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Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections Aura of David Entry 4 April 14, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 6

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Click Click By Zoie James Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by Getty Images Click, click. I sit at my desk and log into my laptop. School starts in five minutes, but there’s no need to rush in the comfort of my own home. Click, click. I look at the time: 8:00 am. Time for first period. Click, click. Both my hands type the notes on the screen, although my eyes fight to stay open; my brain struggles to think; my body jitters; it can no longer stay still. The school day drags on, so why does time fly when I have a test? Click, click. I hastily turn in my assignment, feeling the stress grow inside me. It eats away at me As I click and click and click and click on the keyboard. At last, the school day ends. I shut my laptop, sigh, and head outside to watch the bright, fluffy clouds before I click, click and click on my computer once more. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Truth About Vaccination By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by USA Today Chances are you know someone who has gotten Covid within the past year because the deadly virus has infected approximately 166,761,227 people worldwide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supplied the first Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a Covid-19 prevention vaccine on December 11, 2020. The vaccine was initially approved for people 18 years or older, but the Pfizer vaccine was permitted to be injected into citizens ranging from 12-16 years old on May 10, 2021. Although the vaccine does not entirely prevent Covid infections, it limits symptoms’ severities and the likelihood of infection. Many people were thrilled to have a chance at lowering their risk of contagion, but others were skeptical of the vaccine. There is a growing fear and distrust of vaccines, which can lead to dire consequences. Many people are concerned about how quickly the Covid vaccine was created. Most vaccines take years to develop, and although scientists have been working on SARS vaccines for decades, this one seemed to have taken less than a year to be tested and accepted. Kelly Elterman, MD, shares that the vaccine was developed quickly by using 20 year-old technology. So, doubting the vaccine based on timelines does not tell the whole story. Still, others are concerned about the unknown side effects of the vaccine. People believe there are life-threatening outcomes of getting vaccinated, and some of this concern comes from reports in the media. Joyce Ann Kraner, a citizen of Tennessee, says, "We don't know the long-term effects. We don't know what it's going to do." Much misinformation had been spread through social media and the internet, causing certain people to believe in false side effects, even possible infertility, and creating further media distrust. One in four Americans refuse the vaccine, and 5% are unsure if they would take it given a chance. Experts are becoming concerned that refusal of the vaccine, or “vaccine hesitancy” by that substantial number will prevent the U.S. from reaching herd immunity (when Corona cannot spread throughout the population quickly and transmission disappears). On the other hand, approximately 41.6% of the U.S. population is vaccinated. Many people flew at the chance to limit the possibility of spreading Covid to their friends and families. Once citizens are fully vaccinated (two weeks after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna and two weeks after one dose of Johnson & Johnson), they should still take precautions, such as wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and staying six feet apart. However, people can start having small gatherings with others who are vaccinated. Many people took the shot for their protection too. It is impossible to predict how COVID will affect you, so many people believe it is best to stay on the safe side and take all defenses to make sure you stay alive. The vaccine has shown it is safe and effective for the vast majority. Chances of infection are low, and even if a vaccinated person is infected, symptoms are limited with the vaccine. It is crucial to stay educated on the Covid vaccine. Check multiple reliable sources to make sure the information you have is correct and current because vaccination could be the difference between life and death. The CDC has ensured that vaccine is reliable and effective, and safety is their first goal. It is predicted that in January 2022, the total vaccinated population for the U.S. will reach 64%. Works Cited Barczyk, H. (2020, October 12). Why So Many Americans Are Skeptical of a Coronavirus Vaccine . Retrieved from Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-so-many-americans-are-skeptical-of-a-coronavirus-vaccine/ Brumfiel, G. (2021). Vaccine Refusal May Put Herd Immunity At Risk, Researchers Warn . Retrieved from NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/07/984697573/vaccine-refusal-may-put-herd-immunity-at-risk-researchers-warn Elternam, K. (2021, February 9). COVID-19 Vaccine Distrust: Why It’s High, and How to Respond to It . Retrieved from Good Rx: https://www.goodrx.com/blog/distrust-of-the-covid-19-vaccine/ Gu, Y. (2021, April 26). Path to Herd Immunity Normality : 2021 Outlook of COVID-19 in the US . Retrieved from covid19-projections: https://covid19-projections.com/path-to-herd-immunity/ Sauer, L. M. (2021, May 19). What Is Coronavirus? Retrieved from Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Netflix Recommendations for each Genre By Isabella Menjivar Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Original artwork by Isabella Menjivar Over this year’s quarantine, we all can agree that we’ve found ourselves becoming more reliant on TV shows and movies to stay entertained. So, I’ve picked a TV show or movie from different genres that I believe are worth watching! Crime Unsolved Mysteries This show is 10/10 if you love making theories or seeing detectives piece together clues. As someone who now gets bored easily when watching TV, I can guarantee you this series even kept me entertained and in suspense while watching. What makes it so captivating is that watchers are left with only the clues and strong leads in the case, so how you interpret the unsolved mystery is up to you. The stories are as detailed as they can be, by including family members of the victim talking throughout the episodes. Adventure Enola Holmes Even though it takes place in the 1900’s, this movie switches between thrill and heartwarming scenes that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. Watching Enola navigate her own life offers some beneficial life skills to the audience too! We also meet Enola’s two brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. If you’re fascinated with London, you’re in luck because that’s where this movie takes place. Millie Bobby Brown from the hit series “Stranger Things” stars in this relatable movie as Enola Holmes. Comedy Work It This movie will appeal to you if you’re a dancer! It involves an intense competition between two high school teams while one team seeks the help of an expert. Starring Sabrina Carpenter, Jordan Fisher, and Liza Koshy, this movie is filled with comedic moments that high schoolers will definitely enjoy. We also see the main character hilariously struggle to impress her college scout. The movie was super enjoyable, had impressive dance choreography, and characters young viewers can relate to. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The Division IIIA Track and Field Championships By Manal Layachi Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Original photography by VSN (Pictured: Ryan John, Long Jump and Triple Jump winner at NYSPHAA Division 1 State Championships) On May 17th, 2022, the Valley Stream North High School varsity track team competed at the Division Championships. It took place at North, and six schools from across the county came: South Side High School, George H. Hewlett High School, Sewanhaka High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Manhasset Secondary School, and Roosevelt High School. There were a lot of events such as hurdles, jumping, running, the shotput throw, and the two-mile. The girls’ team won with 174 points and the boys’ team won with 184 points, both earning the title of Conference Champions. VSN Boys Spring Track team - 1st place VSN Girls Spring Track team - 1st place One of the coaches of the varsity track team, Mr. Frazer, answered a few questions about the Division Championships and track in general: What is your favorite part about track and coaching? “Seeing kids grow as people. Seeing kids treat each other with respect and care about how their teammates do.” What does track mean to you? “I was lucky enough to participate in track in high school and college, and I have made many friends from those teams. To me, track is a way that kids can learn life lessons about responsibility, time management, accountability, goal setting... and making new friends!” How do you think the track team will do in the County Championships? “Both teams will finish in the top 3, but I hope we win both the boys’ and the girls’ team title!” If you had any advice for a member of the track team, what would it be? “To get better, you have to train EVERY DAY and do not quit!” What was your reaction to Elyas Layachi running with one shoe on? “I knew he would keep running. He is the type of runner that does not quit.” What do you think motivated Elyas Layachi to keep going? “Elyas knew that every point mattered, and he needed to get that 6th place point. He is the type of kid that will NEVER let his teammates down, so I knew the One-Shoe Wonder would finish!” If you were him, would you have kept running? “Of course! I would NEVER miss meets or races. My teammates counted on me, and I would never let them down.” Another coach on the track team, Mr. Boyens, also answered some questions about the Division