Back to Articles Letter from the Editor Back to Sections Letter from the Editor: End of Year Report By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Original photo by Christy Mansfield What a year! Relaunching North Star, North’s Student News and Literary Magazine was no easy task. However, with the assistance of our administration, teachers, and of course our writers and editors, we were able to bring you 8 issues of original articles and artwork that reflected the creativity of the students at North. We have accomplished a lot in the short 7-month period since the magazine relaunched, so let’s review: ~ Live Inauguration Coverage With the controversial events surrounding politics this year, North Star made its goal to provide both unbiased stories to keep you in the know, while also featuring our writer’s own views regarding the circumstances of this year’s election cycle. On January 20th, the magazine was able to publish live updates on the Inauguration of President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. With the help of our Chief Editor, News Editor, Managing Editor, and Website Designer, we were able to post minute-by-minute updates of all the notable events that took place throughout the historic day. ~ Adelphi University Press Day On February 26th, 15 of our club members attended the Virtual 2021 LI High School Press Day hosted by Adelphi University. The magazine submitted work from six categories to be considered for a Quill Award. This was the first competition the magazine entered into since its relaunch. Lucy Wu, our website designer, placed 3rd for the best layout to represent us in the competition against other school newspapers across Long Island! We look forward to preparing for future contest entries in Volume 2, coming in Fall 2021. ~ Mental Health Corner North Star wanted to address significant issues affecting our students due to the events surrounding the pandemic: mental health. Back in late February, the magazine published an editorial addressing mental health concerns within the Valley Stream Central High School District. Proposing multiple solutions to rectify the contents discussed, we decided to launch a mental health corner on our website. From quick links from the Guidance Newsletter to curated tips and tricks from our own writers, we were able to create a comprehensive guide with the intention of helping the student body. You can find and click on our Mental Health Corner button in every issue. ~ Social Justice Awareness North Star expressed its solidarity with monthly features to celebrate awareness months. In February we featured articles and artworks in accordance with Black History Month. We coordinated with Valley Stream North’s Black Student Union (BSU) to publish additional articles with the intention of further educating our audience on the racial prejudice. In March, we continued with the course of celebrating awareness months by highlighting Women’s History. Once again featuring original artwork and articles, the magazine was able to publish over 10 pieces to highlight appreciate the strides made by women. Lastly, in this issue, we are featuring works that show our support for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month. Collaborating with North’s Gay-Straight Alliance (no known as The Alliance club), our front page is brimming with new content to display and promote inclusivity of all communities. ~ We are thrilled to increase our readership in our next Volume by releasing new components to our magazine, such as renaming the Fiction and Creative section Polaris, the name of our former Literary Magazine here at North. We want to thank our senior editors and writers for the contributions they made and wish them well in their future endeavors. North Star is looking forward to welcoming new editors and writers across all grade levels. It has personally been a pleasure to work with this staff of editors and to watch the magazine grow. Keep an eye out for our release of Volume 2 coming early next Fall. Happy reading! ~ Craig Papajohn-Shaw Managing Editor BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Pre-season in the New Normal By Joseph Garofalo Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by Peak Performance With weeks away from the restart date of school sports in Nassau County, many are still pondering the idea of being able to have our sports seasons. With a sudden uptick in cases all over New York State and a rise in the Covid-19 positivity rate on Long Island, new restrictions could be put into place that could jeopardize our chances to return to a sense of normalcy. Nevertheless, coaches and student-athletes are still optimistic and are beginning to prepare for what will be a jubilant return to the fields and courts. With the restart date set for January 4th, 2021, the Monday school returns from our winter recess, Coaches have yet to be authorized to begin pre-season clinics, unlike other years. This ruling can affect a team dramatically as it could result in injuries and produce an outcome that is poorer than that if were able to take part in these efficient training sessions. Though never mandatory, many coaches use this opportunity to begin working on key fundamentals as well as getting their student athletes back into a rhythm. Though we are unable to host our own team clinics, personalized workouts can be created and given to you by coaches then can be done by yourself, on your own time. Athletes are recommended to contact your coach or team captains for information on sport-specific drills you can do to help prepare for the season. Winter Sports sign-ups began on Monday December 7th where kids 7-12 were able to sign up for the sport they desire. Sign-ups are now being administered on a database called Family ID . Parents and students should be mindful of this as changes were made to the original format (in-person, in the gym). If you are in grades 7-8, you must select “NORTH MODIFIED” when selecting your sport; grades 9-12 will need to select JV or Varsity. Other information can be found on the Spartan athletics channel on the Valley Stream North Teams page, or through our very own Athletic Director, Coach Frazer. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Lights On for Education Back to Sections Kimberly Shrestha - Lights On for Education - 5 By Kimberly Shrestha April 22, 2021 Watercolor Volume 1 Issue 7

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Faith in Yourself By Ismaela Andre Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by Medical News Today Faith is an interesting word that many may know the meaning of. Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. The definition states that faith is trust in someone or something but, what about yourself? Recently Covid-19 has been affecting everyone’s daily lives. However, it affects the future of the younger generation. Due to this, many do not have faith in themselves. Young people are becoming depressed or upset because Covid-19 caused many to give up on their dreams. No one deserves to feel this way. You should always have faith and believe in yourself. Personally, I want to be a singer, dancer, and a gynecologist; however, due to Covid-19, I gave up on my dream to sing and dance. Recently, I was listening to music and the lyrics inspired me to “run for [my] dream.” Now I have faith in myself, and I want to continue to strive for my goals. I want all of you to do the same. You should have faith in yourself and do what you want to do. Keep going and doing what you love because you get to choose your future path! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Portrait Back to Sections Karina McNamara - Portrait By Karina McNamara January 20, 2021 Graphite Volume 1 Issue 4

