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Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Inspiration 4: A New Precedent for Space Exploration By Elyas Layachi Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by PC Mag Introduction After the termination of the shuttle program in 2011, NASA needed a new, more efficient way to transport cargo (and eventually astronauts) to the International Space Station. As a result, they started the Commercial Resupplies Services (CRS) contract in which NASA partnered with private companies and nominated their ships to send cargo to the station. Numerous companies applied, but SpaceX and their Dragon spacecraft caught NASA’s attention, and they were selected for CRS-1, the first CRS mission. On October 8th, 2012, SpaceX launched their Dragon spacecraft, and it successfully docked with the ISS, transporting valuable scientific cargo. Since CRS-1, SpaceX has partnered with NASA in over 20 CRS missions, transporting billions of dollars in NASA and scientific cargo to the space station and back. The same year CRS was created, the Commercial Crew Program was created. This program gave private industries the opportunity to use their technologies to send NASA astronauts to the ISS and back as part of astronaut missions. Just a few years later, in November of 2016, four astronauts launched from Florida to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. This mission proved that private industries could facilitate manned missions, and that their technology is viable. SpaceX continued to innovate, and on Wednesday, September 15th, SpaceX launched four civilians into space. This is the first space mission in which a civilian crew with no prior spaceflight experience was launched into space, and they safely made it to and from space. As you read, you’ll learn about the mission, its purpose, and the astronauts themselves. Inspiration4 – Leadership, Hope, Generosity, and Prosperity Inspiration4 was the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. Aboard SpaceX’s flagship spacecraft, Inspiration4 left Earth from Kennedy Space Center’s Complex 39A (where Apollo and space shuttle missions were launched). The astronauts stayed in space for several days, taking in the sights of Mother Earth. The crew conducted experiments designed to expand knowledge of the universe. The Crew Dragon spacecraft carried 365 pounds of cargo, both of crew essentials and scientific equipment. Experiments included micro-gravity research and experimentation. According to SpaceX, the mission represents the four core values of any space venture: leadership, hope, generosity, and prosperity (hence the name Inspiration 4 ). The civilian crew launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. According to SpaceX, the Dragon Spacecraft, capable of carrying up to 7 passengers, is the only spacecraft currently flying that can return significant amounts of cargo to Earth. Furthermore, it is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the Space Station (see Crew-1 mission mentioned above). The spacecraft was carried to space aboard the Falcon 9 rocket, which is a reusable, two-stage rocket. Designed and manufactured by SpaceX, it was made for the reliable and safe transportation of people and cargo to low-Earth orbit and beyond. It is the world’s first “orbital class reusable rocket,” which allows SpaceX to spend less on the rocket per mission. The “4” of Inspiration4 Below are short biographies of the four civilian crewmembers that launched into space aboard Inspiration4, often referred to as the “4” of Inspiration4. Each crew member represents one of the core values of any space mission. Leadership – Jared Isaacman Jared Isaacman is the founder and CEO of Shift4 payments, a company responsible for integrated payment processing solutions. He started his company in 1999 from the basement of his family’s house at only 16 years old, and since has built it into a large technology company with over 1,200 employees. Isaacman is also an accomplished jet pilot and is rated to fly commercial and military aircraft. He currently holds several world records, including two Speed-Around-The-World flights in 2008 and 2009. He’s also flown in over 100 airshows as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team. Born: Feb 11, 1983 Occupation: Founder/CEO of Draken International, Harbortouch, & Shift4 Payments Spouse: Monica Isaacman Hope – Hayley Arceneaux Hayley Arceneaux is a pediatric cancer survivor from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. At only 10 years old, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. She sought treatment at St. Jude, which included surgery and chemotherapy. She has been in remission ever since, and she continues to inspire. In 2014, she earned her undergraduate degree in Spanish, and in 2016, she obtained her Physician Assistant degree. She now works at St. Jude, the place that saved her life, with cancer patients. Born: Dec 4, 1991 Education: Southeastern Louisiana University Occupation: Physician Assistant Parents: Howard Arceneaux, Colleen Arceneaux Siblings: Hayden Arceneaux Generosity – Christopher Sembroski Christopher Sembroski was always curious about outer space, always stargazing late at night. He’s a U.S. Space Camp counselor, and he conducted simulated space shittle missions and supported STEM-based education to inspire young minds to explore these areas and find their passions. After serving in the U.S. Air Force and maintaining a fleet of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, he earned a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He now works in the aerospace industry. Born: Aug 28, 1979 Prosperity – Sian Proctor Dr. Sian Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, and science communication specialist with a lifelong passion for space exploration. She is an analog astronaut – meaning she conducts activities in simulated space conditions – and she completed four analog missions. She encourages people to use their unique passions and strengths to inspire others using her slogan, Space2inspire. She has a pilot license, is SCUBA certified, and loves exploring Earth. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science, an M.S. in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in science education. Born: Mar 28, 1970 Education: Edinboro University of Pennsylvania & Arizona State University. Occupation: American Geology Professor, Science Communicator The Future of Manned Space Missions The Inspiration4 mission demonstrated to the world that not just astronauts, but also citizens can be launched into space and experience microgravity. This expands the space sector significantly, opening space travel up to the non-astronaut portion of the world population. As more civilian missions take place and technology continues to improve, they will decrease in cost, and more citizens will be able to fly to space. Who knows, someday you and your children might fly to space. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Two New North Clubs By Cody Sung Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by Chess.com There are now two new clubs at Valley Stream North High School. The first one is the Chess Club, run by Mr. Lepanto, one of our Social Studies teachers. The second one is The Readers, advised by Mr. Toffolo, our Library-Media Specialist. I was given the chance to speak with both about their respective clubs. First, I spoke to Mr. Lepanto. I asked him how the Chess Club was established. He said that students approached him and asked if he plays chess and if he would like to start a club. He is an outstanding chess player himself and would like to share his knowledge with students. He says that the Chess Club is for anyone, no matter what level of chess player. He also has his own commitment to the students of North, as he says he always wants to be available for his students. The club officially meets every three weeks on Mondays, but Mr. Lepanto says that “When I’m going to be at school working late on other days, they can stay in the library and play chess on their own.” He added that a lot of students were interested in the club. He was incredibly happy that there was a large amount of interest and said, “That’s stunning.” He hopes that they can play against each other competitively in tournaments and next year play against other schools. I also spoke to Mr. Toffolo and asked him about how his new club, The Readers, started. He said that it began with three students coming to him and saying that they wanted to start a book club. They also talked to Ms. Belbol, the head of the English department, and Dr. Small, the principal, about it. Both Ms. Belbol and Dr. Small informed the students that an advisor was needed, so they came to Mr. Toffolo. The club meets every other Friday. While The Readers is initially meant for the upper grades, he is looking forward to starting a junior high book club. The junior high book club would occur every other week as well, alternating with The Readers. Mr. Toffolo said that “Right now, our important thing is we are trying to find a good first book for us to read.” With that book, he plans to do things a little bit differently compared to a regular book club or an English class. He says that in a regular English class, you get to read, but “to study it, and not necessarily for pleasure.” Students seem to enjoy that idea. The club had many interested students at its first meeting according to Mr. Toffolo. He is hoping to have a steady member count, enough to become an official club. These two clubs have a very promising outlook and will hopefully do very well in the future. If you are interested in joining the Chess Club, please contact Mr. Lepanto at lepantob@vschsd.org . If you are interested in joining The Readers, please contact Mr. Toffolo at toffoloc@vschsd.org . BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Desserts to Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride By Christina Ossa Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Claire Nolan With Pride Month just around the corner this June, what would be a better way to celebrate than to bake some special desserts that represent either your sexual orientation or the orientation you prefer to represent? While one may not be my own, these recipes are sure to help you celebrate the many different sexualities and preferences this month and will leave you satisfied in terms of taste as well. Also, baking these delicious treats to celebrate with family and/or friends is also an amazing way to show your support or to express your identity this month! While I did not have a chance to bake anything special for this article, I’ll be baking these recipes that I’ve tried