Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections Art Guild- Isabella Mascetti Isabella Mascetti November 6, 2023 Colored Pencil Volume 4 Issue 1

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Abraham- Matteo Somma Matteo Somma February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections The 2024 Valley Stream Challenge Manal Layachi Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Junior Manal Layachi, clearing her next steeple barrier during the steeplechase race. Image Provided by Elitefeats. The 19th Annual Valley Stream Challenge took place on Saturday April 13th, 2024, at Valley Stream North High School. This is one of my favorite meets of the Spring Track season. There were over 2,000 athletes at Valley Stream North. Although the weather was not the best, everyone performed really well, and it was a fun meet. I competed in the steeplechase, where runners must jump over steeple barriers, including a water pit. It was very fun, and I got a faster time than I thought I would. Elyas Layachi, a Valley Stream North graduate, was the DJ for this event, and he did an amazing job. 38 schools competed: Bayside High School Blind Brook Chaminade Clara Barton Deer Park Division Avenue Eagle Academy for Young Men III Elmont Memorial Ethical Culture Fieldston School Friends Academy (LI) General Douglas MacArthur George H. Hewlett H. Frank Carey Kellenberg Memorial Long Beach Manhasset Massapequa Medgar Evers College Prep Midwood New Hyde Park New Rochelle Oceanside Oyster Bay Paul D. Schrieber/Port Washington Plainview-Old Bethpage/JFK Roslyn Sanford H. Calhoun Seaford Sewanhaka South Side Spring Creek Campus Tri-Valley Valley Stream Central Valley Stream North Valley Stream South W. Tresper Clarke Wantagh West Hempstead Young Women’s Leadership Jamaica Order of Events: Girls 1500 Meter Race Walk Girls 400 Meter Hurdles Boys 400 Meter Hurdles Girls 2000 Meter Steeplechase Girls 1500 Meter Run open Girls 1500 Meter Run frosh/soph Boys 3000 Meter Steeplechase Boys 1600 Meter Run open Boys 1600 Meter Run frosh/soph Girls 400 Meter Dash Girls 400 Meter Dash frosh/soph Boys 400 Meter Dash Boys 400 Meter Dash frosh/soph Girls 100 Meter Dash Girls 100 Meter Dash Un-Seeded Boys 100 Meter Dash Girls 100 Meter Hurdles Boys 110 Meter Hurdles Girls 1600 Sprint Medley Girls 1600 Sprint Medley frosh/soph Boys 1600 Sprint Medley Boys 1600 Sprint Medley frosh/soph Mixed 4x400 Meter Relay 2 boys/2 gir ls Girls 4x100 Meter Relay Boys 4x100 Meter Relay I had the pleasure of interviewing the coach of Valley Stream North’s track team, Mr. Frazer. VSN Track Coach Mike Frazer What is the history behind the Valley Stream Challenge? “This was the 19th annual Valley Stream Challenge. We held it every year starting in 2004, except 2020 due to Covid. Mr. Boyens and a I have a lot of pride in VSN and like to host meets that highlight our facility and students to the [scholastic] track community.” What do you love most about running this meet? “I love to see our students work together to put on a great event.” What is your favorite thing about being a coach? “My favorite thing is when kids get committed to track and start working hard to get PBs (Personal Bests). It takes training and running on weekends to improve, and when kids understand that they see results.” How long have you been coaching North’s track team? “I’ve been coaching VSN track since ’99.” Do you think the meet was successful? “This year’s meet was a success! There were many great performances, including the top 4 boys steeplechase times in NY this season. Many of the VSN students got PBs and many medals. In addition, the Spartan club was able to raise lots of funds by selling food from their new snack shack!” What is your connection to running? “I ran track in high school and college. I was the NY State champion in the 1600m in 1992 and then ran for Clemson University.” How do you think North performed at the meet? “It was not a team scored meet, but North won many medals!” What advice do you have for North’s girls’ and boys’ team for the rest of the season? “As the weather gets warmer, performances will improve if the athletes lock in and get that practice in! Remember, it’s a team sport, so support your teammates and lift them up.” Below are photos from different events throughout the Challenge. Lastly, I interviewed Elyas Layachi, a Valley Stream North graduate. He was the DJ for the meet. What was your favorite part about DJing for the meet? “My favorite part about DJing for the meet was keeping the crowd entertained. Not only did I love seeing people dance and sing along to the music I was playing, but I loved seeing them smile and have fun despite the weather conditions.” Do you miss running for North’s track team? “I do miss running for the team! It was like a family for me, and I miss my teammates and coaches equally. Having the opportunity to help out at this meet made me feel connected to the team once again, and it was almost as if I never left, other than the fact that I wasn’t running the steeplechase.” What was your favorite memory when you were on the track team? “My favorite memory when I was on the track team was running the 2-mile at the Divisional Championship in 2022 with one shoe. It was a defining moment in my high school running career and an exhibition of the strong mindset distance running instilled in me. It was also nice to score for the team at a championship meet, and we won the meet!” What was your favorite event to run and why? “My favorite event to run was the 3000m Steeplechase. I love that event because of how dynamic and strategic it is, as well as how important form is when jumping off the barriers. I’m glad it was the last race I ran as a high schooler at the 2023 State Qualifier meet.” Will you DJ for the meet