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Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Artist Mikayla Aziz Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by iStock Mimic me my muse, and Mock my modesty. Diminish my once magnificent murals to Mere mirrors. Manipulate my humility while Making clear my vain idolatry. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Signs for Wellness By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Original photography by Eva Grace Martinez To kick off Wellness Week, North’s AP Biology and Science Research students made eye-catching signs. Mr. DiSclafani’s students put their creative skills to use by designing signs that promote the importance of mental health. They held their signs high while participating in the “Wellness Walk” on North’s new track. Here’s what Adaobi Okammelu had to say about her experience: “I had so much fun creating the signs to be a representative for 9th grade Science Research for Wellness Day. It was so great seeing others come together for such a nice event!” By combining physical science with mental health, these signs turned out awesome. The opening of the wellness center will allow students of all disciplines to visit and either meet one-on-one with a counselor or participate in group activities, including mindfulness practices. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections New Faculty Piece By Jeselys Vazquez Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Original artwork by Jeselys Vazquez Throughout the time Mr. Chung started working at North, he helped all kinds of members of the school, including students, faculty, and staff, with various computer problems: for example, faulty touchscreens, broken keyboards, nonfunctioning microphones, and charging issues. The common issues he comes across are students needing to remember their laptops, missing styluses, and the consistency of students needing a laptop charger. He has found that our WIFI availability affected the school’s operations for many students. With all the fixing and rebooting in our school, there are so many things he loves about North, and he has many goals to make it even better with his talent and willingness to help. Mr. Chung said, “My goals at North are not only limited to the Technology Department. Initially, during the job search process, I was looking to teach Math or Computer Science in some capacity. After my corporate job, I got a teacher assistant certification so I can be in a school and be allowed in classrooms. I am open and will consider all teaching opportunities.” There are many areas he can help in, not only in the tech department. One of the things he loves about North is that throughout his day, he enjoys when he gets to communicate and have conversations normally with students about life and anything they need help with; he managed to have connected with most of the school and about 30% of the faculty members. Fun fact, he has been taking Spanish 1.2 with a class of 8th graders to communicate fluently and help those in need of translation. His goal this year is for our school community at North to have the best-running tech service department, have everything at our disposal, and ensure for all of us a smooth operational technology. Also, specifically going into details on what sprung his confidence and interest here, he says, “I got this job coming out of retirement 18 months ago from a corporate Technology job, and it still feels like I am in retirement. At VSN, I got free access to the gym, free Spanish lessons, a parking lot, wonderful community, conversations, and get paid for this.” There is no number to put the amazing things North has brought to him and what he loves about it, but it has impacted him positively. He says, “It brought a wonderful community and people into my life, and this makes being here a lot of fun, and did I mention I get paid to be here.” BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles News Back to Sections 2024 Presidential Candidates Sahar Ali Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Commonwealth Fund It is finally 2024, which means that during the month of November, eligible United States citizens will cast their vote for the next president. The presidential election takes place every four years and consists of candidates that come from the two major parties in the United States: The Democrats and Republicans. Currently, Democrat Joe Biden is President of the United States, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman in the history of the U.S. elected Vice President. As citizens of the United States, it is especially important to know who our presidential candidates are. Being the president of the United States is a big responsibility, which is why all eligible voters must think deeply and consider all the reasons why they are casting their vote for a certain candidate. In this article, you will be getting an idea of who the 2024 presidential candidates are. DEMOCRAT – JOE BIDEN Joe Biden, the current president of the United States, will be running for a second term in the 2024 election later this year. Political experts argue that Biden is the most probable democratic candidate to defeat Donald Trump, the most influential