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Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Shadow By Huan Evo Alipio Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Bustle A shadow creeps up behind While the wind hits the chime It may appear at any moment in time Day or night it might come But you’ll never know where it’s from Don’t be stunned by its shape As it will follow you with a big cape Even though a shadow is quite simple It should never be underestimated like a quick ripple Because it goes wherever you are and is within your body Or sometimes that shadow can be your own Rocky A shadow can be a positive and a negative A shadow can also be seen from many perspectives It must be remembered that a shadow is not a willing element The same reason why it's housed inside your body making him a resident Even though a shadow cannot speak That same shadow is undoubtedly unique BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Contemplation Back to Sections The Road By Arunima Roy June 8, 2021 Oil Volume 1 Issue 8

Back to Articles Sports, Feature Back to Sections TOPSoccer: Valley Stream Soccer Club Looking for Volunteers Manal Layachi Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Valley Stream Topsoccer/Valley Stream Soccer Club BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Corkscrew Contour Line By Elizabeth Andre November 24, 2020 Graphite Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris, Fiction Back to Sections Nature’s Gentle Touch By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image provided by Elaine Ching By the ocean's edge, Seashells scattered on the sand, Nature's gentle touch BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Line Back to Sections Jodi Vaison - What is Line By Jodi Vaison November 1, 2020 Marker Volume 1 Issue 1

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections MSA Interview Catherine Duong Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Merab Fatima Within Valley Stream North High School, there are a variety of clubs, both old and new, students can partake in for various reasons. Recently a new club was formed called the MSA (Muslim Student Association), and I was fortunate enough to interview the creators of the MSA, current seniors Masooma Zaidi and Minayle Rahman. Please note that I have received permission from both to record the interview and transcribe it. Direct quotes are not verbatim. Introduce yourselves, and tell me something about the both of you. “Hi, my name is Masooma Zaidi, I’m from grade 12, and I really love sports.” “Hi, my name is Minayle Rahman, I’m in 12th grade, and a fun fact about me is I like cooking.” Who or what inspired you to create this club together? MASOOMA: “So basically, one thing is everything that is going around in the world... for example, social media and the things that aren’t in social media; they portray Islam in a very negative way, and we really want to raise awareness about people having prejudices towards Muslim people. We thought the best way to do this is to have an inclusive community and create it in the public schools, and this really helps raise awareness with staff and student members and really show the true beauty of Islam and how everyone is inclusive. Besides that, there are a lot of Muslims within the student population, and it helps to get to know them and make sure they are comfortable: a brother-sister type of bond.” MINAYLE: “My personal inspiration was my sisters because both of them are in college, and in comparison, the MSA isn’t popular in high schools and I often go with them to their MSA meetings or events that they hold. It was so nice to see a community where all Muslims and non-Muslims are together; it is a safe and welcoming atmosphere, and I want to bring that to North because as Masooma said, there are a lot of Muslims here as well, but they're not seen as much as they are seen in other MSAs. We want to bring that type of atmosphere to North.” Who is the club’s advisor? Why did you both pick this staff member to approach? MINAYLE: “Our club advisor is [science teacher] Mr. DiSclafani. We chose him because we had a hard time choosing an advisor, and we wanted to choose someone we knew who would help, support, and build a strong foundation for the club for it to continue for many years. I had Mr. DiSclafani for AP Bio last year, and I really enjoyed his class. I felt like he had a good relationship with the students. He would reach out to them to make sure they are comfortable, and he is very engaging in how he would represent himself in class. We could count on him to help us to make this a successful club.” MASOOMA: “Our core values for the association are unity, inclusivity, and trust. We saw these characteristics in Mr. DiSclafani, and we thought he be the perfect MSA advisor.” What days are you meeting, in what room, and how often will the club meet? MINAYLE: “We are going to be meeting on Fridays, hopefully in the library, and at minimum once a month.” What will the club be discussing in general, and what is the purpose of creating MSA? MASOOMA: “In the club, we are going to hold a social event like the Eid party and challenge or contest nights to enable people to get to know each other better and be more social in the future years. One of the events we plan to host is the Quran Challenge, which is to see how much knowledge you have of the holy book in Islam. Whoever has the most knowledge will receive a prize, and there will be second and third place.” MINAYLE: “Our goal is to spread awareness to prevent misconceptions, raise the issue of stereotypes in the community, and for all Muslims at North to feel comfortable. Our club is very inclusive and open to all students: everyone is welcome!” How can someone join the MSA/What are the requirements? MINAYLE: “To join the MSA, you can contact either of us for the code or find it in Microsoft Teams. You can also join the MSA Instagram account [@vsn_msa] where we will post updates and the code.” Overall, I had a lovely time interviewing Masooma & Minayle. For those who are interested, I strongly suggest you join! The MSA is looking forward to seeing new members in their next meeting. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Mr. Rampersaud By Sarah Velez Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by New Scientist Jobs Mr. Rampersaud is a new teacher working here at North High School who was previously working at Central High School. This new school year, it is important for North to provide a comforting atmosphere where teachers can feel welcomed. Broad question, how are you liking North so far? Mr. Rampersaud: “I love it here, it’s a great school district to be a part of. Kids are great, staff is great, it’s a great location for me. I like how tight my science department is.” Is North a welcoming environment? Mr. Rampersaud: “North is an extremely welcoming environment, the staff I’ve ran into have all said hello to me, all asked me for my name, and introduced themselves. And the students have all been very welcoming towards me.” Is there a difference between North and Central? Mr. Rampersaud: “The layout of the hallways, and also, Central is only grades 10-12, meanwhile here is 7-12. The 7 graders are mad tiny. But other than that, the staff is just as great in both places and in my experience, the students are kind in both locations.” Have you always wanted to be a teacher? If not, what did you originally want to be? Mr. Rampersaud: “I guess I wanted to be a doctor, but senior year of college I