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Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Ocean Amulet By Alanna Tieschmaker Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Obscured Oddities Spread out and look for her!" the lead guard commanded, sending out the other guards he had brought with him. "That traitor cannot have gone far. We need to find and secure the amulet! He ran in a direction the rest of the guards had not gone in, searching for the traitor himself. Little did he know the very person he had been searching for was right above him. "No one ever thinks to look up" she whispers to herself, climbing down from the tree she had perched in. She looked around for a moment, trying to decide where the best place to go would be. "I need to get to the ocean" she mumbled. She looked down at her prized possession, which she had hidden in a bundle of cloth to prevent the reflection of the sun from giving her position away. Assured it was still safe, she set off south full of hope, toward the ocean. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She broke out into a sprint after seeing the light before her. She had finally made it to the end of the forest, and she could see the ocean. It was a beautiful dark blue with hints of light blue beneath and waves crashed down on themselves for as far as the eye could see. Unfortunately, she was not alone. In her rush to make it out, she had become careless and stepped on multiple twigs alerting the guards that she had tried to so carefully to avoid. "There she is!" cried one of the guards, as he reached for something on his back. He pulled out a long horn and blew into it. A loud noise blared from the horn as the air passed through his lips. The rest of the guards would be here soon. The other guards that were in the original group pulled out the swords that they had sheathed on their hip. Seeing what was happening behind her, the runaway tried to push herself even faster. ' Get to the ocean, get to the ocean ' she chanted to herself. The guards quickly started to advance as they saw what was ahead of her. 'So close...' the traitor thought as the mesmerizing waves in front of her drew closer and closer. 'Wait...' Her eyes widened in realization and she quickly dug her heels into the ground, to stop her momentum. The sight of the ocean had caused here to become reckless, and it had almost cost her life. It was not a straight shot to the coast. Instead, she had almost run off a cliff. She turns around sharply, hoping to go another way, but the guards had advanced again, preventing any chance of passing them. "You have nowhere to go! Surrender!" a voice bellowed. The growing crowd of guards parted to reveal the head guard. He pulled his sword out, a sharp, pristine silver blade that reflected his status. Looking at her with contempt in his eyes, he read out: "Andrea Taylor, you are charged for treason against your kingdom and thievery from the queen. You shall return the stolen amulet and return to the palace where you will face your punishment." "You think I'll return this?" she cried as she held up the uncovered amulet. The sun reflected off its surface and it seemed to shine. "You think I would let that treacherous queen have what is not hers?" "If you do not stand down, we will be forced to kill you and take the amulet by force." Andrea locked eyes with the captain. She could tell he was not bluffing. He was prepared to kill her in cold blood. She knew she could not allow that to happen. So, in one quick movement, she turned on foot and used the gained momentum to throw the amulet as far into the ocean as she could. "NO!" the captain cried, realizing what she planned to do too late. He charged forward and tackled her to the ground, but it was too late. The amulet flew and straight into the water. There was no way they could get it back as they were. The ocean was deep, and his men lacked diving gear. The amulet was gone. " Huh. .." Andrea huffed from where she was pinned. She had done what she had set out to do. She had gotten the amulet away from the queen and to the ocean. It was safe from them. The captain swiveled to look at her, horror dawning in his eyes. "What have you done? You've domed us all to her wrath!" The queen would not be happy with him for losing her prized possession. He could be sentenced to death with this. "I have given everyone else hope," Andrea replied. The guards quickly surrounded her. They pulled her to her feet and tied her hands together. As she was marched back to the castle to face her surely unjust trial, she smiled. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Joy of the Holidays Ismaela Andre Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Tenth graders Mimi Galette, Maarij Rashid, and Tyler Malyah, and Mrs. Mansfield celebrate White Out Wednesday during Holiday Spirit Week. Image provided by Mrs. Mansfield. The holidays are filled with joy! Why are they so joyful you ask? Well, that is easy! Family, friends, and loved ones. Just calling a friend makes the holiday season joyful! The holidays overflow with an abundance of joy that comes from the heartwarming embrace of cherished traditions and the bonds that tie many people together. Staying with loved ones during this season creates a feeling of happiness that defines the holidays. Family gatherings during the holidays are full of laughter, stories, and home-cooked meals. Who does not love a home-cooked meal? It is a time when generations come together to create new shared memories. The joy of reuniting with family members, near or far, creates a sense of warmth that makes the season joyful. Friends play an essential role in the holiday cheer. A simple phone call or a heartfelt message can spark a flood of joy. The company and shared experiences with friends add an extra layer to the joy of the holidays. The holiday season also serves as a poignant reminder to express love and appreciation to our significant others. Whether it is through thoughtful gifts, romantic gestures, or just spending quality time together, the love shared between partners becomes a beacon of joy that brightens the season. The holidays provide an opportunity to strengthen the bonds that form the foundation of enduring relationships, creating a sense of unity and companionship. Beyond personal connections, the spirit of giving also brings joy during the holidays. Acts of kindness, charitable deeds, and community outreach contribute to the joy that defines the holiday season. Whether it is participating in volunteer activities, donating to charities, or spreading goodwill, helping others during the festive season creates a sense of fulfillment and joy. The vibe of the holidays is often set by vibrant decorations, twinkling lights, and memorable festive songs. These elements create an enchanting atmosphere that brings on a sense of childlike joy. From the glistening ornaments on the tree to the smell of freshly baked treats, every detail contributes to the overall festive experience. Sweet treats play a significant role in the holiday joy. The anticipation of a festive feast, the aroma of holiday spices, and the pleasure of sharing meals with loved ones are key components of happiness in this season, especially traditional recipes passed down through generations. They add a sentimental touch to the holiday season. The holidays are filled with joy produced by family, friends, loved ones, acts of kindness, festive traditions, and various other elements. It is a time when we create a joy that binds us all together to create the magic of the holidays. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Black American Artists Back to Sections Slum Gardens No. 3 By Joseph Norman February 12, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 5 Medium: Charcoal on Wove Paper, Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Back to Artwork Line Back to Sections Emily Rung - What is Line By Emily Rung November 1, 2020 Marker Volume 1 Issue 1