Championships. How did you feel when both the girls’ team and boys' team won the Division Championships? “Elated! Everyone has worked so hard this season.” What is your favorite part about track/coaching? “In coaching I get to help athletes meet and exceed the expectations they have for themselves. I help young people realize the value of hard work and the joy and comradery of being part of a team.” What does track mean to you? “It is an opportunity for athletes to challenge themselves and figure out what they are really capable of as an athlete.” How do you think the track team will do in the County Championships? “I think we have a chance to do very well this year at the County Championships. This year’s team is very talented and hardworking. Combined, those two attributes are hard to beat.” If you had any advice for a member of the track team, what would it be? “Compete for your teammates, not yourself, and you will achieve at a level you didn't think possible.” What was your reaction to Elyas Layachi running with one shoe on? “At first maybe a little worried, then I saw the determination in his face and stride and my worry turned to pride!” What do you think motivated Elyas Layachi to keep going? “Easy. The love for his TEAM.” If you were him, would you have kept running? “I don’t know. It takes a ton of fortitude to run 2 miles with only one shoe on.” Elyas Layachi, a junior distance runner, ran the 3200-meter race (two miles) with one shoe on! His coach, Mr. Frazer, gave him a nickname: The One-Shoe Wonder! These are some questions that Elyas answered regarding what happened: What happened at the beginning of your race?  “Right at the beginning of the race, when the gun went off, the racers behind me attempted to cut into lane one. As they were cutting in, I was already ahead, and one of them stumbled and dug their shoe into the back of mine, causing my heel to slip out of the shoe.” What decision did you make after your shoe came off? “In the few seconds I had to make a decision, two scenarios came to mind: I could either slow down and attempt to fit my shoe back on, losing my spot in the pack in the race, or I could launch my shoe off my foot and keep running to stay in the race. I ultimately decided to throw off the shoe and embrace the pain that would come when bombarding the track with one foot.” What motivated you to keep running? “The fact that the team and my friends were counting on me motivated me to keep running. Our track team is like a family: we’ve been through the toughest moments together, through training, and we were always there for each other. I felt as if I had to do it for my fellow distance runners, as well as other members of the team, to score points and lead us to victory. Furthermore, the fact that such an experience would define me as a runner motivated me and inspired me to never give up and prove myself as an athlete with tenacity.” How did it feel running with one shoe on? “I must say, it felt very odd. I’ve seen some videos on YouTube where Olympians have run with one shoe on. An example is in the 3000-meter Men’s Steeplechase (the shoeless runner ended up winning the event), and it immediately came to mind once my shoe came off. My foot felt very bare compared to the foot with a shoe (my right foot), and I could feel the unevenness of the track hitting my foot with every other step. My strides were also uneven, and I could feel my body swaying to the left with every other step as well. As we neared lap 5, my foot started to have a tingling sensation, and it felt like it was going to give out. However, on the last lap, with the help of my motivating teammates, I set the pain aside and used every last bit of energy inside me to kick to the finish line. It was probably one of the speediest kicks I’ve ever executed.” After your race, what was one feeling you had? “After my race, one feeling I had was confusion but satisfaction. Not only was I still stunned by the fact that I ran eight laps on the track without a racing shoe on, but the fact that I reacted so calmly and in control made such an experience seem unreal. However, I was satisfied since I was able to still secure a scoring spot in the race, knowing that every point counts toward a team victory.” Do you like your new nickname “The One-Shoe Wonder”? “I do like my new nickname, actually! I remember the moment in the race when my coach found out I lost one shoe and called out the nickname on the loudspeaker. It made me famous in a way!” Do you have any advice for a runner if something unexpected happens during their race? “All you have to do is keep on running. No matter what difficulties you are faced with, whether it’s a competitive race or you’re at a significant disadvantage (i.e. you lose a shoe), just remember that the moment is temporary, and temporary pain will lead to permanent success only if you embrace it and learn to control your emotions and actions regarding it. It seems really hard when discussing it, but when on the track, with the adrenaline rush and your teammates supporting you, it becomes almost