Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Anonymous - Who Am I? - 5 By Anonymous November 19, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Editorial: To Fear or Not  By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by iStock The human psyche is made up of complex structures of thoughts, actions, and emotions which make up the human conscious and unconscious. As the human psyche influences a thought, an action, and certain behavior, the emotion of fear also similarly influences the human psyche. Humans and nonhumans alike experience fear, one of our strongest and most primal emotions. Whether it be arachnophobia or pogonophobia, fear causes everyone to act a certain way when dealing with situations. Fear affects the human psyche for it influences abnormal behavior and responses from an individual. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on humans not only financially but mentally as well. Amid the outbreak, people started to panic buy and loaded up on supplies. As Americans faced the possibility of a lengthy stay at home, toilet paper demand increased dramatically and so did their fear of a supply shortage. In the face of fear, individuals turn to different behavioral patterns than normal such as panic buying. This fear influences abnormal behavior such as the unnecessary buying and overloading of toilet paper. This abnormal behavior caused by fear can also be seen in other situations such as natural disasters or storms. When the news channel broadcasts that there is going to be a superstorm or hurricane hitting a person’s town, that person and along with many will run to the nearest grocery store to load on water, bread, canned goods, etc. News channels will often show empty grocery store shelves and aisles with a single person with 3 carts full of supplies. These situations demonstrate how fear, can drive a person to do abnormal things such as load up on abnormal numbers of food and supplies. The process of fear starts with a frightening stimulus and ends with the body preparing for its own protection. There's nothing more frightening than hearing a door slam in an empty apartment, sensing a knife pressing against your neck, or for some, seeing a spider. For some people, a fear of a spider may trigger abnormal responses. For instance, a person who has arachnophobia jumps in fear as they see a spider skittering across their bedroom floor. Now, that same fear response will trigger every time the person comes into their room, fearful of that spider. The person will make sure they don’t enter that room until they are sure the spider is gone or every time, they look at their bedroom floor, they will confuse other things for the spider. Some individuals who suffer from extreme arachnophobia are so afraid of spiders that they cannot even go into their basements or garages for fear of finding one there. In order to avoid dealing with spiders, they will actually leave the house when they encounter one. This may seem abnormal to some, however, the person who suffers from this fear, has this fear not only affecting their behavior but other aspects of their psych emotions as well. Fear is an aspect of life where the human psyche can either be positively or negatively affected. The constant fear causes abnormal thoughts and behavior which can lead to negative impacts on the human mind. The psyche of an individual is very sensitive and complex and the simplest thing as fear, can affect it to major extents. 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 Camilla Jones 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 Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Depop: How I Made over $200 by Cleaning my Room By Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Alixe Wiley from the Philadelphia Magazine Have you ever stumbled across a YouTube video or Tiktok listing easy ways for teens to earn some extra cash? If so, you have probably heard the vague suggestion to “sell your old junk online!” Although this may seem like an outlandish task, selling your preowned (or as the thrift community says, “preloved”) items can be a fun and useful way to spend your free time. A few years ago, a good friend of mine told me about how she sold a bunch of her old clothes on a new app called Depop, which is like a trendy Ebay for teens. I was fascinated because I didn’t think people wanted stuff from a teen’s closet, let alone wanted to pay for it. Hesitant, I downloaded the app and checked out her page; I was shocked to see that she had sold over 20 items! Impressed, yet very busy with my million after school clubs, her success sat in my mind for about 1 ½ years. Then quarantine hit. I was longing for a purpose (other than sitting on the couch, chocolate in hand, and binge-watching Parks and Rec ). That’s when I decided to redo by room, and subsequently find a new home for some of my old items. The first few weeks of running my account was intimidating. I spent hours sorting through my closet and drawers for inventory, creating listings, and designing my store. Weeks went by and I was disappointed to see only a