Republican candidate. For over 50 years, Biden has worked in the realm of politics and runs a platform that includes gun reform, health care, and abortion rights for women. Joe Biden is the oldest President in the history of the United States at 81 years old. Before Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States, he was the 47th Vice President from 2009 until 2017 under President Barack Obama. Not only that, but Biden was a U.S. Senator, representing Delaware from 1973 up until 2009. DEMOCRAT – DEAN PHILLIPS Dean Phillips, a former CEO, and a three-term congressman from the state of Minnesota, is the second Democratic presidential candidate. Phillips challenges Biden by asserting that the next generation should have the ability to lead the country. Not only that, but Phillips has also brought up multiple issues regarding Biden’s old age; being the oldest president at 81 takes a significant toll on Biden’s role as President. According to NBC News, Phillip’s campaign positions include enhancing public safety, supporting immigration reform which includes improved security at the United States border, and believing that patients should have the freedom to make decisions about any aspect of their health. DEMOCRAT – MARIANNE WILLIAMSON Marianne Williamson is the third democratic candidate. After making her appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show , Williamson gained popularity as Winfrey’s spiritual advisor. In the previous 2020 presidential election, Williamson was unsuccessful as she ran for a presidential candidate. Earlier in 2014, Williamson also sought for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, but this attempt was also deemed unsuccessful. Marianne Williamson was also the first to announce that she would be a democratic candidate challenging the current president, Joe Biden. Unlike her opponents Biden and Phillips, Williamson has never held a position in any political office. According to NBC News, Williamson’s campaign positions include an effort to restrict or diminish the reproductive rights granted by the notorious case, Roe v. Wade, limiting gun violence, legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, and reaching 100% renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions. REPUBLICAN – DONALD TRUMP As you may recall, Donald Trump is the former president of the United States. He is also the top Republican contestant in the 2024 election. Donald Trump is the first former president who has had to face criminal charges, along with federal charges for violation of the Espionage Act. Not only does Trump face criminal charges, but he has also been impeached twice. Donald Trump has also made false assertions by stating that he won the 2020 presidential election against his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden. According to NBC News, Trump’s campaign positions include pardoning a large group of people after they faced federal offenses for participating in the January 6th riot at the Capitol, eliminating medical programs that focus on sex/gender transitions, and working on the exceptions for a federal ban on abortions. REPUBLICAN – NIKKI HALEY Nikki Haley is the second Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Before becoming a presidential candidate, Haley was South Carolina’s governor from 2011 to 2017; this was where she began her work in politics. In order to serve as the US ambassador to the United Nations, Haley ended her second term early. Previously, Nikki Haley had stated that she would not run against Donald Trump; however, she was the first Republican to announce that she would run against the former president in the 2024 presidential election. If Haley wins the 2024 presidential election, she will become the first woman in the history of the United States to be President, along with being the first US President of Asian descent as she is the daughter of Indian immigrants. According to NBC News, Haley’s campaign positions include finding a “national consensus” on abortion, preventing illegal immigration, and limiting the term for members of Congress. SOURCES Who’s running for president in 2024? The Republican and Democratic candidates | US elections 2024 | The Guardian The 2024 presidential candidates: Who’s running from both sides ( nbcnews.com ) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Tales Through Time: Lewis and Clark Expedition Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by the Library of Congress Painting of the Lewis and Clark expedition in a canoe meeting some Native Americans (1905), by Charles Marion Russell Background In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States asked for $2,500 to send an officer and a dozen troops to explore the Missouri River, establish diplomatic relations with Indians, increase the American fur trade, and find the Northwest Passage. The voyage became significant when the United States consented to the Louisiana Purchase, which involved Napoleon selling 828,000 square miles of French land for $27 million. Jefferson nominated Meriwether Lewis as expedition commander, who gathered weaponry, built a keelboat, and obtained smaller boats. William Clark, his military superior, was appointed as co-commander. Congress