Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Cool Creature Episode 4: With a twist! By Matteo Somma Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Pet Keen Emerging from the grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa comes a sleek, slithering creature. Reaching lengths of 4 feet, this creature commonly dines on birds, amphibians, and rodents in the wild. Can you guess what it is? It’s a ball python! If you didn’t already know, there is one living right here at Valley Stream North High School. Go to room 314 to see Mr. DiSclafani’s albino juvenile ball python named Peaches! Ball pythons originate from Africa and live in humid environments. Also, ball pythons are among the most common pets in the pet trade and come in over 100 different colors and morphs. Our ball python right here at North is 1 foot 4 inches in length and weighs a little over 80 grams. Ball pythons are NOT venomous and will most likely NOT bite you (however, remember they have teeth, and anything with teeth can bite…even humans). Ball pythons are generally docile animals. At Valley Stream North, Peaches has changed peoples’ views on reptiles, especially snakes. As people hold Peaches, they realize that snakes are friends, not enemies. Fun Facts About Ball Pythons: 1. No two ball pythons have the same pattern on their skin, just like no two people have the same fingerprints. 2. Ball pythons are NOT like your average snake, mainly because they don’t have fangs. Instead, they have 100-150 small pointed, hooked teeth. 3. Ball pythons don’t eat much or often. Some won’t eat for months, and others can take up to 3 days to digest their food. 4. Female ball pythons can lay up to 11 eggs at a time and will bury them under the ground and under their bodies. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Spring Break Activities to do in Long Island Mya Hans Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching The highly anticipated spring break is on its way, and the sun is coming out! There are so many exciting things to do in the beautiful weather. If you want to have a fun and memorable spring break but don’t know exactly what you want to do, I have a bunch of activities that you should consider. The first activity most people do when it’s nice out is go to the beach. There’s nothing better than being in the warm sand and then going into the ocean to cool off on a hot day. Also, some beaches, such as Long Beach, have a boardwalk with nice little cafes, restaurants, and ice cream parlors to grab something to eat. You can ride your bike, or walk, and some people even bring their dog on the boardwalk. Some people may not like the beach, but a great alternative is the pool. The pool in Hendrickson Park is nice because it has an eating area, a side of the pool for kids, and diving boards, as well as an entire park outside of the pool area. Another activity you can do is go to an amusement park. A popular one in Long Island is Adventureland. There is also Valley Stream’s annual carnival, as well as trampoline parks like Sky Zone in the area. Amusement parks are fun to go to during the day or night, especially with friends. Adventureland appeals to many people because it has various activities to offer like delicious food and snacks, an arcade, and games. Adventureland also doesn’t have many extreme rollercoaster rides, besides the Galleon Pirate Ship Ride, the Turbulence coaster, and the Frisbee ride, so regardless of whether you’re a roller coaster fan or not, you can go on basically any of the rides there. While more expensive, going to a concert is another memorable activity. During the spring, because of the nice weather, there will probably be a lot of outdoor concert venues. Who wouldn’t want to see their favorite artist in the sunny weather? Some artists have cheaper concert tickets, and some are more expensive, but reliable apps like TickPick, Ticketmaster, and Vivid Seats, may give you a good deal on some concert tickets. Overall, going to a concert of an artist or band you love is an unforgettable experience and worth the money, so why not do it over spring break? The last activity I think is enjoyable year-round is going to the movies. You can go to an actual movie theater—or you can go to a drive-in movie. You can even check if somewhere in your community is having an outdoor movie night; they do host some at Hendrickson Park and Nickerson Beach Park by the ocean. Watching a good movie and being among your family and friends is a wonderful way to have fun and make some memories. Do you like any of the activities I listed? Would you want to do any of them? Whether you do or don’t I hope you have a wonderful spring break filled with lots of amazing memories and come back ready to take on the end of the school year! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Line Back to Sections Emily Rung - What is Line By Emily Rung November 1, 2020 Marker Volume 1 Issue 1

