Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Mundane Boredom By Elaine Ching Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original artwork by Elaine Ching Sad sarcastic showrunners speak He keeps her company Echoes of past moments flood her thoughts Illustrations of future dreams pitter-patter in the back of her mind Sounds of nothing but quiet and casualness make up the setting Brimming with nothing but comfortable, quiet company Or the calm butterflies that still sit in their stomachs after all this time Right hand intertwined with his left hand Eyes looking down at their separate pens and papers Dabbling in their philosophies as they borrow lessons learned from their other Imaginative ideas flow from their pens as they use inspiration from real life. Dutiful loyalty fills them as they sink into this mundane comfortable life Every moment that they’ve spent with each other is forever burned into their skulls, but not all are brought up As they let the background noise fade away, they focus on the current moment So, in tune with each other that they realize they need a break Exiting their chairs, they walk outside She grabs his hand as she opens the door, feeling the fresh spring air on her face Clicking her tongue in acknowledgment, she turns around to joke about the weather As she turns to where he is, she realizes. Pretty much everything from her past few hours is gone. Eventually, she realizes none of it was ever confirmed, especially her bored companion. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections My First Memory of Stitches By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Pediatric Urgent Care of Northern Colorado Life is full of troubles. Just waiting to unfold As fragile as bubbles But for a five-year-old, I was still bold The day was full of delight. However, the horror was yet to come As I approached the swings, the boy took flight Smashing my head till I fell, wishing I had never come The nails on the floor poking my ear Hoping they would fill their hunger RRRRIP as the world disappeared The last thing I heard was my mom screaming in anger. When I woke up, the nurse’s smile was as bright as the sun But I knew this was no fun My mother was a rabbit, scared and small I wished instead of the park we had gone to the mall I wished instead of the park we had gone to the mall BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Cherry Topped Cream Cheese Cake By Carolina Grace Figueroa Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by Food 52 Cheesecakes are dessert cakes made of cheese (usually cream cheese or ricotta cheese), eggs, and sugar. They often have a graham cracker crumb crust that is sometimes held together by melted butter. They are rich, decadent treats with a dense, smooth, and creamy consistency. The filling has a hefty, velvety texture. Some people add sour cream to make it easier to shape or fruit flavoring like strawberry, blueberry, or lemon. They reign as a perfect tasty summer dessert, chilled and sweet delicacies that make perfect antidotes to the heat outside. Cheesecake originated in Greece and was served to the Olympians during the first Olympics held in 776 BC to give them energy. Some people claim they are not really “cakes”, but more of a custard pie, torte, or tart because of the consistency of the base. The base can be made of crushed digestive biscuits and butter, graham cracker crumbs, crushed cookies, pastry, or even sponge cake. Italy makes their cheesecake with ricotta cheese, Germany and Poland use a soft cheese called “quark” or cottage cheese, while the US may use cream cheese or sour cream as the main ingredient. Toppings can range from whipped cream, nuts, chopped fresh fruits, syrups, sour cream, fruit compotes, caramel sauce, chocolate (syrups, shavings, melted), candy bars, cookies, spices, or matcha (a Japanese powdered green tea). In Brazil, cheesecake is served with a thin guava jelly or marmalade layer. “National Cheesecake Day” in the US is celebrated on July 30th of every year, an honorary day when you can indulge yourself with this delightful dessert and sample some of the tastiest flavors ever made (for example, key lime cheesecake or kit-kat cheesecake). My grandmother makes the perfect and delicious cherry topped cream cheesecake that I have ever tasted. It is topped with chilled cherry pie filling and can’t be beaten! I would like to share her infamous homemade recipe and challenge you to make it: Crust 2 ½ cups packaged graham cracker crumbs ¼ cup sugar ½ cup butter or regular margarine, softened Filling 5 pkg (8 oz. size) soft cream cheese 1 ¾ cups sugar 3 tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel or 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract 5 eggs 2 egg yolks ¼ cup heavy cream Topping 2 cans of 21 oz. Comstock Cherry Pie Filling Needed One 12-inch Springform pan Make crust: In a medium bowl, with hands or the back of a spoon, mix graham cracker crumbs with sugar and soft butter until they are well combined. Press mixture on bottom and sides of 12-inch Springform pan, building up sides of pan to form a rim all around. Refrigerate until needed. Preheat the oven to 500F. Make filling: In a large bowl of electric mixer, combine cream cheese, sugar, flour, lemon peel (or lemon juice), and vanilla. Beat at high speed just to blend. Beat in eggs and egg yolks, one at a time. Add heavy cream, beating just until well combined. Pour in the crust-lined pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 250F and bake one hour longer. Take out of the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate for three hours, or overnight. Before serving, add topping; spread Comstock canned cherry pie filling to the top of the chilled cheesecake (add as much to your liking). To serve: With a spatula, loosen the crust from the sides of the pan. Remove the side of the Springform pan. Cut cheesecake into wedge slices (makes 16 to 20 servings). Enjoy! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nostalgic Musings Back to Sections Merab Fatima - Nostalgic Musings By Merab Fatima February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Artwork Black American Artists Back to Sections Sir Charles, Alias Willie Harris By Barkley Hendricks February 12, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 5 Medium: Oil on Canvas, Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Back to Articles Polaris, Art & Culture Back to Sections Open For the Flower Nora Chery - Class of 2023 Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Nora Chery BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections History of Easter Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 While Easter is globally recognized and celebrated in both religious and secular contexts, its true origins, and details about the holiday itself often get hindered. In a religious context, it is typically celebrated by Christian individuals for the resurrection of Jesus, but how did the celebration come about and how did it continue to evolve? Typically known to be celebrated on a Sunday in April, many people do not understand how the exact day is determined, as this year it took place on April 20th. Before diving into the various ways Easter is celebrated today and the specific details of determining the day, it is crucial to understand its origins beyond the basics. First and foremost, without Good Friday, there would not be Easter Sunday. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter which serves as a day of commemoration of Jesus’s crucifixion. It is significant to understand that Jesus’s crucifixion was carried out by the Romans as they viewed him as a threat to authority. This was because his claim as the Son of God also known as the Messiah meant that he would be more powerful than any other leader and be deemed as the King of Jews. So, the Romans perceived this claim as the beginning of a possible rebellion against their traditional political system. As Jesus began gaining followers, it became clear that the Roman government would inevitably face resistance from its citizens. After being arrested and going on trial, a decision had to be made; Therefore, the only decision that appeared most justifiable was to carry out the execution of Jesus. Crucifixion was a popular punishment used during this time because of the intense and cruel pain it caused due to the strain it put on the body. This somber event marked Jesus’s death and was and is still seen as Jesus’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of the world’s sins, according to Christianity. Shortly after, he was buried in a tomb, and this led to the idea of Holy Saturday. This is simply the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. After a seemingly uneventful day, the resurrection of Jesus takes place, and, according to belief is risen from the dead. This discovery is first made when his tomb is found empty by women who are later told by angels that he had been resurrected. To prove he had risen from the dead, Jesus made numerous appearances to his disciples. In the span of forty days after his resurrection, Jesus serves as a teacher to the disciples as he reveals the importance of spreading his gospel to as many civilians as possible. After these forty days, Jesus officially ascends into Heaven, marking the end of his time on Earth. Now that the religious context of Easter is understood, this leads to how Easter began to be celebrated and why. It may serve as a surprise to many that the origins of Easter celebrations are not religious. Easter was originally a celebration of the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This is where both night and day are 12 hours each, symbolizing the transition from winter into spring. It was only the resurrection of Jesus that caused Easter to become a religious holiday. Not only was it because the resurrection occurred around the same time as the vernal equinox but because they both represented rebirth and relief. While Easter was celebrated along with the spring equinox in 325AD, the first major church council, the Council of Nicaea, officially determined a new time for Easter to be celebrated. It was determined that it should always be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. Since Easter was heavily associated with springtime, it eventually became represented by rabbits and eggs. In the pagan celebration of the arrival of Spring, eggs and rabbits were seen as symbols of fertility and rebirth which made sense for it to be associated with the resurrection. Additionally, eggs were already a prominent symbol for Christians because of Lent, a 40-day celebration meant for fasting and abstaining from what an individual desires. In this case, Christians abstained from eggs during Lent and would celebrate on Easter Sunday by having eggs. Over time and as we see today, the Easter Egg Bunny became a prominent figure in how Easter is recognized and celebrated. It is now common to celebrate Easter with not only church services and prayer but also egg hunts and Easter baskets. Therefore, Easter has faced numerous transitions since its creation from a pagan holiday to a religious holiday and now incorporating secular traditions. All in all, Easter’s rich history has proven itself to be complex, yet significant in how it is celebrated today. While the secular traditions reflect how our world has changed over time, it is just as important to recognize Easter’s religious importance and why it continues to be observed with prayer and worship. It cannot be denied that Easter is a globally celebrated holiday that will continue to carry on its pagan history. Sources: Easter | Origin, Christianity, Jesus, Traditions, History, Name, Facts, & Dates | Britannica Easter Symbols and Traditions - Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs & Christianity | HISTORY The history of Easter - Christianity BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Whispers of the Ocean Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Zaida Ayestas Munguia The ocean breathes a timeless song, With waves that dance, both fierce and strong. Beneath the sun’s warm, golden glow, Secrets in the depths below. Endless blue, where horizons blend, A realm of dreams that never end. Whispers of salt and tales of the deep, Guardians of treasures, silent and steep. Storms may rage and tempests roar, Yet calm will follow, peace restore. The tides, they rise, and then they fall, A rhythmic pulse, nature’s call. In twilight’s hush, when skies grow dim, Stars reflect in waters grim. The ocean holds what time forgot, A canvas vast, a world untaught. So here we stand, in awe, we gaze, At the ocean's wild, eternal maze. A reminder of life’s ebb and flow, In its embrace, we come to know BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Interview with Mr. Arata  By Gurjosh Multani Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by VSCHSD Q: State your name and your occupation. " My name is Anthony Arata, and my occupation is Permanent Sub here at Valley Stream North, but I am in Grad school at St. John’s University in order to become a Special Education teacher.” Q: Have you lived anywhere other than Valley Stream and if so, where? “I live in Franklin Square.” Q: Do you enjoy your job? “I love my job.” Q: Anything else to add to that? “It's an honor to be able to come back to where I went to high school and to inspire kids how I was inspired to be a teacher.” Q: What inspired you to start working this job? " My 10th grade special education teacher Mr. Achatz.” [pronounced “ACK-its”] Q: How do you feel about the recent threat to this school? "It's scary, but the reality of every day as a teacher and a student is that it can happen anywhere and there's protocols to be safe, but there're people who want to harm students and we just have to be as safe as possible always. And if you see something, always say something.” Q: What would you do for the security of the school if you were in charge? “If I was in charge of the security... Hmm Well, we already have cameras everywhere, which is definitely necessary, and the ID is to keep track of who comes in and out. But I would maybe just have scanners that way they could see when you walk through, so it scans you. That way we can prevent the lines in the morning, so it'd be an easier transition for students and faculty.” Q: Do you have any advice for the new generation of kids? "Find your passion and do something that you love because I go to work every day, I'm happy to be there, and I love what I do. As long as you do something that makes you happy, it's then that you'll be set for life.” BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Spotlight Back to Sections BHM - Kamala Harris By Kimberly Shrestha February 12, 2021 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 5