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Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections Reflection Entry 2 April 14, 2022 Watercolor Volume 2 Issue 6

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Tanka Sahari's Secret Life Sarah Velez Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Unsplash Photos Warning, the following program contains scenes of graphic stupidity among four lifelong friends who compete to embarrass each other- the intro we all know and love, Impractical Jokers has been a world-wide favorite since December 15, 2011. The show consists of four men, James Murray, Brian Quinn, Joe Gatto, and Sal Vulcano, born and raised in Staten Island, who have carried a friendship for over 30 years. Playing pranks and doing dares on strangers they come across, anything could happen. Randomly being approached on the street and asked to sign a waiver or having a chicken tender thrown at you, the four boys made sure to get a laugh out for those at home-and maybe even for themselves. Two of the boys go by a different nickname, James being known as Murr, Brian being known as Q, and what has recently become a famous nickname, Sal being known as Tanka Jahari . As open as Tanka Jahari may seem on screen, recent fans have discovered a truth which has been swept under the rug for quite some time. Sal Vulcano was born November 6, 1976. This germophobic TV star never fails to make those at home laugh whether it be by his most irrational fears, or reactions to what goes on while filming. His lack of affection on the show portrays a picture of how he acts behind cameras, right? Wrong. Sal Vulcano, along with co-host Chris Distefano, run a podcast called Two Cool Moms . Despite the relatively comedic factors that this podcast provides, curtains opened when Sal Vulcano stated that he has a daughter and has been married for quite some time. Sal Vulcano commented during his podcast, “I never really talk about it at all, but people know I’ve been with my lady for a very long time…I’m so, so private. Privacy is like the last thing I have, you know. Once I give it away, I can’t get it back and it’s just weird because I’ve spent a decade on television as myself.” This took fans by surprise. How could a man who had no boundaries on television manage to keep a secret for so long? The truth is, Vulcano stated he would like to speak publicly about his life, but on his “own terms.” It is a balance on controlling yourself in front of millions of people while also providing and supporting a family you love more than anything else. Vulcano melted whilst speaking about his daughter, claiming that there aren’t any words to describe his introduction to fatherhood. Vulcano stated, “Imagine having a new feeling after 45 years…I don’t need to access [happiness]. If I hear her voice, if she walks in, if I look at a photo of her right now, something happens to my body,” while tearing up. It’s safe to say despite being an open book to the media world, everyone has their own sacred privacy dear to their heart. As big of a fan that some people may be, it is crucial to respect Sal’s decision about his private life, limiting the pressure on him to reveal what goes on behind the screen. Regardless of his at home life, Tanka Jahari shall continue to be a comedic source for those in need of a good laugh. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Hofstra University: The Place to Be Cody Sung Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Hofstra University Many factors play into the search for a perfect college. Some people wish to move far away and try something new; others yearn for comfort and to stay close to home. If you belong in the latter category, Hofstra is one of your many choices. In Hempstead, New York, it is only 15 minutes away from North High School. Hofstra University was created from the estate of businessman William Hofstra. The university started as an extension of New York University under the name Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of New York University and held its first classes in 1935. It changed its name to Hofstra College in 1937 and according to Wikipedia became independent in 1939. From then on, it steadily grew and became a university in 1963. Today, Hofstra reports it has over 10,000 students, with over 6,000 of them being undergraduates. Hofstra is situated on 244 acres, or 0.38mi2, of land split in two by Hempstead Turnpike. It has 117 buildings, including seven distinctive towers, three stadiums, and an exhibition center. Much of the land is used by other sporting facilities, including tennis courts, a swim center, a rugby field, and a baseball field. In total, they house 21 varsity sports, 10 for men and 11 for women. The buildings on the rest of the campus house fourteen different separate schools of study, with around 175 study areas available at them. Hofstra also has 35 residence halls, including six high-rises – the seventh is a library. It has a vibrant student life, with six theaters, 220 student clubs, and an art museum according to their website. It has its very own radio station – WRHU, 88.7 FM – and a television studio. Of course, these are all factors that make Hofstra a great school, but statistics alone do not tell us the whole story about the school. I know, because I went there. Hofstra has programs such as Saturday gifted and summer classes for elementary and high school students to learn on campus. From there, I was able to do all kinds of activities. I was able to participate in mock trials, learn sign language, play Minecraft, drop eggs with protective contraptions from roofs, launch toy rockets, and even talk on the school radio about the latest sports matches. It was a fantastic series of experiences for me and the many others who participated in them. I was always mesmerized by the seven towers when I approached campus, and I vividly remember sitting on a basketball court waiting for my mom to pick me up. Walking around campus, I always looked at the maps posted in various locations. Even as I am writing this article, I enjoy panning around Google Maps and the satellite images it provides of the university. All of this does not mean that Hofstra will be the right fit for you; translating those special classes into real college life will result in discrepancies. However, to me, Hofstra should be a choice for you to research more if you want to stay local for college. Sources: www.Hofstra.edu/about/glance.html www.google.com/maps BACK TO TOP

