Back to Artwork Perspective Back to Sections Nayab Raja - Perspective - 2 By Nayab Raja December 16, 2020 Photography Volume 1 Issue 3

Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections Lake Harmony Entry 9 April 14, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 6

Back to Artwork Purpose Back to Sections Gilana Etame - Red Green Study By Gilana Etame November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Cross Country Wraps Up the Season By Aleeza Dhillion Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original photography by Elyas Layachi North's Cross-Country team had their last meet of 2021 at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, November 6. The boys' team ranked fourth at state-qualifiers, with senior Captain Craig Papajohn-Shaw, Jack Schwabe, David Pinos, Elyas Layachi, and Matteo Somma running. Senior Captain Samantha Szabo, Melissa Innocent, and Emily Dahl represented North in the girls’ race. It was the last race of the season for everyone, except junior Melissa Innocent, who qualified for the State Championships after placing fourth in her class. This meet was an exciting and emotional one with it being the last cross-country race for the seniors on the team. Our beloved seniors for the season were Craig Papajohn-Shaw, Samantha Szabo, Jack Schwabe, and David Pinos. Craig and Samantha were the outstanding captains this year; they confidently led the team all season, pushing everyone to do their best to improve. Here is what Craig and Samantha had to say in a joint statement about their experiences as members and captains of North's Cross-Country team: Q: How long have you been on the team? A: We have been a part of the team since our freshman year. Q: What is your favorite memory from this cross-country season? A: One of our favorite memories from this cross-country season was the North Shore v. South Shore 4K Invitational. With personal best times all around, it was a moment when we could clearly appreciate the results of our daily hard work. The moment of pride, for not only our own achievement but that of the underclassmen as well, bonded us as a team. Q: What are you going to miss the most about North's cross-country team? A: We greatly appreciate being challenged both physically and mentally and will miss this most about our team and sport. The lessons we learned carry over into various aspects of life and help us become strong, well-rounded individuals. Furthermore, our intensive training has taught us how to push through any adversity. As senior captains, it has been our pleasure to guide the underclassmen to reaching their fullest potential and instilling in them the lessons we have learned through our coaching, past captains, and experience. Q: What was the best part of being on this team? A: The best part about being on this cross-country team is easily the family we have built. We are a close-knit group who are always genuinely there for one another. Cross-country is an exceedingly difficult sport that requires immense amounts of dedication and hard work; however, it is all worth it when you have your family to support you every step of the way. Not only are we co-captains and teammates, but more importantly, best friends because of the four years on this team. Our bonding with Coach Boyens has led us to appreciate his motivational speeches and guidance; from teaching us about "cerebral fortitude" to perseverance, his speeches shaped us from young freshmen into the All-County and All-Conference athletes and individuals we are today. As a team, we have all spent an extreme amount of time together during the best and most difficult experiences alike, which is a testament that being a team is by chance, but being a family is our choice. Not only were the senior captains motivational, but so were the senior team members. They were supportive and looked out for the newer runners to the sport, making sure everyone was included and safe. Here is what senior teammate Jack Schwabe had to say about his experiences on the team: Q: How long have you been on the team? A: 3 years. Q: What is your favorite memory from this cross-country season? A: My favorite memory from this cross-country season would have to be the County meet. The rain, the mud, and the overall horrible weather conditions made it a race of strength and determination to overcome adversity and succeed. Q: What are you going to miss the most about North's cross-country team? A: I will miss my coach, Mr. Boyens, and all the hard work he puts into the team. I also will miss the family that is the Cross-Country team. The team is small, so everyone gets close to one another, and it becomes more than just running. Q: What was the best part of being on this team? A: The best part of being on the team was my fellow teammates through the years. If cross-country were just running and practicing on your own, I would have never thought of doing it. The friends and memories I have made on the team will be ones that I will never forget. The team will miss the seniors and their leadership next year but wishes them the best of luck in their futures. Coach Boyens and the seniors have shaped amazing runners on the team for the future team. Whether someone was the fastest runner or joined to stay in shape, Mr. Boyens and our seniors helped them not only achieve their goals but set new ones for the future. Although the seniors are leaving next year, their impact on this team will remain long after they are gone. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Should sports go on? By Ismaela Andre Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Original image provided by Valley Stream North Covid-19 is still around. Many schools and jobs began to open, but should we do the same with sports? In August of 2020, the Governor of New York announced that all school sports could start practices and minor meets starting September 21st, 2020. That changed soon after as Governor Cuomo decided to cancel all scholastic sports. Currently many New York City high schoolers are in full remote until 2021. This is because the COVID-19 cases are beginning to increase in New York. Also, in New Jersey, all high school sports were just cancelled due to the new Covid cases. Do you think our school should do the same? On December 7th, 2020, our school announced Winter Sports sign ups. North will begin low risk sports like track, bowling, and gymnastics. The high-risk sports are on a pause due to Covid. Do you think this is ok? During my interview with an 11th grader, she stated that ALL sports should not go on. She stated “There is close contact within every sport. This can cause COVID to spread.” She also stated “Winter sports especially should not go on because it is cold, so many students might catch a cold. This cold could pass on and turn into Covid.” This student is correct, but I interview a 9th grader who said “Sports should go on because many kids want to interact with other people. Also, during summer many kids had to stay at home and did not get a chance to interact with family and friends.” Both students have a point, but with whom do you mostly agree? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Cool Creatures: The Crested Gecko By Matteo Somma Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by The Spruce Pets The Crested gecko, or Correlophus Ciliatus, is a gecko species that lives in New Caledonia, a chain of islands in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. The Crested gecko is a common pet that was thought to be extinct until 1994, when scientist Robert Seipp rediscovered the species. Along with the fact that this little lizard reaches lengths of 6-8 inches, the Crested gecko is known for its wide eyes and bright colors. Like many other species of geckos, the Crested gecko lacks eyelids. Thus, they have incredibly long tongues that allow them to reach from their mouths to their eyes to keep them moist as well as to clear away debris. Other than being known for their bulging eyes, Crested geckos are also famously known for their hundreds of distinct color and pattern variations. From spots to stripes, the Crested gecko has it all. The Crested gecko lives in the trees of the rainforest. As an arboreal species of reptile, they often leap from tree to tree. Since they are also a nocturnal species – meaning awake during the night – they can be commonly found sleeping high in tree crevices in the daytime and feasting at night. Just like humans, they are omnivores, meaning they consume both meat (or insects) and plants (in their case, fruits). During the evening, they can be found down on the rainforest floor eating rotten fruit and any bugs that may be inside. For those who are familiar with gecko species, they lose their tails. While many species of gecko regrow their tails, the Crested gecko does not. When attacked by a predator, they will drop or lose their tail to distract predators from escaping. Once their tail is lost, the Crested gecko will not regrow it. In captivity, Crested geckos make great pets. They can be kept in relatively small enclosures (10–36-gallon tanks stood upright) and require little annual fees. They can live up to 20 years in captivity and often tolerate being handled. We love this interesting little lizard! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Orb By Alanna Tieschmaker Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Pyro Richard couldn’t believe that he was doing this. Sneaking into the king’s museum was the last thing he wanted to do. Rumors had spread throughout the kingdom, and with them the idea of a cold and unfeeling king. If a village missed their payment, there would be no mercy. Every last person would be hunted down and killed by soldiers told to be as ruthless as their ruler. So why was he here, risking himself a cruel faith? He sighed quietly, careful to not make a sound that could alert the guards patrolling the area. He knew exactly why he was doing this. It wasn’t out of boredom or for fame. No, it was all for the sake of his little brother.  Even thinking of the situation leading up to this moment was hard. They had been sleeping in a sheltered underpass. Richard had been unsure, but his brother seemed so happy to have a clean place to sleep and nothing had happened the past few nights. So, against his better instincts, Richard settled down for the night, pulled his little brother closer and fell asleep. How he paid for ignoring his gut.  Thunder cracked through the air, startling him from his sleep. Looking around frantically, he saw a scene from his worst nightmare. A hulking figure stood over his brother, who was farther away than before. Lightning flickered and illuminated the underpass, gleaming off the blade that was held above his brother’s head. Richard froze, knowing that any wrong move could spell the end for his brother. “Don’t ya move a muscle,” growled the figure, pulling his brother closer and putting the knife at his throat.  “I won’t!” Richard responded desperately; eyes pinned to the knife. “What do you want from us? You can have anything, just please, put my brother down.” “You don’t get to make demands here!” The knife drew blood, waking his brother. “Richie?” he mumbled, still half-asleep and unaware of what was happening. Looking down, he drew a sharp breath when he saw the arms holding him in place. He traced them upwards and found the knife at his throat. “Hey, hey, don’t look at that, eyes on me.” Richard coaxed, trying to prevent his brother from panicking. Panicking could lead to death with the strength of the hold, and he couldn’t handle another death.  The man relaxed his grip enough to snap twice, then re-strengthened it again. Three other people filled the alcove, signaled by the snaps. Without turning away, he ordered one of them to bring a coil of rope and sent the others to restrain Richard. Knowing fighting back would hurt more than just him, he allowed his arms to be roughly pulled behind his back.  “Now this one.” The thug pulled his brother’s face to meet his, greedy eyes meeting terrified eyes. “He would be perfect for the job. He’s skinny and wouldn’t be missed if he was caught by the king.”  Richard went deathly pale, hearing what may happen to his precious younger sibling. The king was ruthless, and any intruders faced a gruesome death. Nothing would change that, not even the intruder being a child. He couldn’t let that happen to his brother. “Wait!” he cried, careful to stay still while grabbing the thug’s attention. “Let me go in his place.” “And why should we do that?” replied the man, a sneer clear on his face. “He’s perfect for the job.” “W-well I would do a better job. I can do everything that he can and would be faster on my feet.” There was silence as the gang considered the offer. Then, to Richard’s relief, the head thug put down his brother although not so gently.  “Fine. A bigger brat is less likely to tattle anyways. But just for a bit o’ insurance...”  The hilt of the knife slammed down onto his brother’s head, knocking him unconscious.  “Emmet!” Richard surged forward, scared that his brother had been killed despite his offer being accepted. However, he was still held by the other thugs, who quickly wrestled him back.  “Oy brat! Be careful or I actually will kill him.” One of the thugs holding him down began to tie his hands behind his back, pulling harder than necessary. The other pulled a piece of cloth across his eyes, taking away one of the senses he needed to survive this situation. “Load ‘em up boys!” hollered the lead thug. “Move it!” Richard was shoved forward, almost falling over from the unexpected push. He caught himself at the last moment, and blindly shuffled forward, having no choice but to trust his captors.  Richard was pulled out of his memory when he heard movement below him. The guards were finally changing shifts. There was only a small period when he could sneak in according to the thugs. He had spent days looking over plans, knowing that everything he had depended on getting this right. It wasn’t just his life on the line.  ‘Now --’ he thought, slipping off his perch and landing next to a window. His location would be out of sight for a minute and a half while the change happened. Richard pushed on the old window, which swiveled and allowed him to slip through and jump down. He landed in a silent crouch on the museum floor. He was in.   BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections People vs People By Huan Evo Alipio Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Titus Lunter February 24th, 2022 a big foot steeped into occupied land  Land that was ran by people Land that was a society  With many varieties Though this creature wants to fill his fantasies  The people of the land have multiple tactics and strategies  But, this creature is no ordinary The people must proceed with cautionary It’s also a sad thing to know that this creature is one of us  And have no plans to discuss  Explosions filled the sky  With many families having to goodbye  People vs People is one rough ride  Even though both land had an agreement back in ‘96, the creature has gone wild In which his body is controlled by vivd mind  His Arms that stretched for miles  Unfortunately for the monster, the people of the occupied land will succeed while looking at him with wide smiles  BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Women and Body Hair through a Media-Oriented Lens By Quinn O'Connor Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by HUM Body hair on women has been a cultural taboo for ages. Is this due to personal preference or societal pressure? Fear of judgment or genuine dislike? How much of this distaste for hair on the female body is influenced, or even sparked by, the portrayal of women in media? At an impressionable age, much of what is seen on T.V. is drilled into our brains. It is easy to recall a catchy commercial even after years have passed, or the theme song to a long-since canceled program. Imagine a young girl watching a kids’ show, where the girls show no trace of body hair. This young girl is watching iCarly, and hears “What kind of lady doesn’t shave her underarms?” She laughs and agrees. The phrase sticks with her into adolescence, and despite the razor bumps and nicks and inconvenience of the whole business, she