second nature to keep pushing for victory and success.” After winning the Division Championships, all the members of the track team were full of pride and glad that all their hard work paid off. Everyone on the team treats each other with kindness and respect. We are a big family that cheers everyone on, and we support each other no matter what. That is what makes our team special and different from other track teams. Overall, the team did an amazing job, and be sure to wish them good luck at the County Championships! Go Spartans! Update: Both teams ended up earning the County Champions titles and Ryan John won two NY State titles for Long Jump and Triple Jump (pictured above). BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Spring Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Annie Diep In spring, the world comes alive, as flowers bloom and bees thrive Sunshine warms the earth below, and gentle breezes start to blow Trees dress up in vibrant green, a sight unlike any scene birds chirp melodies sweet, as they flit and fly with fleet children laugh and play outside, in the meadows, they frolic wide springtime joy fills every heart, as new beginnings get their start so let's rejoice in spring's embrace, and soak up its beauty, in every trace BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Cage (a short story) Annie Diep Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image Provided by Annie Diep My mother owns a bird, or perhaps shall I say two birds? Since...I find myself resembling the dove my mother keeps in her office quite a bit. Like the dove trapped in the cage, I am confined to my room. Like the dove unable to fly because its wings were clipped, I am unable to walk because my legs are clipped. Like the dove, I used to think this was for the better. Like the dove, I thought this enclosure is supposed to protect me from the outside. Like the dove, I am punished when I ask for things that I do not deserve. Like the dove, all I know how to do is stare outside the window all day. However, unlike the dove, I am not allowed into her office. However, unlike the dove, she has not once looked at me besides when she punishes me. Unlike the dove...I am not loved. I guess now that I think more about it...I don't resemble the dove my mother keeps after all. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Government, Media, and the Pandemic: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly By Lucy Wu Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by InternetFreedom.org While the pandemic has taken more than 450,000 American lives, infected over 100 million people globally, and disrupted normalcy across the world, the resulting “infodemic” has infected countless swaths of people everywhere. Ranging from the idea that 5G networks cause COVID to drinking Clorox as a cure (please do not do that), misinformation was already an issue, but was only exacerbated by media during the pandemic. Since we live in a digital age where information is so immediately obtained from online sources, an entire population’s response to the pandemic can largely be shaped by which media they consume on a daily basis. Because some governments have laws and acts to regulate their media, some countries handled the dissemination of information differently during the pandemic: some for the better, and some for the far worse. The real question is, how did they handle it, and what were the outcomes? To answer this question, I primarily investigated the pandemic media response by two of our favorite global rivals: The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China. We will also include countries like Vietnam and New Zealand in our discussion. The Good: What Went Right (to some extent) Let’s start with some good news to lift spirits in troubling times. (Some) Countries Overcome COVID While the spread of COVID officially began in China, it quickly moved to countries such as Vietnam, Japan, the US, and many others by January of 2020. But wait: one of these is not like the others. You will notice many Asian countries were hit first with COVID outbreaks but managed to overcome the first wave and keep infection rates low, especially when compared to the U.S. How did they do it? It’s important to note that Asian countries already had experience dealing with infectious disease, namely the SARS outbreak in 2003. Culturally, Asian countries also grew accustomed to wearing masks, pandemic or not, and value “collective well-being over individual liberty,” a foil to values of the U.S. especially. According to the Lowry Research Group, Asian countries also were “prioritizing health above economic concerns, producing excellent public communications, […] and mandating behavior change.” Delving deeper into “excellent public communications,” we can see that “communication from public health officials and political leadership tended to be clear and consistent, reducing confusion and bolstering trust,” according to Shenglan Tang of the Duke Global Health Institute. We can also attribute this unity in action to the