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Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections A Comparison of Mean Girls (2004) and Mean Girls (2024) Mya Hans Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching Mean Girls is a 2000s classic that has been turned into a modern musical movie. The original is loved by many; there’s an entire fandom behind it. But regarding the new version, people have had some positive and negative opinions. As someone who has seen both more than once, I picked up on a few things that distinguish the productions from each other. One major change I noticed was the fashion. The fashion in the newer Mean Girls isn’t true to the characters’ personalities or even to what they would normally wear. Especially near the end of the movie, the girls started to wear blue which is something that is extremely out of character because they always wear pink. In fact, one of the movie’s most popular lines is, “On Wednesdays we wear pink.” Also, the outfits were very ordinary in the new movie, similar to outfits people would wear today. But the whole idea of the movie is that the “mean girls”—Regina, Gretchen, and Karen are “better” than everyone else. Therefore, I think that the girls should stand out fashion-wise and wear more expensive and luxury brands. I personally prefer the vintage, girly 2000s fashion from the original, but some may appreciate that the newer version encapsulates today’s fashion trends. Another obvious difference between the 2004 and 2024 versions is the musical aspect. The original Mean Girls movie is not a musical while the other one is; this is a key element to the story. The new version of Mean Girls tells the story through the songs, so there are a lot of songs in the movie, specifically 14 tracks in only 1 hour and 52 minutes. I personally thought the music was an interesting addition to the movie, but when I was in the theaters and a song came on, everyone seemed annoyed. If you aren’t someone who enjoys movie musicals like Grease , Mamma Mia , or La La Land , you may not like this version of Mean Girls . Overall, the plot was pretty much the same. The actors playing the characters in the new version are also obviously very different (although some from the original made appearances in the new movie). The actors in the original version at the time were well-known compared to the actors in the new version. In the original, the most popular actors in that movie during the time were Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, and Rachel McAdams. But in the new movie, the only actors with familiar faces would probably be Reneé Rapp for her music, and Christopher Briney from The Summer I Turned Pretty . Besides them, all the actors are not too well known which might cause hesitation amongst people to see the movie. I think both movies are worth seeing. One is a classic, and the other is a newer and modified take on the characters, fashion, and more. I think the new movie is proof that nothing is better than the original. Despite this, I still like the new movie, but the original takes the cake in my opinion. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Drug Abuse During the Pandemic By Everton Prospere Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by The Economist While the threat of COVID-19 continues, a hidden issue grows. Drug abuse has skyrocketed in the United States overall and right here in New York, both for adults and adolescents. The factors contributing to this crisis include the disruption of everyday life and stress. In New York City, overdose deaths have dramatically escalated in the past year. According to The City newsroom and a report from the City University of New York, 22% of injection drug users reported reusing needles, a fourfold increase from the previous year. Furthermore, the Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine detailed that the opioid crisis has also increased, largely due to the pandemic. The magazine interviewed Charlotte Bismuth, a former New York County’s assistant district attorney, who stated, “[people] are living in tents because they lost their spot in sober homes because they lost their job...it’s so much worse than it was when Covid began [in regard to the opioid epidemic]”. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] has reported the overdose deaths during 2020 to understand a more numerical value. As per the CDC, over 81,000 United States citizens died of drug overdose deaths, the largest number reported by the CDC. The agency supports the claim that the pandemic contributed to the increased number of substance abusers and, in turn, deaths due to “the disruption to daily life.” In addition to the considerable increase in drug abuse, the profound impact of drugs on teenagers during the pandemic must not be ignored. Time magazine reports a study conducted by the organization FAIR health, in which a sharp spike in drug abuse was discovered in comparison to the year before the pandemic. In addition, the University of Minnesota reports an increase of 94.9% regarding overdoses in 13-year olds and a 119.3% increase in 18-year olds. While the factor of everyday life disruption is included as a cause of this statistic, stress levels must also be accounted for. Schoolwork especially has resulted in over half of students stressing more in the 2020 school year than the 2019 school year, as per a survey conducted by the NBC News and Challenge Success non-profit. The pandemic has caused increased levels of drug abuse due to a disruption in daily life and stress. While teenagers especially may feel these struggles, we are reminded once more during the celebration of Red Ribbon Week at North, which takes place between March 15th and March 19th , to live a drug-free life. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Evolution of Growing Up By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by Aly Buyer I can’t wait to grow up. I can’t wait to go to high school. I can’t wait to drive. I can’t wait to live my life to its fullest. I wish I was like them. I wish I wasn't afraid of failure. I wish I could go back. I wish I wasn’t my own worst enemy. I wanted to live my life. “Life will only get harder from here,” we were told at a young age. We ignored the warning. But now that we are older, We understand that our dreams may not always become reality. And we just have to focus on the little joys of life. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Geocaching By Carolina Figueroa Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Winchester-Frederick Country Convention & Visitors Bureau Do you love to be outdoors, solve riddles, and search for interesting things? If so, you may want to try searching for geocaches! Geocaching is a popular “fun outdoor recreational activity and hobby that feels like real-world treasure-hunting”! People participate in geocaching from all over the world by using navigational techniques to “hide and seek” compact containers at specific locations marked by coordinates worldwide. They hide small containers, called geocaches or caches, with small prizes inside, and then other people try to find them using maps and clues on their Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers or GPS-enabled mobile devices. Currently, there are more than 3 million geocaches hidden around the world for people to find. A typical geocache is created when a player hides a small-scale waterproof container somewhere in the world and then logs its exact location on the Geocaching app. Inside the container, the hider will put a logbook (or a notebook that players can sign) with a pen or pencil and sometimes small prizes, pins, trinkets, or little toys for trading. These mini toys and trinkets are usually of more sentimental worth than financial. Some geocachers may choose to use large plastic storage containers (similar to Tupperware). Next, other players try to find what has been hidden using the navigation system on the Geocaching app. Sometimes finding a geocache will be easy and straightforward, but other times they are very well hidden in their spots and you really have to look and search hard for them! To get started, you first have to download the Geocaching app on a smartphone. When you click on the app, it shows you a map of nearby or local geocaches. You can also search for geocaches in different locations. For instance, if you plan on being away, you can search to see if and where there are geocaches in that location as well. Once you click on a geocache, you are able to see a description of it and other information about it, such as how much time it may take for you to find it. Next, click “navigate” to open up the directions to guide and navigate you to the spot. You will have to ask an adult to drive you to a park that you walk around together. Some geocaches may be hidden in other public spots, like a walking path in town. Other geocaches are hidden in parks, urban areas, forest, deserts, underwater, on top of mountains – pretty much anywhere you can imagine! The rule for a hiding place is “the geocache should not be easily visible to a passerby who is not looking for the cache. It should be a camouflaged hiding spot and the cache should blend perfectly into their environment”. People use their creativity to find hard and challenging hiding places, like in a tree hollow or stump, underneath bushes, wedged securely in-between rocks, using a fake rock or small fake squirrel container, or even road signs (a magnetic geocache, nestled between the sign itself and the pole). Another rule is “ do not ever bury geocaches (do not create a hole in the ground to find or place a geocache)”. Once you navigate to the location, you will have to look at the recent activity and description in the app for any hints or signs for clues that might help you find the cache. Have fun on your search! Geocaches come in all shapes and sizes and most often they are a small tube or a medium-sized box that looks like a heavy-duty plastic container. The container could also be innovatively stored inside an object. People from around the world cleverly and creatively store and hide geocaches in fun containers. For example, hidden in the woods in Germany, one geocache is housed in a tricky wooden birdhouse covered in puzzles for finders to solve. In Spain, a plastic super-sized strawberry geocache container looks like a big piece of fruit. In Massachusetts, a geocache has its logbook hidden within a classic calling telephone. In California, a tiny tube is screwed into the back of a plastic pigeon to hold a geocache’s logbook. And in Holland, a container features a hen with plastic eggs, one of which contains the logbook! There should always be a logbook so you can write down that you found the geocache with the date. The geocacher signs the log with their established code name and dates it, in order to prove that they found the cache. Many times, “you will find small prizes called tradeables, like small toys, pins, keychains, or crafts. You can take one of them as long as you replace it with an item of similar value”. When you are done signing the log, you must place the geocache back exactly where you found it so that other people can find it! Geocaching is a fun and exciting way to spend time outdoors, explore the beauty of nature, exercise your mind and body, solve puzzles and riddles, appreciate quality time with family and friends, and enjoy treasure-hunting! It is a hobby and interest that delights and appeals to all ages. It provides fun and happiness for the whole family. You may experience new places and meet new people, and you will stay active and healthy while creating lasting new memories. You will realize that discovery, exploration, beauty, and adventure still exist in the real world. Good luck searching for cool and interesting geocaches, wherever you may be in the world! