Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections XC Meet at Van Cortlandt Manal Layachi Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Cross Country Coach Varsity cross country boys at the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park. Left to right: North Star writer Andrew Lavoie, Charles Wu, Matteo Somma, Kevin Beltran, Frank Polizzi, Mateusz Grabowski, Chamar Borden. Members of the Varsity Boys Cross Country team competed at one of the largest cross country meets in the nation. 42 races took place on Saturday, October 14th, 2023. Seniors Kevin Beltran and Charles Wu, Junior Matteo Somma, freshman Chamar Borden and Frank Polizzi, and eighth grader Andrew Lavoie participated in this event. It was a cold and rainy day, but they raced well. The Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational (MCXCI) was founded in 1973 by legendary Bishop Loughlin High School coach and former Manhattan College distance runner, Ed Bowes. His vision was to provide a first-class cross-country experience on the nationally acclaimed Van Cortlandt Park course for scholastic runners of all abilities. I interviewed them and their coach Boyens: Andrew Lavoie: How did it feel to race at this prestigious meet as an 8th grader? It felt good to have this opportunity at a young age and I hope I will be able to do it again. 2. What do you love about running? If you could do another sport, what would it be? I love the competitiveness of running and striving to get better. If I could do another sport, it would be basketball because I have worked very hard in practice. Frank Polizzi: Did you get a faster time at this meet? If so, by how many minutes or seconds? I didn’t get a better time this race, but I’m still happy with how I ran because it was a hard course and was my first big cross-country meet. 2. If you learned anything from this racing experience, what was it? During this race I learned how many other schools and people that we normally do not race run. I also learned how to run better on different surfaces. Charles Wu: What was your racing experience at the meet? The Manhattan invitational was the hardest racing experience I ever had. Though I did not mind the rain, as I ran in worse conditions, the hills made it to where it was a difficult race to run. Being that it was my first time, I spent too much energy on the first half of the hills. Although it was only uphill for the first half of the race, I wanted that section to end much sooner, always thinking that it was about to end. Initially, I anticipated the steep downhills were going to be a much easier part of the race. However, running the down hills in the rain also proved to be a different, albeit less difficult, challenge than the up hills, as it was now finding a way to run hard without losing control. Despite the challenges this course presented, I am glad that I decided to run in the meet. My favorite part of the race experience was when there were geese in the middle of the course, and they decided not to move, leading to initial chaos. 2. Do you plan to run in college? If so, where? Currently, I do not have plans to run on a team or club during college, but I have not ruled out that idea either. I will have more of an idea on whether to run during college based on my performance come the winter and spring track seasons. If I do decide to run for a college team or club, it will more likely be for winter and spring track than cross country. 3. Can you describe what the environment of the meet was like? Due to the rain, the ground was much softer than I preferred. There were points in the race where I felt like I was going to slip and fall, especially since this is my first time running in the Van Cortlandt Park course. The steep up hills, as mentioned prior, were the hardest part of the course. However, I felt as if the steep up hills did not get impacted by the rain as much, unlike the downhills. The steep downhills were made harder, as the ground was wet, making it harder to keep control when running down them. Although it was cold throughout the race, it did not impact my race as much as the rain had on the downhills. The different environment of the Van Cortlandt course, compared to other courses I have ran like in Eisenhower Park and Bethpage State Park, proved to be a challenge especially in the rain, but it was nothing I could not have handled. Matteo Somma: 1.  What is your goal for this cross-country season? While I am so pleased with everything, I have accomplished this cross-country season it is only right to strive for more each race. With the championship season approaching around the corner, I hope to place in the top 10 at the Section 8 Cross Country Championships at Bethpage State Park.  Following this next weekend, I hope to qualify for Cross Country State Championships at the State Qualifier meet. More than anything I hope to race my own race and focus on myself, so I am able to put my body to the absolute extreme. I would also like to wish everyone else racing for VSN in Counties good luck. We will be hoping to place amongst the top teams and come home with some hardware! 2.  Did you enjoy racing at this meet? Did it feel like a college race? This past weekend racing at the Manhattan Invitational was truly an amazing experience. From the professional athletes to the thousands of competitors there, it was awesome.  