Back to Articles News Back to Sections Groundhog Day Wardah Khizer Volume 6 Issue 3 Image Provided by Mohammad Arshad The North American tradition of Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2nd. This day dictates that if groundhog Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow at Gobbler's Knob, six more weeks of winter follow. This year, when Phil emerged from his burrow, he saw his shadow. The “President of the Inner Circle [the group responsible for planning events and caring for Phil] and groundhog interpreter Tom Dunkel listened to [Phil] carefully, and the prediction was announced: Six more weeks of winter” (USA Today). The Origins of Groundhog Day Groundhog Day grew out of old European traditions where people looked to animals, such as badgers and bears, to predict how long winter would last. These old traditions blended with the Christian holiday of Candlemas, which used the weather on February 2nd to forecast the coming season, and with the Celtic festival Imbolc, another mid-winter marker tied to seasonal change. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, they brought these beliefs with them and swapped the European animals for the local groundhog. The town of Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania eventually became the center of the tradition. In 1886, a local newspaper editor, Clymer H. Freas, helped turn it into the event we know today as “he proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil, the local groundhog, to be the one and only official weather forecasting groundhog” (National Weather Service). Now, the tradition has spread widely, and thousands of people watch Phil make his annual weather prediction. Punxsutawney Phil’s Immortality Groundhogs can live until they are 6 years old, but Phil has been making predictions since 1886, which makes him 140 years old. His secret to longevity is quite unique: Phil drinks a magic elixir on the first Saturday in September, adding seven years to his life for every drink he takes. The President of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club states that “The magic Elixir is something super-secret, it’s been handed down from handler to handler through the years, it’s a concoction of a lot of different herbs and spices and some super-secret formulas that only the handler knows” (WETM). How accurate are Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions? CBS News claims that “Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog, not a meteorologist. Between 2013 and 2023, he saw his shadow seven times, and of those seven, he was correct only once.” As of 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration claims that Phil is the 17th most accurate weather-predicting groundhog with 35% accuracy. Staten Island Chuck took first place with 85% accuracy. Although Chuck is dependable for weather predictions, “his behavior can be a bit unpredictable. He once bit the hand of the Mayor of New York City” (NOAA). At the end of the day, Punxsutawney Phil does not need to be accurate to hold a special place in people's hearts. Sources: Did the groundhog see his shadow? Results of Phil's 2026 prediction Groundhog Day: Ancient Origins of a Modern Celebration | Folklife Today Ground Hog History How accurate are Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day predictions? Here's how he ranks in 2026. - CBS News At 137 years old, Punxsutawney Phil has a secret to living forever BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who am I Back to Sections Who am I?-Madisen Dubose Madisen Dubose November 6, 2023 Colored Pencil Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Poetry Out Loud Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Sofia Owen Students here at Valley Stream North have many opportunities to display their creativity. Whether through art, literature, community-led works, or performance, it is important to allow students to exhibit their talent and artistry, and this belief is best exemplified with an event like Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide recitation competition where students from 9th to 12th grade perform poems from the event’s anthology. The competition has 4 levels – schoolwide, regional, state, and national. Sixteen students from our school have been preparing for the schoolwide portion of the competition. Each student has chosen and memorized a poem to perform in front of a panel of judges. Students can earn points in 6 categories: physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. These students competed in the library on Wednesday, December 11th from 3 - 4:30 pm. In preparation for the competition, students went on two in-school field trips on November 26th and December 3rd to fully grasp their poems and the structure of the competition. On November 26th, Dave Johnson, a poet and former Poetry Out Loud emcee, visited our school and gave the competing students tips on how to improve their recitations. This workshop highlighted the importance of connecting with one’s poem and choosing a piece that spoke to them. Students were split into groups and were encouraged to ask the other students in their group about their poems. With everyone’s poem chosen, Johnson worked one-on-one with each student, discussing their piece with them and walking step-by-step through their thought