regulation of mass media: both China and Vietnam have their media regulated by the government; they rank within the five countries with the lowest Freedom of Press Index Score. All these traits combined contributed greatly to Asian countries having a strong advantage in dealing with a pandemic. Science Prevails Even with our mishaps, we still managed to procure multiple viable vaccines that are saving lives as we speak. For some countries who swiftly contained the virus (I’m looking at you, New Zealand), this was still a positive step even though they had things under control. And for the other countries that weren’t as fortunate: even when news outlets lied, people didn’t listen, and leadership failed us, the researchers were there to save the day. That in of itself deserves a round of applause and a sigh of (momentary) relief. The Bad: What We (maybe) Could Have Changed Let’s face it. We probably could have handled this whole event a lot better than we did. The Blame Game This one is fun. In case you weren’t aware, the U.S (but mainly former President Trump) blamed China, and China blamed the US for the initial spread of the virus. Back and forth it went while the rest of the world watched in horror, but not shock. According to the World Health Organization, the virus was first identified in the Wuhan province of China. The specific origin is not yet known, but one would think that this fact would still eliminate much of the controversy surrounding the eternal question of “who started it, and who’s to blame?” Instead, conspiracy theories about the Chinese colluding to make COVID a bioweapon and wreak havoc on the Western world took form, and simultaneously, the Chinese used their vice grip on social media to say that in fact, the Chinese had won against the poor Westerners who were now crumbling under the virus. Interestingly, because former President Trump infamously referred to the virus as the “China Virus,” Chinese media began taunting back, calling it the “America Virus.” US Media Now, maybe you’re someone who opens the news every 5 minutes, fact-checks authors on every article you read, and wouldn’t be fooled by the COVID myths. But imagine you’re not that person. Because of sensationalized titles, misleading charts, and biased sources, U.S media is a free but unregulated mess. To an outsider it’s pure confusion and chaos. To us, it’s just the norm of U.S politics and media. In an age where deep fakes are getting more realistic by the second and where “fake news” can forcibly convince others, it can be difficult to sift through the misinformation if you don’t know what to look for. Instead, it’s easier than ever to be sucked into the vortex of believing everything you read and trusting misguided sources. As a result, it’s clear that some groups in the U.S were extremely afflicted by poor guidance and a lack of accurate evidence. Alarmingly, many began protesting wearing masks and generally disregarding science and health officials, sending the U.S into a spiral of seemingly never-ending COVID cases. Too much trust in dishonest sources combined with a lack of confidence in mass media became two of America’s greatest pitfalls during the pandemic. Social Media There’s more. Social media only makes things worse. Because you can choose whom to follow and what media you consume, users build an “echo chamber,” whether they realize it or not. Social media algorithms are designed to give you the content that will keep you on their platform, so by blocking out opinions and values that don’t align with yours, they can keep you blind to the real dangers - like maybe a pandemic. Increasingly, there is a lack of discussion and thought which has been replaced by blaming and arguing instead, deciding who is wrong without consideration for other viewpoints. What does this mean during a global health crisis? The lack of a clear directive and coordination between government and health bodies created a further chasm in the US response to the pandemic, since people lacked confidence and trust in mass media to provide them with accurate information. Instead, people established their own groups on Facebook, Reddit, and other platforms, to confirm their own viewpoints on how to address the pandemic (a.k.a. confirmation bias) and give “advice” to others. Because the U.S places an emphasis on personal liberties, and in this case at the expense of the population’s health, the spread of misinformation across the Internet was rampant like a wildfire in brush – and in fact there was a time when Australian bushfires were our biggest problem. The Ugly: What Was Unfixable (and at the point of no return) Brace yourself. This is not pretty. 