2023-2024

I grinned widely as I sat by the campfire, soaking wet in drizzling rain, and looked up at the gray sky. Despite the cold and wet, I felt anything but miserable. Instead, a deep sense of peace and contentment washed over me, proving that nature's embrace can be a balm for the soul even in less-than-ideal conditions. I knew it would rain most of the weekend, yet I decided to go camping anyway.

The world is an immense place: miles of oceans, mountains that touch the clouds, and beauty that expands across the globe. Over the past few hundred years, humans have continued investigating and discovering more of this beautiful world. That is what the Navigator staff was able to do for this article. For many students, receiving a high-quality education is difficult. However, NorthStar remedies this issue by utilizing technology to connect students and teachers via an online landscape. Additionally, NSA provides many opportunities to build and strengthen relationships in an online environment. The Navigator staff had the opportunity to learn more about the students at NorthStar and how NSA’s unique campus experience accommodates them in their home countries.

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?

Over 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?

This is a creative writing piece written by a member of the Navigator staff. It is set in the same universe as parts one and two of the creative writing piece known as “The Faceless” and is set a few days after the events of “The Faceless.” As the title suggests, this is the third installment in “A Mysterious End.” Reading parts one and two first is strongly recommended.

Growing 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.

When 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.

For 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.

If 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. 

“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.

Mrs. 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.

Hello 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.

For 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.

Years 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.

Many schools across the board hold special elections for a Student Council system. However, while some schools may have limited roles, NorthStar Academy has a vast array of positions. The system that helps fill these roles can be somewhat complex at times, so this will give a guide on the process! 

This is a creative writing piece written by a member of the Navigator staff. It is set in the same universe as parts one and two of the creative writing piece known as “The Faceless” and is set a few days after the events of “The Faceless.” As the title suggests, this is the second installment in “A Mysterious End.” Reading part one first is strongly recommended.

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.

“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

I do not know if you had previously heard the news about the fox and the dog, but this is a sentence I learned as a young child. Now I have heard and read lots of sentences in my lifetime, of course, but there is a reason that I have remembered this one when so many others have, as poet laureate Billy Collins once put it, "retired to that little fishing village in my brain" to be remembered no more.

Lydia B., a student at NorthStar, created some fantastic artwork. Along with her artwork she included some artist statements. Check it out!

The 96th Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 10, 2024. In this exciting event, many films from 2023 were honored for their performances, screenplays, and technical effects. So we decided to ask NorthStar students which of last year’s movies they loved best. 

Education is a big topic of debate. Whether it’s going to school full-time, part-time, or being fully homeschooled, you have probably heard your family discuss the topic of school. It is a major part of children's lives. It is essential that a person's education is solid. A biblical education is also important, but how did Christian schools come to be? How did the Reformation play a part in that?

*DISCLAIMER* The information presented in this article is aimed at residents in the United States, but it can still provide helpful information to residents in other countries.

While there are many technical aspects to consider when you are purchasing a laptop, there are also many personal things to consider when purchasing a laptop.  Some of these things include the purpose, personalization, ports, and purchase of your laptop.

At NorthStar Academy, students have the choice to join a wide variety of clubs - nine to be exact. One club, the Bible Club, is rather popular among NSA Students. This club discusses everything Bible-related and has caused many NSA Students to experience growth of some sort. This article will provide background information and current data about the Bible Club as well as information regarding the content within the club, the growth of the club leaders, and the plans for the club’s future. 

My 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. 

This is a creative writing piece written by a member of the Navigator staff. It is set in the same universe as parts one and two of the creative writing piece known as “The Faceless” and is set a few days after the events of “The Faceless.”

The Protestant Reformation began on October 31, 1517, in Wittenberg, Germany (“The Protestant Reformation”).  Martin Luther was a monk, who became a Christian after a terrible storm. He survived the storm and devoted his life to Christ.

One thing that we all use here at NSA is an electronic device.  Whether it be a tablet, phone, or computer, we often need to use our electronic devices for our schoolwork as well as to communicate with our classmates.  This article will be the technical section of a two-part guide to buying a laptop, but many of these ideas and tips can apply to buying a PC as well.

What is worship? This may seem like a simple question, but it really is not.  When asking NorthStar students what they think worship is, I received a wide variety of responses. Most students described it as “the act of praising God.” But is that all it is? What many people fail to realize is that it is more than that.

Here at the Navigator, we work to create enjoyable publications full of a wide variety of articles, from the informative to the humorous. But, we are still students, so we have other classes we must work on as well. Let us get a glimpse of the school lives of the Navigator staff by investigating their favorite high school courses, which are as diverse as toppings on a pizza.

Disclaimer: The following article is Part I of a fantasy series written by Jared L. It may contain mild fantasy darkness/violence, and/or mature topics. Reader discretion is advised.