continues to shave daily without a second thought. This young girl is used to the women in her life dutifully shaving every night, morning, or couple of days. She regards shaving as a rite of passage, a sign of her womanhood. But why shouldn’t the hair that grows on her body when she’s becoming a woman be the rite of passage? Why is its removal more celebrated and accepted than its arrival? Maybe because of shaving, waxing, and tweezing traditions, or maybe because she will be shunned if she doesn’t. A third, more convincing explanation may be that she had no role models that didn’t shave in media. Try to name five movies or T.V. shows that portray women with body hair. It’s pretty difficult, especially considering most women on screen are virtually hairless. Looking at women through this lens spreads the idea that their body hair should be met with confusion, or even disgust. This idea is introduced in childhood and is reinforced by television programs and films. Perhaps even more jarring than the contempt female body hair is the continual disregard of its existence. When a woman in the spotlight chooses not to remove body hair, it often received with shock. Lauren Valenti, contributor to Vogue , described Julia Roberts’s exposed underarm hair at a 1999 red carpet movie premiere as “a moment forever cemented in pop culture history.” Why is it that a woman’s body, in its most natural state, is so shocking that it is a pressing subject matter in an article written almost two decades later? In recent years, especially with the introduction of social media, there is significantly less shock and backlash against female body hair in certain online communities. However, the disgust is continued in other areas both online and in real life. A majority of women still remove body hair, especially celebrities. Of course, whether or not to shave is a personal choice, and there should be no shame in whichever option one prefers. Still, it's time for reform, especially in the adult film industry. Harmful mistruths perpetuated by these films introduce impossible standards and are a continued source of chagrin for girls. Women take up a large percentage of the population, yet we are not accurately and truthfully represented in most media. It’s safe to say that it is time for that to change. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Life of a Teenager By Moanna Thelusca Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images I wanted to see students’ perspectives on life as a teenager. Here’s my perspective: the life of a teenager is difficult. It’s filled with joy and excitement, but it’s also filled with twists and turns that may, or may not, direct you on the right path for your future. Alongside that, we must meet society’s definition of what’s a “real” woman or man. But that’s just my opinion. Let’s read about other people’s... Question: how would you describe the life as a teenager? “If I were to describe the ‘life’ of a teenager in only 1-3 sentences, that would be a vast-in-size-task as I can only describe it in 1 word: Stress.” - Giancarlo Oliveri “A teenager’s life is like a very valuable time. It’s a good time despite the fact that we learn and stress things a lot.” - Syeda Nabiha “ I would say the life of a teenager is pretty stressful and hard. Many adults think we have it easier with technology and all, but in reality, we are living a depressed life. First, we are stressed about school then college and then after college we’ve got to worry about stuff we never learned or were taught, and we have to learn it all on our own. If I want to hang out with friends, I don't have time because of school, and we are amidst a pandemic. But that doesn't stop people from understanding that we do feel too like we are literal robots. Wake up 7 in morning for school, then spend 8 hours for school, and then we must do clubs, homework and then worry about studying. We hardly have time for ourselves.” - S.K. “Life as a teenager is filled with uncertainty—about yourself, about your future, and about the world. However, the teenage years also come with the comfort that you don’t have to know all the answers now. Find joy in discovering who you are and who you want to be in this world.” - Sumaiya Ramsaroop “Life as a teenager can be hard sometimes because you’re trying to find out who you are, and what you want to be in life. Also, social life becomes more important because of high school. It makes a lot of things more stressful and maybe makes us want to shut the world out. Also, we are introduced to a lot more things like eating disorders, depression, anxiety, sex. In high school there’s drama, dating, losing friends, gaining friends. There is also a good side, though. You are taken more seriously, and you might have more privileges. People will start to listen to you more and people don’t think it’s a bunch of nonsense. Also, you are more mature. Your grades play a big role in school, especially if you want to go to college.” - Shaniyah McAllister “Being a teenager is weird. You’re not a child so you get multiple new responsibilities. But, you’re not an adult so you’re still considered young.” - Jayden Polydore In conclusion, being a teenager is challenging, stressful, chaotic, and stressful. But it’s also filled with excitement, love, mystery, and new adventures to discover. Now it’s your turn to answer the question: how would you describe the life as a teenager? BACK TO TOP