Even though it was pouring out and a very tough course I had a lot of fun and would definitely race it again.  I did not have the best performance (or the one I was hoping for) but that is what is so great about this sport, the ability to try again the next week and get better each time. The race was really well put on and it was so cool racing kids from all over the United States! Kevin Beltran: What did you place in the race? I was able to get 9th place this year at the meet, not a great finish but I am very proud of how we did as a team this year. 2. Do you love running? Why did you choose this sport? Yes, I absolutely do! I chose this sport as it is a sport where you can hold yourself accountable for what results you get. You cannot blame anyone else but yourself. Additionally running is a very liberating sport. Feeling the breeze of the wind rush through your face as you run and being able to move at high speeds is an exhilarating experience that I would never trade for anything in this world. 3. Do you plan to run in college? If so, where? Yes, I do! I plan to run at one of the United States Service Academies those being the United States Military Academy (West Point) or the United States Naval Academy. Time will tell for what school I will be running for so be on the lookout! Mateusz Grabowski: How were the running conditions at the meet and how do you think you performed? The Physical running conditions were tough, and separated those who were “there for to be there” VS. those who wanted it, BAD. It was pouring rain, there were strong gusts of wind, and freezing temperatures with no sun out at all. The course itself was muddy to where I slipped a few times, very narrow to where only a few people can fit shoulder-to-shoulder, and it was STEEP. 250+ feet of elevation to scale and conquer made this race the hardest course I have run through in my life. Despite this, the environment of people (especially my teammates) I was surrounded by was pleasant, people were never complaining about the conditions or racing, and this just put me in the zone to run a great race. I think when I ran that race in 15:36 I showed the school that I run cross country because I want to RACE. I have come a long way from running a 18:40 at the easiest 4k course in Nassau County last year to running a ~15:30 at arguably one of the countries’ hardest courses. I think the work I put in this last year and over the summer shined through this race, and I set myself apart from other kids in the county and on my team. All-in-all I think I performed great, and this is one of my best races yet but much more is soon to come. 2. Why did you choose running as your sport? What meaning does it have to you? I chose running as a sport because I believe that running is all about discipline. You don’t need to be tall, or short, or strong or weak. You don’t need to know how to do specific skills or accessory moves in order to be successful. The only thing you need to know how to do is to; get your butt outside and 1.) run every day and 2.) Race like you’re on fire. I wanted to see how I can perform in a discipline-based sport and if I can create a mind-to-body connection in order to push past the limits of my genetics and break some barriers in terms of literally; how fast my legs can move. To me, running is a sign of commitment. If you can get out there every single day, and run, then you are proving you can push yourself and that you want to succeed in your sport and for your team. To me running also signifies not falling victim to your genetics. A slow runner who runs every day will end up faster than the person who is born fast and does not run. XC is a mental sport, and if you can commit yourself, you can become stronger than you ever were before. Chamar Borden: How did it feel to race at this big meet as a freshman? How did you feel after your race? It definitely felt both exciting and nerve racking for me personally. This was my first time going to a meet this big, so one could imagine how much was going through my mind while waiting for my race to start. After I finished my race, me and most of my teammates felt sluggish, since unfortunately it was raining at the time, and we had to run up these very steep, unfun hills. Overall, it was a new, challenging, and unique experience for me. 2. What is your favorite running season? Personally, my favorite running season is Cross Country. I love Cross Country because it is a sport that many people tend to overlook and not realize how hard it is to commit to. It also offers many challenges, due to the rough landscapes that runners must run on, as well as the training that comes behind it. This, and many other unmentioned elements, is what I find interesting and fun about Cross Country. Tim Boyens (VSN Cross Country Coach): How do you think the boys did? I thought we did very well considering the weather and the level of competition.   2. Do you think they are ready for the County Championships? They are getting there.  They have been running 50 miles or more a week for many weeks now.  They are strong.  Now we must work on speed and cerebral fortitude. 3. What do you love most about coaching cross country? To me it is a great test of the kind of person you are.  