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Breaking Down the Oxford High School Shooting By Sahar Ali Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Fox 2 Detroit MICHIGAN- On November 30th, 2021, a 15-year-old student identified as Ethan Crumbley opened fire at Oxford High School, killing four students and leaving several others critically injured. Prosecutors started filing involuntary manslaughter charges against James and Jennifer, Ethan Crumbley’s parents, on December 3rd, 2021. The event that occurred on November 30th was a tragedy. Events That Occurred at the School At 12:51 p.m., authorities received one of the first of over a hundred 911 calls regarding the shooting. After viewing the security footage from November 30th, the authorities stated that the suspect, Ethan Crumbley, came out of a bathroom and opened fire at students present in the hallway. As the first gunshots were heard by the students at Oxford High School, they immediately rushed for cover and barricaded themselves behind classroom doors using chairs. Authorities stated that within the first five minutes, eleven people had been shot. With the handgun, Crumbley fired about thirty shots before he was detained by the police in the school’s hallway. For many hours, investigators looked over the school’s security cameras to track the suspect’s actions. From this security footage, Crumbley’s targets seemed random and the motive to open fire at the school has not yet been determined. The Victims Ethan Crumbley’s actions took the lives of four students: Hana St. Juliana (14), Madisyn Baldwin (17), Tate Myre (16), and Justin Shilling (17). Hana, Madisyn, and Tate all died in a sheriff’s car while being transported to a hospital; Justin died in a hospital the next day. Hana St. Juliana played on Oxford High School’s volleyball and basketball teams. Madisyn Baldwin was a “beautiful, smart, sweet loving girl,” as described by her grandmother. She was also considered a talented artist. Tate Myre was a linebacker and a tight end of Oxford High School’s football team. He had also received an All-Region award recently. Justin Shilling was on Oxford High School’s boys bowling team. Officials also state that six students (ranging from ages 14-17) were injured and a bullet grazed a 47-year-old teacher. The Suspect The suspect, Ethan Crumbley, a sophomore at Oxford, lives in Oxford Village, a suburb with fewer than 3,500 residents. On the morning of November 30th, the day of the shooting, Crumbley’s parents were called into the high school after one of his teachers discovered a note drawn by him which caused the teacher alarm. The note contained images of a gun with a person who had been shot and a laughing emoji. The note also said the words, “Blood everywhere” and “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.” A meeting was also held a day before the shooting took place as a teacher saw Crumbley searching online for gun ammunition during class. Furthermore, investigators found two videos from Crumbley’s cellphone that were made the night before the shooting. In these videos, Ethan Crumbley talked about shooting and killing the students at his high school the next day. Authorities also state that a journal in Crumbley’s backpack was found where he wrote about his desire to “shoot up the school.” Ethan Crumbley’s lawyer has entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. The authorities are still investigating this case and have stated that they believe Ethan Crumbley had planned the shooting alone. Charges Against the Suspect Ethan Crumbley was charged as an adult with one count of terrorism causing death. He was also charged with four counts of first-degree murder. If convicted, he will receive a life sentence. Prosecutors state that Crumbley’s plan was premeditated, and his parents were also charged. Why the Parents Were Charged The handgun that was used by Ethan Crumbley during the shooting (a 9-millimeter Sig Sauer) was bought by his father, James Crumbley, four days before the shooting. Jennifer, Ethan Crumbley’s mother, stated on social media that the weapon was her son’s “Christmas present.” The prosecutor, Karen D. McDonald, charged James and Jennifer Crumbley with involuntary manslaughter; Ms. McDonald believes that the parents could have prevented the shooting from occurring. When the school informed Mrs. Crumbley that her son had been searching for ammunition, she texted, “LOL, I’m not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught” to Ethan. Ms. McDonald states that school officials told Crumbley’s parents that they were required to find counseling for their son, but his parents did not want their son to be taken out of school. The school also did not ask if he had the gun nor searched through his backpack that he had brought to the office. After Crumbley’s parents did not show up for their arraignment, they became the subject of a major fugitive hunt. After being found in Detroit, both parents were taken into custody and are being held in the same jail facility with their son in Oakland County, Michigan. Each of the three family members is being kept in isolation. Consequences the School is Facing Oxford High School’s response to Ethan Crumbley’s behavior is being studied closely - especially the decision of the guidance counselors who sent Crumbley back to class after a teacher discovered his alarming drawings. His personal belongings were not searched either. On December 9th, the parents of two sisters who survived the shooting filed a lawsuit in a federal court against the school and its officials, which included the superintendent, principal, dean, two guidance counselors, and two teachers. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Poetry Out Loud Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Sofia Owen Students here at Valley Stream North have many opportunities to display their creativity. Whether through art, literature, community-led works, or performance, it is important to allow students to exhibit their talent and artistry, and this belief is best exemplified with an event like Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide recitation competition where students from 9th to 12th grade perform poems from the event’s anthology. The competition has 4 levels – schoolwide, regional, state, and national. Sixteen students from our school have been preparing for the schoolwide portion of the competition. Each student has chosen and memorized a poem to perform in front of a panel of judges. Students can earn points in 6 categories: physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. These students competed in the library on Wednesday, December 11th from 3 - 4:30 pm. In preparation for the competition, students went on two in-school field trips on November 26th and December 3rd to fully grasp their poems and the structure of the competition. On November 26th, Dave Johnson, a poet and former Poetry Out Loud emcee, visited our school and gave the competing students tips on how to improve their recitations. This workshop highlighted the importance of connecting with one’s poem and choosing a piece that spoke to them. Students were split into groups and were encouraged to ask the other students in their group about their poems. With everyone’s poem chosen, Johnson worked one-on-one with each student, discussing their piece with them and walking step-by-step through their thought process. An emotional connection with your poem is important to convey not only its meaning but its connection to you as an individual. To conclude the field trip, Johnson instructed each student to write a poem or a blurb based on their poem. After a couple of minutes, students performed their inspired poem for the rest of the group. Everyone who spoke had incredible control over their words and it was an insightful experience to see how each person viewed the world around them through the lens of their poem. On December 3rd, Johnson returned and this time focused on the accuracy of our recitations while still encouraging us to hone the emotional interpretations of our poems. Students split off into groups once again and discussed their poems with each other, reciting them and analyzing each line to better remember and understand their meaning. Volunteers from each group went in front of everyone and recited their poems, receiving encouragement and suggestions from Johnson on how to improve and change their tone. As he concluded his workshop, he gave advice to help everyone on the day of the competition. He advised students to take a breath and “plant” themselves and to visualize the poem as they recite it. Johnson closed with inspiring words to the whole group: “See what you say, and we will see what you say.” This competition allows students to lift poetry off the page and share their creativity through oration and performance. It serves as a wonderful opportunity for not only the students performing but those watching as well to expose themselves to new kinds of literature and creation. We at North Star applaud the confidence and dedication of the students who participated. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections This Body of Mine Madisen Dubose Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Artwork Provided by Madisen Dubose BACK TO TOP

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 December 16, 2020 "THE GREAT CONJUNCTION" ARTICLES A Million-Dollar Healthcare Anomaly: The Hidden Costs of Rugby Injuries By Osaiyekemwen Ogbemudia Sports Read More Beads for Water Event By Kashmiraa Pandit and Lucy Wu Feature Read More Click Click By Zoie James Polaris Read More DeBlame is on De Blasio By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Editorial Read More Family Problems By Ala Paruch Advice Read More Holiday Baking By Carolina Figueroa Feature Read More How Accurate is Wikipedia? By Cody Sung Feature Read More Join the Class of 2023 Grade Council By Samantha Altieri Feature Read More Life is a contest By Nora Chery Polaris Read More My Mother's Daughter By Osaiyekemwen Ogbemudia Polaris Read More Perspective By Isabella Somma Art & Culture Read More Quarantine Feelings By Cody Sung Polaris Read More Should sports go on? By Ismaela Andre Sports Read More The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Records Broken By Matteo Somma Science & Technology Read More The Benefits of Reading and how phones are harmful By Manal Layachi Editorial Read More The Offseason By John McCarthy Sports Read More The Price of Wealth By Sumaiya Ramsaroop Editorial Read More The Reasons Behind Fans By Isabella Menjivar Entertainment & Media Read More Artistic Perspective By Olivia Muscatelli Art & Culture Read More Christmas By Christiana Fredriks Feature Read More College Advice from a Senior By Shubhdip Kundlas Advice Read More Different Views of Art By Rachel Ezeadichie Art & Culture Read More Fresh Pumpkin Pie vs. Canned Pumpkin Pie: Is it Worth the Time? By Christina Ossa Feature Read More Home for the Holidays By Sumaiya Ramsaroop Feature Read More James Webb – A Technological Precedent By Elyas Layachi Science & Technology Read More Lessons Learned in the Pool By Angelina Somma Sports Read More Montgomery Ricky by Ricky Montgomery By Eva Grace Martinez Entertainment & Media Read More Now That the 2020 Presidential Election is Over, What Comes Next For Us? By Logan Balsan News Read More Pre-season in the New Normal By Joseph Garofalo Sports Read More Should schools remain open after Winter Break? By Shinedip Kundlas Editorial Read More Story Behind the Shot 01 By Garrick Neuner Entertainment & Media Read More The Artist Perspective By Nehilah Grand-Pierre Art & Culture Read More The Future of the Supreme Court By Craig Papajohn-Shaw News Read More The Postponement of the 2020 Olympics By Rayan Bhatti Sports Read More The Quarantine By Masooma Zaidi Polaris Read More PERSEPCTIVE LOAD MORE