sponsored the expedition before the discussions with France were finalized. Lewis and Clark shared equal responsibilities and were given the opportunity in 1796 to embark on a historic journey that would help shape the country. The Expedition The expedition, including four dozen men, traveled 10 to 20 miles every day. Lewis discovered 178 new plants and 122 animals, naming them Philadelphus lewisii , Lewisia rediviva , and Clarkia pulchella . The expedition met enormous herds of animals and ate well, despite the Lakota tribe's unwillingness to compete with Americans. Despite suffering from diarrhea, venereal disease, boils, tick bites, and bruises, only one person died. The expedition conducted conferences with Native Americans, offering commerce and food. The Lakota tribe tried to stop the expedition from moving upstream, but Chief Black Buffalo's diplomacy calmed the situation. The expedition landed in Mandan and Hidatsa settlements near Bismarck, North Dakota, and prepared supplies for Jefferson. In June 1805, the expedition group arrived at a river fork and elected to take the south branch, which was thought to be the main route. They named the north fork Maria's River and arrived at the Great Falls. The portage was difficult given the rough terrain, prickly pear cactus, hailstorms, and grizzly bears. The crew landed in Knife River Village in what is now North Dakota. They encountered Sacagawea, a Shoshone Native American woman, and her fur trader husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, who accompanied the expedition as interpreters. Sacagawea assisted the crew in obtaining necessary supplies, identifying edible plants, and avoiding conflict with neighboring tribes. The group moved west at 15 to 20 miles per day and landed near the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. The Return In 1806, the Corps of Discovery departed Fort Clatsop, traversed the Missouri River Basin, and broke up at Lolo Pass. Lewis and Clark's crews investigated the Maria’s River and the Yellowstone River, with Lewis's group building Pompey's Pillar, which was named after Sacagawea's son. The corps landed in St. Louis in September 1806 and departed for the Pacific Ocean in November. Due to heavy storms, they were forced to build Fort Clatsop near Astoria, Oregon. They intended to return via the Columbia and Missouri rivers but encountered neither. They broke into parties to investigate the region and two important Missouri River tributaries. In March, Sacagawea and her husband were brought home to North Dakota before continuing their journey. Later the groups rejoined and traveled downstream to complete their quest. The Legacy Despite various obstacles, Lewis and Clark completed their goal to explore the Louisiana Territory from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean in 1806. They traveled over 8,000 miles, created informative maps, and established friendly connections with Native American groups. Both earned double salaries and 1,600 acres of land in exchange for their services. Lewis was appointed Governor of the Louisiana Territory, while Clark was named Brigadier General of Militia and federal Indian Agent. Despite Lewis's terrible death in 1809, Lewis's expedition is still one of America's most renowned. The Corps of Discovery Expedition carved out a primitive route to the Pacific and laid the groundwork for the nascent nation's westward expansion. The mission gave major geographic and scientific information about the West, helped to expand the fur trade, and enhanced the United States's claims to the Pacific. Sources: Lewis and Clark: Expedition, Purpose & Facts | HISTORY Lewis and Clark Expedition | Summary, History, Members, Facts, & Map | Britannica Lewis & Clark Expedition | National Archives Lewis and Clark's Expedition ( nationalgeographic.com ) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Is War Coming? By Raj Singh Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by BBC As you might have heard, Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine. There have been estimates of 100,000 soldiers at the Russo-Ukrainian border amassed for a potential invasion. Western powers have since acted with no more than warnings to stop this. What is happening, and why is it happening? Context: Ukraine is a nation in Eastern Europe that has historically been either an independent nation fighting for survival or under Russian control. In 2013, the current situation began; Ukraine had considered joining the European Union (EU) and made landmark political and trade deals. Though they had a Pro-Russia president who suspended talks to keep Ukraine away from the West, the citizens in Kiev, the capital city, started protesting this action in the streets. This began hostilities between Pro-Russians against Anti-Russians in Ukraine. Russia then invaded Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, a strategic port next to the Black Sea. Russia, a primarily cold country, has many ports that freeze over the winter; due to this issue, Russia wanted this territory as the peninsula is much warmer. In addition to the favorable Mediterranean climate, millions of Russians reside in Crimea. Russia's casus belli - a reason a nation claims it goes to war, often