process. An emotional connection with your poem is important to convey not only its meaning but its connection to you as an individual. To conclude the field trip, Johnson instructed each student to write a poem or a blurb based on their poem. After a couple of minutes, students performed their inspired poem for the rest of the group. Everyone who spoke had incredible control over their words and it was an insightful experience to see how each person viewed the world around them through the lens of their poem. On December 3rd, Johnson returned and this time focused on the accuracy of our recitations while still encouraging us to hone the emotional interpretations of our poems. Students split off into groups once again and discussed their poems with each other, reciting them and analyzing each line to better remember and understand their meaning. Volunteers from each group went in front of everyone and recited their poems, receiving encouragement and suggestions from Johnson on how to improve and change their tone. As he concluded his workshop, he gave advice to help everyone on the day of the competition. He advised students to take a breath and “plant” themselves and to visualize the poem as they recite it. Johnson closed with inspiring words to the whole group: “See what you say, and we will see what you say.” This competition allows students to lift poetry off the page and share their creativity through oration and performance. It serves as a wonderful opportunity for not only the students performing but those watching as well to expose themselves to new kinds of literature and creation. We at North Star applaud the confidence and dedication of the students who participated. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Interplanetary to International: Starlight on Abigail Reichbach's Research Noa Cordova Volume 5 Issue 3 January 14, 2025 Image Provided by Abigail Reichbach “Out of this world” accurately captures the focus of Senior Science Research student Abigail Reichbach’s research project. Transcending planetary boundaries, Abigail, known as Abby by her classmates, centered her research around micrometeorites. Inspired by University of Washington professor Donald E. Brownlee’s 1993 research on interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), Abby worked to find what percent of Brownlee’s estimated 40,000 tons of IDPs that fall on earth annually were micrometeorites.  She spent the summer preceding her junior year formulating ideas so that starting in September she had a topic, research question, and a methodology to begin applying in January. In spring, she took her research to the next level: her grandmother’s rooftop. The micrometeorites’ iron and nickel composition enabled Abby to collect them from a marked-off quadrant using a magnet. She dedicated this summer to sorting through and examining her collected particles using a microscope and a camera. As the school year began, she analyzed her data and finalized her results. Abby shares her cosmic findings, “I determined that 113.3 metric tons of micrometeorites fall on earth each year, which is .28% of all IDPs.” Abby acknowledges that her findings leave room for future research, but currently, there is no published research breaking down Brownlee’s estimate. Throughout her research journey, Abby worked closely with Mr. Frazer, her science research advisor, and Dr. David Deamer, a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz and her mentor. Bringing her findings from space to Earth, she presented at the International Forum for Research Excellence, a conference hosted by the renowned science research honor society Sigma Xi, in Washington, D.C. on November 15th. ----------------------------------------------------- Full interview with Abigail Reichbach: How did you get this opportunity? Abby: “As a science research student you have to be working on research with a scientist or professor. I’ve worked with the University of California, Santa Cruz professor David Deamer since the summer before junior year. We email and use Zoom to communicate. He was the one who sent me the email to apply to the conference. High school students sent their abstracts and research, and from there I was selected to present.” What inspired your research project? Abby: “I've always been interested in space science, and I also really like biology. We had to find a mentor who would help us with the process, so I contacted Dr. Deamer to find something that would combine astronomy and biology... astrobiology. You can apply research outside of one field and could do the research hands-on instead of just in a lab.” What was your biggest challenge? Abby: “I would say the distance between my mentor and I. He lives on the other side of the country, so the time difference was a bit of a challenge. While I didn’t get the experience of doing a lab with my mentor next to me, I learned a lot experimenting independently.”  What did you find most enriching about this experience? Abby: “Honestly, the biggest takeaway from this was meeting other passionate students. Also, it was enriching speaking to professionals who are there to help you learn and take you seriously… it’s cool to teach experts about something new.