in the past couple of years again to celebrate and commemorate Pride Month. Also, being part of the LGBTQ+ community motivated me to find a unique way to celebrate my pride, and while this method may not work for everyone, it definitely is an enjoyable way to commemorate PRIDE for all orientations this month! Rainbow Sprinkle Cinnamon Rolls: While cinnamon rolls may seem like a more challenging recipe to attempt, if you follow the directions carefully and give your best effort, these will impress you. Though this recipe is not my own, I’ve made this recipe during pride month last year as well as other times throughout the past couple of years since I discovered it. The roll itself is extremely rich and airy; the buttery flavor you can taste is amazing and melts in your mouth. The frosting, which I added from my own regular cinnamon roll recipe, is also an amazing compliment to the bun. While the bun is more buttery and light, the filling compliments this with its sweetness as well as the frosting which gives a creamy aspect to the dish. Though this recipe will take effort, the payoff is worth all of the work since you end up with an incredibly delicious cinnamon roll that just drives you to want more. Dough: 1 ¼ cups warm water 1 package active dry yeast 1 box vanilla cake mix 2 ¼ cups flour (set aside the ¼ cup for rolling out the dough) 2 tbsp rainbow sprinkles Filling: 6 tbsp butter 1 ½ tbsp sugar ½ tbsp cinnamon ¾ cup brown sugar 2 tbsp rainbow sprinkles Frosting (My own): 4 oz cream cheese (preferably softened) 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter 4 tbsp milk (add more if consistency is too thick) 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup powdered sugar (*recipe except the frosting is not my own, credits go to Claire Nolan from the Tasty Team*) Instructions: Pour yeast evenly over the warm water and let it bloom for 5 minutes. In a bowl, combine cake mix and 2 cups (255 g) of flour, then pour in the yeast mixture. Stir until it starts to come together, then add the sprinkles. Gently knead the dough together into a ball. Cover with a towel and let the dough rise for 1 hour in a warm place. During the resting hour, combine the ingredients for the filling in a medium-sized bowl, creating a type of cinnamon-sugar butter spread. Place dough on a floured surface and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup (30 g) of flour. Knead until it is no longer sticky (some extra flour may be needed). Roll out the dough into an oval shape and spread the cinnamon-sugar butter mixture onto one side of the dough. Preheat oven to 350°F Starting at the bottom of the widest end, roll dough and cut into 1 ½ to 2-inch pieces and place in a baking dish; cover with plastic wrap, and rest for 30 minutes After 30 minutes, place the baking dish in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown Mix the ingredients for the frosting Once the cinnamon rolls are done, drizzle the rolls with frosting and, if you would like, more rainbow sprinkles! *Optional* if you would like, you could use different colored sprinkles that represent your sexual orientation Once cooled down, serve and enjoy~ Pride Frosted Bar Vanilla Cookies: Although I have written about this recipe before, it will be a bit modified this time in terms of preparation. I’ve modified this recipe so that it’s in the form of a bar instead of a circular or other shapes, which makes preparation a bit easier in my opinion. While I haven’t made this recipe in a while, the cookie itself is extremely buttery, flaky, and the perfect amount of sweet. The sweet frosting also compliments the more buttery cookie as well, as it adds a level of sweetness as well as a more creamy taste. This is also a perfect recipe to represent your orientation’s flag since you could customize the colors you’d like you frost onto the cookie with the frosting and put your desired flag’s colors in the form of sprinkles as a topping! This recipe is not only delicious and fulfilling to celebrate pride, but it is also more low-maintenance and doesn’t require any piping or forming of certain cookie shapes. Cookie Dough: 3 ⅓ sticks butter 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar 1-2 large eggs 3 ¼ cups flour 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract A pinch of salt Frosting: ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened) 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1-2 tbsp heavy whipping cream ½ tsp vanilla extract food coloring of choice (desired flag colors) sprinkles of choice Instructions: Preheat oven to about 320-325° Either wait until your eggs and butter are room temperature and the butter is softened, or put each stick of butter in the microwave for 10-15 seconds Add your butter to a large bowl and slowly add your powdered sugar and mix with a hand mixer, whisk, or kitchen aid if you have one Add in the eggs one by one, mixing each time you add an egg Just as you mixed in the powdered sugar, pour in the flour little by little and mix it together until fully incorporated (batter should be sticky but not so much that it fully sticks to hands) Grab a 9 x13 buttered (or bigger if necessary) (“buttered” just means spread butter, oil, or Pam across the pan so that nothing sticks) pan and place the cookie dough inside, spreading it out across the pan Place pan in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes (or until a crust forms across the top of the cookies) While the cookie dough is in the oven, combine the ingredients for the frosting in a medium to large-sized bowl *OPTIONAL* if you’d like to make the cookie have your desired orientation’s flag colors, divide the frosting into 3 or more sections and use your desired colors to color each segment of frosting Once the cookie is out of the oven, spread your frosting across the top of the cookie, and (optional) add the colored sprinkles of your choice to the top of the cookie Serve by cutting a piece as if you were cutting a brownie and enjoy~ Link for the Original Cinnamon Roll Recipe: https://tasty.co/recipe/rainbow-sprinkle-cinnamon-rolls BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Who is Rohan Murphy? By Cody Sung Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original artwork by Elaine Ching On October 6th, the 8th and 9th graders were invited to a special event in the gymnasium. They got to see a motivational speaker named Rohan Murphy, who could inspire many kids by speaking to them and demonstrating his physical abilities despite having no legs. I was also fortunate to meet him after the event during my 2nd-period gym class. Who is Rohan Murphy, and how did he end up at our school? Rohan Murphy was born on December 22nd, 1983, in Queens. He lost his legs at birth, and due to this, before ninth grade, he was unable to participate in sports. In ninth grade, though, Rohan Murphy joined the East Islip wrestling team after training all summer for it with coach Ron Croteau. While he did lose his first few matches, Mr. Murphy entirely dedicated himself to wrestling, becoming one of the most decorated wrestlers in East Islip history. Mr. Murphy went to college at Penn State University, where he continued his wrestling career. During this time, he started to compete in Paralympic weightlifting events. During one of these events, in May 2006 in Busan, South Korea, Mr. Murphy won a bronze medal in his category by lifting 281.1 pounds, more than any other American Paralympian. Nike noticed this and featured him in an ad called “No Excuses,” encouraging people to make a workout plan and stick to it. Mr. Murphy is an inspirational speaker, traveling to schools around the country and motivating kids to believe that they can do whatever they set their mind to, no matter what hurdles they face. At North, Mr. Murphy had the same mission, speaking to bleachers full of 8th and 9th graders and inspiring them. Mr. Murphy gave us hope that if we believe in ourselves, no matter what our current states are, we can do it. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Rejoice- Amna Faisal Amna Faisal February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Quarantine By Masooma Zaidi Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by the New Yorker Life is short. This is a sad fact. I believe everyone will have to face this reality at some point. Every single moment in life is filled with memories. Unfortunately, one may only notice this when their loved one is no more. In this quarantine, I have lost some people I used to know in the community. Although I am thankful I have not lost someone in my family, I have noticed, when a person passes away, unforeseen memories flood the mind. Therefore, I conclude that every second in life is a memorable one. A positive lesson I have learned through quarantine is how important family is. I got to spend so much more time with my family. We would play some games, exercise, go for a walk, eat food together while having chit chats, and many extraordinary experiences I had not savored before the time of quarantine. From my point of view, quarantine has also taught many students and parents the school’s weight and overall importance. For example, school has enabled many students to meet new people, especially those having a different background from your own. School also allows for time to socialize. During my quarantine, I longed for school because I had nothing new to do at home. I would wake up, eat, talk, and sleep. Then the next day would be the same. I suffered from intense boredom; it felt like a rinse, wash, and repeat. During the time of my quarantine I missed school because I had nothing new to do at home. I would wake up, eat, talk, and sleep. Then the next day would be the same. I felt as if I was repeating the same day again and again out of boredom. I felt as if I was repeating the same day again and again out of boredom. I felt as if I was repeating the same day again and again out of boredom… In school, I would meet new people and get to know them more for example my friends, and kind people like my teachers. Personally, I find it exciting to meet new people rather than "repeating my days. However, quarantine have given me the opportunity to fully pursue work; throughout the experience, I have realized how important work is in life. In my future, work will prove crucial for survival as this is the way I’ll earn a job and money. Overall, my quarantine experience was not treacherous. I was met with both negative and positive experiences. Overall, my heart has opened, and my brain is ready to do some work! With a full heart, I happily welcome myself back to school with happiness!!! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street: What I Saw By Lucy Wu Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Original book cover by Dr. Seuss If you didn't hear, a few classic Dr. Seuss books, written and drawn by Theodor Geisel, are being banned. Which books are being banned? 1. And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street 2. If I Ran the Zoo 3. McElligot's Pool 4. On Beyond Zebra! 5. Scrambled Eggs Super! 6. The Cat's Quizzer To be fair, the books themselves are not exactly being banned. Dr. Seuss Enterprises is simply ceasing further publication of these books. The whole issue is a bit complex. Can I still read them? Technically, yes. There's no one stopping you from borrowing one of these books from the library (if they still have it). And if you really wanted to, you could buy a copy for the low, low price of $1,250 (not joking, that was a real price). Rest assured, the price will go down once people forget about this whole controversy. Just know that if I find my copy of the book, no, I won't be selling it for $999 on Ebay. But I love these books (and Dr. Seuss)! Why did they do this? Apparently (and evidently), these books contain racist imagery and stereotypes. But I'm with you. I (ironically) grew up reading the books. Even as a Chinese immigrant who could barely greet the mailman, my mother appreciated them too. She did her best to try and read to me each and every day by scrawling the Chinese translations and phonetic pronunciations in the margins of the book. I sat next to her and listened while she enunciated each word with her heavy accent and broken English (Luckily, I picked up the mechanics of the language faster than she did!) At the time, I didn't really understand why English was so difficult for her. After all, she lives in America and not China, so she should be better at speaking the language of her new country, her new home. But now that I'm older, I think I can finally see it for what it truly was. This "American" book (and many others) was not only a piece of my childhood, but a means for a foreigner to assimilate. Through learning English, her children wouldn’t need to use their mother tongue. They could blend in with the other American kids, assimilate to the culture, and become "American," basking in all the opportunities that privilege afforded - all the things that she would never have. Hold on a minute! There's something wrong! But while we read sitting on my bedroom floor, the last of our concerns was the image of the Asian boy in the corner (it was honestly not so subtle, looking back on it). It's accompanied by the line "A Chinaman who eats with sticks..." Take a look for yourself here : Actually, let's play a game: how many offensive things can you find in the image? Solution: The guy is literally yellow Rice paddy hat (the Asian conical hat) Rattail hairstyle Chopsticks in one hand Bowl of rice (I would consider this the least offensive to me just because I do enjoy eating rice a lot) Whatever "traditional" clothing he's wearing Did I forget to mention the slant eyes? (sorry, it's so common in stereotypes that this was a given) Bonus points if you noticed the traditional JAPANESE geta shoes Sorry to make you go through that. But in order to fight racism in your everyday life, it's important to understand the intricacies of what exactly makes something offensive. From what you saw, some things may have been obvious to you, and others may have been less so. Some of these things may be mentioned by people casually in conversation, and while sometimes it's a joke, a lot of times it's subtle mockery. You can use your discretion to judge which one it is. "Stop turning minnows into whales" I think we can all admit that was pretty bad. But the big question now is, do we need to “cancel” Dr. Seuss? There's been quite a bit of controversy. Racism is racism no matter how you slice it. But then again, nothing is black and white, so I'm glad you're here to sort out this gray matter with me. Let's consider context. He grew up in the 1930s and 40s during a time when anti-Asian attitudes were on the rise. Then, anti-Asian attitudes were also far more ingrained and commonplace in U.S. society than they are now. This is absolutely not an excuse for his choices, because racism is still racism. However, it does provide context as to why he felt comfortable putting such ideas out into the world, and why then it was just another book but now emerges as a hurtful message. In 1987, the line also underwent a slight revision, becoming "Chinese man" instead (the guy also lost his yellow pigmentation and rattail). Still, that does not exonerate the books. Throughout the course of his lifetime, Geisel would publish anti-Asian political cartoons, particularly at the peak of World War II when anti-Japanese racism was most prevalent. So maybe Dr. Seuss wasn't exactly the innocuous children’s author we all thought he was growing up. But let's talk about the timing of this whole situation. It's a little too "convenient" (in my opinion). If you've been keeping up with the news, you'll know that hate crimes toward Asians have been on the rise due to xenophobia from the pandemic. Still, many groups have been supporting the effort to combat racism. Initially, I thought this was just Dr. Seuss Enterprises doing their part to help stop the perpetuation of Asian stereotypes in literature for young children. Fair enough. However, I did a little more sleuthing