The most successful cross-country runners are the ones that put in the work, battle through pain and injury and have the mental toughness to go places mentally and physically they didn’t think they could.   4. Do you have any life lessons and tips for runners? Just like in life, when you are concerned less about yourself and more about others/teammates there is no limit to what you can achieve as a person or a runner. I enjoyed interviewing my talented teammates and my coach! Upcoming news about the cross-country team: They will be competing in the County Championships on Saturday, October 28th, at Bethpage State Park. They have been working really hard, so please come out to support the team and wish them luck! Go Spartans! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Montgomery Ricky by Ricky Montgomery By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Original image by Ricky Montgomery Ricky Montgomery, a 27-year-old born in Los Angeles, California, was best described prior to 2020 as a little eclectic but full of good sound and creative merit. Prior to his fame on TikTok, he was also successful on Vine, leading to online support for his 2014 debut EP Caught On The Moon. However, the EP failed to draw mainstream attention leaving him relatively underground until years later. His 2016 full length release Montgomery Ricky made waves amongst his own fanbase and drew in a few more to ride the Ricky Montgomery wave, yet he would not reach anything close to his current level of notoriety until the massive success of some of his songs as TikTok sounds. These will be track-by-track reviews, with each track scoring points for factors such as musicality, lyrical content, continuity (how well each track fits into the rest of the album), and theme. Each track will receive a score out of 10, and then be added up to create the final score for the album. Let’s begin with Track One: “ I’m alright if you’re alright, I’m okay if you’re okay” takes us into the hook of this deceptively cheerful song about finding yourself and accepting that you’re lost. Lyrically it tells the story of someone struggling to find happiness in darker times, and, through a loved one, is finding more happiness than they had ever thought possible. As an opening track, it is supposed to establish several themes, either musical or lyrical, of the overall album. However, many of them are hidden behind the bright combination of electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and keyboard that allows the audience to get lost in its soundscape; it was only on repeated listens that I finally began to see the overall themes of this album fully displayed in the track. Score: 7/10 - A cheerful opener with a fun instrumental; however, it fails to successfully introduce the rest of the album. Line Without a Hook Have you ever known someone completely and totally out of your league? Yeah, this song does, too. Here our singer watches as a crush falls into the lake of their own self-doubt, but not before comparing his own doubt to theirs, with “you’re a pond and I’m an ocean.” To the singer, his crush removes all negativity from the world around them. Yet their love interest is doubting themself, forcing our singer to feel that they are even worse in comparison. This track is an emotional standout on the album. It starts the process of “losing yourself” as described in This December, and beautifully pulls together motifs of drowning and feeling incomplete with the end of the bridge and the final chorus by quite literally leaving the last line of the bridge incomplete, and exclaiming that he would pull his lover from the tide of their own emotions if he knew how. Musically this track adds another layer to the usual drums, bass guitar, guitar, and piano ensemble with the addition of a violin, a motif which will show up in later tracks surrounding love. Score: 8.5/10 - Beautiful story and lyrics, fits well into the album as a whole and performance is emotional; however, the emotional buildup pales in comparison to others on this album. Cabo  Returning to the cheerful sounds of the opening track, Cabo tells us the story of two people just falling for each other but can’t tell the world yet. Secret garden meetups and dancing on beaches when no one’s looking fill the bright tone of the lyrics supported by the bright instrumentation. The bouncy rhythm lends itself to nervous heartbeats, and the up-tempo guitar and synth add life, making this song utterly danceable and incredibly fun to listen to. It also might be the catchiest song on the whole album, so once you play it once, prepare to be humming along to it all day. This track does feel a little disjointed from the past songs musically; however, lyrically, it may be the singer’s attempt to love again after the failed relationship in the previous song. Score: 7.5/10 - A blast to dance to and utterly enjoyable, but if it fit better into the album it would most likely have scored higher. Don't Know How  Montgomery faces a large amount of insecurity throughout this album - he doesn’t know who he is or where he is going - much less if he deserves to be loved. However, his track takes these insecurities and changes them into something new. Instead of not knowing if he can love, he now worries about how he loves. Is what he’s doing good enough? He doesn’t know how to make the other love him more and that thought leaves him fraught with insecurity. The almost club-like mix