SEARCH RESULTS

North's Art Honor Society donates 10+ portraits to the children in Syria through their partnership with the Memory project. Scroll below to view some. ARTWORK CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW ARTWORK MEMORY PROJECT LOAD MORE GALLERY LOAD MORE

North Star Halloween Costume Contest Vote for your favorite costume and photo! The Art Department The Art Department The Art Department The Haunted Maze- Art Club and Art Honor Society Jen ATC and Sam Jen ATC Hot Dogs Alexa D'Andrea and Amelia Muscatelli- Pink and Yellow Princesses Mrs. Meringolo's Class Alexa D'Andrea- Pink Princess Jayda Rutledge- "Joe Cool" Marcus Chiu and Aleeza Dhillon- Wild West Abigail Reichbach and Samantha Defalco- Plum Pudding and Strawberry Shortcake Arianna Hack- Tinker Bell The Art Department The Math Department- Party Animals Fiona from "Adventure Time"- Quinn O'Connor Sophia Reese- Founding Fathers The Math Department- Party Animals Elaine Ching, Melody Chen, Jack Voss VOTE

ALL ARTICLES NEWS ART & CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA FEATURE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLARIS EDITORIAL SPORTS ADVICE The Destructive Aftermath of Hurricane Melissa News Akilan Subramaniyan December 22, 2025 READ MORE North's Annual Club Fair News Wardah Khizer December 22, 2025 READ MORE For what is fear, if fear cannot kill? Polaris Jasmine Roberts December 22, 2025 READ MORE Introductory - Ekin Pinar Advice Ekin Pinar December 22, 2025 READ MORE Welcoming Mr. Bracco! Feature Mikayla Aziz December 22, 2025 READ MORE Enjoy the Silence Feature Jasmine Roberts December 22, 2025 READ MORE Zohran Mamdani: Stepping up Socialism Editorial Breena Bernabe December 22, 2025 READ MORE The Return of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Feature Ava Augello December 22, 2025 READ MORE A Story of Good and Bad Polaris Leah Ally December 22, 2025 READ MORE 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 ... 87

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Mixed Feelings Regarding the Covid-19 Vaccine By Ismaela Andre Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by NY State of Health The COVID-19 Vaccine has been around for several months now, and it’s a widely available vaccine that helps your body develop antibodies to protect you from COVID. However, does the person taking it feel protected? Although I took my first dose of the vaccine, I still don’t feel safe in large, crowded areas, nor do I feel fully protected. I think that I can still be infected with COVID despite having the vaccine. I also think that other people can carry the virus whether they’re vaccinated or not. I can’t say that I liked getting the vaccine shot; however, I can’t say that I don’t like it either. Students at Valley Stream North High school also share mixed views regarding the vaccine. Amelia Avila, a 10th grader at VSN, said in an interview: I believe the Covid-19 vaccine has been a type of ‘safety net’ most people have been waiting for. There is no certainty behind it, but there is no certainty behind any vaccine during its beginning stages. Not only does it keep you safe, [but it also] keeps others safe as well. Some might argue that the COVID vaccine doesn't work because you can still get COVID, but no one has said that you cannot get Covid if you have the vaccine. Just like the flu shot, you can still get the flu, it just helps your body to prepare for the flu antibodies if they ever enter your body; the Covid-19 vaccine does the same thing. Amelia acknowledged both opinions regarding the vaccine, and I agree with her. The COVID-19 vaccine might’ve been the “safety net” that people needed from this pandemic. However, some students at VSN find the vaccine very helpful and they trust it. Syeda Zainab, a 10th grader, said in an interview that she “loved getting the vaccine. I felt protected and safer after I got it.” Some people, after getting vaccinated, felt safer than when they were unvaccinated. However, there are also some students who have no views regarding the vaccine. Jamilie Ramirez, another 10th grader from VSN, said “I only don’t like the vaccine because after I got it, it hurt for a week.” Some people liked the vaccine but didn’t like the aftereffects that came with it. There are mixed views regarding the vaccine, but each person can express their opinion about it. How do YOU feel about the vaccine? Add your opinion here! https://forms.office.com/r/TxU90u6t34 BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Are You Part of It? Noa Cordova Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image provided by Clipart Library In school, we get graded on homework, projects, assignments, tests, quizzes, and another thing that you cannot turn in or put on paper: participation. So, what is participation? As I see it, participation is involvement or being a part of something whether it is a discussion, activity, or group. We are aware of the importance of participation in the classroom, partly because our teachers stress it every day, and Infinite Campus sends us notifications for our participation grades, but how are we of the importance of participation outside of the classroom? I would like to focus on the kind of participation we are not graded on or our involvement in the school