Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Words But Prettier By Elaine Ching November 19, 2021 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Meet VSN’s New Principal: Dr. Robin Small By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Original photography by Christy Mansfield FRANKLIN SQUARE - Dr. Robin Small has been a prominent part of the Valley Stream North community since her appointment as a Special Education Teacher over a decade ago. Earning her Doctorate in Education (Executive Leadership) in 2021, Dr. Small enters her 15th year in our school as Interim Principal. The recent administrative opening presented an opportunity for Dr. Small to continue to advance her leadership role in the school and the community. For the last three years, Small was North’s Assistant Principal of Pupil Personnel Services and served as Special Education Department Chairperson for the five years prior. Overseeing approximately 1400 students, Dr. Small is tasked with leading a school with a recent history of administrative turnover, with five principals in eight years, and entering its third academic year facing COVID restrictions. Nevertheless, her background at North is an advantage. “[As a principal] you have to know your audience and who the students are,” she says. “I think me being here for 14 years, I already know where these students come from in a sense; I know the community because I live in the community.” Dr. Small expressed her desire to practice the Culturally Responsive Teaching strategy. By definition, this is a “research-based approach to teaching. It connects students’ cultures, languages, and life experiences with what they learn in school.” She is encouraging and guiding the use of Culturally Responsive Teaching with the faculty. “[It allows teachers]to get to know their students [and] engage them (students) in what they like,” she said, and added “I want to give some control to students of what they’re learning about.” With all students being back in person this year, she is looking forward to talking directly to students to find out what they want to get out of this year. Acknowledging there are opportunities to improve our school, she says with that, the dynamic within the building could benefit from being adjusted. When asked about her leadership technique, she shared, “I’m strict, but approachable. I know there are rules, and everything falls under me, and I want to make sure we set up students accordingly for the future because if we don’t have structure, how does that set someone up to go into the world?” With this emphasis on structure in her administrative style, discipline has become a greater priority. As a practice, Dr. Small refers to North students as “scholars.” The word scholar for her holds a higher, stronger level of responsibility and pride. “Students need to have more pride in who they are and carry themselves as such and that’s why scholars is a much more fitting word. I think highly of everyone, so I used that term so they can also think highly of themselves, build confidence and feel they can do anything they want in life,” she explained. Our interim principal is a big believer in educating the whole student, and not solely in academic studies. She discussed the idea of “soft skills” within students. “[We tend to lose] certain behaviors as human beings because of the technological world we live in.” Rules such as the dress code, I.D cards being worn around a student’s neck, proper masking, and prohibiting the use of AirPods®/headphones in the hallways will be implemented in an effort to prepare students for their future. As she looks ahead to this year’s graduating class, she looks forward to working closely with the Grade Council and Senior High Student Council. "[I’m determined] to make this senior [year] as exciting and as memorable as possible, considering we are still wearing masks,” she emphasizes. “I am open to hearing what students want for themselves and for their senior class. I do not want them to think that they are ‘covid seniors.’” With desperation among students and staff to return to normalcy, Dr. Small’s administration will look to work closely with staff and students. “I’d like to think I can ride out my career being a principal. A principal holds so much responsibility, and it’s not for everyone. As an educator, we touch our students who go out, and they can get anywhere in the world, and that’s a heavy responsibility that I do not take lightly.