few measly likes; I felt like giving up but figured it didn’t hurt to keep trying for a final week. A few days later, I was shocked to see that I had sold one of my extra Broadway Playbills! One of my friends surprised me, and I was so thankful she was my first customer, especially since I didn’t think my Playbills would sell. The next day, I sold another Playbill, and the next day 2 more! From there, I’ve averaged about 1-2 sales per week, leaving me with 30 total sales and over $250 in earnings. If you are interested, I would love to share a few tips that helped me reach this success. Update your listings - In the height of this venture, I was updating every listing 1-2 times a day. This was around the same time I was averaging 3 sales a week. The more often you update, the more likely you are to have your items recommended to potential buyers. Learn how to use hashtags - This is outlined on the Depop help section, but it can be confusing if you don’t know where to start. Just like on Instagram, hashtags put you in specific section pertaining to your item. Using a mix of specific and basic hashtags can get you the most exposure, since the basics will give you a range (but you will be flooded by other listings) and the specifics will fit a niche (but will have fewer hashtag followers). List EVERYTHING (Even if you think it’s weird!) - You would be surprised by the amount of seemingly stupid junk I have sold - like the Playbills I mentioned earlier. As a musical nerd, I always grab the extra playbills left on chairs when I go to shows; sometimes I give them to friends, and sometimes I put them in a drawer. The majority of my sales have been from these! I also sold a rock/gem kit that I got as a kid for $50! I’m no geologist so I don’t know if I undersold, but at the same time I don’t care since I needed the closet space. Take good pictures- This one is self-explanatory- have good lighting, make a nice background, etc. BE YOU!- A lot of buyers value personality when making a purchase. If you don’t seem excited about your items, who will be? Have fun with your descriptions and make sure to include some fun facts or tidbits (ex: I wore this dress to my junior homecoming!) Hope you enjoyed and were able to learn a bit more about online sales! And if you would like to check me out or chat with me for more tips, my Depop account is @oliviaanalee 😊 BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Tied to Tye Dye: SPO Noa Cordova Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Catherine Modzelewski. As most of us remember, transitioning from elementary school to high school upon graduating 6th grade poses challenges. The transition from 6th grade to 7th grade comes with a significant change in terms of environment, independence, friendships, activities, and academic expectations. Some students are fortunate enough to have the guidance of older siblings or peers, but many incoming 7th-grade students do not; even 7th-grade students who do, may feel they need additional guidance. Upon entering a new stage, in this case starting secondary-level schooling, having an older figure or mentor to look up to can ease the transition process. The Student Peer Organization here at North, SPO, has the unique opportunity of serving as a mentorship program for 7th graders. While North’s clubs consist of students of all grade levels, SPO members are juniors and seniors dedicated to working closely with 7th graders exclusively. Each spring, current SPO members enter sophomore English classrooms to introduce SPO to the upcoming juniors and briefly explain the application process. If you’re an upcoming junior or senior, and considering applying to join SPO, these are some questions to consider. What are the responsibilities of SPO members? SPO members are responsible for attending meetings, planning lessons, and serving as exceptional role models for 7th graders. SPO meets on Fridays immediately after school in room 235. Mrs. Melluso and Ms. Christiansen, the SPO advisors, keep the meetings brief; however, these mandatory meetings are essential to our lesson-planning process. During Friday meetings, members discuss lesson plans with their group and divide the work so that lessons run smoothly. Besides attending meetings, SPO members are responsible for planning engaging lessons for 7th-grade students. At the Friday meetings, the advisors provide a lesson outline that each group can work with or alter to fit the needs of their 7th-grade students. SPO groups decide on interactive components for their lessons like Kahoots, worksheets, coloring activities, physical games, etc. The 7th-grade orientation and 7th-grade Fun Day are two out-of-the-classroom activities that SPO members help lead. Most importantly, SPO members are role models for 7th-grade students, academically and socially; this includes working well with your SPO group and respecting the 7th-grade teachers, and students while running lessons. How are SPO groups made? The SPO advisors, Mrs. Melluso and Ms. Christiansen assign SPO groups at the beginning of the school year. In September, once you know