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Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Autumn Sees Leola Garcia Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 Autumn watches all the children play on a windy fall day. Leaves are falling from tree to tree because of the gentle breeze. Autumn hears the children scream, not from fear, but from glee. Children forced to wear sweaters from Autumn has brought cool weather. The children are happy to play all day because Autumn is here to stay. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Review of Polish Food (with a dash of some personal biases) By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Hotels.com As the people slowly come back to the regular, pre-pandemic habits, such as going out to eat, I would like to rate some Polish dishes commonly served in Polish restaurants. Overall, Polish food tends to be rather heavy, and filling. It often consists of potatoes, pork, sausage, and what really makes most of the dishes stodgy for some is the frequent reliance on oil. The desserts on the other hand, usually are healthier than the ones sold in the US (which use large amounts of sugar) and focus on subtle flavor combinations. Appetizers: Naleśniki z serem /Cheese crepes - thin crepes with a sweet white cheese filling, often drizzled with honey, or heavy cream and fruits. I honestly want to say this is one of my favorites, but most of these are. This however does have a nice balance of sweet and salty flavors with a hint of sour from the fruit. These are considerably healthy and make for a good appetizer.  Najlepsze naleśniki z serem - Przepis od Po Prostu Pycha Chleb z smalcem i ogórkiem kiszonym /Bread with lard and pickles - This is the Polish version of the bread with butter appetizer in Italian restaurants. Simply smear the lard on the bread and top with the pickle. Simplicity is key. As you can predict, this is less healthy than the crepes, but it’s a staple everyone should try at least once. Smalec i ogórek – połączenie doskonałe - Zjadlbym.pl Soups: Barszcz Biały /White Borscht - A chicken-based broth with kiełbasa (sausage), vegetables, hard or soft boiled eggs. This soup has a similar, but more sour, counterpart called “ żurek ” and these are often a part of the traditional Easter breakfast. This soup is quite filling and fatty, but the rich flavors of the soup always have me hungry for more. https://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Polish-White-Borscht-1608.21.jpg.webp Barszcz Czerwony z uszkami /Red Borscht with dumplings - This borscht on the other hand is traditionally made without any meat, because it is usually served for the Christmas Eve supper at which people don’t eat meat. The vegetable broth is enriched with beets, where it gets its beautiful burgundy color and a deep earthy flavor. Accompanied by cabbage and mushroom filled dumplings, this is a relatively healthier choice than the white borscht and still full of flavor, and to me, and most Poles, is the smell of Christmas. Przepis na tradycyjny polski barszcz z uszkami - Blog EasySend Barszcz po Ukraińsku /Ukrainian Borscht - This is a cold-served soup with a chicken-based broth with beets, some sour cream, and heavy cream. It is a nice and refreshing dish to have during hot summer days and the addition of mint just elevates the flavor. Personally, I associate this with my childhood memories of my mom calling me over to eat something while playing in the backyard. It is close to my heart, and even though it’s cold, it definitely has warm memories attached to it. This is also a relatively healthy dish and is definitely worth getting! Barszcz ukraiński - JAK uMAMI - pyszna zupa w wersji wegetariańskiej. As a side note, we, as Polish people, do not exclusively eat different types of borschts. These are soups I saw mostly served in Polish restaurants that I would consider foreign to non-Polish  people.  Entrees: Gołąbki /Stuffed cabbage with tomato sauce - Steamed cabbage leaf stuffed with rice and meat topped with tomato sauce. This is a surprisingly healthy dish with nice mellow flavors of the meat and a sharper contrast of flavor of the tomato sauce. This Polish staple makes for a good, light dinner. The name “ Gołąbki ,” in literal translation, means little pigeons, but do not fret, no pigeons were hurt in making your dish! Gołąbki warzywne - wegetariańskie | Kwestia Smaku Placki ziemniaczane po Węgiersku /Hungarian pancakes - fried potato pancakes (kind of like thinner hash browns) topped with a rich beef and vegetable goulash. This is definitely a heavier of the bunch but is my comfort food on a rainy day. The crispiness of the potato pancakes and the creaminess of the sauce blend so seamlessly, as if they were made for