Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Way I Really Play: Album Review By William Mullin Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original image from William Mullin On November 12, 1967, Oscar Peterson, Sam Jones, and Bobby Durham recorded at the private studio of Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. On piano, double bass, and drums, respectively, this trio headed by Oscar Peterson dazzlingly performed originals and renditions of jazz standards to a selectively picked small audience. Peterson was an extreme virtuoso, taught by one of Franz Liszt’s pedagogical successors, one of the most renowned virtuosos of the classical era. Originally classically trained, Peterson shifted focus to ragtime, blues, and jazz, bringing his extreme virtuosity and classical understanding of the piano. The Way I Really Play is the third volume in a series of recordings done in the private studio called Exclusively for My Friends , and debatably the most impressive and cohesive of them all. In this series, Peterson does not hold back. 1. “Waltzing is Hip” Originally this piece was composed by John Wayne and Ray Brown. However, as is the case with many of the pieces Peterson performs, the original does not even compare to Peterson’s rendition. The recording begins with some claps from the audience, and then Oscar Peterson just releases this insane sound from the piano that shoots off into the stars. The central melodic theme, mixed with Peterson’s glissandos and intricate riffing, is jaw-dropping. This piece makes me want to jive to this impossible-to-follow jazz waltz. The fact that a human could be so talented and passionate is disturbing. Also, the idea that this is a trio performing live following each other’s solos is ridiculous to imagine. The only factors that detract from this performance are some of the drummer's solos. While they are impressive, they are not especially memorable and take up a lot of time. That being said, without the drum solos, this would have been rated as at least a 9.3. Favorite Phrase: Approximately around 1:42 - 1:49 Rating: 8.7/10.0 2. “Satin Doll” Satin Doll, a jazz standard created by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, was given new life by Peterson and his trio. Much slower and more reminiscent with a hint of melancholy in comparison to Waltzing is Hip ; however, the harmonies that Peterson employs show the range of Peterson’s skill. Yes, Peterson can be bold, loud, and flex his virtuosity, evident in Waltzing is Hip . But Peterson can also be sentimental, poetic, and lyrical, slowly taking his time to pour his woes into the piano, evident in his rendition of Satin Doll . The tempo ramps up as the piece progresses, and Peterson gets a little brasher as he creates multiple climactic parts until he eventually decrescendos to end in a shy, relieved manner. Favorite Phrase: Approximately around 5:40 - 6:30 Rating: 9.2/10.0 3. “Love Is Here to Stay” Another jazz standard, this one created by the Gershwin brothers, Peterson again makes beautiful art music out of a simple theme. The intro and outro of this piece specifically stick out to me, and the transition from the solo piano to the trio is memorable. This piece is blissful and withholds a sense of comfort, almost as reassuring and comforting as knowing another’s love for you is here to stay. As corny as it sounds, even if the title of this standard were not Love Is Here to Stay , the same atmospheric imagery would appear for me. Favorite Phrase: Approximately 1:48 - 2:12 Rating: 9.4/10.0 4. “Sandy’s Blues” An original by Peterson himself, dedicated to his then-wife Sandra King, Sandy’s Blues, takes on a different meaning with this context. Interspersed with bluesy riffing and running, Peterson is exceptionally light on his feet in this piece. In this recording, you can also hear what seems to be Peterson riffing with his voice. Although this is present in the other recordings to an extent, it is much more noticeable in this one. Peterson’s passionate musicality is most clear in this piece, which I am sure was lovely to hear for his wife. Favorite Phrase: Approximately 4:05 - 4:58 Rating: 9.0/10.0 5. “Alice In Wonderland” Composed by Sammy Fain for Disney’s 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland , this is by far Peterson’s best piece on the album. The melody is so rich and ethereal. An upbeat and jovial jazz waltz that I cannot help but blush and smile at. And the same central theme is repeated just enough times with the right amount of embellishing, as it is interspersed with solos. Again, Peterson gives the audience exactly what it wants. This piece, to me, is just simply lovely. I do not want to give too much away or create too much of an influence, but this is without a doubt the piece I put on first when I go to listen to this record. Easily my favorite. Peterson’s rendition of this piece is revolutionary. Favorite Phrase: Approximately 2:06 - 2:59 (honestly, it was hard not to just put from the beginning to the end). Rating: 10.0/10.0 6. “Noreen’s Nocturne” As a Chopin fanatic, I am obsessed with nocturnes. All of Chopin’s 21 nocturnes hold a special place in my heart and make me feel more human. However, Peterson subverts expectations and redefines what one can call a nocturne. Nocturnes are supposed to evoke images of the night. Chopin’s were created as somber, lyrical, and ethereal pieces. One can connect multiple emotions to Chopin’s compositions, but all with this sad imagery of venting