Back to Artwork Pop Art Back to Sections Sophia Song - Pop Art Sophia Song January 14, 2022 Acrylic Volume 2 Issue 3

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Senior Send-Off Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 Image Provided by Christy Mansfield As the year ends it is crucial that we recognize our hardworking class of 2025 graduates that have allowed North Star to grow. We thank each and every one of them for continued dedication, effort, and time invested into growing our club and school newspaper. This would not have been possible without them, and it has been a privilege working alongside them for so long. Therefore, to send-off our North Star seniors, we wrote a personal thank you to each one. Noa Cordova : Noa, ever since you took over as editor-in-chief I knew we were in good hands. I speak for everyone when I say that your work ethic is truly admirable. Not only have you run meetings, edited articles, but also provided a strong presence as the editor-in-chief that has been the driving force behind our paper. Your positive attitude and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and you’ve been a role model to me in the time that I have worked with you. Thank you for your unwavering efforts and helping shape North Star to what it is today. Rehmat Kaur : Rehmat, as our Sports Section Editor you’ve made North Star everything it aspires to be in terms of a school newspaper. You have consistently kept up with our North athletes and sport teams throughout each season and we thank you for that. Your consistency can be seen through your many interviews and analysis that not only recognized and honored our athletes but also allowed for their voices to be heard. Your time at North Star has encompassed what it means to be a reliable journalist. Thank you, Rehmat for all your work. Elaine Ching : Elaine, as our lead Layout and Social Media Designer without you, North Star would not be what it is today. You have kept up and designed every detail of our website. From uploading articles to constant updates, you allow our paper to be the best it could be. Not to mention your dedication to producing original artwork has allowed for our paper to be truly authentic and much more enjoyable for our readers. It’s your behind the scenes work that allows for our work to be seen, promoted, and displayed for all. You’ve been a crucial part of North Star , and you deserve all the credit and more for your contributions. Thank you, Elaine! Marco Alvarez : Marco, as part of our Layout Team and our spreadsheet manager, it is your work that allows for our voices to be heard and published. You have been nothing short of consistent, focused, and all around a reliable member. Your role requires hard work that deals with many technical details and organization, and you have done that perfectly which has allowed us to thrive. Not only that, but you’ve always kept the interests of others in mind and truly demonstrated yourself to be dependable. Thank you, Marco! Isabel Barret : Isabel, as our Feature Section Editor you have produced nothing short of interesting and thorough articles. Overseeing such a broad and wide-ranging section is by no means an easy task, yet you’ve followed through time and time again. Each meeting you're always one of the first to offer ideas and suggestions. It is that very attitude that makes a paper successful and why it was such a pleasure to work with you Without you our feature section would not be the same and we thank you for everything, Isabel! Sahar Ali : Sahar, as news section editor, we’ve seen you produce the most interesting current news and political articles. You’ve brought awareness and in-depth information about the most serious world issues, and you never fail to do it well. What I most admire about you is your passion. Your passion to share your opinions while delivering some of the most reliable articles North Star has to offer. It is because of you our news section was so strong the past few years and your drive has not been overlooked, thank you Sahar. Sophia Songveertham : Sophia, as our photographer, your role to North Star is a unique one and so cherished. Your talent, your dedication, and the time put into attending North’s many athletic events can all be seen by the many photos you have dedicated to our paper. You’ve contributed to our originality, sharing the achievements of our athletes, and overall making our paper stand out. Photography is not only a skill, but an art, and you encompass every aspect of that in your work, thank you Sophia. Manal Layachi : Manal, you’ve been a prominent and consistent member of North Star for many years. Over the time you’ve stuck with us, you have produced a variety of articles regarding school life and running to science and entertainment. Even while handling so much such as being an athlete and you never fail to be an active member and prioritize North Star . Your drive for writing will be dearly missed and we thank you Manal for all the time you dedicated into helping our paper bloom. Aamna Raja : Aamna, as our advice columnist you took on a very challenging role all with the goal of helping our readers and reminding others they are not alone. Your section is not only a place of help but for comfort for those who ever needed someone thoughtful to tackle any issues. By fulfilling such a role in North Star you’ve truly helped our paper shine as not only a school newspaper but one that served students in ways beyond academics. Thank you, Aamna! Each one of you has left a lasting impact on not only North Star but also everyone that got the privilege to work with you! Your work will not be forgotten, and you’ve left a legacy that will continue to be admired. We wish you all the very best and know you will all continue to succeed! Thank you, Seniors! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections My Heritage By Katherine Cevada October 8, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 1