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections North Welcomes Mr. Loiseau Noa Cordova Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Noa Cordova On October 10th, I had the pleasure of interviewing our new assistant principal, Mr. Loiseau ( lwa-zo ) to learn about his experiences and professional journey. Mr. Loiseau’s educational background consists of Nassau Community College, Queens College, Touro University, and Saint Rose College. He initially pursued a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, later received his master’s in special education, and finally pursued an administrative license on his way to becoming an assistant principal. Mr. Loiseau shared his diverse occupational background; he worked for QSAC, a non-profit organization helping children with disabilities. Early on, he was a paraprofessional at It Takes A Village Academy in Brooklyn, he taught high school math, worked as a school dean, and served as a Restorative Justice coordinator before accepting the opportunity to work at North. Mr. Loiseau believes his versatile professional background developed a sense of affinity with teachers. He shared, “I feel that I understand teachers because I’ve sat in their classrooms, and when they talk about certain things, it’s not going over my head.” What inspired you to become assistant principal? Mr. Loiseau: “I didn’t have aspirations to become an assistant principal; people saw certain qualities within me and put the idea in my head. Thinking about it, the idea started to grow on me. I also had a passion for helping teachers as well, so those two things pushed me into [administration].” What do you believe your role as Assistant Principal entails? Mr. Loiseau: “One of my main jobs will be managing the master schedule, so pretty much programming the [classes] for teachers and students. I have to do discipline primarily with the 7th graders and observe teachers.” What were you like as a student in high school? Mr. Loiseau: “I hated school, ironically, because I always struggled because I had a learning disability. My parents found out late because they weren’t born here, they were born in Haiti, so they didn’t really know the culture or system here, and my siblings were doing great. Eventually, someone told my mom to have me tested and I was diagnosed with a mild case of dyslexia. I think in high school, things started to get better for me; I started reading the Bible more, and reading more in general helped me. I was on the basketball team for a while in high school…that’s my love… my favorite team is the Knicks. I was a good kid, I never got into any fights, and I was the guy that could fit into any different social circle. I was laidback and liked video games and anime.” Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of school you'd like to share? Mr. Loiseau: “Still to this day I watch anime…I would always talk to my students to find out what the latest anime they could put me on was. I also work with a non-profit organization that’s affiliated with the church, helping young people...it’s called Blessing Source ministries.” What advice would you give to high school students looking to make the most of their high school experience? Mr. Loiseau: “I would say take advantage of every opportunity the school gives you. That's something I regret I didn’t do. For example, I should’ve joined the track team because I was athletic and fast, I should’ve joined tennis because there aren’t many Black American tennis players and could’ve gotten a scholarship doing that. Take advantage of every opportunity because it’s going to go by fast, and you don’t want to have any regrets. Make sure you try different things and make good friends. There’s so much more to high school then just academics because by involving yourself in the school, you’ll get more out of high school.” NORTH STAR would like to officially welcome Mr. Loiseau and thank him for speaking with us. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Junior spends summer in VietNam By Stephy Varughese Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Hotels.com For summer vacation,11th-grade student and North Star/Polaris member, Catherine Duong, traveled to Southern Vietnam for two months to visit her family. Catherine was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Southern Vietnam. Her ethnic background is of both Chinese and Vietnamese descent. Health and safety concerns forced her family to move from Southern Vietnam to the US when she was two. I interviewed Catherine to discover more about her visit to Vietnam and to learn more about her recent experience there. --- Why did you go to Vietnam? Whom did you go with? "I went to Vietnam to reconnect with my mom's side of the family after a few years since I've traveled due to COVID. I went with my younger sibling and my mom for the two-month vacation." What was the terrain like? "Vietnam's general terrain is mountainous and mostly jungle." What sites did you see? What were your favorite spots? "I didn't go sightseeing this year, but I've encountered a lot of large religious temples and some mountains!" Where did you stay? "I stayed at my grandma and grandpa's house, having three floors in total." What did you do? "During my vacation, I have mainly spent good quality time with my mom's family, having one grandma/grandpa, four cousins, and four aunts and uncles. We visited the beachside in Vung Tau, Vietnam, going on a yacht ride, to the HUGE malls, and simply playing board/card games." How was the food there? Are there any special dishes? "The food in Vietnam commonly has some