Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Interview with Mr. Arata  By Gurjosh Multani Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by VSCHSD Q: State your name and your occupation. " My name is Anthony Arata, and my occupation is Permanent Sub here at Valley Stream North, but I am in Grad school at St. John’s University in order to become a Special Education teacher.” Q: Have you lived anywhere other than Valley Stream and if so, where? “I live in Franklin Square.” Q: Do you enjoy your job? “I love my job.” Q: Anything else to add to that? “It's an honor to be able to come back to where I went to high school and to inspire kids how I was inspired to be a teacher.” Q: What inspired you to start working this job? " My 10th grade special education teacher Mr. Achatz.” [pronounced “ACK-its”] Q: How do you feel about the recent threat to this school? "It's scary, but the reality of every day as a teacher and a student is that it can happen anywhere and there's protocols to be safe, but there're people who want to harm students and we just have to be as safe as possible always. And if you see something, always say something.” Q: What would you do for the security of the school if you were in charge? “If I was in charge of the security... Hmm Well, we already have cameras everywhere, which is definitely necessary, and the ID is to keep track of who comes in and out. But I would maybe just have scanners that way they could see when you walk through, so it scans you. That way we can prevent the lines in the morning, so it'd be an easier transition for students and faculty.” Q: Do you have any advice for the new generation of kids? "Find your passion and do something that you love because I go to work every day, I'm happy to be there, and I love what I do. As long as you do something that makes you happy, it's then that you'll be set for life.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Spotlight Back to Sections BHM - Kamala Harris By Kimberly Shrestha February 12, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 5

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Student Wellness Advisory Committee By Jeselys Vazquez Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by University of Wisconsin Since September 2021, the Student Wellness Center has become an official program where students from all grade levels could participate. On October 17h, Ms. Kehoe, one of the school’s psychologists, made an announcement for the week’s activity, which was “Yoga with Ms. Lynn.” Every Tuesday after school, they have different activities that students can participate in and enjoy. In addition, another activity occurred on October 25th, which was the “College Application Information Session,” where students received a variety of tips and insights for when they apply to college. With the reminders on North High School’s Teams channel and morning announcements, the Wellness Center has become successful in more student participation and involvement with after-school activities. For example, one activity -- fall arts and crafts -- were more hands-on, and more students showed up. Recently, an exciting idea has been going around: dog therapy. The advisors will possibly start looking to have dog therapy as an activity for the end of November, which would be awesome, if you ask me. Also, in December, the Wellness Center will start the Student Wellness Advisory Committee (S.W.A.C.). In a couple of weeks, a survey will be sent out for students to sign up as a chance to become an ambassador to represent your grade level. The application will be selective, but the more people that sign up, the merrier. Students in grades 10 through 12 will be Senior Wellness ambassadors, and those in grades 7 through 9 will become Junior Wellness ambassadors. I would highly suggest looking into it because it can be a wonderful opportunity for you to make new friends, learn leadership skills, become more involved with the school, and add to your transcript as an activity you did throughout your school years. Also, you would work with the Wellness Center Staff to produce ideas for activities and themes that help promote all our areas of wellness. So hopefully, the S.W.A.C will be a success in December. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Gilana Etame - Lights On for Education - 1 By Gilana Etame April 22, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The End Annie Diep Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching What does a story mean by ‘The End’? How can we know what exactly is ‘The End’? What is ‘The End’? Why do these simple words, ‘The End’ invoke such intense emotions? Why do these simple words, dictate my mind's destination? Is ‘The End’ for a scholar a B in their carefully formed A’s? Is ‘The End’ for a woman when their hair starts to grey? Is ‘The End’ for a mother when they lose what keeps them at bay? Is ‘The End’ for a creative when they’ve lost their way? Is ‘The End’ for a daughter when they disobey? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Sasquatch: Fact oar Fake? – Homophone Edition By Alena Moreira and Lucy Wu Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by Patterson-Gilmlin Original article by Matteo Somma: The Sasquatch: Fact or Fake? *Note that the original article will be temporarily inactive but will be reuploaded on Friday, May 7th, after contest results have been announced.* Contest rules are listed in the flyer in Teams and on the front page advertisements. How many homophones can you find? Fur centuries their halve bin countless sightings of the Sasquatch, moor commonly referred two as Bigfoot, do two its large foot sighs. Over 10,000 “witnesses” claimed two have scene a tall, Harry figure walking on too legs. The species Sasquatch inn question has bean spotted everywhere from awl the way north inn Alaska two the swamps of Florida. Weather it bee a person dressed up fir attention oar a failed science experiment, won thing’s fur shore: there’s something out their. The common name Sasquatch comes from the primitive ages of the Native People. Sasquatch is believed two bee a simplified version of the Salish word Sasq’sts meaning “wild man” ore “Harry man”. The Salish people, known as the Sta’ailes, claimed two have a clothes spiritual bond with the Sasquatch. The Sasquatch can bee described as tall and Harry. But if u look deeper into the Sasquatch, Yeti, Bigfoot, and other similar creatures that awl faul under the Sasquatch profile, u can c a common theme among awl of them; muscular and slim. Unlike bares, the Sasquatch is vary muscular and thin. Also unlike bares, the Sasquatch towers at an outstanding nine feat tall and is rarely seen on awl for legs, rather standing on its hind legs like humans. The Sasquatch is also reported two have ape-like footprints similar two humans but substantially larger. Inn the United States, only won state out of fifty has yet two report a Sasquatch sighting and that wood bee Hawaii. The Sasquatch has bin reported inn countries awl over the whirled such as Russia, Switzerland, Canada, and Indonesia. Why’ll naught awl descriptions match North America's description, they awl faul under the same category oar tall, muscular, Harry, and walking upright. Won of many theories on the Sasquatch is that it is a group of Neanderthals that never dyed off ore developed into modern-day human beans. A prime peace of evidance fir this is Zana. Zana was a female Sasquatch/Neanderthal that was captured inn the Russian wilderness inn the 19th century. After the Russian government captured Zana, they kept her inn a cage for the wrest of her life and experimented on her. Recently a British scientist who goes bye Bryan Skyes (a professor at Oxford University) has taken jean and silica samples of the descendants of Zana, and his findings whir remarkable. He found that Zana was a Sub-Sahara African that was probably once a slave during the ruling of the Ottomans. He also found tracings of Neanderthal inn they’re jeans, moor then the average human wood have, at leased. Billions of dollars have bean put into proving the Sasquatch’s existing but almost awl have come two a dead end. Sew that question lays on ewe, is the Sasquatch a fact oar a fake? How many homophones did you find? The answer is 92 homophones (see answer key below). Fur centuries their halve bin countless sightings of the Sasquatch, moor commonly referred two as Bigfoot, do two its large foot sighs . Over 10,000 “witnesses” claimed two have scene a tall, Harry figure walking on too legs. The species Sasquatch inn question has bean spotted everywhere from awl the way north inn Alaska two the swamps of Florida. Weather it bee a person dressed up fir attention oar a failed science experiment, won thing’s fur shore : there’s something out their . The common name Sasquatch comes from the primitive ages of the Native People. Sasquatch is believed two bee a simplified version of the Salish word Sasq’sts meaning “wild man” ore “ Harry man”. The Salish people, known as the Sta’ailes, claimed two have a clothes spiritual bond with the Sasquatch. The Sasquatch can bee described as tall and Harry . But if u look deeper into the Sasquatch, Yeti, Bigfoot, and other similar creatures that awl faul under the Sasquatch profile, u can c a common theme among awl of them; muscular and slim. Unlike bares , the Sasquatch is vary muscular and thin. Also unlike bares , the Sasquatch towers at an outstanding nine feat tall and is rarely seen on awl for legs, rather standing on its hind legs like humans. The Sasquatch is also reported two have ape-like footprints similar two humans but substantially larger. Inn the United States, only won state out of fifty has yet two report a Sasquatch sighting and that wood bee Hawaii. The Sasquatch has bin reported inn countries awl over the whirled such as Russia, Switzerland, Canada, and Indonesia. Why’ll naught awl descriptions match North America's description, they awl faul under the same category oar tall, muscular, Harry , and walking upright. Won of many theories on the Sasquatch is that it is a group of Neanderthals that never dyed off ore developed into modern-day human beans . A prime peace of evidance fir this is Zana. Zana was a female Sasquatch/Neanderthal that was captured inn the Russian wilderness inn the 19th century. After the Russian government captured Zana, they kept her inn a cage for the wrest of her life and experimented on her. Recently a British scientist who goes bye Bryan Skyes (a professor at Oxford University) has taken jean and silica samples of the descendants of Zana, and his findings whir remarkable. He found that Zana was a Sub-Sahara African that was probably once a slave during the ruling of the Ottomans. He also found tracings of Neanderthal inn they’re jeans, moor then the average human wood have, at leased . Billions of dollars have bean put into proving the Sasquatch’s existing but almost awl have come two a dead end. Sew that question lays on ewe , is the Sasquatch a fact oar a fake? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Family Problems By Ala Paruch Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by BigStockPhoto Q. Dear Ala, I need your help. I want more privacy. My parents don't seem to think that’s important. I also want to tell them that I have bad anxiety, but they don't think it’s real. I am twelve years old and I feel like I am still treated like my 8 year old brother. I was asking for my bedtime to be at 10:00. In my mind that’s reasonable because I still sleep at 9:30 at the same time as my brother. Thanks. Sincerely, Hello:) A. Hi! Thanks for asking! I agree, 10:00 pm would be a reasonable time. I would advise you to have a conversation with your parents and explain to them why you believe your bedtime should change. You can prepare a list of reasons for your statement and prepare for how you think they could answer your proposition. In your list you can include all the rationales you put in this letter to me, since they are pretty strong arguments, as well as more if you can think of those. Your parents will most likely think something is important if it is important enough for you to prepare in this way. So, if you put effort into this and show them this would help you, they might change their minds. Also, maybe you could ask them to “make it a rule” that anyone who wants to come in your room must knock first. Hope this helps! Q. Dear Ala, I share a room with my dog and I haven't been able to get much sleep because she snores to loud. I need some advice on how to help me get some better sleep or to try to get her to stop snoring. If you are able to help me that would be greatly appreciated Sincerely, Cat A. Hi Cat! Thank you for asking! Hmmm, sleep is important, so solving this problem is important as well. Firstly, I would advise to take your dog to the vet to see if this isn’t happening because of an infection or anything more serious. The vet will definitely try to help you out. You can also try to see if it’s possible if your pet can sleep in the hallway or any other room that is not occupied at night. Hope that helps! Q. Dear Ala,  I was wondering if you can help me with a problem. My sister, who is 19 and away at college, doesn't call me anymore. I want to talk to her, but truly, I don't know what to say or what she would respond back to me. She might not even want her little sister to be texting her. She still treats me like I'm five, but I'm really 14. Please give me some advice. Thank you, Ala! You really will be a big help to me. - Little sister issues! A. Hi! Thank you for the question! I think that the best option for this would be to simply reach out and tell her you want to keep in contact. Ask her how she’s been doing and how the workload is. Be supportive of her decision to go to college. Put together a nice message for her telling her you wouldn’t want the fact that she’s college drift you two apart. Hope this helps and good luck! ~Ala Q. Dear Ala, My parents won't let me bake in the house anymore because they think that I leave a big mess, but I do clean it up! Do you have any advice on what you think I should do for them to let them let me bake again? Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Furious Baker A. Hi and thank you for the question! Baking is such a great passion, keep it up! Ask your parents what part of the kitchen you specifically didn’t clean up to their liking and to give you one more chance to prove yourself. Then, make sure to clean up as you go, and to clean up at the end. Glad I could be of help! Good luck! Q. Dear Ala, I am in need of some help. I play on the same game console as my brother and we can never come up with a game to play together. Do you have any idea what we should do because it is getting really annoying. Hope you can help. Have a nice day. Sincerely, Me A. Hi! Thanks for the question! I don’t really know much about video games, but I asked my friend, and he recommended two games that you might like and are on most current major consoles. The first one is “Rocket League”. It is a multiplayer game that combines racing with soccer. The second one is called “Overcooked!” which is a game designed to play regardless of your skill level. In this game, you and your friends run around a kitchen and try to prepare a meal while being faced with obstacles. I hope this helps! Q. Dear Ala, I have a younger brother, and he won't leave me