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Context Behind the Russo-Ukrainian War By Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by CNBC If you have watched the news recently, you have seen something about the war between Russia and Ukraine. Whether it be informational, opinionated, or just fearmongering, you have seen something about this war. Exposed to it or not, it is important to understand what is going on around the world so that you may form your own opinions about it. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an intergovernmental military alliance, began spreading farther into Europe and closer to Russia’s borders. In 2008, plans had been made to add Ukraine into NATO. Putin sees NATO’s expansion as menacing and views Ukraine joining NATO as a major threat to his country because of the military alliance’s proximity. Throughout the expansion of the Russian military by Putin over the course of the last few years, his complaints about NATO have become more public and apparent. Putin also insists that Ukraine is still a part of Russia, culturally and historically, so it is not its own country and should not join NATO. Russia is determined to capture Ukraine and make the state part of Russia again. Russia even listed its demands to NATO and the United States to ensure its security. The demands include that Ukraine can never join NATO, NATO must withdraw its forces in Eastern European countries, and that a cease-fire be implemented in Ukraine. These requests were denied. Russia has troops in Ukraine and has sent multiple bombs over the last few weeks. Ukrainians have not lost hope and are continuing to fight for their home. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Price of Reformation Elaine Ching Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 To reform is to struggle. Power, Injustice, and Tyrants oppress and resist. But we must Labor, Suffer, and Sacrifice. BACK TO TOP

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Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Zohran Mamdani: Stepping up Socialism Breeana Bernabe Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 Image Provided by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images As the New York City mayoral election drew closer, candidate Zohran Mamdani continued to garner increasing attention. Mamdani, the official nominee of the Democratic Party, has made waves nationwide as he seeks to implement socialist policies in a city that thrives on capitalism. In a country where socialism is negatively associated with communism, it is a surprise that Mamdani's candidacy has been widely embraced by New Yorkers. But what has driven Mamdani to gain his leading position in general election polls, and actually win, and how is his candidacy important on a national scale? Mamdani’s political campaign was heavily based on advocating for the everyday, middle-class individual, a premise that heavily resonates with New York City residents who struggle with affordability. Socialism is a concept that is often viewed or discussed with disdain due to its association with communism; but what sets Mamdani apart from other mayoral candidates was his promise to serve the people through bringing government driven projects to improve the everyday lives of New Yorkers. The key aspects of Zohran for New York City are to implement fare-free transportation, lower grocery prices, freeze rent, and establish a Department of Community Safety, all of which are policies rooted in socialist principles. For example, in order to lower grocery prices, Mamdani and his team plan to create "city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit," in which these groceries, "without having to pay rent or property taxes, will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers" (Zohran for NYC). Rather than having multiple corporations compete for demand and survival through passing prices onto consumers, Mamdani believes that city-owned grocery stores will help bring affordability to the everyday person. Another promising aspect of the political campaign is fare-free transportation. However, this will be difficult to accomplish because the MTA is not city-owned but a product of the state (Metropolitan Transport Authority). This means that to deliver this promise, Mamdani will require approval from the state, not just city officials. Nevertheless, the premise of fare-free transportation is to source funding from government collected tax rather than taking the MTA. Other proposals such as freezing rent and creating a new Department of Community Safety will also place the burden of affordability on the city rather than middle-class residents.  All these proposals seem enticing on the surface, but how will Mamdani draw in funding to bring these promises to reality? The answer is to raise taxes on corporations to 11.5%, and to the wealthy 1% of New York City residents with a flat 2% tax, bringing billions of dollars to fund city projects (Zohran for NYC). These taxes have become incredibly controversial among the elite, to the point where billionaires have donated millions of dollars in opposition to Mamdani's campaign. According to Forbes , Ackman has indeed put $1.75 million into political groups spending against Mamdani," and "26 [other] billionaires and members of billion-dollar families from around the country have sunk at least $100,000 each into supporting Cuomo" (Khan-Mullins). To the elite, socialism poses a threat that will confiscate a huge portion of their wealth – a value unfathomable to the everyday worker. Mamdani's campaign places emphasis on making the city more accessible to middle and lower-income households. The aggression between Mamdani’s campaign and the elite ultimately creates a battle between the people and the wealthy. Overall, socialism in a city like New York is unheard of because the city itself thrives on competition among businesses to create a lively economic scene. New York City hosts "a population of around 8.3 million that is ethnically and culturally diverse" and "its economy is the largest in New York State and among the largest in the world," (New York City – Federal Reserve Bank). This made Mamdani's candidacy incredibly important on a national scale because as a member of the Democratic Party, he continues to make headlines by pushing for what are considered Leftist policies. Therefore, Zohran's stepping up as a socialist candidate in affluent New York City is relevant throughout the country, as his campaign poses a step toward the increasing acceptance of socialist policies and ideology nationwide. Sources "Zohran for NYC." Zohran for NYC , www.zohranfornyc.com . “Metropolitan Transportation Authority.”  Budget New York , www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy24/ex/agencies/appropdata/MetropolitanTransportationAuthority.html . Accessed 27 Oct. 2025. Khan-Mullins, Kyle. "Anyone but Mamdani: These Billionaires Are Spending Big to Stop Him from Becoming NYC's Mayor." Forbes , 24 Oct. 2025, www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2025/10/24/anyone-but-mamdani-these-billionaires-are-spending-big-to-stop-him-from-becoming-nycs-mayor New York City - FEDERAL RESERVE BANK of NEW YORK . www.newyorkfed.org/regional-economy/profiles/newyorkcity BACK TO TOP

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