spicy flavor, whether it's Sriracha sauce or peppers at the side or incorporated. Vietnam also is somewhat known to use the freshest ingredients to make their dishes by buying from outdoor/night markets that have the animal still alive. Dishes like Pho and Banh Mi (baguettes) are some dish examples that are famously known and enjoyed across the world!" What surprised you about Vietnam? Did you learn anything new while you were there? "I'm surprised that I didn't know this at the start, but one thing I've noticed is that in EVERY house/store you come across, there will be at least one small Buddhist shrine. Vietnam's main religion is Buddhism, and based on that observation, I can assume they are semi-religious or fully." Are there any celebrations/traditions you were part of while in Vietnam? "There was one! It was where I was at the yacht party for a family member's birthday, and that was a fun time for sure. A personal tradition my family would do is they would have a full family feast once in a while at a fancy restaurant." Was there a language barrier? "Between my family, there is barely a language barrier since most of my family knows how to speak English or understood the basics, but between strangers? Yes, there was. The problem I have was to speak back in Vietnamese (which I didn't study much of) in order for me to communicate to them, but I've been relying on my mom for translating and communication." What do you dislike about Vietnam?  "I will say that how Americans view Vietnam is what I dislike since the Vietnam War has been seen to be some kind of joke (the "Vietnam flashback") and how communism restricts citizens/foreigners from [discuss]ing certain topics. I've tried talking to my family about communism, which made them very uncomfortable." What do you want people to know about Vietnam? "I want people to know that between Vietnam and the USA's inflation rate is VERY high. Having one dollar is equal to about 23,865 Vietnamese Dollars (VND)! Even a penny is worth a lot in Vietnam, which citizens in the US have the upper hand with the economy." Do you recommend people to visit Vietnam? "Since I've only been to Southern Vietnam of Ho Chi Minh City, I can recommend people visiting there! Just be sure to bring LOADS of sunscreen and swim gear since Vietnam is known for its humid weather and wet/dry seasons. If you are a person who loves to go out to shop, whether it be day or night and explore, then Vietnam will be a perfect place for you! " -------- It was interesting to learn about Vietnam from Catherine. There were things I didn't know about Vietnam, such as its many Buddhist temples and the different foods there! I was fortunate to view the many fascinating pictures she shared with me, which leads me to believe that Vietnam is now a beautiful place to discover and enjoy. It’s truly a wonderful place to explore. If Vietnam seems like a place you'd want to visit, put it on your bucket list for your next vacation! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections For what is fear, if fear cannot kill? Jasmine Roberts Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 Are you scared of the dark, my child? Do shadows twist when you walk into a room? Does the howl of wolves signify your doom? Outside of this rickety old witch’s den, it is wild. The night looms over dunes of forests and sapphire hues of rivers that twist and turn like a labyrinth to nowhere at all, expect up to Heaven and over the Moon. Stay here within my arms young one, within these bat-caped arms. I cling ever so tightly and constrict your forever trembling heart, my little boa. The only thing to fear under my cape of crushed night is the spine-twisting images which are conjured up when you stare into its abyss and realize something’s not quite right. The nightingale sings inside or out of its silver-plated cage. The owls chatter, and the crows plot murder. Stay here tiny one, you smell of ozone and the rot of Hallow Eve’s pumpkins. Your tiny sighs blow a storm into my forever open eyes; they can never be shut. One must be vigilant when crickets grow hush, and the autumn leaves can no longer blush. You are scared of the large animal prints within darkened, mucky dirt, the snap of twigs, and the gust of Banshees calling their husbands from war. If you must know, those million twinkling stars in the dark are simply angels ready to bargain a red cherry lollipop for your soul. The gurgle of blood within a dying man’s throat is the work of a demon not even the devil can hold. The fairies want your teeth, and the elves want your toes, the Jinn want your birthday wishes, the gorgons want your drying skin, the Graeae want your eyes, and descending from Japan, Yokai are hidden behind your demise. So come inside my child, all this talking and my fangs have gone dull. Walk this way my child down the twisted corridor which connects to both left and right, but never before or after, or past or present, only day and night. Open your door and enter inside. Two one eyed ravens beg for you to leave Nevermore from the door and have a very good night. Goodnight my child, your skin now-striped black and white by moonlight. Goodnight, my child, and forever there will be a very good night. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Just Dance! By Ismaela Andre Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by Ubisoft Have you heard of Just Dance ? This is a kid-friendly video game that you can use to dance with family and friends. There are many editions to choose from since a new version is released each year. Each version comes with about 40 different tracks with the hottest songs at the time of their release. With the new Just Dance Unlimited service, though, you can gain access to hundreds of songs from the existing Just Dance catalogue! Just Dance Unlimited is a monthly/yearly plan that gives you access to the newest and old songs of Just Dance . The product is available on all latest game consoles, as well as the PS4 and Xbox One. This product is rated E for Everyone and can be bought on Amazon, the J ust Dance website, or on your console. Now go and have fun dancing with family and friends! (Visit https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/just-dance/2021 to learn more) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Senior Send-Off: Class of 2024 North Star Editorial Staff Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Images Provided by Elaine Ching In almost every North High School extracurricular activity, seniors and upperclassmen always develop strong bonds with younger generations. The North Star/ Polaris: The Creative Literary Magazine is no exception to that rule. Throughout our shared time in the club, the 2024-2025 editors for the North Star and Polaris have learned so much from our graduating members! The 2024-2025 North Star/ Polaris Editorial Team wanted to thank our Class of 2024 members for all the contributions they’ve made to our publication. Below are some messages for our graduating seniors that we hope shows just how much we appreciate them: Jeselys Vazquez “Jeselys, your feature articles always managed to shine a bright light on the best parts of North. Thank you for highlighting every part of our community. From North staff to SADD events, you always managed to bring attention to every bit and piece of North. Best of luck at John Jay!” Ismaela Andre “Ismaela, your scientific and curious mind resulted in amazing accomplishments, but it also gave us some amazing Feature articles. You always made amazing contributions to our publication, and we’ll miss reading your articles. Best of luck at the University of Connecticut!” Catherine Duong “Catherine, your creative contributions to Polaris helped make the Creative Literary Magazine into what it is today. We hope your love of creative story writing continues to grow and develop in the future. We wish you the best of luck in the future!” Cody Sung “Cody, you were our brightest and youngest editor! From your Science articles to your Feature articles, your articles were always full of fascinating facts and compelling journalistic integrity. We wish you the best of luck at New York University!” The North Star/ Polaris Editorial Team wishes North’s Class of 2024 health and prosperity as they enter the next chapter of their lives. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections My Costume By Katherine Cevada October 8, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 1

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Movies to Watch this Halloween Hydrangea, Staff Writer Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Depositphotos Halloween is upon us once again, and with it comes the desire to watch horror films—or just something a little creepy! If you are looking for something to watch this Halloween, this article contains eight movies; whether you’re looking for something a little more fun, or you’re a horror fanatic, I hope I’ll be able to give you something new to watch or reintroduce you to an old favorite! (DISCLAIMER: Not every film on here is suitable for all students, especially younger ones. Even those with PG or PG-13 ratings may contain content that can be inappropriate for some.) Wendell and Wild (2022, dir. Henry Selick; PG-13) When Kat Elliot, an orphaned teenager with mysterious powers attending a Catholic school, summons demon brothers Wendell and Wild after they promise they will resurrect her parents. Kat, her classmate, a teacher with similar powers, and a demon-hunting janitor are pulled into an adventure full of zombies, cover-ups, punk rock, and criticism of the American prison system. While not quite scary, Henry Selick’s latest film, featuring the ever-hilarious Key and Peele duo, is a fun one to watch this month. Beetlejuice (1988, dir. Tim Burton; PG leaning PG-13) After a car accident, a young couple finds themselves stuck as ghosts haunting their own house. When unbearable new tenants and their mysterious daughter move in, they do everything in their power to try to scare them out—attracting a self-proclaimed “bio-exorcist” named Beetlejuice who causes even more trouble. More funny than scary, this is a great film to watch if you just want to get in the Halloween spirit! Coraline (2009, dir. Henry Selick; PG) Based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, this stop-motion animated movie follows a girl named Coraline and her discovery of another world that seems so much better than her own…that is, until its version of her family tries to keep her there forever! Admittedly, I’ve never finished this film, but I still think it’s an amazing movie that anyone who loves stop-motion animation should check out. Scream (1996, dir. Wes Craven; R) In this classic slasher, a girl named Sidney Prescott and her friends, cross paths with a masked killer terrorizing their town. This movie, full of twists and self-aware humor, is a must-watch for any newcomer to horror. M3GAN (2022, dir. Gerard Johnstone; PG-13) A sci-fi and horror mashup for the ages, this movie tells the story of M3GAN, a life-like robot programmed to be the perfect companion for children. When its inventor unexpectedly gains custody of her young niece, she uses the robot for assistance—but things get violent when it starts attacking anything it deems a threat to the girl. The Conjuring (2013, dir. James Wan; R) Moving is always a stressful event, but at least you’ll probably never be as unlucky as the Perrons, who find themselves haunted by an evil spirit in their new house. This film kickstarted a franchise that is still going strong today—a spin-off, The Nun II , just hit theatres back in September. IT (2017, dir. Andy Muschietti; R) Based on the classic Stephen King novel, a group of kids are terrorized by a demon who feeds off fear and have to overcome their various fears in order to defeat it. This movie follows the first half of the novel, while the second half is adapted into a sequel. Carrie (1976, Dir. Brian De Palma; R) Another Stephen King adaptation, this film follows Carrie White, a shy teenager bullied relentlessly at school and abused by her ultra-religious mother, who discovers that she has psychic powers. Things begin looking up for her when she is asked to prom by a popular boy and is even crowned Prom Queen—but when one final prank is played on her, things go terribly wrong. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Kobe Bryant’s Lasting Legacy By Alain Deen Volume 1 Issue 1 November 1, 2020 Image provided by NBC News On January 26th, 2020, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna unfortunately passed away in a helicopter crash. Seven others also passed away: Gianna’s basketball teammates, their parents, coaches and pilot, Ara Zobayan. Kobe Bryant’s passing left the world in shock, primarily due to his heavy influence on basketball and society as a whole. Bryant certainly left a lasting legacy to the world, one which will be remembered for generations to come. Kobe Bryant entered the NBA soon after high school, to then lead a successful 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, won five NBA championships, and Kobe was a two-time NBA finals MVP. On top of that, Kobe was the 2008 NBA most valuable player, and a two-time scoring champion in 2006 and 2007. Although his remarkable statistics classify him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kobe did not let his statistics define who he was. Bryant had multiple interests besides basketball. He enjoyed watching soccer (“football” in Europe) and was a fan of FC Barcelona. Kobe was also friends with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. Kobe also founded the Mamba Sports Academy, where many young athletes developed their skills using Kobe’s winner mindset. After retirement from the NBA, Kobe Bryant focused on being a good father to his children, raising them to be successful young women. Kobe also wrote several children's books, as well as a short film. Kobe’s drive toward versatility emphasizes that he was much more than just a basketball player. That same short film, “Dear Basketball” went on to win an Academy Award in 2018, breaking boundaries. In the film, Kobe told of his early roots which developed his love for basketball. He explained his mentality, as well as his mindset which pushed him to strive for more. Kobe’s message and drive inspired many current NBA players, like Lebron James. As for Kobe’s daughter Gianna, she was an avid basketball player, expected to join the WNBA when she got older. Gianna, along with her teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, played on the Mamba Basketball team together, with hopes of making it big one day. Kobe Bryant’s inspiring legacy will leave an imprint on all future generations of basketball players, filmmakers, athletes, authors and philanthropists. Kobe emphasized when you stick to your dream with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything, which is the Mamba Mentality, In the words of Kobe, “Mamba out.” R.I.P Kobe Bryant 1978-2020. R.I.P Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan. BACK TO TOP