each other. Placek po węgiersku - Foodwiki - Pyszne.pl Kluski Śląskie /Silesian dumplings - soft and chewy potato dumplings often topped with a pork or beef sauce. This is a texture dish, so if you’re not open to new textures, I can’t guarantee you won’t be averse to it. If you don’t mind them though, the combination of the thick meat sauce and the velvety dumplings will satisfy your hunger for new experiences. Jak zrobić kluski śląskie bez wagi i miarki - Vademecum Kuchni - Akademia Smaku Pierogi - The famous dumplings! They can be served with potatoes and white cheese (they’re commonly called “Russian dumplings,” but they don't originate from there), cabbage and mushrooms (often served at Christmas Eve), or minced meat. The potato pierogi are hands down my favorite type with the potatoes and cheese blending nicely into a beautiful harmony of flavors. Personally, I haven’t had cabbage and mushroom pierogi in a long time because I don’t like mushrooms, but for people who like them, this will taste great! As much as others love the rich meat pierogi, I often find them a little dry, unless done properly, which is not often done at restaurants. Another very important factor of pierogi is the quality. Since they have become a well-known polish staple, many companies have made frozen versions of them. I do not find that wrong, it is the natural way of modern commercialization, but what I do find sad is when restaurants serve them to their clients. You can easily tell the difference between a homemade one and a store bought one. If your pierogi have more filling than dough, and the filling is well-seasoned, then they are most probably hand made. On the other hand, if the dough overshadows the filling in its quantity and thickness, and the filling is perfectly smooth and bland, it is most definitely store bought. Pierogi are often topped with caramelized onions, sour cream or sometimes bacon bits. I personally love the contrast of the coldness and taste of sour cream against the warm and creamy dumplings, but I also see the appeal of adding the extra sweetness of the onions or the savory flair of the bacon against the smooth potatoes. There are so many ways one could go with pierogi and you will not be disappointed when you find your favorite. My Grandma's Homemade Pierogi - Spend With Pennies Bigos /Hunter’s stew - is a delicious and hearty dish made of sauerkraut, vegetables, sausage, mushrooms, pork or beef, and prunes. This savory dish lives close to my heart, as my grandma makes it for me fairly often. It is yet another heavy dish, and is usually served with bread, which only increases its calorie count, but the salty and umami flavors, with the occasional hint of sweetness from the prunes surrounded by the slightly acidic flavor of the cabbage have me thinking about when I’ll have it again. Bigos, a Polish Hunter's Stew | Paleo Leap Desserts: Karpatka - This dessert is similar to a napoleon pastry but has a sweet origin story. The name “ karpatka ” comes from the name of a Polish mountain range “Karpaty,” because the pastry the cream is surrounded in looks like a mountain range after it is baked. The sweet filling nicely complements the pastry creating a very enjoyable experience. Traditional Karpatka - one of the most popular Polish desserts. - https://tasteisyours.com Chrust or faworki - This desert might be hard to find at a restaurant, but it is a Polish delicacy. Very thinly rolled dough, fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar is a dessert served most commonly for Fat Thursday (February pre-Lent Christian celebration). It is best served fresh and still slightly warm. Babcia’s Polish Chrust Recipe (Faworki) – matthew eats the world (wordpress.com) Honorable mentions: Ptasie Mleczko - You won’t find this at a restaurant, but in your local Polish store. This candy is the most popular (and one of the best in my opinion) Polish candy. It’s a sweet marshmallow covered in chocolate. Wedel, the company that makes Ptasie Mleczko , manufactures many flavors of the candy, from the original (and arguably the best) vanilla flavor, to chocolate, caramel, or even lemon. Wedel.pl - Czas na przyjemność Thank you so much for reading and allowing me to share my love for Polish food with you. Growing up in Poland, it was my everyday life, and after moving it has made it even more special. The comforting flavors bring me back to some of my fondest memories, looking up at my grandma and seeing magic happen in her kitchen. Food has a lot of power to keep one grounded and I know I can always come back to it after a harsh day. I hope this review will help you choose a dish of your liking next time you end up at a Polish restaurant. There are of course many that I have not covered but be daring and try new flavors as well!  BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nostalgic Musings Back to Sections Shehar Bano - Nostalgic Musings - 2 By Shehar Bano February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Advice Season 2 Episode 2 By Ala Paruch Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images Hello Ala! I’m finding it hard to organize my school papers this year because of the mix of online and on paper work. What should I do? Dear reader, Thank you for asking this question. The 2021/22 school year definitely has some challenges ahead, and you just pointed out one of them. Personally, I relate to this question as well. The mix of mediums can present obstacles, but with a little organization, your papers will start to make sense once again. Paper Of course, we are used to shoving our papers into our binders, which later end up in our lockers and then in our bookbags. Since you mentioned you still get some papers, I would recommend sticking with the old method of am-pm binders or using binder pocket dividers. When everything was on paper, an am-pm binder might have been a great solution to not carry too much throughout the day, but with not all classes using paper, that might not be the most efficient idea. Using binder pocket dividers though presents itself as the more attractive option in today’s times. I recommend buying a 1-1.5-inch binder, depending on how much paper you use, and using it for all paper classes. After getting the binder, make sure to label or assign a specific color to each class. Make sure to carry a few pieces of loose-leaf paper in each divider as well and clean out the divider after finishing every unit. Online This is a presumably new situation, though most students already have a lot of experience with technology. Regarding Teams, make sure to use the Assignments tab; at the end of the day, check whether you have any assignments left to complete. Additionally, check that you can see notifications from all teams to stay on top of your assignments. As for OneNote, you get a bit of a head start since you have a folder for each class and your teachers create folders for you. Don’t be shy to create new folders in your section and make subpages to make units more organized. If you ever need help with getting either OneNote or Teams to work, ask one of your classmates or teachers, they will be more than willing to help you to keep your files in order. Homework Now, there are two options for keeping track of your homework - online or on paper. Personally, I am used to writing my assignments and important events in my agenda book, so that’s what I would recommend. Ask an English teacher if you need or would like an agenda book. No matter if you have your laptop out or not you can quickly open your agenda and jot down some notes to remember for later. You can also use an online calendar and note everything there, though in my opinion, it can be problematic to use one, since you need to have your device out to make your notes in it. I hope this helps! Ala BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Protect Asian Lives: An Ode to Asian Culture By Christina Ossa Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Original photo by Christina Ossa Boba Black Milk Tea: (Up to two servings) Ingredients: ¼-½ cup Boba Pearls (You can buy them on amazon) ⅓-½ cup dark brown sugar ¼ cup milk 1 cup of tea of choice (I used Black Tea) 5-6 ice cubes Directions: Grab a medium-sized saucepan and follow the directions on the back of your package to heat the boba pearls ; I would use about ¼ cup of boba pearls if you want only one serving While your boba pearls are heating, heat the water in a kettle or small pan that you are going to use for your tea (I would use a strong flavored tea since it’s being mixed with milk and sugar if you want to taste the flavor of the tea) After draining your boba pearls, place them back into the saucepan and add the dark brown sugar (you can add as much as you want depending on how sweet you like your bubble tea) Grab a fairly large-sized cup and pour your boba pearls into the cup Pour the milk into the cup, add more depending on your preference Add the ice cubes into the cube then slowly pour the tea to the top of the cup Grab a wide straw for the boba and enjoy~ Recently, Asian Americans have become targets for harassment, discrimination, and racism more so than ever. Racism has persisted as an obstacle for people of color, including me, in our daily lives for as far back as anyone can remember. However, since the start of the pandemic, Anti-Asian hate crimes have increased by nearly 150% with estimates of cases being roughly 3,800 anti-Asian bias incidents, and one of the motivators this year and last year being that