Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections How to Skate – from an Amateur Figure Skater By Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by NYC Parks Hello everyone! My name is Olivia, and I have been taking Figure Skating lessons for about 5 months. I started in November of 2020; I always thought it sounded fun, and with all school activities cancelled at the time, I “figured” it would be nice to try something new. I’m so glad about my decision and I am now planning on joining a skating team in college (It’s a really popular thing at all the up-north schools I applied to like UVM, UNH, UMaine. Today I would like to share my love for this sport and teach you the most basic skill needed to skate: how to not fall over. I’ve taken many friends with me to free skate over the last few months, and I’ve seen many falls, trips, and more, and have learned from both my lessons and observations the quickest way to get that first start. Tighten up those skates (You shouldn’t be able to lift your ankle in the skates, but you also should still have the circulation going) and let’s glide! The wall is your friend (but more like one that cheers you on from the sidelines) – One of the most common things I see at my weekly free skate is people clinging to the wall for dear life. Most commonly it’s because they feel terrified of falling over. DON’T DO THIS. When you rely so heavily on the wall, it will be even harder to get off than had you not used it at all. My suggestion is to start out near the wall. If you really need the stability, you can tap the wall with your right hand, or gently hold the hand of a more experienced friend (don’t lean on them too much, or you’ll both take a tumble). Glide, don’t “walk”- A common mistake for first timers is to try to walk across the ice - this will result in a fall quite quickly. As stated in #1 , stay close to the wall, and try to start a simple glide (if you have ever been on an elliptical, it’s a similar motion). It’s hard to describe, but you’ll know it once you do it. Make sure to lift your opposing foot to prepare for the other to land (ex. When you are gliding on your right foot, lift the left foot forward, in front of your right, to keep up your speed). The lift doesn’t have to be high; even an inch should suffice. Just make sure it’s off the ice. Use your knees - When you feel like you are losing your balance, slightly bend down and put both hands on your kneecaps. This will keep you from taking a flailing tumble. Having your knees loose and slightly bent while skating will also make it easier to glide: a stiff body is more likely to lose balance. If you have to fall, just let yourself - Flailing your arms around is not going to help you here; in fact, it will make you less stable than when you first lost your balance. If you feel yourself falling backwards, follow #3 and put your hands on your knees. If you are suddenly falling forward, this doesn’t always work. Here, I would suggest just letting the fall happen. Make sure to distribute your weight so you don’t damage a specific part of your body; I usually try to fall on my side with that same arm out (Let it be noted to avoid putting any weight on the wrist or ankle as you risk serious damage). This should result in a gentle slide rather than a slam and shouldn’t leave any side effects except for slight embarrassment. The next time you go skating, hopefully these tips will have you gliding in no time! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portfolio Back to Sections Beauty Hidden in Women's Hair By Elizabeth Andre June 13, 2022 Collage Volume 2 Issue 7 I wanted to show the beauty and struggles of being a black woman and having hair. I displayed different hairstyles one can be open to. At the end of the day, no matter what hair texture, color, or style you have, you and your hair are beautiful.

Back to Artwork Portfolio Back to Sections Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque By Marisa Mohan June 13, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 7 This was taken in Dubai at one of the world's largest mosques, Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque.