450,000 Deaths and Counting... We’ve almost become desensitized to that number now. We knew the situation was bad, but how did it get that much worse? Thankfully, at the time of writing, we seem to be on the mend. To start, former President Trump issued a series of tweets that not only contradicted safety information from global health officials, but also admonished and downplayed the virus. In the last few days of his term, Facebook and Twitter had (temporarily) banned Trump from accessing both of his media accounts in an attempt to prevent the spread of further misinformation and, incidentally, violence. Compared with the rest of the world, U.S politics has also become increasingly polarized, with sensationalized headlines covering divisions between liberals vs. conservatives, Democrats vs. Republicans, who’s right and who’s wrong, on and on it goes. In contrast to the Asian countries discussed above, because the U.S was disjunct and uncoordinated in its communication between government and people, a lack of clear instruction hindered the actual response to the pandemic. From there, people chose which set of directions they wanted to follow: either those given by the President, or those given by health officials. This is when the U.S shot itself in the foot: by preserving personal freedoms of speech to a point where people actively tried to harm others, misinformation ran wild, people were infected, and lives were reduced to numbers on a graph. When lives are endangered, politics should have no place in a global pandemic. Whistleblowers Circling back to the onset of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central Hospital, was largely credited for being the first person to alert others about a SARS-like virus circulating through patients. He warned friends, family members, and colleagues via the Chinese regulated platform WeChat, but fortunately yet unfortunately, his private chatroom messages were leaked to the Chinese Internet where it was only a matter of time before officials found it. As typical of the Chinese Government, they censored and silenced him, forcing him to sign a letter of admonition from the Wuhan Public Security Bureau for spreading “untrue statements about seven confirmed SARS cases.” Li later passed away on February 7th, 2020, after contracting the virus from a patient. Needless to say, many lives, tears, and moments could have been saved had the Chinese health officials taken the claims of any of the 8 whistleblowers seriously, instead of tightening their control over freedom of speech. Chinese media regulation is a double-edged sword: on one hand they efficiently and clearly disseminated important directives to their people while censoring the lies and misinformation, which contained the spread of COVID and saved lives. On the other hand, protests arose for the millionth time to address the lack of personal freedom of speech, which would have prevented health officials from opening Pandora’s Box in the first place. The Aftermath: Thoughts and Reflections That was a lot to unpack. While we’ve created a vaccine to address the raging virus, government regulation of media still needs a solution: how much do we regulate media to protect the masses, while still preserving a reasonable level of freedom of speech? While we wait for a response, we should aim to practice media literacy at school, the workplace, and at home. In fact, just as we wear masks and wash our hands, we should train ourselves to spot misinformation, because staying aware is the best way to fight the urge to blindly trust whatever we hear and read. Clearly, this is an urgent issue that requires immediate government attent- what’s that? Oh right: we have mental health to take care of and people to vaccinate, all on top of managing an ongoing pandemic. Right. Guess we’ll have to put this on our list for later. See you all on the other side when this is over, and if it doesn’t end, you can find me in New Zealand. Sources Bagherpour, Amir, and Ali Nouri. "COVID Misinformation Is Killing People." Scientific American , Springer Nature America, 11 Oct. 2020, www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-misinformation-is-killing-people1/. China Covid-19: How State Media and Censorship Took on Coronavirus." BBC , 29 Dec. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55355401. Funke, Daniel, and Daniela Flamini. "A Guide to Anti-Misinformation Actions around the World." Poynter , Poynter Institute, www.poynter.org/ifcn/anti-misinformation-actions/. Jennings, Ralph. "Asian Countries Handle New COVID-19 Cases without Lockdowns." VOA , 7 Dec. 2020, www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/asian-countries-handle-new-covid-19-cases-without-lockdowns. Kantis, Caroline, et al. "UPDATED: Timeline of the Coronavirus." Think Global Health , Council on Foreign Relations, 15 Jan. 2021, www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/updated-timeline-coronavirus. McGuirk, Rod. "Australia Accuses China and Russia of Virus Disinformation." AP News , Associated Press, 17 June 2020, apnews.com/article/e869b34c1e04fde924efd0f0602b3d11. National Geographic . 