alone. He finds ways to bother me and when I tell him to stop, he doesn't listen. He always comes into my room and doesn't leave when I tell him to. I hope you can help me find a way to get him to listen when I tell him to stop. Thank you! -Bothersome Brother A. Hello and thank you for the question! Your younger brother is not someone you can just tell what to do and expect him to listen to everything you say. He is still his own person. A good way to approach this would be to talk it out with him. Tell him it is bothersome and ask him if he has a specific reason for coming into your room. There is a possibility he simply wants to be able to spend more time with you but doesn’t know how to express it well. Then come up with a system like he has to knock and ask you if it’s okay to come in. If you say no, he should not enter. Hope that helps and good luck! Q. Dear ALA,  Hello! I have an older sister who is 16 years old. We don't share a room, but her room is right next to mine. When it is 12 midnight, she is on a call with her friends. She makes so much noise, I cannot sleep. When I try to tell my parents, they think I am lying. Can you help me find a way for my parents to believe me? Or can you help me find a way for her to listen and stop? Bye. Have a great day. From, Younger Sister A. Hello and thanks for your question! Communication is key, and talking to her about it first would be a great idea. Confront her and tell her why you it is bothering you so much. She might try to brush it off saying that she’s older, but be confident and explain your argument. Calmly explain that how old a person is does not influence this argument. Regarding your parents, you can explain to them the effects the lack of sleep is causing you to show them that what you are saying is true. Be sure to tell them and express your troubles. Maybe if you say it will affect your schoolwork, they will pay more attention to your problem. Thank you, have a nice day as well and good luck! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Rushana Jailova - Lights On for Education By Rushana Jailova April 22, 2021 Acrylic Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections The Compliment of Green - 1 By Olivia Muscatelli November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Israel-Hamas War: Choose Peace, Not Sides Editorial Staff Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by OnOurSleeves.org As of early October, the conflict referred to as the “Israeli-Palestinian War” has shaken the Middle East and devasted Muslim and Jewish communities globally. Arguably, the conflict would most appropriately be referred to as the “Israel-Hamas War,” as it is not a war between the two countries; it is a war between Israel and a terrorist group based in Palestine. Although October 7th, 2023, marked the start of the recent Israel-Hamas War, the root of this conflict can be traced back decades. According to the Center for Preventive Action, in 1947, the United Nations implemented the Partition Plan, dividing Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. The plan heightened tensions between Arab groups that opposed the plan and Jewish groups. When Israel declared independence in 1948, it resulted in the Arab Israeli war which ended in Israel’s victory. As a result, the region was divided into the State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes. According to U.S. News, following Israel’s attacks on Egyptian and Syrian forces in 1967 was a Six-Day war that resulted in Israel gaining control over Gaza, the West Bank, and the Sinai Peninsula. Between 1987 and 2000, there were two Palestinian uprisings against the Israeli government, referred to as Intifadas according to U.S. News. In 2006, Hamas rose to power after an electoral victory against Fatah, the previous political party. So, the question is: what is Hamas, and how did it rise to power? Hamas was founded in 1987 and is considered a terrorist organization because of its persistent violence against Israel. The organization was founded as an Islamic resistance organization to conquer Israel and establish an Islamic homeland in its place. According to the Center of Preventive Action, this organization has been governing Gaza after winning elections against Fatah and forming a government. It is important to note that Hamas’s rise to power can be attributed to the political instability of the Palestinian government. Many supporters of the organization felt that Fatah was corrupt, and they needed new leadership; Hamas was promising to the younger population that made up the voting majority. Hamas’s rise to power can be compared to that of other leaders in politically unstable countries; it is ultimately an example of history repeating itself. Moving on to the present, a lack of understanding of the situation has caused many to view the conflict as one in which it is appropriate to “pick a side,” usually resulting in unnecessary tensions between Jewish and Muslim communities, and angry online and social media rhetoric and traffic. Even here in the US, there have been protests at schools and universities, business boycotts, and endless