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections White Flowers By Nora Chery Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Unsplash.com Do you remember when it rained for two weeks straight? I did and I thought it resulted in a good thing. Sure, the townsfolk, especially my mother, would disagree. "They're just flowers dearie," she'd say to me. "The town nearly washed away out of existence due to that catastrophe, and all god could offer is some flowers!?" "Beautiful flowers," I retorted softly, perching over to see the flowers clearly. My mother snorted and turned her back towards me, she lifted the hem of her dress and marched through the soaked grass, making her way back home, not far where the flowers are. They were beautiful flowers, indeed they were. A beautiful clomp of white lilies, whiter than any lily, whiter that the one’s Mrs. Harper used to sell before her store got destroyed. Whiter than the beautiful dress my mother had to sell in exchange for money and food. Whiter than the clouds that turned to gray ones drenching us with water. They smelled nice with petals soft to the touch, despite the rain. I would spend hours in my garden, tending to them, watching them grow, and dreaming of the day I could finally pick one and bring it inside. But then you came along, and at first, I thought you were the answer to my prayers. You were kind, gentle, and you seemed to genuinely care about me and my garden. You even helped me with the watering and weeding, and I couldn't have been happier. But then, one day, you took my white flowers. You said you wanted to give them to your sister, who was upset due her destroyed house, and you promised to bring them back. But you never did. I waited and waited, but you never returned. And as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, my garden began to wither and die. Without those white flowers, my garden was nothing but a barren wasteland. And without you, my heart was nothing but a hollow shell. Do you remember when it rained for two weeks straight? I do, and I thought it was a curse. Because that's when my white flowers were taken from me, and the man I thought loved me left me behind. BACK TO TOP

< Back About the Course This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Here, you can make changes to your content, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up for you with fields and content. Add your own content or import it from a CSV file. Add fields for any type of content you want to display, such as rich text, images, and videos. Be sure to click Sync after making changes in a collection, so visitors can see your newest content on your live site. Your Instructor Marcus Harris This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left.

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Weight By Nora Chery Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original artwork by Nora Chery Wilma Top sucked in a breath and released it as she placed all her weight on the bathroom scale. Rapidly increasing, the numbers on the scale meant everything to Wilma. Panting, she impatiently waited for the numbers to decide her fate. How much weight did I lose? The thought multiplied, swarming around her head like wasps, almost filling her small white bathroom. Suddenly, the display froze; unfeeling black numbers filled the small box. In a fit of rage, she stepped off the scale and slammed it into the wall. It bounced on the tile floor with a loud rattle as Wilma wailed. She weighed 250 lbs. Entering her pale and empty bedroom, she ripped off her baggy shirt. Its large size once brought her comfort but now it seemed to be tighter than ever. Wilma felt her elephant-sized stomach churn; her buzzing thoughts began to sting. Staring at her mirror, she couldn’t help but think: “I look like a tub of lard.” Her arms and legs jiggled disgustingly as she moved them. “You’re a disgrace; look what you’ve done, look what eating has done to you,” her thoughts roared. Wilma slapped her hands over her ears, “I know!... I’m sorry, I-I’ll do better.” “You look like a whale—no a pig, always wanting food and always looking for more.” Her mind was relentless. As her thoughts grew louder, she screamed in an attempt to down them out. Wilma’s stifled scream was enough to reach the ears of her mother. Mrs. Top wrinkled, napping face sprang alive. She flew up the stairs and sprinted up to Wilma’s bedroom. Worriedly, she knocked on her daughter’s door and asked, “Wilma, is everything alright?” All Mrs. Top heard was a muffled gag. Mrs. Top turned the knob and shoved the door open. Her eyes scanned the small bedroom. She saw no sight of Wilma until the door creaked open. A small girl wobbled out of the bathroom, every bone and joint poked out of her thin, sheet-like skin. She glanced at her mother; her vomit-stained mouth turned into a smile. “Don’t worry, only a couple more pounds to lose.