which classes you are taking, the advisors send out chats asking which periods you do not want to be pulled out from. If you are taking several APs, like many SPO members, try narrowing it down to one you’d like to avoid missing. SPO groups are assigned depending on the members’ available periods and 7th-grade English teachers’ schedules. If you speak a second language, you will likely be placed in an ENL classroom. Usually, SPO groups consist of four to five members; the advisors set up Teams chats for each group to communicate with outside of Friday meetings. What’s the process for joining SPO? SPO comprises about 50 members selected through an application and interview process. After current SPO members enter the sophomore classrooms during the spring, the advisors will send out a form to the English teachers for interested students to apply. The forms ask about your interest in SPO, availability for the upcoming year, leadership experience, etc. After filling out the form, Mrs. Melluso will have a sign-up sheet for interviews in room 235. Applicants schedule their interviews based on their availability during the dates provided. The interview questions mimic the application questions and give the advisors a sense of who you are in person, apart from the digital application. Additionally, the advisors typically ask for two teachers to vouge for your character, so keep two teachers in mind who know you well and are willing to serve as a character reference. Be sure to hand in your application on time and show up to your scheduled interview to be considered as a candidate! Why join SPO? The Student Peer Organization provides upperclassmen with the unique opportunity to assume the role of teachers for a period. The club encourages student leadership, facilitates collaboration among peers, and provides a space to work with a diverse group of people. And yes, SPO may stand out on a college application, but it’s about more than how you look on paper. As a SPO member, I’ve gotten to meet and collaborate with new people that I may not have gotten to work with otherwise. You learn and grow in your leadership as you surround yourself with other phenomenal leaders in SPO. The 7th graders, although they can be a handful, teach us a lot about patience and compassion. If you’re considering going into teaching or enjoy working with others and strengthening your leadership skills, SPO could be the organization for you. Additionally, we have, arguably, the best, loudest shirts in the building. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with one of our wonderful SPO advisors, Mrs. Melluso, about the club and her perspective as an advisor. Additionally, she provides a little insight into how they review candidates. How did SPO start?  “SPO existed for I don’t even know how long before I got here. Ms. Ehrlich, a school social worker, retired in 2021 and Ms. Christensen and I took it over.” Why did you become a SPO advisor? Ms. Melluso shared that she insisted that SPO needed to continue running, but she couldn’t do it on her own, so she recruited Ms. Christiansen, a school psychologist, as her co-advisor. “Because I feel that the lessons that SPO goes in and teaches are important for the 7th graders to receive. We used to do a lot of lessons on bullying, we did lessons on how one's actions have a ripple effect and how it’s not just in that moment, but it can hurt or make someone feel better for days or weeks.” What is SPO’s purpose in the North community? “SPO’s real purpose is to help acclimate the 7th graders into our building. They [SPO members] are here as role models, they are here as guides…they are here to be mentors.” What kind of candidates do you look for during the interview process? What kind of students should apply to SPO? “It’s a big question because the thing is we don’t go in with a set candidate in mind. We want our incoming SPO members to be from across the board. We are not looking for the already popular, already athletic, already in these other activities kind of student; we actually look for the student that is underutilized because it's very difficult when you have a student who is in 10 clubs already, is vice president of this one, president of that one…they become very overextended. We’re not looking for the student who is taking 5-6 Aps; we don’t care if you’re taking APs or not. Sometimes when kids tell us they are not taking APs, we’re shocked because we don’t get those kids very often. We’re looking for anybody who has an interest in making our school a better place and wants to work with 7th graders and mentor them. We’re not looking for “resume-builders” … if you’ve never been in a club before, SPO is not the club for you. Essentially, Mrs. Melluso and Ms. Christiansen look to organize a diverse, dedicated group of student leaders. Whether you are heavily involved or not, SPO could be the club for you. Diversity in terms of extracurricular involvement, academic pathways, and identity are important to SPO. 7th-grade students need to have role models they can relate to; younger boys seeing older boys leading or