2023 has been an excellent year for video games. With many extremely popular and well-made releases such as Lethal Company by Zeekers, Spider Man 2 by Insomniac, or Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian, gamers have been spoiled by the wide variety of high-quality video games that have been coming out this year. However, Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (or TOTK for short) has been hailed by some as the best game of the year. But what makes the game so good, and does it have any flaws? 

While most people may see the Navigator as simply a school newspaper, it is also an official elective class at NorthStar Academy.  Inside the Navigator class, there are a variety of assignments and learning opportunities for students to learn about journalism and professional writing.  From learning core principles of journalism to the specific layout of a newspaper, students can learn a variety of helpful skills that can benefit them in their future careers inside the NAVI280e class.  Through completing the various activities in the Navigator class, students are able to learn a variety of valuable skills for their future endeavors.

Did you know that rubber bands last longer when they’re refrigerated? Probably not. That might make you wonder what else you don’t know. If you’re anything like me, you probably also don’t know that NSA offers tutoring. As I recently found out, tutoring is readily available at NSA for a wide variety of classes! 

*Always check with your parents before following any advice or suggestions in this article. The Navigator is not responsible for any consequences resulting from following our advice.

Have 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:

Disclaimer: The following article is Part II of a fantasy series written by Jared L. It may contain mild fantasy darkness/violence, and/or mature topics. Reader discretion is advised.

It’s winter. For many of you, it is cold outside. You may find yourself inside by the fireplace while a furious blizzard rages outside, needing something to do. I can help you! Why not read a book? As always, talk with your parents before reading the material.

When I was in high school . . . 

I realize that I was in high school over 25 years ago and starting an article in this way feels like I’m trying to relate to your experience when in truth the world has vastly changed since I was in high school. However, some things do not change, like our God-designed need for friendship, and that is what I want to focus on today. 

At 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.

I 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. 

Life after high school can seem incredibly overwhelming for many. The newfound freedom that comes with stepping into adulthood can be exhilarating, but it also comes with more responsibility and more decisions to make. For years, NSA has organized a college fair and career fair. Traditionally, they were two separate week-long events, featuring college admissions officers in the college fair or career specialists in the career fair. The point of these events was to help students explore options for their future, taking away a little bit of that doomsday feeling high schoolers get. We are excited to say that we are bringing these events back!

From 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.

As many people finish putting away their Christmas decorations, a new holiday is just around the corner. Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on the fourteenth of February. The holiday is centered around love and being romantic; cupid, hearts, flowers, and chocolates are just a few examples. You will commonly see the color pink or red around this time. Local craft stores supply your every Valentine's Day need. While this holiday is enjoyable to celebrate, the question often arises of why we celebrate it. Where did the idea of Cupid or hearts originate in connection to this holiday?

The first ever NorthStar Academy Christmas Art Competition is officially over! We’ve kicked off the first competition with so many wonderful art submissions. They were everything we wished for, and more! We were overwhelmed by the number of entries we received – each one creative and inspiring in its own way. Ultimately, there was one submission that stood out from the rest and had earned the judge’s hearts. Never the less, the large amounts of creativity that we were able to see in each art submission, was astonishing. This was a tough decision to make, to which had sparked some debate between the judges. 

This Christmas season, the Music Club hosted a Christmas Song Talent Competition!

Disclaimer: The following article is Part 2 of a fantasy series written by Graham S. It may contain mild fantasy darkness or violence. Reader discretion is advised.

To view other parts of this series, follow the links below…

Waves cascaded over the small cracked wooden boat, which keeled under the weight of the breakers. Salt water filled the men’s nostrils, and heavy rain splattered onto their already soaked tunics. “Turn the boat!” screamed a man with brown curly hair and flashing eyes. Although he had screamed with all his strength, his voice was picked up by the wind and carried far away, tossed on the waves and drowned in the sound of cracking thunder. A huge lightning bolt raced across the sky, followed by a split of thunder that seemed to come from the heavens themselves.

The holidays are an amazing time to give. Whether it is giving time, money, or even food, giving is something Christians are called to do. That is why the Blessing Project is an important event for NorthStar. If you don’t know what the Blessing Project is, then this article is just right for you

Sleds, sleigh bells, and Santa; music, mangers, and merry greetings; cookies, cards, and choirs - the Christmas season is here!

Sports are often affiliated with the physical aspects of it. For example, the strength of football players, the agility of soccer players, and the precision of basketball players are commonly attributed aspects inside of the competitive world. With the rise of eSports however, many people feared this would take away from the definition of Sports. People might think that eliminating the physical aspects of sports would be like taking the pumpkin out of a Jack-o-lantern. It just would not work! But the one thing not often considered was the mental attributes of sports. 

