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BACK TO ALL ARTICLES VIEW ARTWORK BACK TO SECTIONS ART & CULTURE History of Easter Leah Ally July 5, 2025 Read More Open For the Flower Nora Chery - Class of 2023 November 6, 2023 Read More The History of Christmas By Leah Ally December 23, 2022 Read More Halloween Traditions Around the World Leah Ally November 6, 2023 Read More Crack A Smile Nora Chery November 6, 2023 Read More A Dominican Bodega That Sells Amazing Food for a Great Price By Benjamin Amirazodi November 7, 2022 Read More 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 7

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections History of Badminton Sahar Ali Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Navrosedip Kundlas Have you ever wondered about the history of your favorite sport(s)? Growing up, I always played badminton; I recall waiting for the weather to get warmer to go outside, pull out my racket and hit shuttlecocks with my father or sister. After playing the sport for so long, and daily during the spring season for North’s Girls Varsity Badminton team, I sat at my desk pondering about how the sport came to be: Where did badminton originate? Who created the sport? What types of people played it? Let’s get into the basics of the sport. Badminton is typically played either on a court or lawn with a racket along with the shuttlecock, often called a “birdie”. Historically, the first rackets made for the sport were composed of a piece of wood and strings made of animal guts. To make a player comfortable while holding a badminton racket, a piece of cloth was wrapped around the handle. The racket was modified and made lighter with the use of aluminum or steel until the 1950s when carbon fiber completely changed the production of rackets. The shuttlecock is better known as a “bird” or a “birdie.” When the game first came to be, the shuttlecock was composed of unrefined bird feathers, weighing only around 5 grams. Now, many shuttlecocks are made out of synthetic materials, but many players continue to use goose feather shuttlecocks. The sport can be traced back 2000 years; however, the most modern version of badminton is traced back to 1873, England. The Duke of Beaufort is said to have brought the sport to England from India. Britain had many colonies including India, which resulted in the mixture of cultures and ideas. The sport is said to have roots in ancient Greece, China, and India and is similar to battledore and shuttlecock , an old children’s game. During Britain’s rule in India, English army officers began to play Poona while stationed throughout the colony in the 1860s; this is where badminton was derived from. As the sport diffused from South Asia to Europe, badminton gained severe popularity in England. In 1899, the first men’s badminton championship was held, which was further followed by a women’s tournament in 1900. Later during the 20th century, in 1934, the Badminton World Federation (BWF), was formed; it was formerly known as the International Badminton Federation and is the world administration for the sport. Badminton tournaments ranging from regionals to nationals take place in many countries, but the most famous includes the All-England Championships. More international badminton tournaments include the Thomas Cup, the first international badminton tournament for men, which took place 14 years later in 1948 after the creation of the BWF. Following in 1956, the Uber Cup took place, which was the first international badminton tournament for women. Badminton has gained popularity in Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and in European countries such as Denmark. The rules of the sport have evolved. Until 2001, players could score only up to 15 points, however, the scoring system has changed, requiring players to score up to 21 points in a rally in which a lead of two points is needed to win a game. The rules for serving have changed since 2006 as well; players were allowed to serve overhead in 1983, but in 2006, the serve was required to be below the server’s waist. Like all things, badminton too has evolved, all the way from rackets and shuttlecocks to the rules and regulations of the game. SOURCES: Badminton | History, Rules, Equipment, Facts, & Champions | Britannica Badminton, A historical glimpse into the sport’s changing face over the decades ( olympics.com ) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Valley Stream District Bowling By Ismaela Andre Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Ismaela Andre Back row (L to R) Kayla Chinchilla (Central), Sam Diaz (Central), Riley Granda (Memorial), James Bello (North), Adam Norton (Central), Michael Goetz (North), Coach Pandolfi Middle Row (L to R) Melody Chen (North), Augustine Magapan (North), Daniel Casey (South), Tony Wong (Central), Dylan Cittadino (North), Kaylin Hom (Central) Front Row (L to R) Emily Jia (Central), Momina Ali (South), Nadia Inesta (Memorial), Ismaela Andre (North), Ariella Montalban (South) Have you ever gone bowling? Did you find it fun? Well, did you know that our school district has a bowling team? Our team coach is Mr. Pandolfi. For you to get onto the team, you must try out. However, that experience is just as fun. It’s a good way to make friends and connections. I joined this team in 2021, and each year I love it! My favorite part is that it's students not only from North but Memorial, Central, and South too. This allows me to see my friends from the other high schools. There are two teams, the girls and the boys. We played against multiple schools, such as Hewlett High School, Long Beach High School, Lynbrook High School, and Lawrence High School. Girl teams must play against the girls, and boys must play against the boys. There’s a series of matches after school. To be on this team, you must put forth the effort, for it is still a varsity sport. In each match, you must try your best. The main goal is to knock down as many pins as you can. The more pins that we knock down, the more matches we win! Last year, the girls' team made it to the finals. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but the experience and joy were amazing. Hopefully, you can join our school Varsity Bowling Teams! Screen Shot 2023-02-19 at 8.31.15 PM .png Download PNG • 1.31MB (L to R) Jesleys Vasquez (North), Emily Jia (Central), Ismaela Andre (North), Kaylin Hom (Central), Melody Chen (North), Nadia Inesta (Memorial), Ariella Montalban (South), Momina Ali (South), Aleeza Akhtar (South) BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections James Bond By Sienna Munro January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Introductory - Ekin Pinar Ekin Pinar Image Provided by Ekin Pinar Welcome all readers of North Star! My name is Ekin Pinar, and I will be taking over the advice column from here on. This section of the paper is dedicated to you, the reader. Here you can ask about anything that plagues your thoughts and mind. This can be anything from a bad test grade, or you are just stressed about school, all you have to do, dear reader is submit your response to this form North Star Advice column submissions  – Fill out form Don’t worry, all responses are completely anonymous so don’t feel shy and fill out the document. No question is too big or too small for me to tackle!! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections EGM’s Top 5 By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Car Throttle Hello everyone! It is once again the time of year when I convince myself that doing a music review won’t be death upon my sanity. As much as I could spend hours going on and on about all the music I’ve loved (and hated) this year, here is a bite-sized review of my top 5 favorite songs of 2021! Note: The songs do not have to have been released in 2021 to count towards this list; I find that my music taste would be hard to limit to a yearly format. Also, this list functions in descending order; therefore, 5 is the least favorite of my favorites.  5. Maps - The Front Bottoms Are “The Front Bottoms” the best band you’ve ever heard? Definitely not. A folk-punk band from Woodcliff Lake, NJ, it is undeniably one of my favorite bands of all time. Full of clever lyrics surrounding the idea of growing up, making future plans, and ultimately trying to achieve your goals even when your relationships become tangled because of your ambitions. This song has sunk into my bones. As a senior grappling with what feels like an infinitely changing reality, attempting to hang on to lifelong dreams and passions, and doing my best to adhere to my “big big plans,” I have found comfort in Brian Sella’s sweaty-palmed and awkward adolescence.  If you like this song, check out: Skeleton - The Front Bottoms, Redo- Modern Baseball, and Romance is Boring- Los Campesinos! 4. Wasteland Baby- Hozier Ever wanted to live out your dreams of running away to a cottage in the woods and making cookies until the warmth of the stove matches the warmth in your heart? If so, this song is for you. This song may just be the sweetest end of the world you have ever seen; as Hozier pushes a clear and warm melody over a simple plucked guitar, you might find yourself falling in love with rainy Sundays best spent in PJs with those you care about most. The lyrics paint a soft description of two people falling in love with the end of it all in the background, but is their love world ending, or is the end of the world the reason they love? Your guess is as good as mine.  If you like this song, check out: Like Real People Do- Hozier (Ala recommends this one too), Nine in the Afternoon- Panic! at the Disco, and Shampoo Bottles- Peach Pit 3. Keep It Easy- Bears Tn Trees A self-described “dirtbag boy-band” from South London, Bears in Trees is one band I am always excited for. I’ll be honest; I’m reluctant to place this band on this list because they’re my “I’ve been a fan since day one” band. Yet, my love for their new album and everyone smiled back (editor’s note, the title is stylized to be lowercase) continues to grow as I keep listening. Keep It Easy is an upbeat romp through attempting to, well, keep it easy. Its joyful tones and gang vocals make it feel like something to be screamed at the top of your lungs amongst friends. This song has the distinct feel of the first 50-degree day after a long cold winter; it’s not perfectly warm yet, but it’s getting there, and you’re overjoyed because of it.  If you like this song, check out: I’m Doing Push Ups- Bears in Trees, The Moss- Cosmo Sheldrake, and Oh Yeah, You Gonna Cry- Lovejoy 2. Glitter and Crimson- All Time Low Alright, listen, this is where my personal bias starts to be increasingly apparent. With most songs I listen to, I connect with them because of lyrical witticisms, interesting melodies, or cool production choices. Not simply because I find something relatable, see the entirety of 100gecs.  But this one? This one is entirely personal. The lyrics tell the story of a hidden and closeted pair of lovers, choosing to risk it all by coming out and fighting for their right to love openly. The singer knows that if they let the “sunshine fade,” everything good they’ve got is likely to be washed down the drain. I first heard this song while learning to drive down a nearly empty highway during the early pandemic, and while tinged in the empty sadness of April 2020, I swear I can still feel the sun through the windshield when I hear it. Clover, this one’s for you.  