Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Heart By Nora Chery Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by CNN I remembered our Wedding Day and how wonderful it was. It was indeed the lantern of my adulthood. I remembered how in awe I was when I saw your beauty; your gown only served as a compliment. I knew you felt the same way when we locked eyes, brown meeting brown; I hoped no one found a key. When we both honored our vows without hesitation, your hands slipped out of my grasp and used your beringed hand to sink into your chest. You pulled out your heart for me. Your stained cupped hands extended towards me; it throbbed wildly for me, so I took it. The seat was warm and lively; I could only stare at the striking red color and functioning veins. I peered over to you, and you only stood there, still looking fabulous as ever, even with a gaping hole in your chest. You covered the hole with your hand and gave me the most loving smile. I felt as though I, to show my love, was obliged. That was ten years ago, and we now live together in a clean, modest house. It was a Saturday morning, and I was in the living room; it was about an hour since you left. It was only an hour, yet I already missed your presence, despite having your heart with me. As an hour turned into almost several, I kept your heart close to me, it being warm filled with your blood and love for me. But this was when I found something odd; I looked down to realize the heart wasn’t beating anymore. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Beyond The Pool: Interview with Varsity Swimmer Sarah Flynn Melanie Cevada Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 Image Provided by Sarah Flynn In 2023, Valley Stream North was proud to announce a new addition to the fall sports season lineup: District Girls Swimming. Among this new team, junior Sarah Flynn is one of the first students to compete. In this interview, Sarah shares her experience both personally and with her team. When did you begin swimming? Flynn: “I started swimming when I was around 4 or 5 years old. It's always been a sort of constant in my life, but it didn't get serious until they started a team here at Valley Stream. I've swam on other teams for the past 12 years, but having the varsity experience is far more significant. With a varsity team, I now have the ability to compete for my school at bigger competitions such as divisions and counties, and I have a better chance of getting seen by college coaches.” What or who inspired you to begin swimming? Flynn: “I would say my family was the biggest inspiration to me and the reason why I began swimming so young. I would always watch my sister's practices and meets and wanted to be just like her. My parents were also very involved in the team, so I always felt comfortable in that environment.” How was your experience with the team this past season? Flynn: “My experience with the team this season was really fun. The coaches are so nice and encouraging, and the girls on the team are so friendly. This season, we got to compete at the county championships and made finals which was very exciting for all of us. The bond that we have as a team is very rewarding!” What is your routine? Flynn: “This past season, our schedule was a bit erratic. We typically had practice for 2-3 days and had one meet each week. When we get to the pool, we warm up for about 20-30 minutes and then get into our main set.” How do you balance school and sports in your schedule? Flynn: “At first, I found it hard to balance swimming and schoolwork, but it was something I got better at throughout the season. I always made sure to note when I had practice or meets so I could leave myself enough time to complete my work without rushing at the last minute.” How have you handled high-pressure situations during meets? Flynn: “Some meets can be stressful for me, so I try to remind myself that I'm doing it to see improvements in my own times rather than trying to beat my opponents. I focus my energy on getting a personal best time and use the stress to push myself harder.” How have you improved your performance this season, and what would you do differently for the next season? Flynn: “This season, I was able to improve my performance by focusing on more specific goals. Last season, I didn't really have a goal in mind for myself so I couldn't reach where I exactly wanted to be. This season, I set myself on getting a time to make it to the counties meet, and I was able to accomplish that. Next season, I'll try to work on becoming a more well-rounded swimmer and focusing on other events.” Share a moment when the advice from your coach significantly improved your performance. Flynn: “My coach was very good at giving advice and constantly reminded us how much the little things mattered. She told us how our starts and turns are and where we can make small adjustments that will improve our races. Most people focus only on the stroke, but focusing on those little details was much more beneficial to me and to the rest of the team as well.” What conflict(s) did you encounter this season, and how did you resolve this? Flynn: “Toward the end of my season, I was a bit conflicted because I didn't think I would make the Counties cut. It was my goal, but I decided to not be too hard on myself if I didn't make the cut. Instead of focusing on the fear that I might not reach my goal, I focused on swimming as best as I could, and I ended up making the cut!” What advice would you give to any students interested in joining the team? Flynn: “I would recommend this team to anybody who is willing to put in the work. The girls and coaches are so friendly to everyone, and I think it's such a good environment. Swimming could be of the harder sports to pick up, but we are welcoming to people of all skill levels! Everybody starts somewhere, and there is no reason to be discouraged. We are always looking for more swimmers to build the team!” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Goodbye Ms. Suarez! By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Original photography by Mrs. Mansfield From being the advisor to multiple clubs to teaching in the Special Ed department and co-teaching in many subject areas, Ms. Suarez is wrapping up her North High School career, which began in 1988, this year. During recent years here at North, Ms. Suarez has served as the sole advisor to the Culture Society since the club was created just a few years ago. It is dedicated to exploring and teaching about different cultures. She has brought in speakers and special guests to share at club meetings. Due to her involvement and dedication, she helped multiple North students with the ability to experience new cultural foods and celebrations, along with registering the club with UNICEF to help those in need further as North pilots our first-ever chapter. As well as organizing multiple events over the years, this year’s International Night tickets were sold out, with students lining up after school to see if they could somehow still buy one and attend. That event is usually a big hit and includes food, dancing, and a fashion show contest. Ms. Suarez has proven herself to be a fantastic and hardworking advisor. Furthermore, Ms. Suarez also serves as co-advisor to the National Junior Honor Society at North. She helped with the beautifying of the courtyard alongside many NJHS members, as well as helping provide many NJHS members with service opportunities that helped them keep up with their service hour commitments. Not only this, but she cared about the NJHS members outside of their service at North, as she offered many activities and support for them. After speaking with a student who had Ms. Suarez as a teacher, they described her as a wonderful influence who pushed them to be their very best at math. In addition, the student said that they did try harder after being pushed. They said that this year was a difficult one for their academics due to the previous years with the coronavirus, so having a good teacher truly helped them. Also, they were saddened to hear that this would be Ms. Suarez’s last year as a teacher at North High School. This positive feedback demonstrates that Ms. Suarez is a wonderful advisor and a motivational teacher. Some quotes from North students who were thankful for having Ms. Suarez as a teacher/advisor: “She is motivated and enthusiastic when learning about other cultures, I’m really going to miss her” “Ms. Suarez was a wonderful advisor; I don’t know what I’m going to do next year without her!” “It’s a shame that she’s retiring, but I wish her all the best!” Some quotes from her North co-teachers: “After one of my colleagues inherited my co-teaching class with Ms. Suarez, I warned her: ‘She makes you work harder than you can ever imagine!’ She’s that dedicated to every aspect of her work and is always advocating for her students.” “She is a ROCK STAR co-teacher and an inspiration. She never stops working or thinking about her students and their needs, both academic and social-emotional. I never would have survived quarantine or hybrid teaching without her. She keeps in constant contact with her kids and their families and teachers – never accepting anything less than their best. And she gets it from them, and they succeed and move on. Her students and co-teachers are so fortunate to have her working for them, and I don’t know what we are going to do around here without her!” While the North community is saddened to see Ms. Suarez leave, we wish her all the best in her future adventures! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portfolio Back to Sections Portfolio - Argelina Jeune - 2 By Argelina Jeune June 13, 2022 Watercolor Volume 2 Issue 7 This piece is the depiction of what it is like to lose someone you loved. Their remains and belongings are still with you but slowly you forget until you can’t picture their face anymore.

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The 2024 Presidential Election Sahar Ali Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching The 2024 Presidential Election The moment we wait for every four years is on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, when all eligible Americans can cast their vote for the next President of the United States of America. This year’s candidates are Republican Former President Donald Trump, and Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris. The 2024 presidential election is going to be a close one. According to 270toWin, many states are closely split between the Republican and Democratic candidates. Although both candidates have a good shot at winning the election, they have many different views about key issues including abortion and immigration. To better understand Trump and Harris’s opinions on these issues, it is vital to understand the political backgrounds of their parties. The Republicans Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, represents the more conservative ideals. Essentially, the Republican Party is not as liberal when compared to the Democratic party in terms of social policies. However, the party favors a laissez-faire economy, in which the government is more laid back and does not interfere as much by regulating the free-market system. The Democrats Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate who replaced President Joe Biden in the race, represents a more liberal aspect of democracy. Historically, the democratic party has supported government intervention in the economy and continues to stand today as a part of the Democratic Party’s policies. Abortion During his time campaigning, Donald Trump has been inconsistent with his point of view regarding abortion. The Republican Party is more conservative with 57% of its members asserting that abortion “should be illegal in all or most cases” (Pew Research Center). His opponent, Kamala Harris, claims that Trump will enforce a nationwide abortion ban, which Trump claims he will not do. According to CBS News, Trump favors abortion in the cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at risk. Trump also claims that his “administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights” (CBS News). Trump does face backlash from conservatives when he claims he is somewhat in favor of abortion; therefore, understanding his stance on abortion is muddy. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, has made the issue of abortion a major aspect of her campaign as she stands for women’s choice regarding their bodies. Harris stated during her campaigning, “Ours is a fight for the future and it is a fight for freedom, like the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do” (CBS News). Harris’s stance on abortion is obvious as she claims that she would not allow an abortion ban to be signed into law; she also claims that when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive rights throughout the nation, she will sign it. Immigration After the inconsistencies with immigration policies in the Biden Administration, Trump, if elected, intends to make immigration stricter and plans to carry out “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” (Peterson Institute for International Economics). Trump also plans to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants; this means that if undocumented parents have a child in the United States, the child will not automatically be a citizen. He also plans to deport pro-Palestinian student protestors along with their visas and abolish humanitarian parole. Trump also plans to extend his wall at the border between the United States and Mexico to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the border (Peterson Institute for International Economics). Like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris acknowledges the fact that the American