Back to Artwork Heckscher Back to Sections Time Entry 6 April 14, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 6

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Alena Moriera - Memory Project By Alena Moreira March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections King Tutankhamun and the Curse By Rehmat Kaur Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by The BBC This is the tomb of King Tutankhamun, commonly known as King Tut, who became Pharaoh of Egypt at the age of nine in 1332 B.C. He was granted command of his civilizations during a time of conflict with neighboring kingdoms for territory. King subsequently married his half-sister because they had the same father. During his reign, he contributed to the restoration of traditional Egyptian religion and art. He died at the age of nineteen from a broken leg, according to scientists, but in 2010, evidence of malaria parasites were discovered in Tutankhamun's remains, indicating that malaria, potentially in combination with degenerative bone disease, may have been the reason. This has debunked the widely held belief that the Egyptian pharaoh was assassinated by a blow to the head over 3,300 years ago. A curse was placed over King Tut's tomb to keep robbers and political adversaries from desecrating the burial, and the curse was invoked against offenders. His mummy was found over 30,000 years after his death by British archeologist Howard Carter and others in 1922. Mr. Carter died unexpectedly a few months after the tomb was discovered igniting the legend of the mummy's curse. Another popular victim of the alleged curse was George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who funded the excavation of King Tut's tomb. Lord Carnarvon died of blood poisoning after accidentally tearing open a mosquito bite while shaving. There is still no evidence of whether the deaths were a cause of being exposed of the alleged "curse of the pharaohs", but the deaths were quite coincidental; it is still a mystery. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The Division IIIA Track and Field Championships By Manal Layachi Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Original photography by VSN (Pictured: Ryan John, Long Jump and Triple Jump winner at NYSPHAA Division 1 State Championships) On May 17th, 2022, the Valley Stream North High School varsity track team competed at the Division Championships. It took place at North, and six schools from across the county came: South Side High School, George H. Hewlett High School, Sewanhaka High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Manhasset Secondary School, and Roosevelt High School. There were a lot of events such as hurdles, jumping, running, the shotput throw, and the two-mile. The girls’ team won with 174 points and the boys’ team won with 184 points, both earning the title of Conference Champions. VSN Boys Spring Track team - 1st place VSN Girls Spring Track team - 1st place One of the coaches of the varsity track team, Mr. Frazer, answered a few questions about the Division Championships and track in general: What is your favorite part about track and coaching? “Seeing kids grow as people. Seeing kids treat each other with respect and care about how their teammates do.” What does track mean to you? “I was lucky enough to participate in track in high school and college, and I have made many friends from those teams. To me, track is a way that kids can learn life lessons about responsibility, time management, accountability, goal setting... and making new friends!” How do you think the track team will do in the County Championships? “Both teams will finish in the top 3, but I hope we win both the boys’ and the girls’ team title!” If you had any advice for a member of the track team, what would it be? “To get better, you have to train EVERY DAY and do not quit!” What was your reaction to Elyas Layachi running with one shoe on? “I knew he would keep running. He is the type of runner that does not quit.” What do you think motivated Elyas Layachi to keep going? “Elyas knew that every point mattered, and he needed to get that 6th place point. He is the type of kid that will NEVER let his teammates down, so I knew the One-Shoe Wonder would finish!” If you were him, would you have kept running? “Of course! I would NEVER miss meets or races. My teammates counted on me, and I would never let them down.” Another coach on the track team, Mr. Boyens, also answered some questions about the Division Championships. How did you feel when both the girls’ team and boys' team won the Division Championships? “Elated! Everyone has worked so hard this season.” What is your favorite part about track/coaching? “In coaching I get to help athletes meet and exceed the expectations they have for themselves. I help young people realize the value of hard work and the joy and comradery of being part of a team.” What does track mean to you? “It is an opportunity for athletes to challenge themselves and figure out what they are really capable of as an athlete.” How do you think the track team will do in the County Championships? “I think we have a chance to do very well this year at the County Championships. This year’s team is very talented and hardworking. Combined, those two attributes are hard to beat.” If you had any advice for a member of the track team, what would it be? “Compete for your teammates, not yourself, and you will achieve at a level you didn't think possible.” What was your reaction to Elyas Layachi running with one shoe on? “At first maybe a little worried, then I saw the determination in his face and stride and my worry turned to pride!” What do you think motivated Elyas Layachi to keep going? “Easy. The love for his TEAM.” If you were him, would you have kept running? “I don’t know. It takes a ton of fortitude to run 2 miles with only one shoe on.” Elyas Layachi, a junior distance runner, ran the 3200-meter race (two miles) with one shoe on! His coach, Mr. Frazer, gave him a nickname: The One-Shoe Wonder! These are some questions that Elyas answered regarding what happened: What happened at the beginning of your race?  “Right at the beginning of the race, when the gun went off, the racers behind me attempted to cut into lane one. As they were cutting in, I was already ahead, and one of them stumbled and dug their shoe into the back of mine, causing my heel to slip out of the shoe.” What decision did you make after your shoe came off? “In the few seconds I had to make a decision, two scenarios came to mind: I could either slow down and attempt to fit my shoe back on, losing my spot in the pack in the race, or I could launch my shoe off my foot and keep running to stay in the race. I ultimately decided to throw off the shoe and embrace the pain that would come when bombarding the track with one foot.” What motivated you to keep running? “The fact that the team and my friends were counting on me motivated me to keep running. Our track team is like a family: we’ve been through the toughest moments together, through training, and we were always there for each other. I felt as if I had to do it for my fellow distance runners, as well as other members of the team, to score points and lead us to victory. Furthermore, the fact that such an experience would define me as a runner motivated me and inspired me to never give up and prove myself as an athlete with tenacity.” How did it feel running with one shoe on? “I must say, it felt very odd. I’ve seen some videos on YouTube where Olympians have run with one shoe on. An example is in the 3000-meter Men’s Steeplechase (the shoeless runner ended up winning the event), and it immediately came to mind once my shoe came off. My foot felt very bare compared to the foot with a shoe (my right foot), and I could feel the unevenness of the track hitting my foot with every other step. My strides were also uneven, and I could feel my body swaying to the left with every other step as well. As we neared lap 5, my foot started to have a tingling sensation, and it felt like it was going to give out. However, on the last lap, with the help of my motivating teammates, I set the pain aside and used every last bit of energy inside me to kick to the finish line. It was probably one of the speediest kicks I’ve ever executed.” After your race, what was one feeling you had? “After my race, one feeling I had was confusion but satisfaction. Not only was I still stunned by the fact that I ran eight laps on the track without a racing shoe on, but the fact that I reacted so calmly and in control made such an experience seem unreal. However, I was satisfied since I was able to still secure a scoring spot in the race, knowing that every point counts toward a team victory.” Do you like your new nickname “The One-Shoe Wonder”? “I do like my new nickname, actually! I remember the moment in the race when my coach found out I lost one shoe and called out the nickname on the loudspeaker. It made me famous in a way!” Do you have any advice for a runner if something unexpected happens during their race? “All you have to do is keep on running. No matter what difficulties you are faced with, whether it’s a competitive race or you’re at a significant disadvantage (i.e. you lose a shoe), just remember that the moment is temporary, and temporary pain will lead to permanent success only if you embrace it and learn to control your emotions and actions regarding it. It seems really hard when discussing it, but when on the track, with the adrenaline rush and your teammates supporting you, it becomes almost second nature to keep pushing for victory and success.” After winning the Division Championships, all the members of the track team were full of pride and glad that all their hard work paid off. Everyone on the team treats each other with kindness and respect. We are a big family that cheers everyone on, and we support each other no matter what. That is what makes our team special and different from other track teams. Overall, the team did an amazing job, and be sure to wish them good luck at the County Championships! Go Spartans! Update: Both teams ended up earning the County Champions titles and Ryan John won two NY State titles for Long Jump and Triple Jump (pictured above). BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Cross Country By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by NBC News Close your eyes Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth Call out your goodbyes And then head out south That's how we run in Cross Country. 2.5 miles or 3.5 miles? Locals or perimeters? None of those bring out smiles Each step feels like 5 kilometers But what can I say? That's what we do in Cross Country. Core every day Doesn't matter what you say Boyens always on your back But I trust him when it comes to Track, Living Environment, or Cross Country? What he'd choose is a guess too easy. In our team, there are no walkers After all, we do have energy from all those crackers Motivation flows through our veins It doesn't matter how much it pains After all, if there is no pain, what did we gain? Close your eyes Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth Call out your goodbyes And then head out south That's how we run in Cross Country. We have the best coach If I had problems, he’d be the one I approach Runs with us every day It doesn't matter if the destination is far away We're all as tough as rock It'll take a lot to get us in shock. We've got the hardest sport It doesn’t matter that we don’t have a court Football, volleyball, soccer, tennis and more All got nothing to damage our score Some days I really want to cry But I never did, since Boyens wouldn’t even let me try. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Written Prophecy Prologue By Catherine Duong Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Katie Drummond “It’s all going too fast...” Amber says as she looks at the city of Araevia. She is now ruler of the main city, after the city of Gahenna, better known as “Hell,” has attacked once again days ago. The previous king, King Lucas, offered her and little friend group Flare, Darlene, Joaquin, and Pink, some currency worth a fortune until he noticed a strange mark Amber’s face at the right-hand side. Astonished, he claimed to make her the next ruler after when he retires, which made a huge turning point of the city’s next generation. But that wasn’t his decision, it was the god/goddess who made the decision using a special book made by the first three gods/goddess (Irae, Sune, and Phaedra) called the book of prophecy. Once written down of the event, it cannot be erased and everyone from the myth realm will be affected whether it will be good or bad, but this event causing Amber to be next ruler was a mistake since a god named of Kalen wrote it down for himself and it wasn’t approved of by his partner, Selene, another goddess. The two of them always argue about their ideas for the living and mostly about Kalen’s ideas. As Selene always says, “Your ideas aren't going to impact the living as much as mine.” Enraged, Kalen went to the book of prophecy and edited the event without Selene’s permission. Once Selene figured out that Kalen edited the event, she was in a rage, but she knows that now it’s already been done, and Kalen says to her, “All we can do is observe.” Now once the event was finished, Amber’s job is to keep the city safe with the help of her friends alongside her journey. BACK TO TOP

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

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections "Ghost" Artist Statement By Alena Moreira Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Original artwork by Alena Moreira The longer we are apart, the more we fade from memory. Until we are only left with the feeling of what used to be. I have memories, stored lovingly in the golden And silver And wooden chests of my mind, Memories I long to hold onto, But memories that slowly crumble away under the unrelenting ticking of time. Like a worn photograph, there are tears and rips, holes and thinning spots, faded and blurred objects. Like Luke Merz’s Memory/Loss #9 there are beautiful details and emptiness, filled only with a feeling of loss. And now, time has been cruel to us. We’ve been apart for too long, our only connection a pixelated face, sometimes with features indistinguishable. Are you more than a face? I can’t remember. You fade away with each passing day, until one day, I fear, you will be invisible, the only proof of your existence the space you leave behind. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Perseverance: A New Addition to The Martian Robotic Family By Elyas Layachi Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by NASA Introduction Did you know that as of 2016, 18 out of the 44 missions to Mars were successful? Or that Russia has the most mission failures, and that the first picture of the surface of Mars was taken by Viking 1 on July 20th, 1976? These facts are among many regarding the robotic exploration of Mars. With the launch and recent landing of Perseverance , many more facts are coming our way, and it might even find the one question humans have pondered on for centuries: are we alone in the universe? In our own galaxy? Even our solar system? History of Mars Missions Since 1960, we have launched several dozen missions to Mars to learn more about its composition, past, and whether it has life or signs of ancient life. The first successful flyby of Mars happened in 1965, and since then, four nations have made it to Mars successfully: the US., the Soviet Union, the ESA, and India. Other nations, including Russia, Japan, and China, however, were unsuccessful in their missions. The first NASA mission to Mars was the Mariner 9 , which successfully launched on May 30, 1971, and it became the first artificial satellite of Mars. Other missions were successfully launched after the Mariner 9 , with the Vikings 1 and 2 in 1975 and 1976. They became the first spacecraft to land safely on the surface of another planet. It was quite a milestone for NASA, for it proved that robotic exploration of Mars was possible. This paved the way for more recent developments, with the landings of the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity , which were launched in 2003 and landed on the Martian surface in 2004. Although the rovers are identical to each other, they are exploring different regions of Mars. Each of the rovers carries a sophisticated set of instruments to search for evidence of liquid water that may have been present in the planet’s past. The landing of Perseverance is a continuation of the Spirit and Opportunity missions, but with a different goal. Mission Purpose According to NASA, the Perseverance rover is designed to study the rock record of Mars to reveal more about the geologic processes that created and modified Martian curst and surface through time. It will test technologies that help sustain human presence on Mars someday, as well as search for possible signs of past or present life. Its first objective is to study the rocks and landscape at Jezero crater to reveal the region’s history. Its second objective regards astrobiology. Perseverance will attempt to determine the habitability of the ancient environment of Mars. It will also search for potential evidence of past life using its observations. Mission goals include determining whether life ever existed on Mars, characterizing the climate of Mars, characterizing its geology, and preparing for human exploration in the 2030s. Mission Recordings What makes the Perseverance mission special is its recordings of landing. It is the first mission to have video of the landing of Perseverance as it descended through the atmosphere and deployed during the “skycrane” stage. Additionally, with the onboard microphone, Perseverance produced the first-ever recording of Martian winds. The link to the NASA Mars library, which contains these videos and many more, is below. Video Gallery: Perseverance Rover - NASA Mars BACK TO TOP