one’s late-night woes to the piano. However, Peterson’s nocturne is on the complete opposite side of the aisle. Noreen’s Nocturne evokes the image of a midnight dance with your beloved. Jiving and dancing the night away. You do not want to go to sleep, nor do you feel the desire to. Wasting away all the hours of the night with the one you are with, except it is not a waste. Favorite Phrase: Approximately 2:28 - 2:41 Rating : 9.6/10.0 Reflections: This recording is a masterpiece. The lowest rating of the pieces is an 8.7, and that was me being harsh, justifying the low score with my dissatisfaction with the long drum solos where I wished for more Peterson. If I were discussing this with my friends, I would give all these pieces a 9.0 or higher and be much less critical. However, due to the nature of this being an article, I feel I must be a little more judgmental and have more of a disparity between the ratings of these pieces. Either way, Oscar Peterson, Sam Jones, and Bobby Durham created something breathtaking with this trio, and I am sure to specially selected for that live audience was priceless. Each piece stands out and is memorable. With each listen, I find myself remembering some of the small phrases in these vast pieces, blissfully scatting out the melodies and dancing to the vibe as I walk to my car, fold laundry in my room, or wander around my town on a late-night stroll. To hear and see Peterson play live must have been quite an awakening. Final Ranking: Alice In Wonderland 10.0 Noreen’s Nocturne 9.6 Love Is Here to Stay 9.4 Satin Doll 9.2 Sandy’s Blues 9.0 Waltzing is Hip 8.7 BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Thank You! Cody Sung Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching It has been an amazing five years at my fantastic school. I truly enjoyed my time here and I will miss North dearly. I would like to thank everyone for their support and made my educational career a success so far. I started at North going into eighth grade at nine years old. I was very confused, but thanks to many people, I am graduating from North a bit less confused. I want to start my appreciation first by thanking Dr. Small, the principal, Mrs. Buonaspina and Mr. Jara, the assistant principals, Mr. Brodsky and Ms. Bloeth, my guidance counselors, and the Valley Stream Central High School District for all their support during my high school years at North. I would also like to thank all my amazing teachers and club advisors who always offered their guidance and support and always made me feel welcome. I could always stop by and discuss any questions or difficulties I had. They helped make my experience at North unbelievably special. Thank you to the security guards, maintenance crew, and other staff for helping me whenever I needed assistance – especially the security guards, they handled a lot of pretzels. Thank you to my wonderful classmates, peers, and friends – those who have graduated before me, those who are graduated with me, and those who are graduating after me – for all your support. Thank you for helping me when I couldn’t open my locker, or when I dropped my books and water bottle down the stairs, or when I didn’t know where my classes were. Thank you to Mom and Dad for supporting me and always pushing me to the next level – and to my brother, I love you. Finally, I would like to thank everyone at Willow Road, where my educational career started, for all their support. Congratulations and good luck to the class of 2024. -Cody Sung BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Christmas Cookies! By Erin Garnier Volume 3 Issue 2 December 23, 2022 Imager provided by Betty Crocker Kitchen Christmas cookies are a staple of the holiday season. Whether you're baking for a party, as a family activity, or just to have a tasty treat on hand, making Christmas cookies is a fun and delicious way to celebrate the season. Recipe: To make Christmas cookies, you'll need some basic baking ingredients such as flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. You'll also need some decorative ingredients such as sprinkles, icing, and candy canes. First, preheat your oven to 350 ° Fahrenheit. While the oven is heating up, cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until they are light and fluffy. Beat the eggs and vanilla extract, then gradually stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt until a dough forms. Next, roll out the dough on a floured surface and use cookie cutters to cut out the shapes of your choice. Place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake them in the pre-heated oven for 10 minutes or until they are lightly golden. Once the cookies are baked and cooled, you can decorate them with icing and sprinkles. Try using red and green icing and topping the cookies with crushed candy canes for a traditional Christmas look. And there you have it – delicious homemade Christmas cookies that will surely be a hit with family and friends. Enjoy! Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 large egg 3 cups plain all-purpose flour 3/4 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt Icing for Sugar Cookies Sprinkles Candy canes BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Enemy That Should Be a Friend – The College Essay Ismaela Andre Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by BibGuru Many seniors must write a 650-word personal statement. This is usually referred to as “the college essay.” Once they hear this they think, “Oh that’s not too bad.” However, once their teacher says, “It has to be about you,” they instantly complain or get lost. Little do they know, the college essay is a gift, not a nuisance. The college essay allows students to showcase their unique personalities and experiences. Even though your grades and standardized test scores provide a glimpse of your academic abilities, the essay showcases your character, passions, and personal growth. It helps colleges paint a picture of who you are and what you aspire to become. This personal touch usually humanizes an application by transforming a set of statistics into an aspiring student. College essays also empower students to tell their own stories. Personally, it helped me dive deeper into a past incident. It allowed me to voice an aspect of myself that makes me who I am. The college essay offers opportunities for you to discuss your life experiences, challenges you have overcome, or unique perspectives on the world. In doing so, it promotes diversity and inclusion, as it enables those from various backgrounds to share narratives and enrich the campus community with their distinct viewpoints. Another positive is that it encourages you to think deeply about your aspirations and goals. Crafting a personal statement forces you to clarify your values, beliefs, and the impact you wish to make in the world. Personally, this process was transformative for me because it further showed how much I love to support my peers and others. I learned more about who I am and what I wanted while writing this personal statement. The college essay is much more than a mere requirement; it is a benefit that serves the interests of both you and the admissions committees. It offers you the chance to express yourself, share your story, and explore your narrative creativity and true goals. Simultaneously, it aids admissions officers in making informed decisions and building diverse, vibrant campus communities. Even though the college essay seems daunting, its positives far outweigh any negatives. Therefore, it should be embraced as an opportunity for growth, expression, and self-discovery, for both applicants and institutions alike. When you start writing, it can be hard to stop and before you know it, you will have over 650 words! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Senior Send-Off: Class of 2024 North Star Editorial Staff Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Images Provided by Elaine Ching In almost every North High School extracurricular activity, seniors and upperclassmen always develop strong bonds with younger generations. The North Star/ Polaris: The Creative Literary Magazine is no exception to that rule. Throughout our shared time in the club, the 2024-2025 editors for the North Star and Polaris have learned so much from our graduating members! The 2024-2025 North Star/ Polaris Editorial Team wanted to thank our Class of 2024 members for all the contributions they’ve made to our publication. Below are some messages for our graduating seniors that we hope shows just how much we appreciate them: Jeselys Vazquez “Jeselys, your feature articles always managed to shine a bright light on the best parts of North. Thank you for highlighting every part of our community. From North staff to SADD events, you always managed to bring attention to every bit and piece of North. Best of luck at John Jay!” Ismaela Andre “Ismaela, your scientific and curious mind resulted in amazing accomplishments, but it also gave us some amazing Feature articles. You always made amazing contributions to our publication, and we’ll miss reading your articles. Best of luck at the University of Connecticut!” Catherine Duong “Catherine, your creative contributions to Polaris helped make the Creative Literary Magazine into what it is today. We hope your love of creative story writing continues to grow and develop in the future. We wish you the best of luck in the future!” Cody Sung “Cody, you were our brightest and youngest editor! From your Science articles to your Feature articles, your articles were always full of fascinating facts and compelling journalistic integrity. We wish you the best of luck at New York University!” The North Star/ Polaris Editorial Team wishes North’s Class of 2024 health and prosperity as they enter the next chapter of their lives. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections DART By Cody Sung Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Image provided by NASA On November 24th, 2021, most people in the United States were preparing for Thanksgiving, traveling across the nation, and figuring out what to cook for their big feast. NASA, though, had different plans: to launch a cube-like spacecraft that will purposefully crash into an asteroid 6.8 million miles from Earth. NASA estimates there are around 25,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs) that are 460 feet or longer in diameter, which is large enough to cause mass devastation on Earth upon impact. While no known NEOs have a significant chance to impact the planet in the next 100 years, NASA estimates only around 40% have been discovered. This is where planetary defense comes in. One of the possible methods to defend our planet from an asteroid is by changing the trajectory of the object. A way to do this is to crash something significant into the object so that its trajectory is altered slightly to not hit Earth. NASA is testing this by crashing the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft into an asteroid