sound really sells the fact that his insecurities here are masked by a cool persona of outward confidence. Instead of hiding in his home, he’s gone out to dance, but sadly, he can’t seem to take his mask off. The thrumming bass and casual guitar riffs combined with small amounts of synth would make this the perfect song to dance to: if not for the fact that the mixing leaves it sounding very removed as if our singer is in the bathroom trying to hype himself up. Score: 6/10 - Fun to listen to with an interesting meaning however is easily one of the more skippable songs in terms of the overall album. Last Night  Last night opens with a guitar intro reminiscent of Paramore, then immediately slams you with lyrics about learning who you are and exactly where you come from. Montgomery gets to show off his vocal ability here, not through challenging high notes, but through the sheer amount of emotion he is able to place into this track. Each “woah” sounds perfect for an anthemic call and response, and the heavy guitar and drums add to the overall experience. This song is not the most lyrically impactful, but that’s why it works so well. It shines here for the performability, and just how well it works its way into the shuffle. Unlike other songs off this album, its reliance on instrumentation is a strength and not a weakness that is glaringly obvious when played back-to-back. Score: 8/10 - This song is a cheerful romp through all Montgomery’s artistic talents. Although it is not the most important in terms of story, its ability to draw a crowd in makes up for its overall simplicity. California  Craving success and allowing your ego to grow just to maybe make a name for yourself? Sounds like every starving artist’s dream to me. This song is all about wanting to be known, but also knowing that you don’t know how much of yourself you’d have to give up to get that chance. Here Montgomery asserts that art is dead, and the artists have blood on their hands. Is it worth selling your soul for a chance at a glitzy lifestyle? Neither I nor the singer have the answer. However, I think that the instrumentation on this one is worth dying for, the energetic guitar parts mirrored with a lively piano part and drums ready to pull you to the middle of a dancefloor are what sell me on this song. Score: 9/10 - Maybe my love for this song is all smoke and mirrors, but according to Montgomery, so is everything else. My Heart is Buried in Venice  Breaking the established theme of the album, My Heart is Buried in Venice is a slow, stripped-down song about growing old and loving someone even when they make mistakes. Only containing an acoustic guitar and drums, the instrumentation allows this song to feel wistful and winding, as if the singer is walking through old streets and has nowhere better to be. At first the song seems like this happy tone is all the song contains, but as the lyrics progress, the story sours ever so slightly; again our singer feels insecure about how much his partner loves him. He is fully prepared to take the blame for his lover’s mistakes, yet it seems that he is too busy drowning in his own thoughts despite the beautiful people and places around him. Although it is much slower than the previous track, it almost feels this is the result of California, a love that was in the spotlight becomes calm and quiet when the lights go off, making you wonder if it was ever really real at all. Score: 8.5/10 - Peaceful and calm, following the bright and cheery California it is a change of pace, but not an unwelcome one. Mr. Loverman Okay everyone: this is the song you have been waiting for. This is the Tiktok sound that has taken over the minds of singers and instrumentalists alike. The chorus is well known: “Cause I’m Mr. Loverman, and I miss my Lover man.” However, the intricacies and buildup in this song are truly what make it a masterpiece, not just a popular 15-second soundbite. A broken lover, dry and tired eyes, and shaky hands are our intro to the world of Mr. Loverman, and by the time you exit, you’ll be wishing your eyes were dry. Lyrically we’re fed the story of a man who doesn’t seem to know how to go on in the wake of a heartbreak. Lost between worlds of inebriated apathy and tearful reminiscing, our singer painfully recounts just how much he misses the person he once loved. Although lyrically poignant, what really sells me on this song is the musical build up. Its slow rising crashes like a wave over Montgomery’s calm vocals creating emotional dissonance to tug at your heart strings. The only real detractor from this lovely song is the instrumentation; I would have loved to see a new addition to the competitively simpler instrumentals on this song. Score 9.5/10 - Well-deserving of the praise, amazing vocals and lyrical patterns; however, I’m left craving an addition to the soundscape. Get Used to It  Honestly, this is the most forgettable song on this album. Although its lyrics are not generic, they fail to garner attention. Its opening feels clumsy and its self-referential nature fails to allow the song to stand out, which would have given it some redeeming value. The lack of changes in the vocal and instrumental style feel repetitive at this point. If Mr. Loverman is the album’s high, Get Used to It is by far the lowest of the lows. Anything this song does well is displayed elsewhere on