bilingual students mentoring ENL students can have a profound impact on their school experience and willingness to get involved throughout high school. I would advise against hesitating to apply because you “do not meet certain criteria” because as Mrs. Melluso established, it does not exist. Lastly, congratulations to our newly accepted SPO members for the 2024-2025 school year! Azor, Alissa Balde, Mariam Berrios-Villalobos, Maria Bonilla, Francesca Buonomo, Karen Cabrera, Daniella Cordova, Mia Dekel, Julianna Frederique, Lia Garufi, Sabrina Gonzalez, Naomi Hunt, Matthew Kaur, Itratt Khizer, Wardah Lavoie, Audrey Manrique-Flores, Dulce Mina, Leandra Nunnari, Alessia Quagliata, Giavanna Redezpovic, Maida Romano, James Sherman, Claudia Singh, Reba Sullivan, Savannah Verso, Dominick Visnay, Alianiz BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Advice Season 2 Episode 2 By Ala Paruch Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Getty Images Hello Ala! I’m finding it hard to organize my school papers this year because of the mix of online and on paper work. What should I do? Dear reader, Thank you for asking this question. The 2021/22 school year definitely has some challenges ahead, and you just pointed out one of them. Personally, I relate to this question as well. The mix of mediums can present obstacles, but with a little organization, your papers will start to make sense once again. Paper Of course, we are used to shoving our papers into our binders, which later end up in our lockers and then in our bookbags. Since you mentioned you still get some papers, I would recommend sticking with the old method of am-pm binders or using binder pocket dividers. When everything was on paper, an am-pm binder might have been a great solution to not carry too much throughout the day, but with not all classes using paper, that might not be the most efficient idea. Using binder pocket dividers though presents itself as the more attractive option in today’s times. I recommend buying a 1-1.5-inch binder, depending on how much paper you use, and using it for all paper classes. After getting the binder, make sure to label or assign a specific color to each class. Make sure to carry a few pieces of loose-leaf paper in each divider as well and clean out the divider after finishing every unit. Online This is a presumably new situation, though most students already have a lot of experience with technology. Regarding Teams, make sure to use the Assignments tab; at the end of the day, check whether you have any assignments left to complete. Additionally, check that you can see notifications from all teams to stay on top of your assignments. As for OneNote, you get a bit of a head start since you have a folder for each class and your teachers create folders for you. Don’t be shy to create new folders in your section and make subpages to make units more organized. If you ever need help with getting either OneNote or Teams to work, ask one of your classmates or teachers, they will be more than willing to help you to keep your files in order. Homework Now, there are two options for keeping track of your homework - online or on paper. Personally, I am used to writing my assignments and important events in my agenda book, so that’s what I would recommend. Ask an English teacher if you need or would like an agenda book. No matter if you have your laptop out or not you can quickly open your agenda and jot down some notes to remember for later. You can also use an online calendar and note everything there, though in my opinion, it can be problematic to use one, since you need to have your device out to make your notes in it. I hope this helps! Ala BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections MSA's Annual Eid Festival Wardah Khizer Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 Image Provided by Afaf Aswad Valley Stream North’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) became an official club during the 2024–2025 school year, although it first began forming the previous year. During last year, the MSA hosted their first Eid Festival, with hopes of making it an annual tradition. This event was made possible thanks to generous donations from members, who contributed decorations, ideas, and other resources. The festival received strong support and appreciation from both Valley Stream North staff and the broader Valley Stream Central High School District staff. During the school year of 2024-2025, several changes were made to the MSA. Now recognized as an official club, they have gained the ability to raise funds. With that support, they were able to upgrade their Eid Festival by purchasing better decorations, catering food from local halal restaurants (while still accepting donations), buying prizes for games, and offering henna designs. The turnout was larger than expected, with around 60 to 70 people in attendance. Thanks to the combination of catering and contributions from members, a wide variety of food was offered, and it was clear that everyone was eager to try it and have fun. Co-Presidents Afaf Aswad and Anum Zafar, along