community. Throughout September, we heard about the many extracurriculars that Valley Stream North offers at the club fair dedicated to displaying the activities of the different clubs to new students or others looking to get involved. The idea that we should attend school events, join clubs, or try out for sports has been discussed repeatedly, but for good reason. I think that we have become heavily focused on how extracurriculars look on paper for college applications and overlooked the reason it matters to colleges in the first place. I spoke with Mr. Brodsky, one of the guidance counselors here at Valley Stream North, about the importance of involvement in the school community, and he mentioned that, “not only will it enhance your college application, but it will also show the college that you are a well-rounded student and that you want to give back to the community.” A majority of the clubs here at VSN work for the betterment of the school community or society; however, are those clubs as popular as sports? At our grade level assembly, our assistant principal, Mr. Jara, asked us to stand to gauge the extracurriculars students were involved in. A majority of students participated in sports and other clubs, but several were only involved in sports. Of course, playing a sport is healthy, builds community, and demonstrates school spirit; however, I think participation outside of the classroom should go beyond athletics and include activities that directly work to benefit the school community because, as I discussed with Mr. Brodsky, it says a lot about a student when they dedicate time to serve the community and inspire others to do so as well. It is important that we all collectively understand the importance of joining clubs that work to serve the school community. The Alliance, BSU, Ecology Club, Key Club, SADD Club, STOP Club, and Wellness Center are examples of clubs that serve the school community. These clubs provide everyone with the opportunity to help support a cause that they are enthusiastic about, which matters to colleges because according to Mr. Brodsky, when colleges are working on admitting students, they want to know, “Will they enhance our community as they did in high school, or on a bigger scale?” These organizations are a space to participate in discussions, campaigns, fundraisers, decorating, and unique activities organized by these clubs which work to enhance the community. Participation in the school community is not limited to the few clubs or sports we choose to join; it includes supporting the clubs we are not a part of. Spirit days are popular amongst the clubs here at VSN and allow others to support the causes that other clubs advocate for. Spirit days are a simple way to uplift our school community or other communities by making the simple decision to wear a specific color, yet there seems to be a lack of participation. As a member of clubs like SADD, where we plan out spirit weeks to get others involved in our campaigns, I have noticed that several students do not participate in spirit days. Advertising does not seem to be the issue because flyers are displayed, morning announcements are made, and reminders are posted via teams. I understand that we cannot all participate in every spirit day because not everyone owns a pink shirt, cultural clothing, a lei, or has a favorite celebrity to dress up as, but we should try our best to participate in those that we can because supporting other clubs is a significant part of school participation. We can make a statement as a school community with a wardrobe choice and show our dedication to a particular cause. Some spirit weeks are just for enjoyment or school spirit, and participating in these days demonstrates your support for our school. Another more direct way to participate by supporting other clubs is by attending fundraisers or sales. Certainly, you do not have to buy at every fundraiser, and you should only spend money if your financial situation allows you to do so. As someone without a sweet tooth, it is understandable that not everyone would like to purchase a pie, cookie, or muffin, but clubs also sell practical items like pens, pins, water bottles, or bracelets. Recently, North's band held a fundraiser for the Daler community to help support them after the Farmingdale bus tragedy, an example of how participating in the school community can help another community. Students may not participate in fundraisers, spirit days, or clubs because they are unsure of how it helps or what it is for, so I would encourage everyone to ask. Ask advisors, teachers, and club members how you can get involved and participate in the many wonderful activities going on in the school community. Everyone has something to contribute, so ask questions and be part of it! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections The Benefits of Reading and how phones are harmful By Manal Layachi Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by Pinterest People think about why reading is important, and they might think reading is boring, or that it will help them with nothing in life. That’s where they are wrong. There are a lot of benefits to reading a few pages a day. Reading books can help with mental stimulation. Studies have shown that having a sharp mind can slow or prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Another benefit is stress reduction. When you are reading a story, you forget about what is happening in your personal life, and you step into a different world. Reading can also benefit your knowledge such as with learning new words and reading about things you’ve never heard of that might come in handy later in your life. When you read a book, you remember the characters, setting, and images. As a result, reading can improve your memory. Some other benefits that come with reading are stronger analytical skills, improved focus and concentration, better writing skills, and tranquility. Studies have shown that reading spiritual texts can lower blood pressure and help people dealing with disorders. Reading is good, but not many people take the opportunity to sit down and open a good book. Most people are on their phones or other technological devices. Phones are harmful in a lot of ways. For example, they give off radiation that is harmful to the nervous system. Also, using your phone too much can have a risk of giving cancer, and the light can damage your eyes. In my opinion, phones are helpful, but they cause harm to the brain, so it is better to read books. In conclusion, use your phone less, and read books because they help your knowledge get stronger. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Documents Found in Joe Biden’s Homes By Cael Javier Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Reuters In the U.S., the Presidential Records Act controls all the rules on presidential records and classified files of the White House. It established that presidential records are the property of the U.S. government. They must be preserved and are not the president’s private property. Before this law was passed, presidents who were leaving office just took their documents with them when they left the White House. It was considered their personal property. With this law, the records became the property of the U.S. government, and the National Archives oversee them. The law applies to the president, vice president, and some portions of the Executive Office of the President, including the National Security Council and Council of Economic Advisers. It lays out the requirements for maintaining and securing the information during and after a presidency. Starting in November 2022, documents started turning up at Joe Biden’s former D.C. house. On November 2nd, Biden’s lawyers found classified documents in an office that Biden used after he left the vice presidency. A few days later, the National Archives inspector-general contacted a prosecutor at the Justice Department to let them know that classified documents were found at the office. The FBI then began an assessment to get better knowledge of whether the information was mishandled. On November 14th, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lausch Jr. to conduct an initial investigation. The FBI conducted a search of the former Biden office. It is unsure whether any new records were recovered. The search was mutual, and a warrant was not needed. About a month later, more documents were found in Biden’s garage in Delaware. On December 20th, Biden’s personal counsel informed Lausch about this information. On January 9th, 2023, the White House revealed that a small number of classified documents were found on November 2nd in a locked closet in Biden’s former office. The next day, Biden stated that he was shocked the documents were found and that he did not know what they consisted of. The White House then revealed that more documents were found in Joe Biden’s house in Wilmington, Delaware. Garland appointed the former justice official Robert Hur as special counsel to further investigate the handling of the documents. On January 20th, the FBI conducted a thorough search of Biden’s home in Wilmington, and they found six more classified items. This search did not require a warrant. On February 1st, the FBI searched Biden’s home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Biden’s lawyers reported that there were not any classified records recovered. The investigators took materials and handwritten notes that might be related to Biden’s time as vice president. There are still updates on this situation today. The documents should be kept safe with the U.S. government and the National Archives. Joe Biden has not faced accusations of destroying documents, unlike Donald Trump. Trump has been accused of destroying documents while in office. If he were convicted of destroying documents, he would not be eligible to run for president again. Biden’s case is different. The Act requires evidence that his actions were unlawful. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Anonymous - Memory Project - 2 By Anonymous March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Athlete Spotlight: Kevin Beltran By Navrosedip Kundlas and Matteo Somma Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image Provided by Valley Stream North XC/Track Facebook Page Junior distance runner Kevin Beltran has been making waves in the running world with his impressive accomplishments. As a four-time All-County athlete and two-time All-State athlete, Beltran has consistently proven himself an exceptional runner. His talents have not gone unnoticed, as he has been ranked #1 on the Long Island Team in Cross Country by Just In Time Racing . Beltran's achievements are not limited to the team rankings. He also holds several Valley Stream North distance records. As Beltran continues to excel in his running career, we are all looking forward to seeing what he will achieve in the future. Beltran’s Athletic High School Accomplishments (thus far): Four-Time Season All-County Runner for Indoor Track and Field (2021-22), Outdoor Track and Field (2022), Cross Country (2022), and Indoor Track (2022-23) Two-Time All-State Runner in the 5000-meter and the 1000-meter Intersectional Relay #1 Long Island Cross Country Team by Just in Time Racing School Records Held by Kevin Beltran (thus far): Junior and overall, 5000-meter School Record Holder (Cross Country 2022) with a time of 15:47.75 Junior and overall, 4000-meter School Record Holder (Cross-Country 2022) with a time of 12:52.30 Junior and overall, 1000-meter School Record Holder (Indoor Track 2022-23) with a time of 2:33.98 Junior and overall, 1600-meter School Record Holder (Indoor Track 2022-23) with a time of 4:30.33 Junior and overall, one mile (1609-meters) School Record Holder (Indoor Track 2022-23) with a time of 4:24.57 Junior and overall, 3200-meter School Record Holder (Indoor Track 2022-23) with a time of 9:41.39 Sophomore and overall, 1600-meter School Record Holder (Outdoor Track 2022) with a time of 4:20.40 As Kevin Beltran looks towards the future, it's clear he has already made a significant impact on the local world of distance running. His impressive achievements as a junior have earned him widespread recognition and respect from the running community, as well as VSN students, staff and alumni. Beltran's hard work and dedication to his sport, as well as the influence of VSN Track coaches Mr. Frazer and Mr. Boyens, have certainly paid off, and it's likely he will continue to achieve great heights in the years to come. As we have watched Beltran's scholastic running career unfold, he is a rising star in the sport, and we can't wait to see where his talents take him next. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections The Importance of Intrinsic Motivation By Alain Deen Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Knowledge One Intrinsic motivation proves to be one of the most important aspects when it comes to both education and modern-day industry. In simple terms, intrinsic motivation is the act of doing an activity or task with a sheer passion for it. Passion proves to be the key to success, as it provides us with a sense of reason. Instead of performing tasks or activities simply because one enjoys it, a lot of the time people exhibit extrinsic motivation. This type of motivation emphasizes performing activities or tasks solely for external factors, such as compensation or validation. Unfortunately, modern day industry in recent decades has been plagued with superficial and materialistic ideals, which stems from education. From youth, we are taught to learn subject material and simply regurgitate said material on exams. This provides room for comparison, allowing for unnecessary ideals of competition to arise among students. The examinations begin to define a student’s intelligence, which can often be especially degrading. Then, the sheer desire for good grades develops, which do not compensate for enjoyment of learning course material. This concept is then translated into the workplace in later life, and often creates cynical working environments. Therefore, it is crucial to fuel passion into modern day education, specifically through the encouragement of intrinsic motivation. With intrinsic motivation, students are more likely to succeed, as they are willing to put in the effort due to their enjoyment of the subject matter. For instance, it helps in fueling one’s passions, as it drives students to achieve these goals. Establishing a grade curriculum which is both well-rounded and provides students with the niche-specific concepts allows for a more integrated and positive working environment. Experts argue that when students are less focused on short-term results, but long-term skills and implications, their overall positivity and performance goes up. This also applies to modern day industry. When employees pursue an occupation which fulfill their passions, performance increases, which corroborates that intrinsic motivation is a necessary component to occupational well-being. It is evident that the creation of materialistic and greedy tendencies translates into modern occupation. For instance, employees might simply arrive at work with the sheer desire for compensation, without any sort of passion present. This creates a lackluster working spaces, with little to no room for creativity. Therefore, instilling these ideals from an early age might reverse these effects. Overall, I believe it is necessary for students and young adults to question their passions. Not only does it create a more positive environment themselves, but those around them too. Fueling your interests is simply imperative, especially in high school. Thus, I recommend joining clubs, sports, and even engaging in outside extracurriculars to help develop and discover those interests. Trust me, you’ll thank me later! BACK TO TOP