called Dimorphous. Around 560 feet in diameter, Dimorphus is around the height of the Great Pyramids, and orbits another, larger asteroid called 65803 Didymos, which has a diameter of around 2600 feet. The DART spacecraft was launched on November 24, 2021, inside a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The size of a vending machine, the spacecraft is not expected to destroy Dimorphos but to change its orbit slightly upon contact in September 2022. To locate its target, DART will use an onboard camera called DRACO, along with, according to NASA, sophisticated autonomous navigation software. The impact is expected to change the orbital period of Dimorphos for several minutes, enough to be detected by telescopes on Earth. Another spacecraft, the Light Italian CubeSat for Imaging of Asteroids (LICIACube), will witness the DART impact and take photos of Dimorphos after the collision. Overall, the DART mission will be an interesting experiment for the mechanics of deflecting an asteroid and will be a good first look at whether the method is feasible to protect our planet. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Mean Girls (2024) – Pros and Cons Maleah Gossai Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching Over the last decade, many have pointed out that Hollywood has been doing more reboots and sequels than ever before. These criticisms came out at a time of Disney live-action remakes of classic animated films and sequels upon sequels to movies that either didn’t need it or had several sequels already. These criticisms have only proven truer with this year’s release of Mean Girls , a screen adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the 2004 movie. Mean Girls (2024) hasn’t just been critiqued for being a reboot of a cult classic, however. No, the criticisms go much deeper than that. The film, despite being a musical, was not at all marketed like one, leading many to believe that it was a cheap, cash-grabby remake rather than an adaptation of a Broadway show. This, along with claims of the actors not doing the characters justice and of the film just being bad, left a sour taste in the mouths of many viewers. However, today I’ll delve deep into the pros and cons of the film, at least from my perspective, to evaluate if these complaints are justified or if people were just desperate for a reason to hate the movie. Pro : The movie brings the musical to more people. As any musical fan knows all too well, seeing shows live on Broadway is, unfortunately, expensive . Many who wish to see a show will likely not due to the high price of tickets, which can be at least a hundred dollars a person. So, the release of a film adaptation of Mean Girls the Musical provides many aspiring theater kids with the opportunity to experience the musical for a fraction of the price. While yes, movie tickets have gotten much more expensive in recent years due to inflation, many who can’t afford Broadway tickets can still afford movie tickets, and with the movie recently hitting streaming, this brings the experience of Mean Girls in the comfort of one’s home, providing those who maybe can’t fork over the hundreds of dollars for a trip to Times Square with the chance to watch the Tony-nominated musical. Con : The songs in the movie fall flat. There’s a reason the movie was marketed without any mention of the songs: it’s because they’re not exactly the best. The songs from the new movie lack the same emotion, depth, or even just the composition as the ones from the original Broadway cast recording, and it shows. Take the song “Stupid with Love” as an example. It’s a song by our main protagonist Cady Heron about how she may be intelligent but simply cannot understand love and how it works as she navigates feelings for Aaron Samuels, the movie’s love interest. In the musical, actress Erika Henningsen sings the song with emotion, matching the song’s peppy and bright instrumentals with her vocals. However, in the movie, actress Angourie Rice, while her singing is pleasant, sings with less tone variety, making her iteration of the character seem much less enthusiastic than Henningsen’s. The song “World Burn” has this issue, too. The song, sung by our main antagonist, Regina George, is meant to convey how Regina feels after she realizes she’s been conned by Cady and as she begins framing Cady for having written the infamous Burn Book. In the original cast recording, actress Taylor Louderman sings the song with rage in her voice, exactly conveying how Regina felt in the moment, and the backing vocals reading out the terrible things written in the Burn Book make the song one of the best in the musical. In the movie, actress Renee Rapp does an excellent job as Regina, but the backing vocals and instrumental fall short of doing what made the original so great. Pro : The movie incorporates more diversity through its new cast. The original Mean Girls wasn’t exactly the most diverse movie. Sure, it was the early 2000s and diversity was not as good as it is now, but it still could’ve done better. This issue is somewhat adjusted in the 2024 adaptation, with three of our main characters – Janis, Karen, and Damian – being actors of color. Karen, now Karen Shetty rather than Karen Smith, is played by Indian actress Avantika Vandanapu. Janis, now Janis Sarkisian instead of Janis Ian, is played by Hawaiian actress Auli’I Cravalho. Damian, now Damian Hubbard rather than Damian Leigh, is played by Black actor Jaquel Spivey. While sure, nothing can ever