along with shape, form, space, texture, value and color, makes it a fundamental aspect to artwork. Line is used to draw attention to the shapes of objects and allows for more sophisticated composition. Line lets artists map out and frame textures, highlights and shadows. Although important, lines can be tricky to work with because typically when creating line drawings, photographs, or paintings, color and shading is eliminated from the piece. It is up to the artist to experiment and grasp the concept of the objects twists and turns and portray it into a masterpiece. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Human Trafficking By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original artwork by Elaine Ching When asked about human trafficking, most people just know that it is a bad thing – that it is just “another dark thing that happens in the world.” However, most people do not know the full extent of it. Merriam Webster defines human trafficking as “organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor).” However, human trafficking is much more than a simple definition. Human traffickers are not picky when it comes to finding victims. Victims of human trafficking range from any age, including children. Any person, regardless of race or gender, can become a victim of human trafficking. A human trafficking victim can be from any country or social class. Anyone can be human trafficked. Human traffickers have many manipulation tactics that can be used in order to find their next victim. Traffickers have more tactics that just “snatching up people,” although that may be one of their strategies. They could use violence as a threat or promise relationships and friendships in order to lure lonely, vulnerable people in. They may also offer money or well-paying employment opportunities to those in need of financial help. In addition, human traffickers have many ways to keep their victims within the trafficking system. While fear is a tactic, the way that traffickers evoke these emotions is important. They could use physical and sexual punishment or manipulate law enforcement into an image of an enemy. Victims will not approach people in public out of the fear that has been instilled within them. You might be thinking, “What happens to these victims?” Well, what victims are forced to do and the effect of human trafficking on their health varies. While sex trafficking, the act of victims being non-consensually and sexually exploited, does exist, there are other forms of human trafficking, one of those being forced labor. Victims can be exploited in almost any way that relates to labor. This can range from restaurants, hotels, agriculture, factories, sweatshops, and illegitimate labor industries. The trafficking can also cause victims negative effects on their mental health. Symptoms can range from post-traumatic stress disorder, guilt, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and using drugs and alcohol to cope. The effects are not easy to undo. The common signs of human trafficking may not always indicate the issue. Sometimes the symptoms may be unrelated, such as signs of mental illness or domestic abuse. However, signs of human trafficking can also differ from the norm, ranging from school absences, a dramatic change of behavior, or no control self-control, such as freedom of speech. If you notice any of these signs or are suspicious of any human trafficking, the national hotline is: 1-(888) 373-7888. If you witness human trafficking, do not confront the victim or the suspected human trafficker, let the professionals handle it. Signs should be reported as you could possibly save a person’s life or prevent significant trauma. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Five Nights at Freddy's Security Breach By Augustine Magapan Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Steam It has been two years since Scott Cawthon, an American video game developer and writer, created a new game. He is also well known for his Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise. To those who are unfamiliar with the franchise, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a popular horror game that revolves around players monitoring robotic animals known as animatronics until a certain time, specifically from 12AM to 6AM. Although typically most Five Nights at Freddy’s games are about watching animatronics, Scott Cawthon released a new video game that is unlike the rest. Before getting into the actual details of the game, it is reasonable to look at the past of Scott Cawthon. On July 24th, 2014, he released a small project called Five Nights at Freddy’s which was only allowed to be played on the computer before it was on other platforms. Going back to the horror game franchise that revolves around the players monitoring animatronics in a pizza place, players play as a guard working a night shift. While monitoring the animatronics until 6AM, it should be noted that the animatronics are alive and move around in the premise during that time frame. There are four main animatronics: Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. The group wishes to murder the security guards and stuff them into animatronic suits. This transforms the game to instead of players focused on the animatronics, they transition to monitoring their own lives until 6AM. The only issue that players must focus on while monitoring themselves and the animatronics is the limited power accessed. The players are allowed to utilize the electrical power to shut doors and turn lights on and off to protect themselves from the animatronics. If either the players fail to monitor the animatronics from coming into the security room, or if all power is drained, an animatronic will pop up on the screen and frighten them. This is known as a jump scare, which implies the players lost…and the security guard is stuffed in a suit. For the next four to five games, the franchise revolved around the same gameplay, but with new environments, characters, and actions implemented. The small project became a whole franchise over the years, leading to Scott Cawthon’s success. Moving forward to late 2021, about 7 years from the first game, Scott Cawthon released a new game called, “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach.” This game is different compared to the other games that Scott Cawthon developed. The idea still revolves around winning by reaching 6AM; however, instead of playing as a security guard monitoring the animatronics, players play a child called, Gregory. Gregory was not able to leave the pizza place before it closes for the night causing him to be trapped; fortunately, Freddy, who is not an evil animatronic, assists Gregory with his escape from the pizza place. Instead of the game revolving around being stuck in