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Tired Blood Caitlyn Hunte Volume 6 Issue 3 Image Provided by Mohammad Arshad I look at all these people and they all seem so tired of me I look up at them quietly I can't keep my head down, don't shut up, my mouth moves, it's tiring Honestly, who let me speak? Why’d they never try stopping me? They know too much, they back up, I’m afraid and they're done Just put a knife in my back, let it bleed out, that's what my feelings have become Standing on a rooftop, on the tip of a ledge If just two fingers graze me, I will stumble off the edge I am the remnants of water being crushed inside a bottle No one can reach me, but some keep trying, they beseech me To give them that one final drop, they hurt, they throttle Ring my neck, promise they’ll keep me But I am watercolor, I wash off, promises die, and that is not just a feeling How good must I be at acting For you to not tell I’m masking I want to give it up, You wish for me to tell you every day and each minute But with everything I share, my honesty has a limit Please take this satirically I promise I’m fine mentally Just let me fill your cup Distract you so you don't know it's with my blood BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Opinions on North’s latest generation: What is good? What is bad? Max Ching Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Max Ching As we are coming closer to the end of this semester, with the new group of seventh graders, as well as a few new additions to North High School, I believe that seventh graders should be interviewed and questioned about their current thoughts, appreciations, dislikes, and overall opinions on a few set themes, here at North High School. The first topic is the Smart-Pass. There's no doubt you do not know what SmartPass is, but if so, SmartPass is a computer-based app that times you to make sure that when you leave the classroom, you make it back to class within 5 minutes. Now, when seventh graders were introduced to this new form of restroom passes, most of the seventh graders, myself included, reacted negatively to this situation. Student Zion Laurenceau thinks that the time allotted on SmartPass should be increased because he thinks that students will not have enough time to use the bathroom and make it back to class in time. Another student, Matthew Watt, agrees with this, saying that the maximum time of 5 minutes is strange. Matthew also agrees that students will not have enough time to travel back to class. An important part of school is lunch. Making sure that students are not hungry is important. But what do seventh graders think of the lunches? A student Darnell Christie thinks that the lunches are nice and that 41 minutes to eat and chat is an enjoyable time limit. But seventh grader Muhammad Khan thinks that snacks being sold in the cafeteria are a swindle, and says that the snacks are overpriced, and that he can buy a much, much bigger bag of potato chips for a lower price elsewhere. Tyler Gilbert agrees with this statement, saying that the snacks are too expensive. The period system is quite common in most middle and high schools. Students at North are given 41 minutes for each period and have 4 minutes to travel to their next class. But what do seventh graders think of this system? Most students I interviewed mostly had the same response, liking the period system, and thinking it is an effective way of having a schedule and liking how they can see other students every period. Overall, from the students I interviewed, it is interesting how nobody had a single complaint about how classes are scheduled, which suggests how efficient this method is. Even though most responses I found were positive, I also asked students what they think should be improved if they were able to change one thing about this school. One student I interviewed, Kyle Cooper, said that they would change the food options. So, halfway into the semester, many students have many opinions, and they think that overall, North is a nice school. However, some believe that the Smart-Pass should be changed, the lunches should be changed. In conclusion, the seventh graders so far enjoy North but believe that changes should be made. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections NS New Teachers Opinions Sarah Velez Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Valley Stream Central High School District New Teachers’ Opinions- What do they have to say? Here at Valley Stream North, it is crucial to provide a welcoming environment to everyone, whether we are speaking to young seventh graders, or teachers who have been here since yearbooks were printed in black and white. I got the opportunity to interview three new teachers here at Valley Stream North: Mr. Mounce, Ms. Enella, and the new head of the language department, Mrs. Gallegos. Mr. Mounce, ELL What inspired you to become a teacher? Mr. Mounce : “I think like a lot of teachers, I’ve had a lot of teachers in my life that inspired me to want to become an educator. I can think back to my high school life and a lot of teachers that I still keep in touch with, and they’ve impacted my life in ways that I would like to do for the next generation of students. I have also always had a passion for sharing things I’m interested in and teaching always seemed like a good fit for me.” Why did you choose ELL? Mr. Mounce : “So for me, I’ve always had an interest in