and found that in October 2017, a mural was painted in the Dr. Seuss CHILDREN'S museum depicting the SAME Asian caricature from the book. Guess what they did about it? A few authors (Lisa Yee, Mike Curato, and Mo Willems) decided to protest by not attending the event that would be held there. The museum took down the mural and canceled the event, but what did they do about the Asian caricature that was STILL IN THE BOOK? Nothing. Even after it was clear it was racist and that attitudes had changed, there was no action taken. There was no outcry or anger or even further questioning. And while these events took place four years ago, did attitudes suddenly change so drastically that now these books are "outdated" and "inappropriate?" To me, it seems like an act of profitability and convenience to now realize that these ideas are hurtful and need to be removed. But wasn’t it hurtful back then in 2017? Maybe I'm looking too far into this, but I feel this should have happened earlier if it was going to happen at all. Because if it happened then, it would have been a truly genuine step to try and rectify what was wrong. And maybe it's still a genuine effort now, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth from the timing. I wonder if people will still help defend against Asian racism or if the cause will fade once the next big issue arises. "But it isn't too late to make one little change" I would like to preface this by saying I am lucky the people in my life are generally all very much not racist (to my knowledge at least), judge me for my personality rather than stereotype me, and even learn to appreciate my culture and heritage. I urge you to have conversations with the people in your life, even if they have the same background as you. Understand that while culture is important and impacts my life on a daily basis, it is not a defining characteristic that can be generalized to any stereotype. Never be afraid to speak out (I know I was for a long time, and I'm still working on that). When you or someone else experiences racism, please say something. Trust me, you might regret it if you don't. Personally, I don't think we should be actively teaching young children with books that have such blatant racism, just because children are so impressionable. Even preschool-aged children can begin to form racial biases that can impact them for years to come. As much as I want to say "It's ok, they can understand," I really doubt kindergarteners would be able to comprehend the true meaning of race and discrimination while reading Dr. Seuss. They may just see the Chinese caricature as the "Asian one" and start to form unconscious biases against those around them. On the other hand, it's still important to preserve books like these so we can look back on them as historical artifacts. They show us how far we have come in our fight against prejudice, and also how far we have left to go. Hopefully one day, blatant racism like this will be a thing of the past. "But now I don't know... it still doesn't seem right." Truthfully, I've done quite a bit of thinking and mulling over what I feel. But I'm still conflicted, so I urge you to do your own research as well and see how you feel. What should this book represent to me now? A) A book that will forever remain in my heart as a cornerstone of my childhood, untouchable by society B) A path for my mother to assimilate her children into American culture through language C) An example of how media continues to subtly stereotype and oppress Asians D) A way to speak out against racism in the future And yet, I don’t think my answer is listed here. There is no right choice. Really though, I would cross out all of those answers and instead circle E) All of the above. *All subheadings are lines taken from And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Should schools remain open after Winter Break? By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 No Image available at this time As coronavirus cases began to rise in NY, the challenge to keep schools open is getting more difficult and more complicated. Long Island school officials and Nassau County leaders said that they will do everything they can to keep schools open, even as many of the county’s infection rates surpass the 3% seven-day threshold which had closed schools in NYC. Many students, teachers, and parents have different opinions on whether or not school buildings should remain open after winter break. Experts suggest schools that have been open for in-person instruction can stay open even in the face of substantial community spread because they have offered strong safety measures, and there has been a political desire for it. I think that schools should close last, especially the elementary schools. When the fall semester came to an end, final assessments and projects had piled up making it hard for some students to even digest the amount of work they had due. And many secondary students have failed their classes this past quarter. School districts from coast to coast have reported the number of students failing classes has soared by as many as two or three times - with English Language Learners, disadvantaged students, and students with special needs facing the most distress. Many educators have noticed some factors that play into problems with remote instruction; internet access may be inadequate or