a lie to war without seeming like an aggressor - was to protect the rights of the millions of Russians living in Crimea. In response to Russia's declaration, Eastern regions in Ukraine then promptly rebelled, causing a brief war which a ceasefire halted. Now the ceasefire is being threatened by Russia invading Ukraine again. INFORMATION – Russia's troops comprise of self-propelled guns, tanks, and infantry fighting vehicles. With this buildup, Russia could launch an invasion in early 2022. The troops are located 186 miles from the Ukrainian-Russian border in a training facility and could attack at any moment. Russia said the troops were there for military drills only, but there is doubt amongst the West. Russian Opinion: The Kremlin states the military buildup and training are being done to curb Western aggression against them. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an alliance of primarily Western countries created decades ago to stop Soviet expansion in Europe, has sold weapons and stationed NATO troops in Ukraine since the ceasefire. Due to this expansion by the West, which is viewed as an aggressive encroachment on Russian security, the Kremlin claims they are the victim and believe they can act on their own security risks. Ukrainian Opinion: Ukraine states that Russia cannot control whether Ukraine gets closer with NATO. The government says that Russia is trying to maintain Ukrainian independence and its future. Citizens of Ukraine fear that a coup d’état, the seizure of a government and its power by an independent group, could happen as a precursor to invasion. In addition, Ukraine is currently going through an energy crisis and believes that its cause is Russia, which is attempting to destabilize the country. NATO Opinion: NATO says if Russia were to invade Ukraine, a NATO partner, they could start economic sanctions and political restrictions on Russia. NATO has prepared the members of the alliance who reside in the Baltic region and the Black Sea for the worst. NATO cannot protect Ukraine with a military force since Ukraine is not a member of the organization. However, NATO will allow Ukraine to become a member, should it choose to, and encourages the country to defy Russia. On January 12th, 2022, a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, occurred to discuss a solution. The situation remains tense, and as I write this, world peace is at stake. American Opinion: America is reviewing multiple options. American officials like President Biden met in Geneva to discuss peace. However, simultaneously, America was armed and continued to supply military assistance to Eastern Europe in preparation for the worst. Fiscally, America delivered 450 million dollars in assistance to Ukraine in 2021 and considered the possibility of launching economic sanctions on Russia. Other factors: Separate from this situation, another former Soviet state has had trouble. Kazakhstan had massive unrest in its capital and in other locations, leading to a Russian-led coalition of troops sent into the state to stop the unrest. There is plenty of doubt that Russian forces will leave Kazakhstan soon. The pipe that leads to Germany, Nord Stream 2, allegedly threatens Ukraine. It uses pipes through the Baltic Sea to pass around Eastern Europe instead of an overland route. Traditionally, the pipes would go through Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, which was a bargaining tool for the country and a source of money through tariffs. These pipes are vital to the Russian gas industry, so if Russia were ever to step out of line, Eastern Europe could cut the lines to damage the industry. However, with the new Baltic pipes, Ukraine loses, in addition to the extra income, its bargaining chip, and leverage over Russia. The U.S. used to have sanctions on the company that built the Baltic pipes but waved them to fix its relationship with Germany depending on those lines. However, in November, America added new sanctions to the company, with growing support from U.S. senators and politicians in Ukraine. Both sides are somewhat to blame; NATO has been encroaching closer to Russia, an aggressive action, but Russia should not have backed the separatists nor have invaded. PRIMARY SOURCE: https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/03/europe/ukraine-russia-2021-tensions-explainer-cmd-intl/index.html BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections North Star Club and Mrs. Byrne By Jeselys Vazquez Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Original photography by Christy Mansfield Hello, my name is Jeselys Naylana Vazquez and I’m in 10th grade! I’ve recently joined North Star. It is club where you write new articles about different topics of the month or your choice of what you decide to write about. I’ve always wanted to join a club but never made the time to manage my schedule to make time for it. I feel like a lot of people have the same issue or just forget about it, until at the worst times it comes to mind. My 8th period teacher Mrs. Byrne, the lovely, sweet lady in room 113, assigns her students a quick assignment on watching a video or reading an article and explain our personal thoughts or ideas about it. Sometimes in class on Fridays, she tells her students to check out the North Star page, choose an article we’d like to read, and tell her what we learned or what we got from it. I enjoyed the times we read the articles from our smart and inspiring writers. It really helps and educates readers in a variety of subject areas. Every time she read my response or called on me to tell her what I learned about the article I read because she was pleased with my answers. She asked me why don’t I join the Poetry Club or the North Star ? I said, I’ll think about it”. I asked the leader of the club if I could still join, and she said, “Yes!” Here, I am writing my first article for the North Star and starting to pursue more of what I love, which is writing. Thank you, Mrs. Byrne! And thank you North Star. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Women’s History Month By Ismaela Andre Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by North Carolina Central University Women worldwide work hard and experience a lot of pain and stress. That’s why this month, we should celebrate women’s dedication and hard work. They are helping to change the world! For example, my mother is very important to me because she gave birth to me. She also helps me by giving me food to eat, taking me to school, giving me money, and helping me with my homework. Women’s History Month is very important because we are not only celebrating what modern women do, but we are also celebrating what the women in the past did for us. Women, like Rosa Parks, Harriett Tubman, Maya Angelou, Wilma Rudolph, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, and Marian Wright Edelman, are heroes. They might not have a costume or a fancy mask, but they are still heroes because they helped make our world a better place. Women’s History Month is an important month for our mothers and female family members and the women in history who have stood up and fought. Thank you for these women because I can live happily and freely because of their courage and strength. Hopefully, many people celebrate Women’s History Month with a happy heart because it is a meaningful month! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Life of a Teenager By Moanna Thelusca Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images I wanted to see students’ perspectives on life as a teenager. Here’s my perspective: the life of a teenager is difficult. It’s filled with joy and excitement, but it’s also filled with twists and turns that may, or may not, direct you on the right path for your future. Alongside that, we must meet society’s definition of what’s a “real” woman or man. But that’s just my opinion. Let’s read about other people’s... Question: how would you describe the life as a teenager? “If I were to describe the ‘life’ of a teenager in only 1-3 sentences, that would be a vast-in-size-task as I can only describe it in 1 word: Stress.” - Giancarlo Oliveri “A teenager’s life is like a very valuable time. It’s a good time despite the fact that we learn and stress things a lot.” - Syeda Nabiha “ I would say the life of a teenager is pretty stressful and hard. Many adults think we have it easier with technology and all, but in reality, we are living a depressed life. First, we are stressed about school then college and then after college we’ve got to worry about stuff we never learned or were taught, and we have to learn it all on our own. If I want to hang out with friends, I don't have time because of school, and we are amidst a pandemic. But that doesn't stop people from understanding that we do feel too like we are literal robots. Wake up 7 in morning for school, then spend 8 hours for school, and then we must do clubs, homework and then worry about studying. We hardly have time for ourselves.” - S.K. “Life as a teenager is filled with uncertainty—about yourself, about your future, and about the world. However, the teenage years also come with the comfort that you don’t have to know all the answers now. Find joy in discovering who you are and who you want to be in this world.” - Sumaiya Ramsaroop “Life as a teenager can be hard sometimes because you’re trying to find out who you are, and what you want to be in life. Also, social life becomes more important because of high school. It makes a lot of things more stressful and maybe makes us want to shut the world out. Also, we are introduced to a lot more things like eating disorders, depression, anxiety, sex. In high school there’s drama, dating, losing friends, gaining friends. There is also a good side, though. You are taken more seriously, and you might have more privileges. People will start to listen to you more and people don’t think it’s a bunch of nonsense. Also, you are more mature. Your grades play a big role in school, especially if you want to go to college.” - Shaniyah McAllister “Being a teenager is weird. You’re not a child so you get multiple new responsibilities. But, you’re not an adult so you’re still considered young.” - Jayden Polydore In conclusion, being a teenager is challenging, stressful, chaotic, and stressful. But it’s also filled with excitement, love, mystery, and new adventures to discover. Now it’s your turn to answer the question: how would you describe the life as a teenager? BACK TO TOP