language. Growing up, my mom spoke Greek and though I never learned to speak it, I think it made me become more interested in language and how we communicate with each other. I studied linguistics in college and my passion for language along with my interest in education made me believe that being an ELL teacher would be a great fit for me.” What has been your favorite part about working at Valley Stream North so far? Mr. Mounce : “My favorite part is the people. Everybody I’ve met has been very helpful and friendly and I can’t wait to meet even more people and make many friends along the way.” Ms. Enella, Social Studies What are your expectations for this school year? Ms. Enella: “My expectations for the school year is to continue to learn and grow in this profession and to continue to establish myself here at north, become more involved in the community and at the school.” Why did you choose History? Ms. Enella: “I chose history because I think it’s very valuable knowledge for people to have and I really want to show that to my students. It’s important to have context to be a knowledgeable person or citizen here and personally I just think it’s very interesting to see how we came from very basic beginnings and have established society thus far.” What inspired you to become a teacher? Ms. Enella: “I’d always really liked social studies, and I’ve always worked with children, so once I was thinking about college, it kind of just made sense to combine both of them. There's a lot of benefits that come with teaching, you get summers off and it’s a good stable career.” Mrs. Gallegos, World Language Dept. Chair Why did you choose World Language? Mrs. Gallegos: “I love languages, and I think it’s not just the language that I love, it’s the cultures that come with the languages. You learn the words, you learn the expressions, but you don’t really learn them until you know the culture. I just think it’s so interesting how people who move to the United States find people who also speak their same language or have their same culture, and I think what languages do, is they bring common ground. I feel like languages have a human effect that brings people together.” Is this your first teaching job? Mrs. Gallegos: “I’ve been in education for 25 years; I actually started my public-school teaching career at Memorial. It’s very cool to be back in Valley Stream because I think Valley Stream is a special place.” What inspired you to become a teacher? Mrs. Gallegos: “I had no intention of becoming a teacher. I was actually studying to become a broadcast journalist and while I was doing my internship at a TV station, I received a call from a friend of mine asking if I could teach Italian at a private elementary school because their teacher had suddenly left, and I said yes and I fell in love with teaching. And so, after I graduated, I went back to school for my master’s to get my certification to become a teacher.” North Star would like to offer a warm welcome to our new teachers! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Chalk Pastel Peppers Back to Sections Chalk Pastel Peppers- Emily Rung Emily Rung November 6, 2023 Chalk Pastel Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Advice From a Senior Sahar Ali Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 The time has finally come for many to graduate from Valley Stream North. After studying at VSN for the entirety of my middle school and high school career, I’ve picked up a load of information from experiences, both good and bad. Often feeling alone at times without guidance, I wished that I had the perspective of a student who had once been in the same or similar situations as me to gain more practical and helpful advice during middle and high school. Knowing that these 6 years are a critical time in a student’s life, here are some tips to help you get through high school in both academic and social aspects, coming from a senior. #1 : Leave your comfort zone Transitioning from elementary school to a middle school combined with high school can be a difficult adjustment. Yet this change from a smaller school to a bigger school comes with bigger opportunities. VSN offers an array of clubs and sports that allow students to express themselves and investigate their likes and dislikes. The main idea is: LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE! In my own experience, I began writing for VSN’s student newspaper, the North Star , and instantly loved it because I was able to write articles on almost any topic. If I had not left my comfort zone and refrained from even writing an article, I would not have had the opportunity to contribute to the club and even become the News section editor. Additionally, I tried out multiple sports including cross country, winter track & field, and badminton; from those experiences, I learned that I could do wonders with abilities I did not know I possessed. Looking back at my experiences, I urge you to try something new. You never know what you can do until you try. Although I know pushing yourself can be difficult at times, it opens up many opportunities. #2 : Learn how to manage your time As a student progresses through high school, the workload typically increases. With that, it becomes hard to manage sports, clubs, and academics. But knowing how important it is to make time for all