next year? “If Frazer will have me, I would be more than happy to DJ again at the meet, this time with more experience and practice beforehand.” Do you run for Syracuse or just on your own? Why? “I currently run and work out on my own as I am currently too busy to run with the running club there, but I am planning on making the running club a priority next fall so I can get back into some racing.” What advice do you have for runners who are not confident in themselves? “If you go to practice every day and work your hardest, you have nothing to worry about at meets and competitions except to run your hardest.” This year’s Valley Stream Challenge meet was a success. I cannot not wait for next year’s. Both the boys’ and girls’ track team have championship meets coming up, so be sure to come out and support them. GO SPARTANS! The results for the Valley Stream Challenge meet are available on Elitefeats: https://ny.milesplit.com/meets/591495-valley-stream-challenge-2024/teams BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Bite of ‘83 By Augustine Magapan Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by Scott Cawthon You may have read my previous article about Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach , but that was very far into the timeline of Scott Cawthon's intricate story. Easter eggs, clues, and theories from fans have transformed FNAF from a mere horror game to a cohesive, captivating narrative. However, it is worth noting that the story is not in chronological order. To better understand the story, players must play the video games in order starting with Five Nights at Freddy's 4 . Within the story, this is known as the "Bite of 83." It all started when two men, William Afton and Henry Emily, decided to start a business. The business consists of a pizza spot where children's parties may be held. The restaurant also includes various animatronic characters. If you are unaware of what an “animatronic” is, they are robots with animal detailing, carrying on with human characteristics. However, the two designed the animatronics to be worn as costumes as well so the employees could interact with the children in a rather creepy manner. As they opened the restaurant to the public, an abundance of people visited, highlighting the restaurant's overall success. But one night, William Afton, a married man with three children, decided to murder four children inside the restaurant. Luring them one by one into a room, he murders them all. If Afton was caught, he would get into big trouble. Mr. Afton would have to find a place to hide the bodies, and he decided to stuff them inside the animatronics. The police arrived, and the restaurant was then shut down. People speculated about where the missing children went. While it was all coming to plan for William Afton, Henry Emily experienced otherwise. Emily did not realize that Afton was a murderer until later, so they continued running the business. To continue the process of stuffing children inside animatronics, William Afton decided to construct a new robot called "Circus Baby," where she seems more feminine and dispenses ice cream. The robot is programmed to use a gigantic scooper that grabs children when no one is around. While Circus Baby was performing, Elizabeth Afton, the daughter of William Afton, wanted to approach her. However, Afton continuously denied his daughter's request. But one night, when her father wasn't looking, and no one was around, she decided to go up to Circus Baby. The animatronic dispensed some ice cream to lure Elizabeth closer, and she was scooped off her feet. William Afton searched everywhere for Elizabeth but couldn't find her. However, he soon realized where she went. He shut the restaurant down in frustration and denial that his daughter was gone. Afton couldn't bear the pain and wanted the rest of his children, Michael and Evan, to stay away from the restaurant. Michael was old enough to understand the situation, but Evan was only a young boy. Every time he had a chance, he would visit the pizza place. Luckily, William Afton always knew that Evan was going without his permission. To prevent Evan from leaving his house, William built four more animatronics like the ones in the pizza place, but scarier. That is when the players play Five Nights at Freddy's 4 . They play as Evan Afton trying to survive the night until 6 AM from the animatronics, along with Michael scaring him. William thought that the longer this went on, Evan would stop going to the pizza place. It worked profoundly; however, Michael had other ideas. Michael was a horrible brother to Evan. He would bully him because he enjoyed watching his little brother suffer. One night, when it was Evan's birthday, Michael decided to do one final prank, and Evan did not even want to be at the pizza place. He trapped Evan in a storage room, making Evan feel more afraid than ever. Michael and a few of his friends decided to do a prank where they wanted Evan to kiss the bear. They carried Evan towards the animatronic and shoved his head into the mouth of the bear. Since the bear could also be worn as a costume, the animatronics consist of spring locks, which activate the animatronic. To put on the costume, the spring locks must be off. Unfortunately, only Henry and William knew that accidents could happen with the spring locks. Springlock failures can happen when moisture enters the costume, accidentally turning it into an animatronic. Michael started to feel bad over time while watching his brother cry inside the mouth of the bear, so he wanted to take him out, but due to the tears inside the animatronic, the animatronic crushes Evan's frontal lobe. William was notified right away and rushed into the hospital. While Evan was lying on his death bed, he was in a coma when a new animatronic began popping up that was scarier. That was the additional night to the video game. As soon as the coma was gone, Evan heard voices. First, it was Michael saying his final sorry. Then, his father told him how sad and hurt he was and how understanding the situation Evan was in. He promised someday he would put his son back together. Unfortunately, those were the last words Evan heard before he died, laying there in 1983. William was frustrated with the business, and Michael could not think straight. So, what would happen with the business? And what would the relationship with his older son be? That story is for another day. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Single Sally Aamna Raja Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching “I'm scared that I'll be alone for the rest of my life. No one has ever been romantically interested in me. I think I'm going to die single... What should I do?” -Single Sally Hi Single Sally! First of all, it's completely normal to have concerns about your future, especially in high school where social dynamics can feel overwhelming. Everyone wants to be appreciated and loved, and you are! Maybe not romantically, but I’m sure your friends and family love you and care about you as well. Remember, your worth isn't defined by whether someone is romantically interested in you. You have so much to offer beyond romantic relationships. If you want a healthy outlet to express these feelings, I’d recommend focusing on building your self-confidence and focusing on your interests and hobbies. This is great to help you feel better and you may find someone with similar interests this way! Friendships often develop into romantic relationships, so focus on fostering meaningful connections with others. Remember, don't rush things. High school is only the early stages of your love life, and there's plenty of time for romance to grow in the future. Stay open to new experiences and opportunities! You are worthy of love and companionship, no matter your relationship status. Hang in there, Sally, and every other person reading this. You're not alone, and there's an entire world of possibilities waiting for you beyond high school. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Nayib Bukele - Democratic Leader or Autocrat? By Everton Prospere Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by the government of El Salvador (Official Portrait of the President Nayib Bukele) On June 1st, 2019, Nayib Bukele, 39, was sworn into office as the 46th President of El Salvador. As a president serving in a country where his government has faced much corruption, Bukele provided a beacon of light for the citizens. However, two years into his governance, the president has repeatedly faced scrutiny from politicians worldwide due to unconventional and questionable executive decisions. Although Bukele has sworn to fight corruption, has he as well become warped in this political cycle? El Salvador’s history of corruption dates back several decades. Several militaristic regimes ruled the state from 1931-1979, causing much strife and civil unrest due to seven coups during this time frame. However, the most relevant political unrest occurred with the last coup, in 1979. According to Britannica , the removal of Carlos Humberto Romero, a general and the president of El Salvador at the time of the coup, was the spark of the brutal twelve-year civil war. This conflict claimed the lives of over 75,000 civilians, as per the Center for Justice and Accountability, and ultimately the war led to a stalemate. The two sides, the newly formed Salvadoran government (which went through several power changes during the war itself) and the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN - left-wing in political ideology), agreed to the Chapultepec Peace Accords in 1992. These peace accords resulted in several governmental changes, and dissolved FMLN into a political party. The rise of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista political party (ARENA - right in political ideology) also should be taken into account, as this party held much influence throughout this period. Into the 21st century, FMLN and ARENA were the two prominent political parties that handed the baton of power between each other as they contested political positions in the Salvadoran government. Both of these political parties promoted presidents that have engaged in corruption and crimes. As per InSight Crimes , in 2016, Mauricio Funes (the 44th president, of FMLN), Antonio Saca (the 43rd president, of ARENA), and Francisco Flores Pérez (the 42nd president, of ARENA) all face monetary criminal charges; essentially, they have all robbed the Salvadoran people of millions in public funds. While Pérez passed away due to a cerebral hemorrhage, Saca is already serving a prison sentence, while Funes has fled to Nicaragua where he was seeking, then was granted, political asylum. These three administrations (which totaled 15 years) show the staunch corruption in the Salvadoran government. However, Bukele has sought to change this cycle. As a millionaire himself (due to his private business), Bukele has no direct incentive for stealing public money. Originally serving under FMLN, Bukele won the mayoral election of the capital city, San Salvador. Under this administration, Bukele was expelled from FMLN, causing him to be politically homeless. Despite this, Bukele grasped this opportunity and formed his own political party, Nuevas Ideas (NI) in 2017. Although the president was unable to run under NI for the 2019 presidential elections, he did compete under NI’s ally, the Gran Alianza por la Unidad Nacional (GANA). Under GANA, Bukele successfully won the 2019 presidential election, ousting the control