If you like this song, check out: Backseat Serenade- All Time Low, Fourth of July- Fall Out Boy, and Voldemort- With Confidence 1. You would Be Paranoid Too (If Everyone Was Out to Get You)- Waterparks Waterparks have been the top artist on my Spotify Wrapped for two years in a row. I crowd surfed for the first time at their NYC show on November 25th, 2019, an experience I would later craft into my college essay. On November 5th, 2021, I was lucky to see them and crowd surf again. Two years later, I had learned to take every second for granted, and I wasn’t going to waste my chance.  As the crowd once again lifted me, I felt my heart swell. This song was playing loud enough to damage my hearing, I was sweaty from being crammed into the pit, and I knew my makeup must have been melting off my face, but none of that mattered. I was flying, singing, laughing, and honestly just trying not to fall. Regardless of my opinions on this artist in the future, I cannot deny the astronomical impact they’ve had on my high school career.  If you like this song, check out: Lowkey as H*ll- Waterparks, Planetary Go!- My Chemical Romance, and Choke- I Don’t Know How but They Found Me And that’s a wrap! I hope this list helps you find something new to listen to as we enter 2022 or reminds you of an old favorite. I know I can’t wait to see what next year brings!  P.S.  Interested in hearing more? Here are a few Honorable mentions (in no particular order): Sofia- Clairo, Coals- Modern Baseball, Karma- MODSUN, Perfume- Lovejoy, Alrighty Aphrodite- Peach Pit, Kenny- Still Woozy, Heatwaves- Glass Animals, Passerine- The Oh Hello’s 26- Caamp BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections The Artist Perspective By Nehilah Grand-Pierre Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Left: Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, Right: Original artwork “I am Greater” by Nehilah Grand-Pierre Perspective is what sets aside the artist from the other people of the world. An artist looks at the bigger picture, while attending to the fine details. The artist looks at the struggles and hardships of life, and rather than pointing out the flaws, they highlight the beauty of it. An artist has an outlook that turns misfortunes into masterpieces. I drew inspiration from Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa. The work depicts a giant ocean wave, which I perceive to symbolize the waves that we face while swimming through the ocean of life. The wave is not only great in size, but also great in beauty. Though seemingly terrifying, the wave is beautiful from the viewpoint portrayed in the painting, though the people painted on the boat may not think the same. My piece highlights these concepts as I drew a hand holding the wave, thus suggesting that with the right perspective, we can take hold of our hardships and realize that struggles are our personal opportunities to overcome our fears, worries, and the great ocean of life. As the loveable animated fish Dory once said, “Just keep swimming!” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Single Sally Aamna Raja Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching “I'm scared that I'll be alone for the rest of my life. No one has ever been romantically interested in me. I think I'm going to die single... What should I do?” -Single Sally Hi Single Sally! First of all, it's completely normal to have concerns about your future, especially in high school where social dynamics can feel overwhelming. Everyone wants to be appreciated and loved, and you are! Maybe not romantically, but I’m sure your friends and family love you and care about you as well. Remember, your worth isn't defined by whether someone is romantically interested in you. You have so much to offer beyond romantic relationships. If you want a healthy outlet to express these feelings, I’d recommend focusing on building your self-confidence and focusing on your interests and hobbies. This is great to help you feel better and you may find someone with similar interests this way! Friendships often develop into romantic relationships, so focus on fostering meaningful connections with others. Remember, don't rush things. High school is only the early stages of your love life, and there's plenty of time for romance to grow in the future. Stay open to new experiences and opportunities! You are worthy of love and companionship, no matter your relationship status. Hang in there, Sally, and every other person reading this. You're not alone, and there's an entire world of possibilities waiting for you beyond high school. 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 Brad Grecco 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 Polaris Back to Sections Nostalgic for Sentience’s Absence  By William Mullin Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original photography from William Mullin Remember when you were little? And when you were happy, you laughed And when you were sad, you cried Why don’t you do that anymore? Just because of arbitrary self-restrictions Or other’s expectations, I suppose Remember what it felt like? To be free of self-consciousness Unknown to the crowd Why don’t you think like that anymore? Too aware now and I’m a mess Imbued with “social anxiety” Unfortunate that now you can’t even be free with yourself Simplicity dies, and overwhelming thought takes over Each choice, no matter how small, needs contemplation Each conversation requires active consideration A shame that nothing can be simply what it is A pity that everything will never be how it was I miss it. Both for you and for me. BACK TO TOP