many people blame Asians for COVID-19 and the pandemic since the virus spread from Wuhan, China. I feel for Asian Americans as I do for all other people of color, and if we can support their culture, we should also be able to support and respect them as people as well. People of color are unfairly treated many times in this country and throughout the world, ranging from police brutality and hate crimes to just generalized, subtle stereotypes thrown toward us in our day-to-day lives. However, no one deserves to experience hate crimes solely for the color of their skin and the violent opinions people hold against members of certain races, especially not innocent Asian people simply trying to mind their business. This is why I wanted to share a bubble tea recipe that I’ve recently used and become obsessed with. I love bubble tea, I love anime, I love Asian cuisines (Sichuan Chinese food, Japanese cuisine, etc.). I consume Asian culture almost every day, and if I love their culture so much I, along with others who enjoy Asian culture as I do, should be able to spread awareness of this subject. I’m sure in your life you’ve experienced or appreciated Asian food, products, or anything related. If we can experience Asian culture at its highs, we should also be able to support Asians experiencing hate crime and being attacked; we should help them and stand up for them during their lows. Much more recently on March 16th, there was a series of mass shootings targeting spas and massage parlors where 8 women were shot to death, 6 of the victims being Asian. The shooter was named Robert Aaron Long and CNN reports that he stated that he had a “sex addiction” which he claimed was his reason for the shooting. The fact that this man KILLED 8 women is sickening, but what creates even more disgust was that he did it to “eliminate his temptation”. But what causes this shooting to be even more revolting than it is already is that the police reports did not declare this a hate crime nor femicide, and the sheriff of Cherokee County at first stated in an interview that “Yesterday was a really bad day for him [Long] and this is what he did”, which is completely ridiculous as clearly, this was a race/gender-motivated crime that should not be excused in any form. Long targeted solely spas and massage parlors, and NBC News even reported that Long specifically drove from location to location meaning that he had clearly planned this beforehand. NBC reports that survivor Eunji Lee, who was once robbed and held at gunpoint, declared herself that this shooting felt targeted and extremely different from a “traditional” robbery since Long did not give any demands or requests to the women on-duty. He simply shot anyone he could find, and what’s more, he killed all women, and the majority of them were Asian. While the Atlanta shooting in Georgia may have been one of the more extreme incidents, it’s sadly one of many hate crimes against Asians from this year and last year alone. While Asian-Americans continually face brutality, attacks, and harassment simply because of the color of their skin and heritage, we continue to enjoy and immerse ourselves in their culture. While it’s most certainly not a bad thing to enjoy and appreciate Asian culture, we must take into account that if we enjoy their culture, we also must support them as people. We cannot ‘pick and choose’ what we prefer from their overall culture and identities. As I’ve said, I love Asian culture, whether it be their food, art, shows/movies, etc., I will always appreciate what the Asian community has shared with us. This is also why I’ve shared a bubble tea recipe, because this simple milk, tea, sugar concoction is one of the most popular drinks among the mainstream population and it was shared with us from the Asian community, specifically Taiwan. If you don’t like bubble tea personally, that’s completely fine, but this beverage is just one of many examples of Asian culture that we can enjoy every day. However, as joys from the Asian community are shared with us, so are their misfortunes. It is our job to help spread awareness on these heinous hate crimes that have plagued so many Asian lives, and it’s time for us to stand up for the Asian community and Stop Asian Hate. If you enjoy anime, going out to your favorite Asian restaurant, drinking bubble tea -- if you enjoy Asian culture in any way, shape, or form -- then help the community whose culture you endorse yourself in so much by simply signing a petition for change, donating money to Anti-Asian-Hate foundations, attending a protest against Asian Hate, spreading awareness to these horrible incidents and any other ways to support our fellow Asian-American community. Petition You Can Sign: http://chng.it/mwgBbRHJNG Works Cited: Park, Hanna. "He Shot at 'Everyone He Saw': Atlanta Spa Workers Recount Horrors of Shooting." NBC News , 2 Apr. 2021. NBC News , www.nbcnews.com/news/ asian-america/ he-shot-everyone-he-saw-atlanta-spa-workers-recount-horrors-n1262928. Accessed 9 Apr. 2021. Wagner, Meg, et al. "8 Killed in Shootings at Atlanta-Area Spas." CNN , 18 Mar. 2021. CNN News , www.cnn.com/us/live-news/atlanta-area-shootings-03-17-21/ index.html. Accessed 9 Apr. 2021. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections What is bullying/cyberbullying? By Catherine Duong Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Observatory of Educational Institution According to StopBullying.Gov Bullying/cyberbullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both the bully and victim may have serious, lasting problems. Bullying can be physical, i.e., hitting or kicking. It can also be verbal, i.e., taunting or threatening. Lastly, bullying can be social, like spreading personal or confidential information. Bullying can cause anxiety, and depression which leads to some victims of bullying avoiding school. Studies show that 1 in 5 kids are bullied, and 32% of students said they were victims of online harassment. Standing up to a bully can help you deal with their actions; however, you can also go to a trusted adult, and they can help you handle the situation. This short story is an example of one way to counteract bullying. When I was candle running1 at Daylight Prairie2, I saw a small group of sky players standing together at one of the corners of the map. I was curious and I flew to the small group, then lifted them up to see what they looked like. The small one has the appearance of a moth3, having a brown cape, default pants, and hair. The other two on the opposite side of the tiny moth seemed to be veteran players, wearing unique cosmetics4. I saw the veterans mocking the moth by copying the same emotes5 and then using a laugh emote to insult them. I could not hear what they said at once due to game mechanics which require a table for conversation. Once I realized what was happening, I created one so that we could speak, Once I could hear them, my suspicions were proven correct. I heard countless insults like: “You poor moth! Must be so broke that you don’t have any friends!” and “There is no way for you to get up to our level.” The moth was silent after their insult, but I knew the player behind the screen was upset. I had to act. This game was built to make friends, not tear each other down! “Hey, it’s not nice of you two to bully this player. They probably just started the game, and you are setting a bad example of how experienced players should act.” Once I typed and sent the message, I did the scolding emote and got my character to cross her arms to express how I felt. The two were quiet for a few seconds, looking at one another before texting back at my response. “Whatever. We were trying to help.” “Trying to help? You are insulting them!” After I finished my message, the two veterans abruptly left. Silently, the moth left soon after. Sadly, I never had the chance to give them advice, but hopefully stopping those bullies made the new players experience just a little bit better! Keywords: Candle Running – a process to collect wax from candles placed all around the realms Daylight Prairie – The second realm in Sky: CotL; known to be the most sociable realm between players Moth – A name given to inexperienced players on Sky: Children of the Light (CotL); wearing default cosmetics provided at the start of the game. Cosmetics – clothing and accessories that bought with candles and hearts from traveling spirits (TS) and spirits to customize your looks for your character Emotes – to express to another player with a click of a button a specific action/emotion BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Equality By Anonymous Contributor Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Grand Rapids Pride Center They tried to take it Equality and love Of those who want the same as you, Of those who were created the same as you, Of those who are the same as you, Of those who love same The same as you do 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 Brian Chung 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 Feature Back to Sections Thanksgiving: History and Traditions By Charis Hackman Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided Getty Images Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated by people all over the country. The holiday is observed on November 24. The holiday is based on the ideals of the original Thanksgiving, a harvest festival, that the pilgrims and settlers from England had with the Native Americans of the area, the Wampanoag in 