FMLN and ARENA had since the end of the civil war in 1992. This great shift in power showed the will of the Salvadoran people to receive change; however, the change presented by President Bukele has been questionable. Immediately in his first week of office, Bukele fired government officials associated with the former president, Sánchez Cerén. While this was an expected move, as the president was beginning to set up his government, he used the unconventional method of firing officials over Twitter. However, according to The Independent, who cited Luis Assardo, a journalist from Guatemala, this form of communication is a way to surpass the media. Therefore, while there was some criticism, Twitter was and continues to be Bukele’s main mode of communication, and it has proved effective for the president. In regard to a more serious topic, Bukele’s handling of gang members has also proved controversial. The president combines the strategy of an “iron fist” (tough crime policies to halt gang activity) with incentives to keep young Salvadorans away from gangs, as described by War on the Rocks . This media outlet notes that due to these policies, “homicides have halved,” showing their high rates of effectiveness. However, the scrutiny of Bukele’s work comes from the treatment of the gang members in prison. According to Human Rights Watch , the imprisoned gang members were stripped of clothing, packed tightly together, and unable to receive light from the outside. In addition, members from enemy gangs were jailed together, potentially increasing the amount of violence in prisons. All of these incidents, as per Human Rights Watch , were ordered by Bukele himself, who permitted deadly action by security forces, despite this being against Salvadoran and international law. Additional criticism of the 46th president’s administration stems from the handling of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Reuters news agency reports that Bukele mandated several orders to force the populace to comply with pandemic regulations, otherwise they may be arrested and their property confiscated. In direct counter to these regulations, the Supreme Court, at the time, declared these orders unconstitutional. However, the president ignored the court’s rulings and continued to enforce his governance style during the pandemic. Evidently, one might consider this an abuse of power and a flaw in the system of checks and balances for the Salvadoran government. Furthermore, Bukele has taken advantage of his position and power by storming the Salvadoran legislature with troops. CNN describes that the president attempted to pressure the legislators into signing a law that would fund the military and police force, allowing them to supposedly better control gang violence. While Bukele’s plan to curb gang violence did prove effective, invading the parliament with troops to pressure a bill showed an authoritarian governing style. In face of all the political conflicts under Bukele’s administration, he has overall proved to have done the unthinkable. Nayib Bukele formed his own political party less than five years ago and took control of the presidency dominated by FMLN and ARENA, political parties drenched in corruption. He used his position to decrease El Salvador’s homicide rates, caused by extreme gang activity, to an all-time low by the end of 2020 (a little over a year into his presidency), an incredible feat for a state that was once considered to be the “murder capitol of the world”. The president also successfully curtailed the pandemic, with only 72,821 cases (as of May 28th, 2021) in a country with over six million people, as reported by Reuters’ Covid-19 tracker. His popularity also remains extraordinarily high, with a CID Gallup poll reporting that Bukele has an approval rating of 89% for his job as a whole and holds an approval rating of 98% for handling the pandemic. Many Salvadorans support him, including my grandmother. She was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States, and she states that “He’s a great president that truly cares about the wellness of his people. Health, education, the economy, and security are the priorities in his government.” Evidently, this trend in popularity continues because the NI political party, which Bukele founded, has recently (approximately a month ago) gained a supermajority in the Salvadoran legislature, taking 56 out of the 84 total seats in the assembly. This new parliament grants Bukele the ability to pass laws and regulations freely. One of the first actions of this legislative assembly was to depose and replace the five magistrates on the Supreme Court and the attorney general that hindered the president’s ability to govern. This move by the assembly, which is permitted by the Salvadoran constitution, was harshly criticized by many media outlets and politicians because it removed the last check and balance on the president. However, the Salvadoran people appear generally unfazed by the removal of the judges, with President Bukele himself stating to critics in a reply to a tweet that “75% of the Salvadoran people voted in these free elections for the change we are seeing.” Despite all the controversy seen in his administration, Bukele continues to challenge the cycle of corruption in the government in his unique way for the Salvadoran people who overwhelmingly support him. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Art Guild Back to Sections RBG By Keren Dial November 24, 2020 Colored Pencil Volume 1 Issue 2

Back to Artwork Prism Back to Sections Julianna Silva - Prism By Julianna Silva November 24, 2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

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

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