truly “fix” the original film’s diversity issue, and yes, Hollywood should be funding original films with characters of color rather than rebooting films and casting actors of color in them, this more diverse cast is a welcomed change from the original film and gives people of various backgrounds a chance to see themselves in a movie as classic as Mean Girls . Con : It’s far, far too soon to reboot a cult classic. The original Mean Girls is having its 20th anniversary this year in October. However, while 20 years is a long time (especially since this movie is older than I am), it feels way too soon to shove the original to the side in favor of the new movie, especially one as ingrained in pop culture as Mean Girls is. The movie is a classic, there’s no denying it, and while the new movie can stand on its own as an adaptation of the musical, it just feels like a cheap attempt at making money based on existing intellectual property (IP), which, unfortunately, it is. Maybe if it had been worked on for longer, if it had been given a few more years for the original movie to become an “old movie,” it would’ve been more successful as a reboot. The original Mean Girls has never been an “irrelevant” franchise, as its sheer status as a classic 2000s teen flick has been enough to cement in the minds of adults and teens. If the movie had been pushed back a few years to a 2029 release date for the film’s 25th anniversary, maybe it could have been an excellent, critically acclaimed musical adaptation that pays respect and homage to the original. As it stands, the movie falls into the same category as Disney live-action remakes: a film created in order to capitalize on the success of the preexisting IP of a beloved franchise. That’s not to discredit the movie’s quality in any way, of course, but the film has that air of “Hollywood cash grab” to it that unfortunately can’t be canceled out by its uniqueness as a musical reboot rather than just a remake. Final Verdict: It’s a good movie; it’s just a product of Hollywood’s current state. As someone who checks all the boxes for this movie’s target audience, I can safely say I liked this movie. It’s no cult classic, of course, that status still belongs to the original, and while the music isn’t on the same level as the original musical’s, it’s still a fun, enjoyable watch. Much of the criticism was unfounded, likely caused by the fact that people couldn’t handle that they rebooted Mean Girls at all, but in most cases like this, the internet often blows things out of proportion. Sure, it’s a cash-grabby reboot greenlit by Hollywood execs in order to squeeze a quick buck out of one of the most beloved 2000s movies out there, but it’s a good cash grab that makes for a good time, especially when watched with friends or loved ones. The internet isn’t always to be trusted, and this case is no exception. Mean Girls (2024) is an entertaining movie that will surely entertain fans of original and new fans alike. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections She By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Today She stares at the sun While everyone else has fun She closes her eyes and takes a breath While everyone else talks about life and death She goes ahead and takes a nap While everyone else plays a game called Trap Everyone besides her likes to have fun While she likes to look at the sun Everyone besides her likes to chat While she likes to lay on the ground flat Everyone besides her likes to play games While she likes to think about all her nicknames People wonder why She's so shy She can't answer their questions Because she's too busy with her collections Everyone stares at her Wondering why she's not happy She's too busy thinking about her past To talk about the forecast People waste their time on nonsense She just thinks it’s all a disturbance She likes to choose her words carefully People decide it’s more important to be friendly She wonders why people talk all the time She'd instead write a poem that rhymes People want to sit and talk She'd instead take her dog on a walk People like to dress up and attend parties She'd rather talk to a bunch of smarties People like to fight with their siblings She'd instead stare at paintings Her little sister loves to waste her time While she likes to make lemonade with limes Her little brother likes to play weird games No wonder why people call him names She stares at the sun While everyone else has fun She closes her eyes and takes a breath While everyone else talks about life and death She goes ahead and takes a nap While everyone else plays a game called Trap People like to keep up with the latest trends She'd rather wear the same clothes as her friends She doesn't get why people waste their time on useless things When everything you need is in your savings She's not like everyone else, so what? At least she's not wasting her time trying to act like she's smart. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Badminton Season Rehmat Kaur Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Coach Croce The badminton season started, and the team has new players and captains this year. With tryouts from March 18th to March 19th, Coach Croce has chosen the 19 best players who will positively impact the team and its performance. I had the lovely opportunity of interviewing some of my teammates and asking them about their hopes and aspirations for the badminton season. COACH CROCE: “My hope for this badminton season is not only just to win our matches, but continuing to build relationships with the team, while helping them become even more successful scholar-athletes, always improving their skills. This is a special group that I have this season, and I believe, whether we win or lose, we will have an impactful, positive, and memorable season.” Captains: MELANIE CEVADA: “I hope that this year, now that we are more educated in badminton, we can grow as a team and get better. We have a lot of girls who have great potential and show great sportsmanship that I have a lot of faith this year. I believe that our entire team can achieve the best of their skills and prosper with our abilities.” REHMAT KAUR: “My hopes for the team are that we discover our potential and get a lot of wins. Last year was a tough one, but I am very hopeful for this year. We have many new talented players that have a lot to offer to the team. For me as a player I have gotten better with both my strokes and movement since last year, still a lot to work on but I’m welcoming this season with a ton of positivity!” ALISSON ALAS: “I hope that this year we become a stronger team not only physically but mentally. I hope we get more wins than last year and to just grow together as a team. As for me after 11 years of playing badminton as this is my last year playing, I want to make this year count and to be as successful as possible with the team. I hope to become a better player and fulfill my role as one of the captains to my best ability.” RICHMIA ERISNOR: “My goals for this badminton season are to not only get better as a player but get better as a person. I hope that with the experience that I'm getting from the team and all the different aspects of this season, my performance skyrockets. I also hope that I can receive more smashes and drop shots. I hope that the girls and I continue to stay friends, even after the badminton season ends. I hope that I can be a good role model for the upcoming girls as their captain.” Players: SAHAR ALI: “This badminton season, I hope to make a contribution to the team and myself as well. We have a strong team with strong players, who have each other's back; even if we lose, we learn from those mistakes to improve. I look forward to what the rest of the season has to bring!” IMAN ALI: “My hopes for the season are to have at least three or more wins as a team and beat teams. We lost to last year. I also hope that we can improve on our weaknesses and perfect our techniques.” JESELYS VAZQUEZ: “My hopes for me are to become a better player than last year and learn new techniques and master them. So far, I have been seeing well progress with my teammates' support and kindness, making it feel less embarrassing. As a team, my hopes for the badminton family are to grow, stay supportive, maintain a safe place for all the practices, become a better version of ourselves and be top 3 of the school’s team and win a lot of games with our hard-working players and new members.” NAVROSEDIP KUNDLAS: “My hope for the season is to improve from last season. I feel we have a really strong team this year, and by learning and improvising, we can achieve all our goals. Personally, I would like to move up on the lineup with my doubles partner and win as many games as possible. By working on my drop shots and smashes, I hope to improve my own skills. I can't wait to see what comes next!” AVA HINSON: “My hope for this season is to become a stronger player and to be more involved. I hope that our team wins a lot of matches and that we become a tight knit group.” HIBA KISHORE: “My hopes for this badminton season are improving as a person, as a player and helping my teammates get better. We are not just a sports team but a small family that helps get better as a community practice after practice and game after game. Hopefully someday the VSN Badminton Team will win a conference, but step by step we’ll get there.” These are the goals and aspirations of the badminton players and the coach for this season. Hopefully, we can achieve them and make the year memorable! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections The Readers: Book Club! By Jeselys Vazquez Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by GoogleSearch March 14th marked the official opening of the North’s Senior High Book Club for all students, grades 10 – 12! You might think: “A book club? That must be boring and a waste of time”. It may sound like it, but once you go to the meetings and get a better idea of what we do here, you might change your mind. For example, I’ve never been to a book club. I have only seen them in TV series; however, after joining recently, I found that I really enjoyed attending! The one here at North is different from any regular book club. It is more fun and active with different activities regarding what we read as a group. It is a comforting space where we can all express our thoughts, opinions, and things that stand out as we read. I joined as soon as I heard about it. So far, it has been a wonderful experience and activity I enjoy doing during after school hours. So far, some books we have read are He’s Very Well Read (The New Yorker.pdf), Flowers for Algernon (short story version), and recently we have started our first book, The Third Twin. Last week we received physical copies of our books, and since then have been reading chapters 1-10. Our next meeting is June 8th, right after ninth period, so if you want to stop by, join us, and we would be happy if you would attend. Catch you later, Readers! BACK TO TOP