The Scholastic Assessment Test, SAT for short, is one of the most important tests for college applicants to take.  However, some students have trouble on the SAT because they do not prepare for it.  This article will go over how a student would prepare for the online format of the SAT, which will be used from the spring of 2024 onward.  The SAT is split into four main sections with two going over reading and English concepts, while the other two handle math concepts.  This test can be extremely daunting to students since it lasts two hours and 15 minutes (College Board).  However, with the correct preparation a student can go into the SAT well-equipped.

Depression 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.

During the month of October, a group of NSA students and staff traveled to Panama for a week of missions and ministry. This week would prove to be life-changing for many, including the people we served and the team members themselves.

Christmas is nearly upon us. This year, let us take a look at what the members of the Navigator team are planning to do to celebrate the holiday!

This 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.’”

Author’s Note: While this is an overview of the history of Afghanistan, it only scratches the surface of the situation. Those who are interested to learn more are encouraged to do their own research, though, with adult supervision as some of these topics are complex and somewhat unsettling.

Do you and your family have specific traditions you do every year around Christmas? For me, my family and I always go to the tree lighting on our square and go look at Christmas lights. Just like this tradition is unique to my family, so are other traditions to other countries. For example, France, Germany, and Australia all have different practices. Those countries will be our main focus. All of these countries have unique customs surrounding Christmas. Some of these practices are unique to one country or shared by many.

Recently Graham S., a journalist working for the NorthStar Navigator, has brought back the Navigator article series known as “Cliffhangers” in the form of his recent short story, “The Faceless.” 

NSA'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.

NorthStar Academy's Visual Arts Club provides students with hands-on art experiences through hands-on activities and artist sharing. It promotes diverse creative genres such as pottery, painting, illustration, digital art, charcoal, chalk, sculpture, and printing by encouraging innovation and competition participation. Students interested in the visual arts make up the Visual Arts Club. The Visual Arts Club's mission is to promote the arts by participating in different art contests, meetings, and events.

Disclaimer: The following article is Part 1 of a fantasy series written by Graham S. It may contain mild fantasy darkness or violence. Reader discretion is advised.

To view other parts of this series, follow these links…

In ancient Egypt, Egyptians used a form of writing known as hieroglyphics - carved pictures and images that represented things or ideas. In the Western world, we do not often think of pictures as a form of writing. While some Eastern languages use symbols to indicate words, Western languages use a series of letters to make words, each of which has a unique meaning. But, as technology has continued to develop, we can now communicate with people worldwide electronically. With the rise of texting, instant messaging, and social media, it seems that a new form of modern hieroglyphics has surfaced - emojis!

While we’re called to spread the Good News, we can’t change someone’s heart - only God can do that! But, we can gather some tools to put in our “Good News Toolkit!” The following are a few arguments for God that prove how rational it is to believe in Him!

Have 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. 

The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a College Board test that is used for admissions into colleges and universities around the world.  This test consists of four individual sections split into two halves with one going over English and the other going over math.

 Hello, detective! We’ve gotten a message from NorthStar headquarters with the theme for this year’s Fall Spiritual Emphasis Event - Mission: Possible! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take a peek into the lives of our staff, faculty, and teachers at NorthStar, seeing how God has worked in their lives.

Have 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.

Hello everyone! Right now you are witnessing history! This is the return of Rave Reviews! Last year two students, Rebecca C. and Janna P., started this series of articles, with the goal of recommending books and movies. I hope you all look forward to these articles as we continually bring you more. As always, talk with your parents before reading the material. Enjoy!

Are 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. 

For the last couple of months, I have been focusing on Psalm 16, specifically verses 2 and 11. I want to share what God has been impressing upon my heart. I love that when God wants to teach us something, He often does so in multiple ways. Does it excite you when God connects ideas, people, and themes in your life? Jesus seems to be weaving a theme of “abundant joy” in my life. True and unexplainable joy comes from a relationship with Jesus.

“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.

Picture 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. 

In the chaos that is the beginning of the school year, the Student Council at NSA strived to ease the tension with special events. The first of these events was the Back to School Bash, which proved to be a great success. The event was set up in such a way that it displayed that we can have fun, but we can also be informative and helpful to one another. It displayed the Biblical concept of “a time and place for everything.” Managing time and understanding what you need to complete a task is a key part to maturity and learning.

The Minecraft esports at NorthStar Academy have skyrocketed over the last two school years due to the actions of NorthStar Academy’s Dean of Students, Scott Berggren.  He started the first NorthStar Minecraft esports team at the start of the spring semester in 2023, after he was informed that NorthStar students had a high interest in Minecraft through a poll conducted by Chuck Deitch, who is the Administrative Director of School Programs at NorthStar Academy.  This team created by Berggren would successfully get to the championship round at a CompMC tournament between multiple different schools based all over the United States. 

The 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.