one place, players are able to move freely around the enormous pizza place. While completing the goal of escaping the pizza complex, the other animatronics are on the lookout for finding Gregory. Not only the animatronics are looking for him, but also a security guard; therefore, players are able to utilize hiding spots in order to not be seen by any of them. Old and new ideas were implemented in the game such as new jump scares, old and new characters, and actions (closing and opening doors, using power). One gimmick that has surprised players was that Gregory is allowed to go inside Freddy. Instead of being stuffed into him, Gregory is allowed to utilize Freddy to obtain access to other parts of the pizza place and hide from other animatronics. Today, Scott Cawthon’s Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise has impacted many people. It is astonishing how a small project that was developed years ago led to big ideas. It has peaked multiple times, for famous YouTubers streamed his games in the past and present. While Scott Cawthon developed his games, he left easter eggs, or clues and secrets inside video games, for the players who wanted more than just winning. This led to an abundance of theories and analysis on websites and articles. People were able to put the pieces together where it is not only a game, but also a story. The whole entire franchise is connected to a singular timeline leading up to Security Breach. Additionally, Scott Cawthon has a giant fanbase where some people draw their own characters, speculate about animatronics getting romantically together, making music of their own parodies of the games, and posting a lot on social media platforms like TikTok. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Creative Writing Review By Noah Gonzalez Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by Alphaspirit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Out of five, Creative Writing sits strong at a five out of five stars. When taking into account the refreshing change from a typical English course in terms of class work, the exploration of (perhaps) new and unfamiliar styles of literature, as well as the almost limitless number of ways to express one's creative capabilities, one cannot deny the overall benefits acquired from taking this course. First Star : A Fresh New Take - In almost every other course offered in this school, teachers and students must follow a set guideline of learning in order to prepare for either a Regents, AP, or final exam. This can result in students either losing their creative spark within the class or dreadfully following the same old course style they've been following since they entered 1st grade. Creative Writing, however, does not follow this same path. Unlike other courses like AP Human Geography, Regents Physics, or SAT Prep., Creative Writing does not focus on preparing its students for a crucial exam that will either make or break their future. Instead, the course opens up a new world of literature to its students that are generally unexplored in the students' regular English classes. Subjects such as short story writing, graphic novel creation, poetry analysis, and even screenplay writing open up the students' minds to new ways of expressing their creativity in a productive and beneficial manner. Second Star : Lack of Pressure - Similar to an art class, Creative Writing grades its students based on their effort and completion of their work as opposed to a strict point-based system. The pressure of hitting as many points as possible completely vanishes in this course as the most important factor to passing this class is your creativity, imagination, and your diligence to compete what's assigned. Third Star : Easier Grade - As stated previously, this course does not follow a strict point-based system. This means that unless you neglect to complete what's asked of you, you should receive a good grade for the semester you take Creative Writing. The teacher will look that you generally followed the daily lesson; however, other than that, your grade depends on your desire to express your creativity. In my opinion, that's a pretty easy good grade. Fourth Star : Utility Outside Class - Although Creative Writing might not directly influence your grades in other classes, the skills and content acquired within said course can potentially enhance your capabilities within other courses. For example, Creative Writing topics such as poetry creation and analysis provide students with the ability to interpret and create poetry in various forms such as haikus or concrete poems. During such process, students learned to notice figurative language in use, hidden meanings, and the purposes different poetical structures serve. While this allows for students taking Creative Writing to prepare better works of poetry for their class-specific assignment, it also allows for comprehending and completing work in other classes in an easier manner. In classes like AP English Language or Literature, students complete class work and test questions related to poetry analysis. Student who do not/have not taken Creative Writing only have access to their English teacher's lessons that may or may not have the greatest detail or advice because of the teacher's limit on what they can teach due to the need to follow course guidelines. However, if a student has/is taking Creative Writing, they will have a greater knowledge of poetical and literature devices than other students who are limited to their teacher's restricted curriculum capabilities. Fifth Star : Creative Cooperation - One of the greatest aspects of the Creative Writing class is the general freedom to choose how you go about completing the assigned work. Most of the time, if a student puts in the necessary amount of time and effort, they will have little trouble completing their work. While this holds true most of the time, there always exists the possibility where you'll hit a roadblock and cannot produce a creative idea. In most other classes, this problem translates to you either asking the teacher for help, attending extra help, or looking up extra material online. While you can do this in Creative Writing as well, it should be noted that students have an extra liberty in this class that students in other classes do not: the free and near unrestricted assistance from other students. If you're struggling in class like geometry, asking a student for assistance may be perceived by others as cheating. This issue does not transfer over to creative blocks in Creative Writing. In this class, both teachers and student start their classes by discussing ideas in the collaboration space in OneNote. This time allows for the best ideas to come about and for students to pick and choose what best suits their styles of writing. BACK TO TOP