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Memory Project Artists Creating a Kinder World through Art By Luiginna Frederique Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original photography by Gilana Etame North’s Art Honor Society’s tradition of creating portraits for the Memory Project organization has continued with this year’s assignment being children in Nigeria. The Memory Project is an organization founded back in 2004 to create portraits for children in orphanages to create special memories crafted with love and kindness. Now it has grown into a worldwide project where artists from around the world come together to create portraits for children worldwide who are facing or have faced various challenges. As per tradition, the Art Honor Society has participated once more and created both portraits and inspiration artwork for children in Nigeria who have been displaced from their homes and left scared and scarred by the terrorism and violence they’ve faced due to a series of issues in Nigeria. All Art Honor Society members and some members of the art club and Language Honor Society have created portraits and inspiration artwork inspired by 11 children in Nigeria. Christabel by Katherine Cevada Yusuf by Elizabeth Andre Jaba by Luiginna Frederique Esther by Isabella Somma Yahaya by Ava Strojan Godwin by Kimberly Shrestha Mansir by Arunima Roy Mustapha by Gilana Etame Suwaira by Isabella Somma Happiness by Elaine Ching Art Honor Society members holding their respective portraits. (Kimberly Shrestha & Isabella Somma not included) BACK TO TOP

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR WELCOME TO VOLUME 4 January 3rd, 2024 For the 2023-2024 school year, we are pleased to introduce Volume 4 to our readers. I am sure that on par with the previous North Star volumes, this edition will demonstrate the hard work and creativity my peers and I have to offer. Although I am a recent addition to North Star’s leadership team, I have genuinely enjoyed working with the talented writers and artists who make having a publications club here at North possible. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our advisor, Mrs. Mansfield, who dedicates her time to guiding us all in our writing endeavors. Without her leadership and the cooperation of our writers, we would miss the valuable experience of running a publications club. As a publications club, we strive to uphold the standards of modern-day journalism and ensure our readers a diverse selection of articles. From the poetry of POLARIS to the reporting of student news, there is something for everyone. As I see it, journalism holds significance in a school community as it allows us all to share our ideas, passions, and opinions in our ever-changing world. As the Editor-in-Chief, I get to read about numerous events, cultures, people, history, visual arts, and various perspectives; I hope our readers enjoy the reading and learning experience as much as I do. I find that I have become increasingly open-minded as I learn about others' experiences through writing, and I think that is the power of journalism; we get to see a little bit of everyone. We are incredibly fortunate to have the freedom to express ourselves through writing, whether through poetry, film reviews, or a lengthy article. I believe I write on behalf of all our members when I say that part of the reason, we write for North Star is to foster an appreciation for journalism here at Valley Stream North in both the students and the staff. The names “North Star,” and “POLARIS,” and the star names we give each issue, all enhance our prominent astronomy-themed student newspaper. It is a perfectly suitable theme in my opinion. Much like space, the world around us is so vast and impossible to discover entirely; however, sharing our ideas through written works may be our best shot at understanding our dynamic world. For our readers who may be interested in journalism, I encourage you to share your ideas because, like all our current writers, you also have something to contribute. With the right amount of dedication, willingness, and support, we can all find a way to make our voices shine. This year, I hope to work effectively with the other editors and writers to provide plenty of content for our readers, and much like the actual North Star, or Polaris, our student newspaper can always be found in the same place, at any time. Thank you to all our readers and staff for the support they have demonstrated this school year, and I look forward to seeing all this year’s thoughtfully crafted art and editing the thoughtfully written pieces. Stellar regards, Noa Cordova Editor-in-Chief

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Yahaya By Ava Stroja March 28, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 5