The National Council for Voluntary Organisations characterizes volunteering as “…when someone spends unpaid time doing something … to benefit the environment (and through that, other people)” (“What Is Volunteering?”). What does it look like for students at an online school, such as NorthStar, to volunteer? To push that thought further, why should students consider volunteering in the first place?
Read MoreHere is a quick quiz for our Navigator readers today: Asia… A. Is the largest continent by land mass B. Is the largest continent by population C. Contains 51 countries D. All of the above
Read MoreTrophies, popularity, leniency from teachers – these are some of the things people first associate with a top-ranked student-athlete. However, the reality is incredibly different. While aspects of playing a sport at this high level are amazing and very rewarding, there are also many challenges that make one wonder whether the effort is worth it.
Read MoreSeptember 18, 2025. The Back to School Bash, an event hosted by NorthStar Academy’s Student Council, was in full force. As I looked through that day’s schedule, one call caught my eye: “Lore Drop #25-26.”
Read MoreAfrica is a large and diverse continent, filled with many countries, languages, and cultures. (And no, Africa is not a country!) As an international school, NorthStar Academy serves around 100 students listed as living in Africa, though there may be even more when considering high-security families who prefer not to say where they live.
Read MoreNSA’s Student Council (StuCo) is a team of responsible and dedicated individuals who desire to serve their school. “My goal is that StuCo only continues to foster and encourage that unique sense of community that NSA has, allowing it to continually impact students for many more years,” StuCo President Michaela said in an interview. Throughout the year, StuCo plans events, creates activities, and aims to engage the school’s community.
Read MoreNorthStar Academy is a unique school for many reasons. The NSA family embraces a multitude of reasons to love NorthStar Academy, from being an online school to having Christian values. However, some of these great features of the school and the community in it are not talked about enough. The Navigator staff decided to change this by coming together to talk to members of NorthStar to identify some of the reasons that this is such a great school. From faculty and Student Council to Club Leaders and regular students, come see how NorthStar Academy is cherished by those who are in it each day.
Read MoreThe world behind Navi went up in flickering tongues of fire. Crimson lasers pierced through the violet glow. Within seconds, the sentinel had set the spaceship ablaze, turning the glimmering remains to a blistering furnace. The robot’s eyes, two narrow screens in his metal skin, rested their deadly gaze on the newcomers.
Read MoreDid you know laughter is a great form of stress relief (Mayo Clinic Staff)? Laughing can have biological effects on our bodies that help reduce the physical symptoms of stress. In an environment like school, where students and teachers are surrounded by stress, humor is important. It makes lessons more engaging, brings students together, and provides outlets for students to have fun.
Read MoreGreetings everyone! I am proud to introduce the first in a series of stories starring NorthStar’s very own Navi! This will be a continuous story that will be handed off to a different person on the Navigator each publication. We hope that everyone will tune in for each new chapter in this epic new adventure!
Read MoreNorthStar Academy offers a multitude of student programs. From classes, to clubs, to events and more, NSA is anything but short on student offerings. One of the programs offered is the tutoring program. Sometimes students need extra help with their classes. This is where NSA’s tutors come in.
Read MoreWhat do you like to do in your free time? Perhaps you enjoy playing sports, reading at your local library, making bracelets, or hanging out with your friends. One of the blessings of online school is that it allows you to chat with students on the other side of the globe from the convenience of your bedroom. However, online school does have a significant downside. Your parents might not be able to afford the plane tickets you need to meet some of your classmates in person. Not to worry, though–-there are ways for you to meet with international NorthStar students minus the high cost of traveling.
Read MoreA requiem Mass is a prayer for the dead used in Roman Catholic services (McConnell). From the Latin for “rest,” the requiem meditates on the final judgment and the Christian’s hope of salvation (“English Translation”). There have been many musical settings to this prayer, but among them, the Requiem of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart stands out as one of the greatest of all time.
Read MoreImagination, or the ability to think beyond reality to come up with new ideas, is a vital skill in life, though different from academic skills that are normally taught in school. However, it is often difficult to think creatively, especially for those who have not had practice. Enter the world of roleplays.
Read MoreImagine being a full-time student at NSA, but schoolwork is not all you do. Apart from studying at least five hours per day, you also spend between one to three hours per day training for your sport. This is the reality of a few select NSA students, to whom their sport is just as important as their studies. Student-athletes are a unique group of students who demonstrate how useful NSA can be, and who show a level of dedication that is hard to come across. Let us dive into the most popular sport practiced by this group of people: football, better known in the US as soccer.
Read MoreAbout a week ago I met up with a friend over coffee. While she was working on her laptop across from me, I drafted the outline of my recent English essay. My friend said something that caught my attention: “Wow, it’s like you’re living as a college student already.” Surprisingly, it seemed true. Within the past twenty minutes I had booked a taxi, paid the driver, ordered my drink, and begun to work off my phone’s Wi-Fi, all on my own. It got me thinking, what similarities are there between online high school and college students’ day-to-day? What freedoms and responsibilities come from online schools that are carried into college? How can attending an online school prepare students for college life outside academics?
Read MoreFall is the season of thankfulness, and with the abundant blessings God gives us throughout the year, it is an excellent time to take a moment and recognize what we are thankful for and how He has worked in our lives.
Read MoreNorthStar Academy is constantly adding, revising, and improving their courses. There are already an incredible number of courses offered at the school; however, this year, several new classes have been added to the options that high school students can choose from.
Read MoreImagine showing up to a club meeting week after week… except you were the only member. The chairs are empty, the books are unread, and the game pieces are yet to be moved. That doesn’t sound much like a club, does it? According to the Oxford Dictionary, a club is, “An organization for people who share an interest or do a sport or activity together” (Oxford University Press). There is a purpose for meeting, and it is not about the activity. It’s about the people.
Read More“I just wanna be adopted by anyone and everyone willing to adopt me. I wanna see how many NSA parents I can have.” Yes, you have read that sentence right. No, it is not talking about actual adoptions. Confused yet? Do not worry, we all are. Join me in my quest of trying to explain NSA families in a way that makes sense - and based on the fact that even the main participants are confused, it will not be an easy one.
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