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 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 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 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 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 Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Contour Line Collage Portrait By Kimberly Shrestha November 19, 2021 Watercolor Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections I've Only Known a Western Halloween By Laney Ching October 8, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 1

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections 1984 Book Review Leah Ally Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by The Guardian War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. World war, civil struggle, and revolution wrecked civilization in 1984. Oceania’s Airstrip One , previously known as Great Britain, is one of three totalitarian super-states. It is dominated by “The Party,” which controls every aspect of Oceania. The Party watches every civilian in Oceania through devices known as telescreens, transferring sound and motion to the Party’s ominous figure known as Big Brother. The Party controls everything in Oceania, from the language spoken, to the people’s history, brainwashing their thoughts to love Big Brother. Using the “Thought Police” and continual surveillance via telescreens, cameras, and hidden microphones, the Party violently removes anyone who does not fully go along with their dictatorship. Winston Smith is the main character of 1984 and is portrayed as a man who is disillusioned with the society he lives in. He works for the government’s propaganda department, yet secretly rebels. As daring as Winston appears to be in challenging government authority, he battles his own vulnerability and possible belief of Big Brother. Eric Authur Blair, also known as George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, poet, literary critic, screenwriter, and publicist. He wrote the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four or 1984 as a social science fiction novel and a warning. It was Orwell’s ninth and final book completed during his lifetime, published on June 8th, 1949, about a year before his death. He was a man of strong opinions who addressed some of the major political movements of his times, including imperialism, fascism, and communism. The chilling tale made an impression on readers; his ideas entered mainstream culture in a way achieved by very few books. The novel’s themes include totalitarianism (a government that asserts complete control of its citizens), mass surveillance, and coercive regimentation of people and behaviors in society. The novel was modeled after real-life occurrences with Russian ruler Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin and the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler. Throughout the novel, George Orwell explores the ideas of truth and fact through politics, including the danger of propaganda. I enjoyed 1984 ; however, in my opinion, the novel was drawn out at times and lacked detailed information. Even so, George Orwell’s writing style entertained me, and so did the complexity of each character's dialogue. I recommend 1984 to readers who may have read and enjoyed novels such as The Giver or Animal Farm . Sources: Woodcock, George. "George Orwell". Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Jan. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Orwell . Accessed 7 June 2022. George Orwell Biograph, Biography.com Editors, The Biography.com website, https://www.biography.com/writer/george-orwell , accessed May 7th, 2022, A&E Television Networks, last edited May 3, 2021, Published April 2, 2014 BACK TO TOP