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Unconventional Portrait By Marissa Nardone January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Artwork Pop Art Back to Sections Angelina Gonzalez - Pop Art By Angelina Gonzalez January 14, 2022 Acrylic Volume 2 Issue 3

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Thank You! Cody Sung Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching It has been an amazing five years at my fantastic school. I truly enjoyed my time here and I will miss North dearly. I would like to thank everyone for their support and made my educational career a success so far. I started at North going into eighth grade at nine years old. I was very confused, but thanks to many people, I am graduating from North a bit less confused. I want to start my appreciation first by thanking Dr. Small, the principal, Mrs. Buonaspina and Mr. Jara, the assistant principals, Mr. Brodsky and Ms. Bloeth, my guidance counselors, and the Valley Stream Central High School District for all their support during my high school years at North. I would also like to thank all my amazing teachers and club advisors who always offered their guidance and support and always made me feel welcome. I could always stop by and discuss any questions or difficulties I had. They helped make my experience at North unbelievably special. Thank you to the security guards, maintenance crew, and other staff for helping me whenever I needed assistance – especially the security guards, they handled a lot of pretzels. Thank you to my wonderful classmates, peers, and friends – those who have graduated before me, those who are graduated with me, and those who are graduating after me – for all your support. Thank you for helping me when I couldn’t open my locker, or when I dropped my books and water bottle down the stairs, or when I didn’t know where my classes were. Thank you to Mom and Dad for supporting me and always pushing me to the next level – and to my brother, I love you. Finally, I would like to thank everyone at Willow Road, where my educational career started, for all their support. Congratulations and good luck to the class of 2024. -Cody Sung BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Whispers of the Ocean Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Zaida Ayestas Munguia The ocean breathes a timeless song, With waves that dance, both fierce and strong. Beneath the sun’s warm, golden glow, Secrets in the depths below. Endless blue, where horizons blend, A realm of dreams that never end. Whispers of salt and tales of the deep, Guardians of treasures, silent and steep. Storms may rage and tempests roar, Yet calm will follow, peace restore. The tides, they rise, and then they fall, A rhythmic pulse, nature’s call. In twilight’s hush, when skies grow dim, Stars reflect in waters grim. The ocean holds what time forgot, A canvas vast, a world untaught. So here we stand, in awe, we gaze, At the ocean's wild, eternal maze. A reminder of life’s ebb and flow, In its embrace, we come to know BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections Masooma Zaidi - Prism By Masooma Zaidi November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections He is waiting for us By Nora Chery Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Amazon I could still recall the memory like it was merely a few days ago. It was a Tuesday-or Friday evening; the sunlight bathed me with its warmth as I was stepping along a path that leads to my home. It had sandwiched me with fences of flowers in contrasting hues, flowing past me with their scents passively entering my snout. The trail riddled with silence; only the whoosh of the petals and the noise of grass being stepped kept it from being deafening. I felt like I could breathe with ease. I felt small fingers squeeze around my much broader ones; I looked down to see my Alex’s round brown eyes staring up at me with his tiny mouth moving up to a smile. “It’s time to go home!” he said bouncing up and down. I beamed at him. “Uh-huh, Daddy’s waiting for us,” I replied, glancing straight at the flowery path which seemed a lot deeper than I expected. Still, it didn’t trouble me. “The toads are humming, that means it’s time to fly home” A tune spring up from my three-year-old' s mouth, his head swaying from side to side. “Where did you hear that song?” I asked, my view still on the path. “From—” He replied then stood still. I looked down to find his face staring at something, his round face framed with awe. I peered in his direction to meet a brown-colored puppy laying under a shrub layered with dark crimson roses, only a few steps away. I would’ve called it cute if its behind wasn’t facing in my direction. I suddenly felt my child’s puny hand slip out of mine; I saw him run towards the dog with his back towards me. He crouched down, laying his small hand down on its stomach. “Hey, don’t touch if you don’t know where it’s been!” I scolded, jogging up to catch up to him. I froze. The puppy was dead, obviously. There was a large gash across its tiny throat, with blood taking its time to seep out making a red puddle on the concrete. It was a nerve-wracking sight to see, and a three-year-old shouldn’t witness such a thing. I slowly reached my hand out, aiming it towards his small back. “It’s dead,” a much deeper voice came from my son’s mouth; I sprang my forearm back in dismay. I marveled to myself. Did that really come out of my son? It sounded exactly like a grown man, almost like my husband. I tried to keep my cool but being taken aback had made it quite difficult. “Now...now honey I—” Then Alex stood up, but I wasn’t looking down at him, I was staring up at him. He turned to me, I looked at the face of my husband who smiled at me. “Don’t worry about it, it’s just a dog” he whispered softly as he wrapped his large fingers around my much smaller fingers, “It’s time to go home,” he said. “...Uh-huh...Alex’s waiting for us,” I replied softly, dazed with bewilderment, as we walked alongside the flowery path, leaving the puppy behind. BACK TO TOP