18 Sept. 2020, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/09/coronavirus-origins-misinformation-yan-report-fact-check-cvd/. Penn, Michael. "How Some Asian Countries Beat Back COVID-19." Duke Global Health Institute , 12 Aug. 2020, globalhealth.duke.edu/news/how-some-asian-countries-beat-back-covid-19. Sherman, Justin. "Government Information Crackdowns in the Covid-19 Pandemic." DigitalCommons , 25 Aug. 2020, digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1059&context=research. Siemaszko, Corky. "Why Are Americans so Confused about Covid-19? Blame Trump, Cornell Study Says." NBC News , NBC Universal, 1 Oct. 2020, www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1241707. "2020 World Press Freedom Index." Reporters without Borders , rsf.org/en/ranking. World Health Organization. "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public: Mythbusters." World Health Organization , 23 Nov. 2020, www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Damar Hamlin’s Astounding Recovery By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by CNN Damar Hamlin, a professional American football player, suffered an injury during a game in the 2022 season. The injury was a major setback for both Hamlin and his team because it prevented him from playing for multiple weeks. Hamlin is a talented safety who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a key player for the team making a significant impact on the field with his speed and agility. However, during a game in October 2022, Hamlin suffered a knee injury that forced him to leave the field. The extent of Hamlin's injury was initially unclear, and there was concern that it could be a season-ending injury. However, after undergoing tests and evaluations, it was determined that he had suffered a sprained knee and would be out for several weeks. The loss of Hamlin was a major blow to the Steelers. Despite the setback, Hamlin remained positive and focused on his recovery. He was determined to get back on the field as soon as possible and help his team in any way he could. With the support of his coaches, trainers, and teammates, Hamlin worked tirelessly to regain his strength and get back in playing shape. In his first game back, Hamlin made an immediate impact, recording several tackles and interceptions and helping the team secure a much-needed win. From that point on, he was a key contributor for the rest of the season, helping the Steelers reach the playoffs and make a deep run into the post-season. Damar Hamlin's injury was a challenging experience for both the player and his team. However, it also demonstrated the resilience, and strength of the player, as well as the support he received from those around him. Hamlin's return to the field was a testament to his hard work and dedication, and he remains an important player for the Steelers as they look to build on their success in the coming years. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Mixed Feelings Regarding the Covid-19 Vaccine By Ismaela Andre Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by NY State of Health The COVID-19 Vaccine has been around for several months now, and it’s a widely available vaccine that helps your body develop antibodies to protect you from COVID. However, does the person taking it feel protected? Although I took my first dose of the vaccine, I still don’t feel safe in large, crowded areas, nor do I feel fully protected. I think that I can still be infected with COVID despite having the vaccine. I also think that other people can carry the virus whether they’re vaccinated or not. I can’t say that I liked getting the vaccine shot; however, I can’t say that I don’t like it either. Students at Valley Stream North High school also share mixed views regarding the vaccine. Amelia Avila, a 10th grader at VSN, said in an interview: I believe the Covid-19 vaccine has been a type of ‘safety net’ most people have been waiting for. There is no certainty behind it, but there is no certainty behind any vaccine during its beginning stages. Not only does it keep you safe, [but it also] keeps others safe as well. Some might argue that the COVID vaccine doesn't work because you can still get COVID, but no one has said that you cannot get Covid if you have the vaccine. Just like the flu shot, you can still get the flu, it just helps your body to prepare for the flu antibodies if they ever enter your body; the Covid-19 vaccine does the same thing. Amelia acknowledged both opinions regarding the vaccine, and I agree with her. The COVID-19 vaccine might’ve been the “safety net” that people needed from this pandemic. However, some students at VSN find the vaccine very helpful and they trust it. Syeda Zainab, a 10th grader, said in an interview that she “loved getting the vaccine. I felt protected and safer after I got it.” Some people, after getting vaccinated, felt safer than when they were unvaccinated. However, there are also some students who have no views regarding the vaccine. Jamilie Ramirez, another 10th grader from VSN, said “I only don’t like the vaccine because after I got it, it hurt for a week.” Some people liked the vaccine but didn’t like the aftereffects that came with it. There are mixed views regarding the vaccine, but each person can express their opinion about it. How do YOU feel about the vaccine? Add your opinion here! https://forms.office.com/r/TxU90u6t34 BACK TO TOP