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Evolution of Super Mario Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by MarioStar Super Mario Bros. is one of the most popular game franchises in the world. Since 1985, Nintendo has released games that influenced the world and captivated its players. Those games remain timeless as more and more additions are added to the collection of movies and soundtracks. With the New Super Mario Bros. movie in theatres, Mario has gained an extra boost in popularity that has reopened itself and its wonders to many an audience. The franchise is centered around an Italian plumber, Mario, who with his brother, Luigi, works to save Princess Peach who is frequently kidnapped by Bowser. Mario is often helped by Toad, a mushroom-like partner/ assistant in his journey. This has been the focus of many of the games in the Super Mario franchise, but Nintendo has also added more characters and spin-off games into their collection such as Luigi’s Mansion or any of the many Mario Kart games. Although Super Mario has been refurbished many times, it is still popular with multiple generations. Games since the late 1900s have captivated many and are fun to play when bored or during any free time. The First Super Mario game was released in 1985. Directed and produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario Bros. was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System on September 13, 1986, and in arcades in January of the next year. Super Mario Bros 2 and 3 were released in 1988 followed by Super Mario Land and World the next two years. Both games got their own sequels in 1992 and 1995. No more major Mario games were published until the New Super Mario Bros game came to the Nintendo DS in early 2006. This was followed by Super Mario Galaxy in 2007. Super Mario Galaxy 2 came out in 2010 with Super Mario 3D Land coming out the next year. Super Mario Maker came out in 2015 followed by Super Mario Run and Odyssey the next two years. Super Mario Maker 2 came out in 2019 and Super Mario 3D World and Bowser’s Fury came out in 2021, being the latest games in the franchise. Super Mario Bros. is one of the most recognizable games of all time. With reworks and spin-offs, keeping the games fresh and popular, Nintendo has been able to keep its best series afloat. Different additions to the franchise are in the works and if Nintendo continues to grow the series at its current rate, it is guaranteed to thrive for many years to come. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Famous Women in History By Cael Javier Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Cael Javier Many women have made a difference in the world. In this article, I will go over women who have made a change in different categories. Women have made a difference in many different places. The people I will be going over have made a change in entertainment, science, and politics. Jane Austen Jane Austen was an English novelist. Her earliest known writings are mainly imitations, especially of dramas. In her six full-length novels, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey, she created the comedy of style of middle-class English life in her time. Her writing is well-known for its wit, realism, and brilliant prose style. Through her behavior toward ordinary people in everyday life, she was the first to give the novel its distinctly modern feel. She published her novels anonymously. They usually cover plots about marriage, status, and social sensibility with a distinctive irony. Her works have been used many times in entertainment. “It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” Jane Austen Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II was the queen of the United Kingdom from 1952 to 2022. She became heir, most likely when her uncle, Edward VIII, stepped down and her father became king, as George VI. In 1947 she married her distant cousin Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she had four children. She became queen after her father died in 1952. She believed court life to be simpler and took an informed interest in government business. In the 1990s, the monarchy was troubled by the well-known combative difficulties of two of the queen’s sons and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. In 2002, her mother and sister died within two months of each other. Elizabeth became the longest-reigning monarch in British history in 2015, and she celebrated 70 years as a queen with a “Platinum Jubilee” in 2022. “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return.” Queen Elizabeth II Betty White Betty White was an actress, author, animal rights activist, and comedian. She also served as a producer and is one of the pioneers of American television who played an important role during the early days of American television history. She received the title of ‘Mayor of Hollywood’ for being the first female to produce a sitcom. She received many awards for her performances on television. She became famous for her role in game shows and was nicknamed the “First Lady of Game Shows.” She was a singer, actor, host, and producer for 80 years, making her the longest-serving female in entertainment. Her interest in acting started during her school days, except she became a writer. She went on to become a very important entertainment personality in the U.S. “Doing drama is, in a sense, easier. If you don’t get that laugh in comedy, there’s something wrong.” Betty White Marie Curie Marie Curie was a Polish-born French physical chemist. Since 1891, she has studied at the Sorbonne. She found radioactivity in the thorium. In 1895 she married physicist, Pierre Curie. They discovered the elements polonium and radium. They are known for discovering alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. For their work on radioactivity, they shared the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics with Becquerel. This leans, Marie became the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. After Pierre died, Marie was asked for his professorship and