realized that I would not be taking the MCAT nor would I want to spend another 8 years or so in school--that’s when I decided to do what I originally wanted to do, which was be a teacher, although I wanted to teach art history originally. It is the perfect career for me right now. Why didn’t you become a social studies teacher since social studies is everyone’s favorite subject? -question by Ms. Dragos. Mr. Rampersaud: “Technically art history is social studies, but the reason I didn’t get my Master’s in social studies education is because social studies isn’t as marketable as science. Do you have a good relationship with the students? Mr. Rampersaud: “I would hope so, but I believe it’s not up to me to decide that, but the other party. I can think we have a good relationship, but in reality, it’s not, you know what I mean? But I do think I do have a good relationship with my students, yes. They’re all good people.” What’s your favorite thing about teaching science? Mr. Rampersaud: “My favorite thing about teaching science—well, science is the most applicable to the real world, as in I think students would use what they learned in science more than they would social studies or math. And also, I really like teaching the double period. And, like, it’s fun. We get to demonstrate cool demos and run lab experiments” If you could meet anybody dead or alive, who would it be? Mr. Rampersaud: “It’s got to be the first human. The very first human. Let me see where we came from.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Peer Diversion Court By Everton Prospere Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Nassau County Are you interested in law and criminal justice? Perhaps you have an innate desire to help other teenagers in Nassau County? Peer Diversion Court, a restorative justice program that offers a second chance for young criminal offenders, creates a unique experience for the entire courtroom.  A decade-long special youth court program run through Nassau County’s District Attorney’s Office, the Peer Diversion volunteers and adolescent offenders all are under eighteen years of age. The young malefactors, charged with a real crime, face two options from a family court judge: face a real trial with the possibility of being found guilty with jail time and, in turn, have a permanent criminal record, or face a jury in Peer Diversion Court. If young offenders choose the latter, they admit guilt, but face a much lighter sentence, and a record that will not affect their futures. Nassau County’s Peer Diversion Court Coordinator, Michael Jasmin, and the Special Counsel for Adolescent and Juvenile Justice, Arianne Reyer, divide the program into two parts, the volunteers/interns and the defendants. The volunteers and interns apply for the program and undergo an extensive screening process. If accepted, these volunteers attend training sessions to understand court proceedings. After successfully completing the training, the volunteers can serve as either a bailiff, court clerk, defense advocate (a simpler version of a defense lawyer), or community advocate (a simpler version of an adult court prosecutor). The defendants, or the criminal offenders, are briefed before their assigned court date by Mr. Jasmin and Ms. Reyer and begin community service to ensure their commitment to the program. A typical court case takes two days during a week. Tuesday, the preparatory day, focuses on the defendants and the advocates. The advocates read a police report that provides personal information about the defendant, the crime committed, and any evidence or witness statements. After reading the police briefing, the defense and community advocate sit with the offender and begin to discuss the case. This provides a chance for the defendant to explain their story without a police report that can possibly consist of vague information or a biased witness statement. Thursday, the trial day, emphasizes an environment about the defendant. While many youth courts may focus solely on the volunteers and their criminal justice experience, Peer Diversion Court highlights the adolescent offenders. The court proceeding begins with an explanation of the case by the judge, usually a former volunteer that has outgrown the program, the bailiff, and the clerk. After the defense and community advocates make opening statements, the defendant is called to the stand to testify. After questioning from the defense and community advocates, the court gives the jury and witnesses in the room the opportunity to ask questions. The jury consists of former defendants who must complete a certain number of jury duties as part of their sentence. This, in turn, forces the jury members to reflect on their own case and engage in other cases that may have similarities to their own situation. After the questioning from all parties, the court goes into recess and the jury begins their deliberations, which may take anywhere from five minutes to over thirty minutes. Once the jury enters a decision, the court resumes its session and a jury member reads the disposition. Regardless of the sentence, the defendant will have to serve a number of community service hours and jury duties. In addition, the community advocate often asks for more requirements, such as a letter of apology or therapy. After the jury announces a decision, the court comes to a close, and the defendant must immediately begin their sentence. The exhilarating experience at Peer Diversion Court makes all parties, whether volunteers or offenders, connect through the restorative justice system. As a volunteer for Peer Diversion Court, this program has changed my perspective on the world as I have participated in cases on marijuana possession, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and assault. However, whether I work on a case with a defendant from East Meadow, Garden City, or Hempstead, a commonality exists among all the offenders, the desire for a second chance and to improve on their lives. If you have an interest in Peer Diversion Court, you can fill out this application and contact Arianne Reyer at areyer@nassaucountyny.gov .  BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Junior High Cross Country By Andrew LaVoie Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Circle Schools The North Junior High Cross-Country team is an outstanding team to join. Cross-Country is an excellent sport, and the North team is very good. First, Cross-Country is a perfect sport because unlike football or soccer, you do not need equipment except for your body and clothing. There are also some health benefits to cross-country track. According to  www.schpemerald.org , “The faster you run, the harder your heart works and the stronger it gets. Running bolsters your cartilage by increasing oxygen flow and flushing out toxins and strengthening the ligaments around your joints. Not only that, but it is also one of the best forms of exercise to lose extra pounds or maintain a steady weight.” Those are just some benefits of the sport of Cross-Country as a whole, but the North team is very incredible too. Coached by Anne Schroder, the Junior High Cross- Country team is fun and a great experience to push your body to its limits. We had two girls finish first and second, and two boys finish second and third. However, as a nonbiased reporter, I warn the sport of cross country can be very challenging, but I know to never give up. Sign-ups for the team are closed for the year, but next season we would love to have you on the team. BACK TO TOP