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections In the Heights: A Tale of Love, Culture, and Hair By Lucy Wu Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by In the Heights Over the past summer, I spent sunny days outside in the city, soaking in the vibrancy of the culture and stories of other people like vitamin D. After my excursions, I’d savor brisk nights talking about anything and everything with friends at the table. So, when my friend asked if I wanted to watch In the Heights together at her house, it was an easy choice: of course, I would. Immediately, I was cast into a world where music is synonymous with living. It permeates everything in the story, from getting your hair done in the salon to conversations at the dinner table to pivotal, life-changing choices. And mind you, it’s not a linear story either. Sure, it’s chronological for the most part as it takes place over the span of three days (interwoven with flashbacks and flash-forwards), but it’s really the intersection of many stories, including those of Usnavi, Vanessa, Benny, Sonny, and of course, Abuela. But with my mind still spinning from the constant dancing, music, and plotline, the character that commanded my attention the most was Nina Rosario. When you first encounter Nina, words that come to mind immediately are intelligent, charming, and beautiful. So brilliant and hardworking in fact, that’s she’s returning to Stanford University in the fall. When she comes home to Washington Heights for the summer, everyone and their mother knows her name, and they welcome her enthusiastically. It’s obvious she’s the jewel of the neighborhood; everyone is in awe of her glimmering in her accomplishments and dazzled by what she still has yet to attain. She has access to opportunities and ambitions they cannot even dream of, and that’s saying a lot for a community that has a 6-minute danceathon on just the prospects of winning $96,000 in the lottery. And yet if everything were perfectly sparkling in the sunlight, we wouldn’t have a 143-minute musical produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda now, would we? But it’s her summer, and she’s come back to the Heights to reconnect with her family and friends, and most importantly, her culture. “Breathe” Nina’s story is best told through the context of her hair, which is an incredibly important detail and a vital part of Hispanic culture. After the initial flurry of constant chatter and “Oh my god Nina, we’ve missed you so much,” we get a moment with her just walking the streets. Her voice is like a lark, rising up and above the buildings that hold the history of her life, and yet she’s not as jubilant as she was before when talking with her friends. Something is in the air, humid and suffocating from the tension. She’s graceful and tall, holding her head up high, but I notice her highlighted hair is pin-straight, and not curly like in the movie posters, which gives me my first clue. And then her words reveal she’s plagued with Impostor Syndrome and racked with guilt, adamant she is not fit for the university, and will never be able to keep up, a disappointment to her family and community who had believed in her unconditionally. Nina is holding a secret, and we wait for her to reveal the truth. “No Me Diga” Ushered into a salon chair run by the infamous “salon ladies” for a makeover, Nina’s external transformation mirrors her internal metamorphosis. The salon is bustling with fashion and hair beyond anyone’s wildest imagination, and they chant to her: “Tell me something I don’t know.” And so, she reveals that she dropped out of Stanford. But why would someone with so much promise and support drop out? At an intense argument at the dinner table, she mentions the fact that the institution tries to put on a facade of diversity and inclusiveness when really, she’s the one being insulted when students call her a “waitress” behind the scenes. To rub salt in the wound, her father must sacrifice his business to afford her tuition, which only compounds the issue and leads her to choose not to go back. In hindsight, I see her using her hair to mask her identity and “blend-in,” because her curly hair would be seen as too unruly and “ethnic” for the people surrounding her. It’s clear the community at Stanford will never match her beloved neighborhood, and for that, she hides to avoid discrimination, to avoid getting hurt, and to avoid tarnishing her culture. It’s also for the superficial things, like wearing her hair straight, that she doesn’t feel like she has a sense of belonging. However, once the salon ladies are finished with their appointment with her, she embraces her curly hair once again, symbolizing her acceptance of self and culture. For the rest of the movie, she wears her hair naturally, and she’s more at ease now that she’s revealed her secret and true feelings. Only in The Heights does she truly fit in, and does not actively hide being different. “When the Sun Goes Down” Spending her summer days with her family and friends, immersed in her community, impacts Nina’s worldview. While attending a protest, she learns Sonny, a friend’s cousin, is unable to attend college because he is an undocumented immigrant. Revitalized with a sense of purpose to help undocumented immigrants, Nina resolves to go back to Stanford. To provide closure, Benny, Nina’s previous boyfriend with whom she broke up before attending Stanford, decides to reconnect. It’s a sweet moment for the young lovers as they dance up the side of the building, watching the sunset in the distance behind the Brooklyn Bridge with a renewed sense of hope. But what stood out to me most was her hair in the scene. It’s purposefully different than any other moment in the movie, and she wears it in a braided crown, traditionally worn by black women as a protective hairstyle. Intentional or not, just as protective hairstyles are worn to shield textured