became the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne. In 1911 she won a Nobel Prize for Chemistry for finding polonium and isolating pure radium, becoming the first person to win two Nobel Prizes. She passed away due to prolonged exposure to radioactivity. She became the first woman whose achievements earned her the honor of having her ashes laid out in the Pantheon in Paris. “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” Marie Curie Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey was an American television talk-show host and actress. After a rough childhood, she became a news anchor for a local C.B.S. T.V. station in Tennessee when she was 19. After graduating from Tennessee State University, she was a television reporter in Baltimore, where she cohosted her first talk show. In 1984 she moved to Chicago to host A.M. Chicago, which became that city’s highest-rated morning show. The name was changed to The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1985. Oprah Winfrey became the first African American woman to host a successful national daytime talk show. The top-rated show was well-known for its uplifting tone. In 1986 she also formed her own television production company, Harpo Productions, and in 2000 she released O, the Oprah Magazine. In 2011 the Oprah Winfrey Network was out on cable television, and later that year, the finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired. She acted in The Color Purple and Beloved. “You look at yourself, and you accept yourself for who you are, and once you accept yourself for who you are, you become a better person.” Oprah Winfrey Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a U.S. jurist. She graduated at the top of her class at Columbia Law School, but she was turned down for multiple jobs because she was a woman. She taught at Columbia from 1972 to 1980, where she became the first tenured female professor. She was the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. She argued six landmark cases on gender equality before the United States Supreme Court. She was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, and in 1993 she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Supreme Court as its second female justice. She then became a feminist folk hero. Her followers called her “Notorious R.B.G.,” a play on “Notorious B.I.G.,” an American rapper. “Fight for the things you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg These are just a few of the many ways women have changed the world. As you can see, they come from a variety of backgrounds. They are all passionate and talented women. A role model inspired many to do what they did. Sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Betty-White https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-II https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jane-Austen https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Curie https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruth-Bader-Ginsburg BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections North Welcomes Mr. Loiseau Noa Cordova Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Noa Cordova On October 10th, I had the pleasure of interviewing our new assistant principal, Mr. Loiseau ( lwa-zo ) to learn about his experiences and professional journey. Mr. Loiseau’s educational background consists of Nassau Community College, Queens College, Touro University, and Saint Rose College. He initially pursued a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, later received his master’s in special education, and finally pursued an administrative license on his way to becoming an assistant principal. Mr. Loiseau shared his diverse occupational background; he worked for QSAC, a non-profit organization helping children with disabilities. Early on, he was a paraprofessional at It Takes A Village Academy in Brooklyn, he taught high school math, worked as a school dean, and served as a Restorative Justice coordinator before accepting the opportunity to work at North. Mr. Loiseau believes his versatile professional background developed a sense of affinity with teachers. He shared, “I feel that I understand teachers because I’ve sat in their classrooms, and when they talk about certain things, it’s not going over my head.” What inspired you to become assistant principal? Mr. Loiseau: “I didn’t have aspirations to become an assistant principal; people saw certain qualities within me and put the idea in my head. Thinking about it, the idea started to grow on me. I also had a passion for helping teachers as well, so those two things pushed me into [administration].” What do you believe your role as Assistant Principal entails? Mr. Loiseau: “One of my main jobs will be managing the master schedule, so pretty much programming the [classes] for teachers and students. I have to do discipline primarily with the 7th graders and observe teachers.” What were you like as a student in high school? Mr. Loiseau: “I hated school, ironically, because I always struggled because I had a learning disability. My parents found out late because they weren’t born here, they were born in Haiti, so they didn’t really know the culture or system here, and my siblings were doing great. Eventually, someone told my mom to have me tested and I was diagnosed with a mild case of dyslexia. I think in high school, things started to get better for me; I started reading the Bible more, and reading more in general helped me. I was on the basketball team for a while in high school…that’s my love… my favorite team is the Knicks. I was a good kid, I never got into any fights, and I was the guy that could fit into any different social circle. I was laidback and liked video games and anime.” Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of school you'd like to share? Mr. Loiseau: “Still to this day I watch anime…I would always talk to my students to find out what the latest anime they could put me on was. I also work with a non-profit organization that’s affiliated with the church, helping young people...it’s called Blessing Source ministries.” What advice would you give to high school students looking to make the most of their high school experience? Mr. Loiseau: “I would say take advantage of every opportunity the school gives you. That's something I regret I didn’t do. For example, I should’ve joined the track team because I was athletic and fast, I should’ve joined tennis because there aren’t many Black American tennis players and could’ve gotten a scholarship doing that. Take advantage of every opportunity because it’s going to go by fast, and you don’t want to have any regrets. Make sure you try different things and make good friends. There’s so much more to high school then just academics because by involving yourself in the school, you’ll get more out of high school.” NORTH STAR would like to officially welcome Mr. Loiseau and thank him for speaking with us. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections A Meaningful Musical Experience By Manal Layachi and Marco Alavrez Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Rebecca Hayden The Breakfast Club is North’s own select string ensemble, composed of sophomores, juniors and seniors. Throughout the year, we play at the Winter and Spring concerts, the VSCHSD offices, the district’s tenure dinner, and more. Lead by Mrs. Rebecca Hayden, we get together twice a week at 7am to continue to improve as a group. We work hard and strive toward our goal of playing well as a group. At the end of the day, we play for fun and for others to enjoy! On Friday, December 9th, the Breakfast Club, North’s string ensemble, travelled to PS266Q in Queens to perform holiday songs for students with disabilities. Teachers and aids told us how excited they were to see us perform. They said students would always ask them “When is the Breakfast Club coming to perform for us again?!” These kids look forward to our program as it is the only ‘musical program’ they have a change to enjoy through the school year. After the we got settled at the school, they performed songs on stage. To conclude the concert, Jingle Bells was played while walking around the auditorium. Many teachers and students wore festive, holiday clothes. The students were overfilled with joy, sang along, and shook little maraca eggs to the music. I remember seeing this boy give us a heart and it filled me with pride and joy. After the concert, we taught the students how to play our instruments. It was fun and a wonderful way to interact with and teach the students about our instruments, especially exciting for the ones who have never gotten to try. For our social event, the students wrote down how music makes them feel. This was a heartwarming and interesting experience that was devoted to entertaining and giving the students an opportunity to embrace musical talents they never thought they had. After this event, I felt proud of the Breakfast Club for helping the kids and nicely interacting with them. It was an event that I will never forget and cannot wait to do next year! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Ask Ala: Schoolwork, Scheduling, and Stress By Ala Paruch Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by The Journal Q. How do I better manage my time? A. Everyone is different and not every method might work for you; however, you have to try and find out. Regarding time management, making a “to-do-list” using the agenda book usually works for me. You can add your homework as you go through the day in addition to your personal activities. There are obviously other ways to manage your time. You can try setting a routine for yourself. For example, ‘start homework at 5:00 pm,’ or ‘start chores at 6:30pm.’ Routines help you make sure you stay on track. Another important part of managing your time would include knowing your limits. If you feel tired or know that you have other events planned, it is okay to say “no” and not accept someone’s offer. Additionally, plenty of time-management apps exist that you can download on your phone, if you find that you use your phone more often than the traditional pen and paper. Q. How can I manage my stress? A. Similar to time management, stress affects everyone differently and can be caused by different stressors. Firstly, you have to try to identify your stressors. It might seem unnecessary; however, it will prove to be crucial. Often, in high school, overload of work can cause stress. In that case, I would advise you to try to make a schedule to make your workload more organized. If tests bring you stress, meditation could help, either right before the test, or every morning. It helps to relax and calm down, as well as has many scientifically proven benefits. If stress often seems to be too much for you to handle, speak up and talk to someone about it. You can turn to your friends or a trusted adult. Q. How can I improve my grades? A. Improving your grades starts with the will to improve your grades. This might be the most difficult step, but motivation proves crucial here. Improving your grades will be a gradual process. They won’t go from seventies to high nineties in a matter of one test. You will have to set up a system for yourself to always do your homework, as it is good practice and helps you remember information better and always study before tests. When you have questions about material covered in class, don’t hesitate to go to extra help, ask your friends or even use sites such as Khan academy. It is important to understand the concepts presented in class and apply them with some practice such as homework (as annoying as it may seem). Additionally, if you understand the concepts, you’ll find yourself not having to painfully memorize as much information and you will remember it better. Hope that helps and see you next time! 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 Marcus Harris 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.