It 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.’”
Read MoreNSA's Pre-Professional Portfolio course (PPP100), also known as PPP, was launched in August of 2023. It is designed to allow high school students to earn credit for skill-building through instructor-led extracurricular activities they participate in. The course also teaches skills for reflection and goal-setting. A student can take this semester-long course up to eight times during high school, earning a maximum of four elective credits for extracurricular activities.
Read MoreHave you ever been curious as to how you start a Minecraft server or ever wanted to know more about maintaining one? This article contains the answers to both questions. The owner and manager of NorthStar's very own Minecraft SMP (Survival Multi Player) Server, Alexander M., has advice and information regarding his server and the skills and resources needed to create and maintain it.
Read MoreHave you ever dreamed of making a difference in the world? Well, that's what Cora and her family do. They live in Mexico and work with an organization that helps orphans and orphanages and have lived there since Cora was six years old. At the orphanages, her family sponsors children and works with the organization to better the environment for the children.
Read MoreAre you a writer, a musician, or a chef? There’s something for everyone in the NorthStar clubs, opening this fall. The Club Coordinators this year are Naomi E. and Max H.! In this interview, they told me their plans for the clubs of NorthStar.
Read More“Should Poetry Aim To Be Profound?” was written by Onyinyechi U. and is being posted due to her being the winner of the creative writing prompts short story contest.
Read MorePicture this: you are sitting at church on a bright Sunday morning. The strong scent of the older woman’s perfume in front of you is tickling your nose. You are begging your stomach to stop gurgling so loudly that the people in front of you turn their heads. The pastor has reached the final five minutes of his sermon. He is giving the congregation final reminders for the week. Loving others, reading your Bible, and obeying God. Wait a second, obeying God? You question in your mind, How in the world am I supposed to obey a distant creator? What possible directions could he have for me? Why would he even need to concern himself with my obedience? Well, NorthStar Bible teachers and spiritual leaders answered this in the hopes of bringing students closer to God and giving younger generations a deeper understanding of God.
Read MoreThe Navigator ended in June, and all the writers went their separate ways. Sometimes it's easy to forget that people we know from NSA have lives outside of school. In this article, let’s check on what the Nav writers were doing this offseason.
Read MoreAs a teacher, I should be excited as we come to the beginning of June–cheering for the seniors who have completed their high school journey. But this year, that celebration is mixed with a bit of reserve.
Read More“The Quiz” is a short story written by one of NorthStar’s students who participated in a short story competition for NSA’s Creative Wiring Club. Reader discretion is advised, as the story contains some fantasy violence. The first chapter of the story is here in this article. To read the full story, click here.
Read More“Arrivederci” is a short story written by one of NorthStar’s students who participated in a short story competition for NSA’s Creative Wiring Club. Reader discretion is advised, as the story contains some fantasy violence. The prologue of the story is here in this article. To read the full story, click here.
Read MoreNorthStar Academy has students located all around the world. As such, NSA students have experienced a vast variety of wildlife. Today, let’s go on a globe-trotting safari to find out what wildlife encounters look like for NSA students.
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