with Vice President Mariam Balde, worked hard, alongside the other dedicated officers and club advisor, Mr. Disclafani, to make the festival a success. This event was of great personal importance to them, as they wanted it to have a positive impact on the school community. Balde stated, “ I hope that the Eid party encourages the other organizations at our school to be even more outspoken about their mission to provide community for us students and to host similar events to bring students, faculty, and parents together.” Aswad stated that celebrations such as the Eid Festival are necessary, explaining that “[r]ecognizing holidays fosters inclusion, respect, and a sense of belonging among students from various backgrounds, which affirms students' identities and promotes cultural understanding.” Events like these provide students with the opportunity to share parts of their culture and religion that may not always be represented in mainstream school activities. By highlighting important traditions like Eid, the MSA creates a welcoming environment where students feel seen and valued for who they are. Balde agreed and added that schools that haven’t hosted cultural events like this should consider doing so because, “It is so incredibly important for students of similar [and different] backgrounds...to be exposed to events like this, as it encourages the celebration of diversity and educates them about different customs.” She emphasizes that cultural events not only support students who identify with a particular tradition but also create learning opportunities for those unfamiliar with it. By engaging in these celebrations, students and staff alike are given a chance to grow in empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the diverse community around them. Full Interview with President Afaf Aswad and Vice President Mariam Balde: Why is it important for schools to acknowledge and celebrate diverse religious and cultural holidays like Eid? Aswad: “Schools must acknowledge and celebrate diverse religious and cultural holidays, such as Eid. Recognizing holidays fosters inclusion, respect, and a sense of belonging among students from various backgrounds, which affirms students' identities and promotes cultural understanding. Schools that celebrate a variety of holidays demonstrate the importance of diversity and respect, which are essential to education.” How do you hope the Eid party influences future events or programs around diversity at school? Balde: “Our school is already so diverse. We have multiple clubs and student-oriented activities, including the BSU, Alliance, and Culture Society, that all demonstrate the importance of community and visibility. I hope that the Eid party encourages the other organizations at our school to be even more outspoken about their mission to provide community for us students and to host similar events to bring students, faculty, and parents together.” What would you say to schools that have not yet hosted cultural or religious events like this? Balde: “To schools that have yet to host cultural or religious events like this, I would encourage them to start. It is so incredibly important for students of similar backgrounds to be able to gather outside of school and equally important for students other cultural or religious backgrounds to be exposed to events like this as to encourage the celebration of diversity and educate them about different customs.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Click Click By Zoie James Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by Getty Images Click, click. I sit at my desk and log into my laptop. School starts in five minutes, but there’s no need to rush in the comfort of my own home. Click, click. I look at the time: 8:00 am. Time for first period. Click, click. Both my hands type the notes on the screen, although my eyes fight to stay open; my brain struggles to think; my body jitters; it can no longer stay still. The school day drags on, so why does time fly when I have a test? Click, click. I hastily turn in my assignment, feeling the stress grow inside me. It eats away at me As I click and click and click and click on the keyboard. At last, the school day ends. I shut my laptop, sigh, and head outside to watch the bright, fluffy clouds before I click, click and click on my computer once more. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections EA's FIFA By Habib Rattani Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Play Station EA Sports produces FIFA every year around the end of each year. The game is usually a hit or miss, and the quality of the game has decreased by a lot over the last few years. The last game they made which was considered fun was FIFA 17. Since then, the creators have gotten lazy due to lack of competition and they don’t seem to add anything new to the game knowing fans will still purchase it. I grew up playing soccer, so I drifted towards liking this game. FIFA used to be so much fun and such a good game, but the last few years it just brings annoyance and disappointment due to the lack of creativity. Some of the pros of the product are that it looks very realistic and produces a real feel as if you're in the game. There is one game mode called Ultimate Team which brings in most of the revenue and attention. It's a game mode where you can build your best team, based on the chemistry involved, and play with legends from the past as well as compete online for prizes. The game has turned from a pleasurable experience to the game becoming lackluster. Some cons are how the game doesn't seem like a game anymore and nothing new is ever added due to no competition. Some of the best examples for the game could be FORTNITE and NBA2k. All these games are similar in the idea that they have no competition, so creators don't add much of anything new; they have certain game modes that bring in the most revenue. All these games are very popular, but more effort could be put into any of them instead of just updating players and selling the new year’s version. I often reminisce about how good it used to be and how many memories I created from it. The game has become too dull and I don’t enjoy it as much anymore. Due to the reputation of the brand, players continue to buy the game due to promises being made by the company which go unfulfilled. Many others seem to agree with me on this topic. Other players feel like EA could make the game so much better if they put the effort in and they could make something very special. I used to love playing FIFA, but now I gravitate away from it due to the rage it causes. There are many issues and broken glitches in the game which makes it so annoying to play. If the company put in effort, the outcome could be so different. FIFA used to serve as my favorite game. I used to watch YouTube, talk about it, and play it. All in all, I loved FIFA. The game used to bring so much joy, even when I got angry with the experiences it brought playing against my friends, which are unforgettable. However, recently my opinion has switched, and my current favorite game is NBA2k. It brings around the same experience, but the competitive anger I feel is a fun type of excitement. The game isn't very good, but it is fun to play and reminds me of the experiences FIFA brought. I would recommend this game, but the servers are not the greatest. Quite honestly, they are horrible, but at this point anything is better than FIFA. FIFA could produce a masterclass in sporting games if they put in the time and effort. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections A New Benefit for Poop By Cody Sung Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Clevland Health Clinic Scientists have found a new benefit for poop. According to the New York Post, a company named Fitbiomics is making poop pills under the name Nella . According to their website, the pills focus on improving your gut’s microbiome, the bacteria that lives in your digestive tract. The pills contain bacteria from the guts of professional athletes that can improve performance. The bacteria is extracted from their poop. According to the New York Post, one person who tried it, a man named Steve Gallagher, was able to work out 40% longer and with more intensity. On Nella’s website, there are comments from other professional athletes praising the pills for improving their performance. Here is how the pill was created, and how science may not back it up at all. The CEO of Fitbiomics, Dr. Jonathan Scheiman, said he started off as a basketball player who had a dream of being in the NBA. He did not make it, and so turned to studying biomedicine and got a PHD in the subject area. He wanted to know how superstar athletes stood out, and Scheiman went down the path of gut microbes. In 2015 he started going around Boston, where he resided, and began collecting poop samples from 15 elite runners training for the Boston Marathon, as well as ordinary people. Scheiman found out that in the runners, there was more of the bacterium Veillonella atypica than in the ordinary people. To see if the bacteria made any difference, Scheiman put two groups of lab mice on treadmills. One group was given the bacteria while the other was not. The Veillonella-assisted group ran 13% longer than the group not given the bacteria. Scheiman though he had found it. So, does science say if it actually works? It’s not entirely clear. Despite the performance increase shown by Scheiman, according to the New York Times and NPR, there are other factors to consider involving this topic. Veillonella may work differently in people who are not physically active, including the possibility of dying instantly. The research also did not analyze whether the baseline levels of the bacteria made racers finish the marathon quicker or whether it was the effect of a higher concentration of lactate, which Veillonella eats. Finally, the 13% longer endurance benefit may not even end up scaling to humans. However, scientists are still not sure whether the factors mentioned before actually play a key role in whether these poop pills work or not. So, we will not know if these poop pills actually work until more evidence is found. BACK TO TOP