hair from elemental damage so it can be worn natural later, this symbolizes how she will defend herself from the discrimination she will inevitably face, but still preserve her culture and share it with the world. While there has been some critique for the movie surrounding what was considered by some as an insufficient number of “dark-skinned Latinx actors in prominent roles”, it’s clear there was dedicated effort put into the cultural and regional details that bring the movie to life. Things like hair and clothes are subtle details that may go unnoticed in everyday life but serve as communicators of culture and heritage. All hair types are beautiful and should be celebrated, just as all phases of Nina’s hair should be appreciated and considered reflective of her character development. As I bask in a moment of thought, I wonder what subtle details of my life share my culture with the world – and try not to take their importance for granted. Citation: Lin-Manuel Miranda addresses "In the Heights" colorism controversy - CBS News BACK TO TOP

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 7 April 22, 2021 "KUIPER BELT" ARTICLES "Ghost" Artist Statement By Alena Moreira Polaris Read More Ask Ala: Maintaining Friendships By Ala Paruch Advice Read More Chemtrails Over the Country Club: Album Review By Lucy Wu Entertainment & Media Read More Goodbye Covid, the End is Near By Manal Layachi Polaris Read More Life By Joshua Lopez Polaris Read More No Swimming By Eva Grace Martinez Polaris Read More Protect Asian Lives: An Ode to Asian Culture By Christina Ossa Editorial Read More Skating at Newbridge Arena (Or: How to Fall Until it Stops Hurting) By Eva Grace Martinez Feature Read More The Banana: Everything You Need to Know By Cody Sung Science & Technology Read More The Foundation of My Tree By Arielle St.Amand Polaris Read More Traditions By Navrosedip Kundlas Polaris Read More Why Calming Music Can Heal Your Soul By Isabella Menjivar Entertainment & Media Read More As More Republicans Announce, Should Governor Cuomo be Worried in 2022? By Logan Balsan News Read More Break Dancing to Become Olympic Sport for the First Time in 2024 By Carolina Grace Figueroa Sports Read More First Song Recommendations of the Issue By Logan Balsan Entertainment & Media Read More Ingenuity: An Engineering Marvel By Elyas Layachi Science & Technology Read More Mexican Femicide By Pratiksha Kaur News Read More Numbers By Alain Deen Editorial Read More Senior Day By Olivia Neuner Feature Read More Spartan Athletes: Melissa Innocent By Shinedip Kundlas Feature Read More The Evolution of Growing Up By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Polaris Read More The Sasquatch: Fact oar Fake? – Homophone Edition By Alena Moreira and Lucy Wu Feature Read More Two Roads By Ella Cason Polaris Read More Without Her Face By Nora Chery Polaris Read More "LIGHTS ON FOR EDUCATION" LOAD MORE

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Tales Through Time: The Native Americans: Years Ahead of the Europeans Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Huffington Post It was an incredible awakening to learn that women's oppression was not universal; Indigenous women possessed property rights. If these Euro-American women from across Western society weren't aware of the glaring contrast between their circumstances, Native women were. Native women farmed with strong bodies, had autonomy over their lives, and maintained equal opportunity with men, which contradicted the ideas of female servitude and inferiority. Some women suffragists communicated their knowledge of Native women's higher rights with other progressives and people at large, as they inspired them. When Lucretia Mott and her husband visited the Seneca tribe in 1848, they witnessed how political authority was distributed equitably among all members of their society. Mott recounted her experience in New York, highlighting the significant role of Native women in their communities; as she stated, "Historically, Haudenosaunee women have controlled their nation’s economies, handled property concerns, and participated in all decision-making processes." As women in the United States celebrate the fact that the Constitution ultimately acknowledged the right of women to cast a vote 100 years ago, Native American women had a say in politics on this territory since the formation of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy over 1000 years ago. Non-native women, like our suffrage foremothers, benefited greatly from Native women's decades of experience. Gender influences obligations, but it doesn't restrict women within numerous Native societies. Early Native peoples differed, but their families and communal institutions brought them together through shared dependency and respect. In some cultures, women became warriors, like Dahteste and Lozen. In the Midwest, women frequently assisted in the hunting and harvesting of buffalo. They were also talented artisans who made blankets, baskets, jewelry, and ceramics. Marriage and sexual freedoms in Native tribes differed greatly, with some nations practicing polygamy and others observing monogamy and formal rituals. Women's dominance in relationships and throughout the nation was obvious in divorce, with women holding all home possessions. Members of the Haudenosaunee clan are descended from women and trace their ancestry back to their female predecessors. Iroquois people are born into a clan and remain there for their whole lives. Intermarriage within a clan is not permitted; therefore, when the young woman married, her husband came to reside in her longhouse, where they would establish their new home. The clan served as the primary socioeconomic element of Haudenosaunee society, led by women who oversaw their longhouse, farming, and food distribution, as well as selecting males to serve as representatives of their clan on the tribal council. Following European arrival, illnesses