I never knew I was going to join NorthStar Academy. In fact, I never knew online school was an option. I never knew that this event in life would lead me to one of the sweetest communities I have ever seen. In the grand year of 2020, when all earth shut down, I was presented with the opportunity of learning this new format. Four years later, I remain in NorthStar Academy and do not plan on leaving anytime soon. However, the question remains: why is this such a good school?
Read MoreOver the summer, the Navigator dealt with some copyright issues over an image. The Navigator took special precautions to make sure this never happened again. Jared L. and I were given responsibility for this job, but what does that mean?
Read MoreGrowing up is hard. With youth comes unconditional nurture, but no knowledge. With adolescence comes knowledge, but a sudden distaste for the safety we once craved. Exhilarated by the vast expanse of opportunity that lies before us, we oftentimes rush off without looking back. We get so enthralled in the excitement of the future, we can forget to thank the people who helped us along the way.
Read MoreWhen I was growing up, the idea of homeschooling or online school was foreign to me. I attended a public elementary school. Every day I would wake up and go to school from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon. I did this from kindergarten to well into my first year of middle school. However, along with the rest of the world, my life changed in 2020.
Read MoreFor those of you who are unaware, Lydia has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Navigator for the last three years. She stepped up last-minute before the 2021-2022 school year began and offered to take on the role in the sudden absence of the previously scheduled Editor-in-Chief. Since accepting the role, Lydia has worked diligently to ensure the success of the Navigator, creating a fun and welcoming environment for all members of the team, whilst maintaining a professional workspace.
Read MoreIf you had told me two years ago I would be attending an online school, of my own accord, I would have laughed in your face. However, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the absolute blessing that NorthStar Academy has been in my life. Albeit unexpected, I am able to look back and say that this was truly one of the best decisions I could have made for myself.
Read More“Yes!” I screamed, leaping away from the computer to hug my parents. It was April 2023, and I had received a Teams message informing me of my first-place win in the Creative Writing Club’s fiction contest. My dark fantasy short story, “The Quiz,” was to be published in the NorthStar Navigator, the school’s online newspaper.
Read MoreMrs. Meyer, the teacher advisor for The Navigator, is the guiding force behind NorthStar’s student newspaper. While she works behind the scenes, she is instrumental in coordinating, directing, uplifting, and leading the staff. So, The Navigator staff would like to take a moment to thank her for everything she has done this year.
Read MoreHello everyone. My name is Alexander. My family chose to enroll me in NorthStar Academy for three reasons. The first reason why I joined NSA was that my parents wanted me to go to an accredited high school, which helps with getting into college. The second reason I joined NSA was that my mom and dad wanted me to go to a Christian school like NSA. The last reason I joined NSA was that my parents liked the curriculum that NSA uses.
Read MoreFor me, NorthStar has been an essential part of my schooling experience. I live overseas and travel a lot. Sometimes I need to be flexible when I do school. NorthStar enables me to work anywhere at any time in basically any place I need. As a result, I can be very efficient in how I do my work, while also being flexible so that I can prioritize other things in my life that are important.
Read MoreYears ago, I never would have thought I would ever find myself joining a school newspaper. Yet, that is exactly what I decided to do when I joined the Navigator. I have learned much more in my time with the Navigator than I ever imagined I would, and I am so grateful for that.
Read MoreIt is time for another wildlife adventure! Last year, I highlighted the wildlife encounters of the students of NSA. But, now it is time for the wildlife encounters of NSA’s faculty to shine. So, prepare yourselves to embark on an adventure around the world to visit the places where NSA’s faculty had some of their most notable wildlife encounters.
Read MoreLydia B., a student at NorthStar, created some fantastic artwork. Along with her artwork she included some artist statements. Check it out!
Read MoreMy finger hovered over the Submit Work button on my laptop, hesitation freezing my hand. It was the first time I would ever submit an assignment to a NorthStar teacher, one I had never met at that, on my first day of online school. I took a deep breath and clicked, immediately checking the activity stream to see if I had gotten a response. A few minutes later, the feedback was updated. The teacher had left an encouraging grade, and a welcoming recording, calming my frantic nerves. For online students, it can be seemingly impossible to know teachers. However, a few of the incredible staff at NorthStar agreed to be interviewed to give students a better glimpse of what it means to be an educator.
Read MoreHave you ever wondered what a good job to pursue after you finish school would be? Jonathan Shaw, father of a student at NorthStar Academy, is the CEO of a company known as Nuru (Swahili for light) that helps many people by providing renewable energy to them. Nuru is a solar energy company located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a central African country which is suffering from violence, corruption in the government, poverty, and a lack of education. However, Nuru has been making huge strides in fixing these problems. Below is an interview with Jonathan Shaw, the aforementioned CEO and founder of Nuru:
Read MoreAt NorthStar Academy, there are a variety of outlets for students to follow their individual passions and practice valuable skills. Examples include clubs, online chapel meetings, and esports teams. However, these outlets would not be able to continue functioning the way they do today without the student council at NorthStar Academy. While a council of students might at first seem barely related to the workings of NorthStar Academy’s student body, its members do quite a bit for the student body behind the scenes.
Read MoreI know what you did on December 31, well, not exactly, but a rough idea. You probably toasted a chilled glass of something sparkling, and resolved to some sort of ritual that would lead to a better you in 2024. Well, you aren’t alone. Millions of people around the world participate in this tradition, either scribbling resolutions down on a crumpled napkin, or in an embellished notebook they purchased for the occasion. Well, the Navigator staff also participated in this ritual, and shared some of the resolutions they made for 2024.
Read MoreFrom 2018-2020, the editor-in-chief at the Navigator was Savannah L. Not only was Savannah the editor-in-chief, but also one of the founders of the Navigator class at NorthStar. Since graduating, Savannah now attends Mount St. Mary’s college in Maryland. It has been four years since Savannah left NorthStar, and now is as good a time as any to catch up.
Read MoreDepression is “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest” (Mayo Health Clinic). “Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression” (World Health Organization). Anyone can get depression. It can come after the death of a loved one, anxiety from school, or other external circumstances. However, depression is not the end of the road. It can be battled with hope and resilience.
Read MoreThis year, two Northstar students are living onboard one of the Mercy Ships. You might be asking, “What is a Mercy Ship?” Mercy Ships is a Christian charity that was established by Don and Deyon Stephens. Currently, there are two Mercy Ships known as the Global Mercy (GLM) and the Africa Mercy (AFM). Zara explains, “Mercy Ships provides free surgery to people in Africa. They do surgeries for people with tumors, bowlegs, cleft palates, and other diseases.” Zara also mentioned, “The organization aims to 'Follow the 2,000-year-old model of Jesus to bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor.’”
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