immigration system has holes in it which require patching. She claims that the US immigration system “needs to be repaired, and we are working on that in a way that we establish a safe, humane and orderly immigration system at the border” (Peterson Institute for International Economics). According to the Peterson Insititute for International Economics, Harris differs from Trump in that she hopes to increase asylum eligibility as well as increase pathways to legal immigration. Although both candidates differ in their thought processes, it is up to Americans to make their choice on who they hope to see in office for the next four years. Remember to conduct research on the candidate you are voting for; not only does it increase an individual’s knowledge of current events, but understanding why you are voting for a certain candidate makes one a smarter voter. After all, the presidential election comes every four years, giving us citizens the ability to voice our opinions through our ballots. SOURCES: 2024 Presidential Election Polls: Harris vs. Trump - 270toWin Republican Party | Definition, History, & Beliefs | Britannica Trump and Harris' views on abortion and IVF access, explained - CBS News Trump vs. Harris on immigration: Future policy proposals | PIIE Public Opinion on Abortion | Pew Research Center\ Trump vows to end birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized immigrants if he wins in 2024 - CBS News BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections Nightmare on Main Street- Jillian Ostrow Jillian Ostrow November 6, 2023 Colored Pencil Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Interview With Football Managers Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Rehmat Kaur with Rehmat Kaur, Paul Amato, Marcia Salinas, Ava Hinson, Darwin Hinson and Thomas Vendome, (not pictured: Sophia Song) I had the opportunity to interview the managers of our varsity football team. Ava Hinson, Darwin Hinson, Marcia Salinas, Thomas Vendome, and Paul Amato are among the managers. They were highly intriguing individuals, and it was amazing to learn more about their experiences. They wanted to be managers so that they could participate in more school events, which would keep them engaged. “My brother was a manager before me; he did it for four years, so I followed the way” Thomas Vendome shared. Most of them are in their first year, but Thomas has been a manager since eighth grade. The most difficult aspect of being a manager is understanding everything. “I’m still learning to this day,” said Marcia Salinas. There is always more that can be done and learned to contribute and have a positive impact. Their greatest skill as sports managers is their incredible relationships with the other managers. They are the best choices for this position since they are eager to learn and contribute in any way they can. They assist in bringing out the water, putting equipment away, and doing anything the coaches ask of them to provide or support the team. In addition to loading the jugs, bottles, and carts into the buses for away games, “I help with the sound like music during the games, and I set up headsets for the coaches” Vendome said. Through their experiences, they learn more about football and the effort that goes into winning games to improve their sports management abilities. According to our managers, outstanding leaders can guide where and what everyone needs to do. Their relationships with the coaches, players, and other managers are good, as they all work together to build a talented team. “We’re friends outside of being managers, so it’s even better” Salinas added. They deal with negative environments when the team loses by not mentioning the loss: “We would not want to think more negatively than what has already happened. All that is possible is to keep your head up and continue” she said. According to the managers, the trips are fun. There are always two buses, and they can usually pick which one to go on and whom to sit with. There is no risk in becoming a manager, but it’s definitely a commitment. They must be committed to showing up to delayed games, going to every practice, and especially being on time. “You really should not be doing any other clubs or sports while being a manager. (Not saying do not do more for the year but wait till the season is over!)” Salinas advised. Managers do not help with any medical injuries when a player gets hurt. As managers, they do not have first-aid kits. The great athletic trainer, Jen, brings all the safety equipment in case of any injury. They definitely recommend being a manager. “It opens room for more relationships to form and helps students be more sociable. All grades are welcome!” Salinas said. According to the managers, there are no other requirements besides handing in your physical to participate. Someone looking for a manager position can always chat Mr. Paolillo on Teams. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Isabella Feldman - Portrait By Isabella Feldman January 20, 2021 Photography Volume 1 Issue 4

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

Back to Articles Art Back to Sections The Importance of Lines in Art By Isabella Somma Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Original artwork by Isabella Somma Lines. Most people know what lines are: strokes across a page that connect the space between two points. But what is the importance of line in art? Lines make up the fundamentals of artwork, shape, and basically any object. It is one of the seven basic elements of art. Lines can be straight or curved, bold, or thin, and long or short. Lines can be used to define shape and style in 2D drawings or photographs but can also be used as a way to enhance and draw detail on 3D objects. Typically, in line drawing, artists avoid shading and color, so the attention of the piece is mainly on the lines of the objects in the painting -- how they connect and cross paths, and how their use impacts the rest of the piece. To create depth, dimension, values, and the illusion of a 3D image, lines can be drawn thicker or thinner, bolder or lighter. To achieve this look, you can use different shade pencils with different levels of hardness, or press lighter or harder with the medium you are working with.  Now that we know what line is, why is it important to art? Line, along with shape, form, space, texture, value and color, makes it a fundamental aspect to artwork. Line is used to draw attention to the shapes of objects and allows for more sophisticated composition. Line lets artists map out and frame textures, highlights and shadows. Although important, lines can be tricky to work with because typically when creating line drawings, photographs, or paintings, color and shading is eliminated from the piece. It is up to the artist to experiment and grasp the concept of the objects twists and turns and portray it into a masterpiece. BACK TO TOP