and territorial struggles killed 90–95% of the Indigenous population. Historians argue about how European expansion and migration affected Native women. Some suggest that following the initial contact, women's power fell as societies altered and evolved to become more like the dominant culture. Many tribes still valued the matrilineal inheritance of clan identity, as shown by women's major leadership roles. It may be concluded that Native Americans had significantly more rights and freedom than European women at the time, which motivated many people to work on improving society. Sources : How Native American Women Inspired the Women’s Rights Movement (U.S. National Park Service) ( nps.gov ) https://www.remedialherstory.com/1-early-north-american-women.html#/ https://teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/23931 https://www.lwv.org/blog/how-native-american-women-inspired-womens-suffrage-movement#:~:text=Leaders%20of%20the%20women's%20suffragist,women%20played%20in%20Haudenosaunee%20communities . https://www.grunge.com/331229/the-real-life-stories-of-native-american-warrior-women/ BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections North Wrestling Team Wins District Championships By Andrew Lavoie Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 From bottom left to bottom right: James Fischman, Jonathan Nilsen, Frankie Polizzi, Philip Burmann, Andrew Lavoie, Salvatore Montalbano, Sebastian Madruga, Paul Testa, Giuseppe Scarpa, Luca Dekel Top left to top right: Eddy Turcios, Anshdeep Singh, Adebayo Kayode, Thomas Krsulic, Yonny Turcios, Yusuf Hamid, Alex Balack, Justin Gangi, Francisco Castillo Not pictured: Jordynn Thomas, Dante Melisi, Daniel Pasquaretto Head Junior High Wrestling Coach: Joe Goetz Head Varsity Wrestling Coach: Chris Bottjer JV Wrestling Coach: Jordan Gonzalez Image provided by Joe Goetz North Wrestling Team Wins District Championships “When you aren’t working hard, the other person is getting better.” That is what VSN’s Junior High Coach Joseph Goetz says to his wrestlers every day at practice. Well, that hard work paid off. Two Saturdays ago, the junior high wrestling team won Coach Schiavo’s Spring King of the Ring Royal Rumble. They were competing against South and Memorial for the title of District Champions. This tournament wasn’t just any tournament for Coach Goetz. As a wrestler, he went to state championships once but did not win. He has said that he wants to wrestle “through” his wrestlers and win with them. He worked very hard throughout this season and shaped his wrestlers into champions. Several first-year wrestlers won their weight classes. Eddy Turcios and Frankie Castillo were both first-year wrestlers who won their divisions; Eric Innis, Justin Gangi, Sebastian Madruga, Jonathan Nilsen, and Yonny Turcios were also first-year wrestlers who placed in the top four in their divisions. As to why Coach Goetz believed in this team enough to run a whole tournament, he said that this is one of the hardest working groups of wrestlers he has ever coached, and he has been coaching for ten years. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Macayla McCaffery - Memory Project By Macayla McCaffery March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Giving Back: Donate to SADD's Annual Food Drive By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Island Harvest In the United States before the pandemic, approximately 13.7 million households experienced food insecurity at some point during 2019. A household that is food insecure has limited or indefinite access to enough food to sustain a healthy life. Children especially are more likely to face food insecurity than any other group in the United States. That is about 35 million Americans who were either incompetent to acquire enough food to meet their needs, or unsure of where their next meal may come from. For about a third of these households, gaining access to food was so inadequate that their eating habits were interrupted, and food consumption was reduced greatly. The rest of these households were able to acquire sufficient food to avoid complete disruption from their eating patterns but had to manage by eating a smaller portion of varied diets or utilizing food assistance programs like P-EBT benefits. However, the coronavirus pandemic has only worsened the problem. According to a group of Northwestern University researchers, food insecurity has doubled as a result of the economic crisis passed on by the outbreak, hitting as many as 23% of households earlier this year. In particular, on Long Island, food banks are reporting a nearly 50% increase in their food distribution since the start of the pandemic. Island Harvest is one of the largest hunger relief organizations on Long Island. The organization relies on over 100,000 hours of annual service that volunteers offer to help Island Harvest in their mission to end hunger and reduce food waste. Once again, VSN’s SADD club is working with Island Harvest to sponsor a food drive. Non-perishable items needed include Canned Soup/Stew, Canned Beans/Dried Beans, Peanut Butter/Other Nut Butters, Rolled Oats, Canned Fruit in Juice/Dried Fruit, Canned Tomatoes/Vegetables, Canned Tuna/Chicken Brown Rice/ Instant Rice/Quinoa, Nuts/Seeds, Shelf Stable Milk/Milk Substitutes, Whole Grain Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Box Cereals (Low Sugar), Olive/Canola Oil, etc… Help feed Long Island this holiday season by dropping off non-perishable food. This is the opportunity to give back the community and help a family who may not be as fortunate. SADD will run the food drive from November 16 - December 16th. Donations can be dropped off at the Faculty Entrance, Gym Lobby, and in Room 113. Like Anne Frank once said… “No one has ever become poor by giving” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections "Flowers" Elaine Ching Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching BACK TO TOP