1621, probably over 400 years ago. History Of Thanksgiving In 1620, Pilgrims came to the New World on the Mayflower, seeking religious and economic freedom. Their original destination was between Virginia and the Hudson River area in what is now the state of New York. But bad weather, like storms and rough waves, caused the ship to change course resulting in the boat arriving in the area near what is known as Cape Cod on November 11, 1620. But after failing to find open land to settle on, they ventured further to the Plymouth area in Massachusetts. But there were people already living in Massachusetts long before the pilgrims came. Native Americans like the Wampanoag have lived in the Massachusetts area for hundreds of years. The pilgrims arrived in Plymouth on December 16, 1620, and started building their colony there. But the Pilgrims were not prepared for the winter in the area, which was very different than the winter in England. As a result, many got sick with exposure, scurvy, and many other contagious diseases as well as malnutrition, as the seeds they brought from England would not grow in the soils of early America. The pilgrims did not know how to hunt and fish on the land, as it was different than the land in England which resulted in many deaths and only half of the pilgrims surviving that first winter in the New World. In March, the pilgrims were visited by a man named Samoset, who welcomed them. Later, he brought an English-speaking man named Tisquantum, also known as Squanto, who was the last of a native American tribe called the Pawtuet. He was kidnapped by a sea captain who had come to his people’s land years before and taken him to Europe. He later gained his freedom and traveled back to the Americas, where he learned that all of his people had died from the plague; then, he began living with the Wampanoag people. After he was introduced to the pilgrims, he decided to help them and teach them how to survive the American wilderness. He taught the pilgrims how to catch fish, cultivate corn, find berries and plants and to tell which ones were not poisonous. Around the same time, the pilgrims, with Squanto’s help, made an alliance with the Wampanoag which lasted for more than 50 years. By the time fall rolled around, the pilgrims were doing much better, thanks to the Wampanoag. To celebrate, the governor of the pilgrims, William Bradford, organized a feast. He invited the leader of Wampanoag, Chief Massasoit, and some of his people to join them in the celebration. It lasted for three whole days. They ate duck, deer, turkey, berries, corn, corn soup, seafood, and the vegetables they grew that year, like carrots and beans. Thanksgiving Traditions People in the United States each have their unique way of celebrating Thanksgiving. The most common is having a traditional dinner with friends and family, eating turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, collard greens, etc., and desserts like apple and pumpkin pie. But there are other ways to celebrate Thanksgiving than just eating dinner. One of the most popular is watching Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, established by Macy in 1924. The parade draws more than 3 million spectators and more than 27.4 million viewers as of last year. Macy’s Thanksgiving parade is an event in which giant balloons of characters from popular culture, like Charlie Brown, Blues Clues the dog, and Hello Kitty. The parade also includes performances from famous singers and performance groups like the Rockettes, with Santa and Ms. Claus arriving at the end of the parade. Another Thanksgiving tradition is watching football which was developed in 1876 when the IFA (Intercollegiate Football Association) started hosting their championship day on the holiday. However, it was not as popular then as it is now. On Thanksgiving Day, the NFL hosts three football games; this year consisted of the Cowboys and the Lions, per tradition, with the Bills, Giants, Patriots, and Vikings. Another tradition is breaking a wishbone, a forked bone found in most birds and some non-avian birds, which is thus found in the turkey. It is said that with a wishbone, two people make a wish on it, then break it, and the one with the most significant piece of the bone wins and gets their wish granted. Another more recent tradition is the celebration of Friendsgiving, a casual meal enjoyed by friends, specifically during Thanksgiving. Friends get together, eat meals, do puzzles, do a scavenger hunt, play games like Bingo, Jenga, Connect 4, UNO, Poker, or Headbands, decorate pumpkins, and watch movies. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Line Back to Sections Cianna Nadal - What is Line By Cianna Nadal November 1, 2020 Photography Volume 1 Issue 1