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Black American Artists Back to Sections Mother/Awaiting His Return By Charles White February 12, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 5 Medium: Lithograph in black on wove paper, Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Final By Huan Evo Alipio Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by TN Tech Blogs The heat beaming, the sun scorching, and this glamorous weather Almost to the end of the finish line, all must cross With everyone exhausted, people managed to complete this year's course Though it has been quite an experience It will be missed by some Many will leave and never come back Many will remain to start to unpack So, shocking this is occurring But memories will stay and remain Then, this cycle will repeat itself and happen all over again BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Toxic Ball By Elizabeth Andre April 22, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Fall Sports Recap By Joseph Garofalo Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original photography by Joseph Garofalo Fall sports began on August 23rd for most sports, as tryouts and training got athletes in shape for the upcoming season. As the teams were optimistic, the student athletes worked day in and day out hoping to achieve their goals. Here’s how their seasons went: Girls Soccer : Under Head Coach O’Connell and assistant coach Tronolone, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team completed their season 4-7. In a tough conference, the girls held their own, competing in every game they played and even beating the No. 1 team in their conference, Mineola. Captain Tiffany Wong and goalie Gabriella Barrigo held down the defense while Karime Ribeiro, Sophia Barry, and Amaya Pagan led the team in scoring. Boys Soccer: In Conference A3, the boys under Coach Aguado, and Coach Frazer finished with a record of 4-4-1, their best since their last playoff appearance. Captains Jonathan Xavier and Godwin Eyiuche led the Spartans tremendously. Goalie Jorge Tellez made 34 saves in the 9-game season, and Derek Fuentes led in points. Jonathan Xavier also received All-Conference honors in A3 and Player of the Week recognition. Boys’ Volleyball: After competing in the 2020-2021 playoffs reigning Conference Champions for the first time in 26 years, the boys finished this season with a record of 9-5, third in the C2 conference. Captain Colin McAleer achieved All-Conference honors while leading the team with 63 kills; captain Jojo Garofalo earned All-Conference honors leading the team in blocks with 43; captain Steven Munson earned the Unsung Hero Award while leading the team in assists with 153. The team and I would like to extend our gratitude and thank Coach K for the time and effort he put into our team, and for changing the mentality of the team since the beginning. Girls’ Volleyball: Reigning Coach of the Year, Ms. Parisi, led our Lady Spartans to another Conference Championship, the second in the past 4 years, with a record of 12-1 in the A3 conference. Libero Ally Llubit left it all on the court accumulating 197 digs, ranking 14th in Nassau County. Junior Kayla Santo and Isabella Matura also ranked amongst the top in Nassau County; Santo ranked 21st in kills, and Matura ranked 4th in blocks for the county. Senior Captain Haley Nelson earned preseason honors from Newsday, ranking in the Top 50 of all girls’ volleyball players on Long Island. Coach Parisi, for the second year in a row, won the Coach of the Year as well. Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country: Coach Boyens led the Cross-Country team to yet another successful season with many personal bests and a State Qualifier! For the girls, All-County honors were awarded to senior Girls’ Captain Samantha Szabo and Junior Melissa Innocent; for the boys, All-County recognition was awarded to Jack Schwabe. All-Conference honors were awarded to senior Boys’ Captain Craig Papajohn-Shaw, senior David Pinos, and junior Elyas Layachi; Emily Dahl earned this recognition for the girls. Matteo Somma, Aleeza Dhillon, and Navrosedip Kundlas produced times that allowed them to participate in the State Qualifier meet. Junior Melissa Innocent, with a time of 20:38, triumphed in the race, punching her ticket into the State Championship race. Football: Under second-year Head Coach, Mr. Paolillo, the boys had a successful season making it to playoffs for the first time since they appeared in the Big Four in 2013. Senior leadership helped to bolster the team through tough games producing an overall record of 4-4 in the regular season. The success of the team brought life back to Valley Stream North, convincing students to be active at the games and create an atmosphere of spirit and enthusiasm, especially at Homecoming. Senior Angelo “Gelo” Morales broke North High School’s record for the most tackles in a single season, earning All-County recognition in the process. Adding to the boys’ impressive team, Brian Farrell earned All-Conference for the 2nd time. Joining Morales and Farrell in their athletic achievement is Vaughn Candelario and Andrew Lusterino, earning All-Conference recognition. Aside from Lusterino’s All-Conference achievements, he also earned Academic All-Conference, which he is eligible by receiving an academic average of 85% or better for 3 consecutive years. Morales, Farrell, and Lusterino will be representing VSN and Conference 3 in the Exceptional Senior Game. The game will take place on Thanksgiving morning at 10am at Mitchell Field. If interested in attending, please reach out to one of the participating athletes for tickets. BACK TO TOP