aspects of school, whether it be extracurricular activities or homework, can significantly increase productivity as well as decrease stress. Based on what activities you have going on at home or at school, plan your day in the morning to know how to manage your time. One key method I used to help me manage my time was to make a list of when assignments were due and when I had certain activities. Then, whichever assignment(s) were due the earliest were the ones completed first. This method helped me manage my time in the best way possible. Additionally, any free time I had at school, whether it be a study hall, lunch, or free period, was used to complete assignments to decrease the workload when I came home after practice or a club. However, it is still always possible to face an overwhelming amount of work. Similarly, in this situation, prioritize the most important task and complete it first. Everyone is different, therefore try different techniques to manage your time! #3 : Stay on top of everything Many times, it is possible to miss out on key information regarding your schedule, courses, and grades. It is extremely important you understand what courses you need to take and what you should be doing, academically and extracurricular-wise. Do not solely rely on guidance counselors to consistently provide you with information since they have more students to assist, but they are always there if you need advice. Do not expect to be handed information easily on a platter; instead, be ready to ask for information as soon as possible! In my own experience, I realized that I had no clue as to what I was doing, mainly because I never asked anyone what steps I should be taking, especially once freshman year of high school started, and did not ask for a long period of time. Please be prepared and do not hesitate at all to talk to your guidance counselors and even teachers to have a feel about what you should be doing as each student is different and has their own paths. If I could go back and change one thing from my high school experience, I would try to gain more information about what steps I should be taking in school and outside of school to ensure I was on the right path towards my goals and to stand out as much as possible when the time came for college applications. #4 : Take challenging courses Another aspect I would change from my high school experience would be the number of AP classes I took. Not only do they help boost your overall average, but AP classes also open up a student to more information that a regents-level class does not always offer. Although AP classes aren’t for all students, there is no harm in trying a class out; you could end up liking the class! Additionally, AP classes help save students money when it comes to college. Depending on the college you choose to continue your studies at, certain AP classes and AP scores can get you credit. Most colleges take a score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam and give you credit for that class without you ever having to take it in college. Even though you pay almost $100 or more for an AP exam now, you end up saving thousands of dollars later if you score high on the exam and if your school takes the credit. Choose an AP class that interests you and do research about what credit the colleges you plan to apply to take. #5 : Surround yourself with the right people Throughout middle and high school, you will meet different people all with different personalities and make several friends. It is important that you choose to surround yourself with people who support you, make you a better person, and inspire you. There may be times when some people may hurt you, and this is an inevitable part of high school. There will be trial and error with certain friends, but all these experiences will help you understand what you value in a friend and help you with your development. #6 : Take care of yourself High school and middle school can get stressful many times. The pressure of work and eventually, when a student becomes a senior, college applications can affect a student’s mental health and often cause a load of stress and pressure. It’s okay to give yourself a break when there is a lot of pressure. Keep in mind that you’re working hard and you need to give yourself a break. Don’t let schoolwork and tests consume your mind; although they are important, remember to keep a balance between everything. Too much studying or too much work is not good; too much relaxation is also not good. When I was extremely stressed, I turned to music as it helped me calm down. Try to find something that eases your nerves as it is important to build these habits and methods to prevent stress from building up. These stress-reducing methods will help you so much in the future in college when your workload increases significantly and in life in general. Each student’s experience is different, and you will all make your own mistakes and learn from them. Remember while you work hard to also enjoy high school; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Always work hard but give yourself a break too. Since this is one of my last articles ever, my last and biggest piece of advice is to cherish the time you have had in high school. Time goes by quickly so don’t forget to make the most out of everything! BACK TO TOP