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 Self Collage By Marisa Mohan November 19, 2021 Photography Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Indian Farmers Protest By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 No Image available at this time NEW DELHI - Tens of thousands of farmers have flooded India's capitol since November 30th and they intend to camp out for weeks to protest new agricultural laws they say could ruin their livelihoods. Farmers from states all over India, including the northern states of Punjab and Haryana - known as India’s “food bowl,” set up makeshift barricades of tractors and trailers across roads, railway lines, and highways leading to New Delhi. They have been protesting in the capitol for 6 weeks now and are met with harsh conditions such as cold weather and tear gas. On November 26, a nationwide general strike involving approximately 250 million people took place in support of the farmer unions. For five months, Indian Farmers have been protesting laws passed in September, 2020. The protest originally started in Punjab. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the new laws will liberate farmers and private investment, bringing in growth. Farmers are unconvinced, fearing that the confiscation of state protections they already deem inadequate will leave them at the mercy of corporate greed. Under the prior laws, farmers had to sell their commodities at an auction at their state's Agricultural Produce Market Committee. A government-approved minimum price was established for items and the auction was controlled by restrictions on who could buy alongside price caps on necessities. The Indian Government says the new laws give farmers a chance to decide their prices and sell directly to private businesses, like grocery chains. Others argue new laws help big companies push down prices. While farmers possibly will sell crops at greater prices if the demand is there, on the contrary, they could struggle to meet the minimum price in years to come when there is too much supply in the market. Farmers say the new rules will leave them worse off by making it easier for corporations to exploit agricultural workers. More than 60 percent of India’s 1.3 billion population still predominantly solely depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Government support to farmers, and management of the market with assured minimum prices for specific vital crops, aided India to move past the alarming hunger of the 1960s to produce a surplus of grain in current years. However, with India liberalizing its economy in recent decades, Modi perceives a huge role for the government as not as sustainable. Farmers, however, say they are grappling even with the prevailing protections. The farmers believe market-friendly laws will ultimately eradicate governing support and leave them deprived of income. India’s weakened economy because of COVID-19 gives them hardly any chance of a better livelihood. How exactly will these protests affect you? India is the world’s largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices. Everything from turmeric to Basmati comes from Indian farmers. According to Spices Board India, India produces 68% of the world’s spices. These spices include pepper, cardamom, chili, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, garlic, curry powder, and fennel. Not to mention, chances are some item hanging in your closet was made in India. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, India is the world’s leading producer of cotton. Organizations like Khalsa Aid, an international humanitarian relief group, have teams on the ground working with protest organizers. Farmers at the Tikri border will no longer have to jostle in a crowd in search of assistance and support. Khalsa Aid has set up a ‘Kisan Mall’ at the border to provide farmers items of daily use for free. The mall is providing blankets, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sweaters, jackets, vests, blankets, oil, Vaseline, socks, washing soap, bathing soap, shampoo, combs, sanitary pads, and more. People around the globe have been protesting to demonstrate support and stand with the farmers because the protests are about "the people who feed all of us". From Surrey Australia, Birmingham, England, in the small town of Canton, Michigan, and to Long Island NY people have been showing support. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Chalk Pastel Peppers Back to Sections Chalk Pastel Peppers- Ava Sloane Ava Sloane November 6, 2023 Chalk Pastel Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections Nightmare on Main Street- Elaine Ching Elaine Ching November 6, 2023 Digital Art Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections A Compliment to Lichtenstein By Kimberly Shrestha November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Ducks By Navrosedip Kindles Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Image provided by Elaine Ching so softly floating lovely ripples in the lake Oh my…… such cute ducks! BACK TO TOP