unreliable, making it very difficult for students to complete and upload assignments. Some remote students skip assignments - or class meetings entirely. Teachers who do not get to see their students in person have a small number of ways to pick up on who is falling behind, especially with many not maintaining communication with their teachers. A rising number of health professionals have urged opening more elementary schools because younger children appear less susceptible to transmitting the virus than experts had worried about and because younger students have a hard time learning online and independently. It should be noted how students sit behind their laptops for 8 hours a day sometimes even more, when it is time for online school. Then students have assignments due the night of, which students will spend so much time after class on. Finishing assignments, homework, projects, labs, and missed classwork, students rarely get to go outside or even spend time with family, not to mention the fact that many students need to spend extra hours studying the material covered that day. Whereas hybrid students do spend time on laptops at school, in my opinion, in-person learning makes it much easier to learn and keep on top of assignments. There are fewer distractions, less need for the internet, and students feel free to ask questions. While school leaders and officials make the decisions, it is so important to keep students’ and teachers’ health in mind. As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, we should take proper precautions to keep our students and teachers safe, but also productive. Closing schools when it is needed, staying home when being notified of close contact with a person who has COVID-19, and wearing masks are all things we can do while still maintaining in-person school. American officials have failed so many times in this pandemic, and the students aren’t at fault. As we try and fix this mess, let’s try to put their needs first. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Anonymous - Who Am I? - 2 By Anonymous November 19, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The Amazing Kayla Santo By John McCarthy Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Original photo by Kayla Santo Today, we are featuring one of the most incredible athletes at North and beyond, Kayla Santo. She is a three-sport varsity athlete, and has played sports all of her years at VS North. Not only is she a three-sport varsity athlete, she has been a varsity athlete for four years already, and she’s only in 10th grade. Many athletes only start playing varsity sports in 10th or 11th grade. For Kayla, she played Varsity Softball in 7th grade: he only one to do so, ever. Moreover, her talent at an early age doesn’t stop at softball; she started playing Varsity Girls Volleyball and Varsity Girls Basketball in 8th grade. In a virtual interview with the amazing Kayla Santo, she gave inspiring answers to my questions. Here were her responses: Q: How do you balance your schoolwork with practices and games? A: “In the past I’ve learned to make a schedule to help me get through the day with less stress. My normal routine that I follow now is I do my homework right after school and try to get it all done, then I will go to practice or my games and if I don’t finish my homework before I have to leave I will finish it before I go to bed.” Q: From what I understand, you played Varsity Softball in just 7th grade. How did playing with older students make you feel, and how do you think it has affected your athletics later on? A: “At first I was really nervous and excited because it was a whole new experience with people I’ve never met before, but as the season went on I became super close with them and created great friendships. Playing with the seniors especially has taught me a lot. I believe playing with them made me stronger mentally and physically because they always pushed me to be my best as well as learning to understand and trust new people that I’ve never played with.” Q: How much of your personality do you think can be explained by sports? A: “I believe a lot of my personality contributes to sports. With my team in practices I would definitely say I’m very energetic (even in the mornings) and I absolutely love to hype my team up. When it comes to game time I get really competitive mostly because I am kind of a sore loser but I think that benefits me and helps me get through the game strong.” Q: Is there any advice you would like to give our young athletes at North? A: “For anyone who wants to branch out and try new sports, now is definitely the time to do so. Playing another sport or a new hobby can teach you so many interesting things that you never knew and can really bring a light into your life.” Q: Finally, favorite sport? A: “I would say my favorite sport is definitely softball. I’ve played softball since I was 6 and It has shaped me into the person that I am today. I wouldn’t give it up even if I was offered $1,000,000.” As you can tell from her answers, Kayla is a dedicated student-athlete and has great passion for all the sports she plays. A true inspiration for young athletes looking to defy the odds, only a sophomore, Kayla still has much left in her sporting career. Whether it is on the court or outside on the field, she will continue to do amazing things. Go Spartans! BACK TO TOP