social media posts over people and groups being “Pro-Israel” or “Pro-Palestine.” Ironically, some of these protests have resulted in violence when that’s what people should protest against instead of favoring the individual countries’ plights. Understandably, those siding with Palestine feel that the Palestinians have been the most devasted by the conflict as they have suffered a grossly higher casualty rate than the Israelis. We can all agree that it is heartbreaking to hear about the innocent civilian lives lost in Palestine as a result of the conflict; however, the Israeli forces are not entirely to blame. Hamas has positioned itself behind Palestinian civilians, using them as a shield from Israeli forces. Unlike Hamas, the Israeli forces are not looking to cause harm to civilians, but they unfortunately have encountered them while trying to confront their target. Hospitals serve as an example of this, as Israeli forces have raided them throughout the war because of the belief that Hamas was using them as a war base. Apart from the high casualty rates, the issue of hostages has been prevalent during the conflict. In efforts to rescue Israeli hostages, Israeli forces agreed to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages. It is uncertain that they will negotiate another deal as Hamas recently announced that there will be no more hostage releases until the end of the war. To have to bargain for human life is beyond horrific, but it goes to show that the conflict has little to do with Israeli and Palestinian civilians; it is about power, and the devastation Hamas is willing to cause to get it. Not only has the war caused catastrophic conditions for Palestinians and Israelis, but it has also impacted foreigners who unfortunately got caught up in the conflict. The notion that one of these groups was living peacefully before being attacked by the other is simply inaccurate. If we are looking to support a more accurate notion, we can acknowledge that both Israeli and Palestinian civilians had their lives significantly disrupted by brutal Hamas attacks. If you are someone without religious or familial ties to the situation, your perspective of the war may be limited to religious division and geographical conflicts, or what you have read in social media posts. We need to shift our perspective and think about the individuals grouped under the titles we hear repeatedly in the media. There are men, women, and children that make up the Muslim, Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian communities; they cannot simply be deemed enemies because of a war they did not start. Often overlooked are the attempts at peace and cooperation among the groups. For example, Jewish people living in kibbutzim, have taken in refugees, and provided medical attention for those impacted by the war. The Nova Music Festival held on the Jewish holiday Sukkot this fall, which brought a diverse crowd together to celebrate unity and love in southern Israel, is another example. Tragically, the event intended to bring people together but ended in a massacre of civilians by Hamas. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones and the hostages, including Americans, who have not been able to return home. It would be unrealistic to expect everyone to support the United States’s position on the matter, but it is important to recognize that Israel is a US ally, so it is our country’s duty to aid them in their time of need. Some argue that the United States’s decision to aid Israel implies that they are against the people of Palestine, but it is important to not lose perspective when assessing the situation. The war has devastated both countries, but it is not between the countries. As Americans, we should be in support of both countries and against the terrorist group Hamas. The United States is a part of the United Nations, meaning that our country stands for the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR recognizes dignity, freedom, and peace as its core values, so as Americans, we should remember what we stand for as a country when assessing this conflict impacting millions globally. The details of this conflict greatly surpass the content of this article, so I would encourage you to inform yourself. Inform yourself to understand what the Israeli and Palestinian people are facing. We must remember that before countries and religious differences, we should support humanity. Let us choose peace, not sides. Sources: Why does Israel target Palestinian hospitals? Psyops, say analysts | Israel-Palestine conflict | Al Jazeera A Timeline of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict | Best Countries | U.S. News ( usnews.com ) December 20, 2023, Israel-Hamas war ( cnn.com ) What Is Hamas? | Council on Foreign Relations ( cfr.org ) Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | Global Conflict Tracker ( cfr.org ) U.S. Ready to Back U.N. Resolution to Allow More Aid Into Gaza - The New York Times ( nytimes.com ) Israel Gaza: Hamas says no more hostage releases until war ends ( bbc.com ) Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations BACK TO TOP