Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Esther By Isabella Somma March 28, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 5

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Survey: Are Lunch Lines Too Long? Hydrangea, Staff Writer Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Learning for Justice With the start of a new school year, comes the return of the almighty lunch period, a time to relax, talk to friends, and eat something. But a more dreadful tradition comes along with lunch: getting on line for food. We could debate whether or not cafeteria food is good for hours, but potential issues can be present in the lunch line itself. I did not have a lunch period last year, and so I was overjoyed to finally get one this time around—only to have to stand in line for almost twenty minutes every day just to get a cheeseburger. I’ve thought a lot about the lunch line. Why was I spending so much time on it when actually getting my food takes only a minute? What was keeping it backed up? And why did it feel so much longer than it did in years past? And so, I bring you a survey about lunch lines. I implore any student to take part, but especially those who get their lunch from the cafeteria. Do you also believe the lunch lines feel too long? Or do they feel shorter for you? I think it’s an interesting issue to look at, so please give me your thoughts! You can take the survey here . Please keep your responses on-topic and respectful, as I will be able to see who sent what. Results will be published in the next issue of NORTH STAR. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections A Lack of Representation By Alain Deen Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by the European Broadcasting Union For centuries, the film and media industry has faced a lack of diversity, most often due to internalized prejudice and misrepresentation among their big budget productions. This concept has become normalized in recent times to the point where seeing a talented ensemble of black performers comes as a shock to critics. These instances of discrimination stem from a long history of blatant racism in these industries becoming increasingly subtle over the years. The film and media industry are arguably the most dominant forms of storytelling, whether through captivating news stories or feature films. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that biased views are spread through these outlets, influencing audiences across the globe. For example, award-winning journalist Elizabeth Llorente argues that there is “improper and little to no representation among people of color in journalism”. The same can be said for the film industry as well. For instance, the release of Marvel’s 2018 smash hit, “Black Panther” was met with either dubious or celebratory reviews for the very fact there was a black superhero lead. Again, this is due to the normalization of excluding colored actors in major feature films. In recent decades, films have developed a stereotype for Black males, portraying them as violent, aggressive, criminal, and/or uneducated. These tropes provide a myopic view of black life, shedding a perpetually negative light. This concept translates into real life as well. African Americans have experienced exclusion, aggressive discrimination, and police brutality which continues to plague society. These stereotypes also create cynical working environments for African Americans, and not just in the film industry. Therefore, it’s necessary that the film and media industry indulge in new projects with open-mindedness, unbiased opinions, and acceptance and encouragement of diversity. In terms of future generations, audience members of all colors can see someone on the big screen that happens to look like them, and actors can see themselves getting more work. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Autumn School Event Recap Giavanna Quagliata Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching Since school has started, everybody has been getting used to their classes, taking tests, and doing homework. However, school is not just about work. Have you heard about North’s autumn events? Well, if not, then this article is for you! North has so many activities to participate in, or just to attend with friends. Football games - Specifically, FNL, which stands for Friday Night Lights. This is the biggest football game at North, and the stands are filled with people. Every year there is a different theme; this year’s for example, was Whiteout. The cheerleaders worked hard to perform perfectly and support our team, while the Varsity Kickline team performed during half-time to a genre that everyone loves: Hip-Hop. If you did not make it to this year’s game, it is definitely recommended to go at least once before you graduate. This next event is known as one of our biggest school events, the Pep Rally. If you haven’t heard of it already, Pep Rally is a big performance to show appreciation for all sports. For Pep Rally, students are taken out of their 8th and 9th period classes and go out to the football field to watch, and this year’s occurred on Friday October 18th. If you are not in any performances, students are seated on the bleachers. Every sport gets announced, and spectators cheer the players on the teams. The cheerleaders performed a special routine with amazing stunting skills, kickline did a surprise genre dance performance, and Step showed their skills with a performance as well (which included many of the World Language Department teachers and Mr. Loiseau, and it was awesome .) This year, Mrs. Goldman helped recruit teachers to join them during their routine. If you feel like dressing fancy, this next event is for you: The Homecoming Dance. Every year, 10-12th graders are invited to attend. Your class saves up money to contribute to a DJ, food, and drinks. Plan to go with your best friends, or maybe even be asked by someone special. When you walk in, a table with teachers awaits you to give them your ticket, and if you would prefer, you can drop off your coat. After, you walk into the cafeteria and see it is decorated and filled with people. Parent volunteers help you grab some food, and you go dance with friends. This year’s theme was Disco. The next day everyone is invited to attend the football game. This year, the Spartans won their game. These are only a few events at North. If you look deeper, you can find all diverse types of activities and events for something you might enjoy. If you are feeling spontaneous, join a club or get involved in an activity. It is better to join than to regret not joining at all. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Why Calming Music Can Heal Your Soul By Isabella Menjivar Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Original artwork by Isabella Menjivar How many times a day do you exhaustedly sigh and feel unmotivated, tired, or say “I can’t do this?” Stress is more harmful than most expect. Finding yourself consumed with stressful emotions can lead to heart disease, premature aging, weight gain, high blood pressure, and overall a weakened immune system, which is the last thing you want during a global pandemic. In the moment, we only feel the stress, but we need to keep in mind the long-term effects are yet to come. Therefore, it’s extremely important to find ways to battle the pressure of everyday life. During stressful times we need to remember, “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” -Lou Holtz Here are four soothing songs recommended by my classmates and family that may help boost relaxing feelings during your day. Westworld: Runaway - Kanye West [Piano Cover] - YouTube Twilight Soundtrack- Bella’s Lullaby Mia and Sebastian’s Theme- La La Land Soundtrack Yellow- Coldplay BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Joe Biden Leads in Major Polls By Everton Prospere Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Image provided by NBC News As of October 28th, former Vice President Joe Biden maintains a lead in major polls nationwide over incumbent, Donald Trump. Polls conducted by NBC, CNN, and Fox currently show that the Democratic nominee holds a seven to ten point lead nationwide as well as in key swing states. In the battleground state of Florida, NBC news shows Biden holds the lead in seven polls, while the incumbent only holds the lead in one. Biden also holds the lead in all eight polls reported by NBC news in Pennsylvania, a state that historically is won by Democrats. However, in the 2016 election Pennsylvania was won by the Republican party. CNN reports that Joe Biden holds the lead in over 80 polls nationwide by an average of ten points, a historical lead in which only Bill Clinton held a higher poll lead in elections since 1968. (In comparison, Donald Trump holds the lead in no polls according to CNN, or none outside the poll’s margin of error). Fox news reports that the Democratic nominee holds a seven and a half point lead nationwide over the incumbent. In Georgia and Texas, states considered to be new to the battleground name that have historically voted Republican, Fox reports Joe Biden is catching up to Trump. In a recent Georgia poll Biden is tied with Trump, while in Texas, Trump maintains a four point lead. It should be noted that Georgia is historically known to go to the Republican Party. While many voters question the accuracy of polls, David Wasserman of NBC news stated that “Trump would probably need a larger polling miss than in 2016 to win re-election, and there’s no guarantee a systemic polling error this year would run in his favor”. Therefore, the polls are unlikely to err in the incumbent’s favor. In addition, Biden’s lead is steady in comparison to Clinton’s lead in 2016, proving that there is a more likely chance that these polls will reflect an accurate outcome. However, news sites such as The Hill report that the polls are wrong for multiple reasons. Authors at The Hill state that the tone of the questions, the sample of respondents, and the distrust of polls among Trump supporters should be taken into account because they are factors that may cause a lack of understanding and the President could be re-elected. Although there may be conflict regarding whether the polls are accurate, it is clear that Joe Biden currently has the lead by a large number. With that being said, all registered voters can exercise their voice in democracy, and only time will tell the actual outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Small Ensembles 2024 Elaine Ching and Lauren Orsano Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Lauren Orsano On June 4th, 2024, at Elmont Public Library, all five of North’s musical small ensemble groups gathered to have one last performance. In the past, the annual Valley Stream North High School Small Ensembles Concert mainly featured high school small ensembles such as Mrs. Hayden’s Breakfast Club and Ms. Ansbacher’s Senior High Jazz Band; however, this year, the end-of-year musical event grew to include both Senior High and Junior High Jazz Bands, Treble Choir, Junior High Select Chorus, and the Breakfast Club. The concert was spectacular and showcased the musical talents of North High School students and teachers. Firstly, the Junior High Jazz Band started the evening off with four fantastic pieces. Their first piece was C Jam Blues , a relaxing jazz melody featuring several solos. In contrast, their next song, Blue Bossa had a catchy and quick tune, demonstrating the ensemble’s ability to balance different tempos. Additionally, the style of the piece was very jazzy due to the strong saxophone presence, much like their first piece. Their third song, Birdland , was a true testament to the jazz genre as it was named after the first jazz club in New York City. Lastly, they closed their performance with a song featuring harmonies from the famed Pixar movie, The Incredibles. The Junior