the album, and it really has no witty lyrics or great emotional story to make it stand out. If you crave a guitar part that makes you want to air guitar like the best of them, listen to California. If you want a cheerful melody, try Cabo on for size, and if youre craving some sad lyrics to go along with that up-beat feeling, go give Last Night a try. I love this album and a lot of the work Ricky Montgomery has done, but this is one song I won’t even give the time of day. Score: 2/10 - Really, they can’t all be winners. Snow This album begins in December and ends in a snowy winter, presumably a year after the opening track. This is a homecoming for our lead singer: he has finally moved on from pining over a lost love, and now he can see with a bit of clarity. The relationships detailed throughout were all unhealthy in their own ways; Cabo and California detail saccharine sweet relationships, burning bright and fading fast, never really meant to last. Last Night is begging for someone to notice, and Line Without a Hook wonders if the singer was even worth noticing. Don’t Know How and Get Used to It are chock full of insecurity and doubt in the singer’s own stability. This December places too much of the lead’s emotional wellness on another, My Heart is Buried in Venice easily is wishful thinking at the start of a relationship. Mr. Loverman is the downfall of one or many of these relationships. Snow , however, is a moment’s clarity in Montgomery’s mind. The skeletons have left the closet and now they hang on his mirror; he is able to recognize the toxicity that has followed him through this year, and he is finally able to return home, not just from galivanting across the world, but from the mountains and valleys of this year’s worth of emotion. Although it may seem like nothing special and is not a standout musically or lyrically in comparison to others, this song does enough to propel the album to the top of my list. Score: 10/10 - Simply astounding in the layers of meaning, made even more significant by the easy-to-follow lyrics and instrumentation. Final Thoughts: This album is a fun way to pass 36 minutes and has a song for almost any event in your life. It is not by any means a perfect album, and there are better (and worse) albums out there. However, this album is still very good! If you enjoy Cavetown or Conan Gray, I would recommend you take a listen. Even if you don’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two of these songs charms their way into your heart. Overall score: 76/100 BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Ask Ala: Schoolwork, Scheduling, and Stress By Ala Paruch Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by The Journal Q. How do I better manage my time? A. Everyone is different and not every method might work for you; however, you have to try and find out. Regarding time management, making a “to-do-list” using the agenda book usually works for me. You can add your homework as you go through the day in addition to your personal activities. There are obviously other ways to manage your time. You can try setting a routine for yourself. For example, ‘start homework at 5:00 pm,’ or ‘start chores at 6:30pm.’ Routines help you make sure you stay on track. Another important part of managing your time would include knowing your limits. If you feel tired or know that you have other events planned, it is okay to say “no” and not accept someone’s offer. Additionally, plenty of time-management apps exist that you can download on your phone, if you find that you use your phone more often than the traditional pen and paper. Q. How can I manage my stress? A. Similar to time management, stress affects everyone differently and can be caused by different stressors. Firstly, you have to try to identify your stressors. It might seem unnecessary; however, it will prove to be crucial. Often, in high school, overload of work can cause stress. In that case, I would advise you to try to make a schedule to make your workload more organized. If tests bring you stress, meditation could help, either right before the test, or every morning. It helps to relax and calm down, as well as has many scientifically proven benefits. If stress often seems to be too much for you to handle, speak up and talk to someone about it. You can turn to your friends or a trusted adult. Q. How can I improve my grades? A. Improving your grades starts with the will to improve your grades. This might be the most difficult step, but motivation proves crucial here. Improving your grades will be a gradual process. They won’t go from seventies to high nineties in a matter of one test. You will have to set up a system for yourself to always do your homework, as it is good practice and helps you remember information better and always study before tests. When you have questions about material covered in class, don’t hesitate to go to extra help, ask your friends or even use sites such as Khan academy. It is important to understand the concepts presented in class and apply them with some practice such as homework (as annoying as it may seem). Additionally, if you understand the concepts, you’ll find yourself not having to painfully memorize as much information and you will remember it better. Hope that helps and see you next time! BACK TO TOP

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