High Jazz Band’s performance served as evidence of the hard work they have put in this year. The second small ensemble to perform was the Junior High Select Chorus. Their first song was Do Wah Diddy Diddy, made famous by Manfred Mann in the 1960s. The younger group was very energetic as there were a few giggles at the beginning of their performance; however, they managed to pull it together by the end and made for a sophisticated presentation. Other pieces included Stand Together and The Lion Sleeps Tonight , demonstrating the chorus’ ability to blend their vocal parts. After the Junior High Select Chorus, the Swingin’ Spartans’ Jazz Ensemble entered the stage. The group exemplified the talents of the entire group while highlighting the skills of select dedicated players. Additionally, the group demonstrated their range of capabilities as they shifted tempos from fast in the songs “Conga,” “Route 66”, and “Nothing from Nothing”, to slow in “The Way We Were”. Additionally, the amazing staccato abilities featured in “Nothing from Nothing” made the notes sound very crisp. This contrasts with the ensemble’s legato notes in “The Way We Were.” The Senior High Jazz Band’s performance illustrated their ability to play a vast range of music while maintaining the same musicality and sensitivity for each piece. The fifth small ensemble group to perform was the Treble Choir, led by Mr. Thorn. The group accomplished a wide musical range while only including sopranos and altos. Also, the song selection allowed the group to show their ability to perform various tempos and showcase their acapella abilities. The singers demonstrated excellent vocal blending while still highlighting each distinct voice. The group’s last song was a medley of several Aretha Franklin pieces including, Natural Women , I Say a Little Prayer, and Respect . The medley included two beautiful solos by Kayla Duvert and Samantha Salnave. For the night's final event, the Breakfast Club, led by Mrs. Hayden, beautifully showed their hours of dedication through their performance. Their first song was a piece that included the classic fiddle tunes, Folk Tune Air, and Fiddler’s Fury. It featured solos by Lillian Dolan and Arshdeep Singh, both senior violinists of the Breakfast Club. Later, once the other string instruments joined in, they blended their sound very well, and the rhythms were truly clear. Throughout all the pieces, the different instruments of the group had a very balanced sound. Afterward, they performed a slower and more mellow song, Don’t Know Why, an instrumental take on the classic Norah Jones tune, featuring Jake Heiss on the drum set and Rebecca Hayden on piano. Finally, for their last piece, they performed Fantasia Espanol, a dramatic and bold piece composed by Soon Hee Newbold. The Small Ensembles Concert is traditionally the last concert of the Valley Stream North school year, effectively wrapping up the musical activities of the 2023-2024 school year in a beautiful bow that exhibits the talents of musicians who attend rehearsals outside of their music education classes. This year was certainly no exception! BACK TO TOP

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 Articles News Back to Sections Day of Silence 2022 By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by GLSEN Hi everyone! My name is Eva Martinez, and while I am an editor here at NORTH STAR, I am also president of Valley Stream North’s LBGT+ affinity group: The Alliance. The primary goal of The Alliance is to make North a safer space for all students by creating a safe space for its LGBT+ students. Although we have many events throughout the year, such as the participation in the Social Justice Summit, in my opinion, no event is more impactful than the Day of Silence (DOS). Started by a group of students at the University of Virginia in 1996, the Day of Silence has grown into a national student lead movement in high schools and colleges all across America. Organized by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, the DOS is a day for allyship and represents the silencing power of homophobia. This year the day took on extra meaning for North’s Alliance, as many also felt that their silence was an act of protest against Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education Bill,” a.k.a. the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. From a personal standpoint, it is inspiring to see an increase in students participating in the DOS; however, it is still an incredible challenge. During the DOS, all participating members were instructed to refrain from: talking, texting, using social media, miming, or any other method of non-verbal communication. If any of our readers know me in person, they also likely know one other thing about me: I do not ever stop talking. With the added limitation of not being able to communicate non-verbally, I knew I was in for a rough one this year. My primary feeling throughout the day was frustration; being unable to communicate in any way made a large portion of my daily tasks incredibly difficult, and I found myself left with questions in class that I simply couldn’t ask for clarification on. Additionally, several students kindly asked why I was not speaking. However, all I could do was show them my card, which simply says "How can you help end the silence?” Also, to the person I bumped into in the hallway, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude; I just wasn’t allowed to apologize verbally. Yet, my frustrations represented the true point of the DOS. Homophobia, and its impacts, whether socially or legislatively, have a significantly negative effect on LGBT+ students. When those students feel afraid, they may find themselves excluded from the ease of interaction enjoyed by others. Overall, the DOS is a challenging but meaningful event. I encourage those who have any further questions to stop by our next Alliance meeting after the break: Monday, April 25th, room 309. BACK TO TOP