Prom Ticket Price Increase Sparks Concern Among Norton High Seniors

By Alison Hwang

 NORTON, MA -- Prom ticket prices at Norton High School have risen to $125 this year, a $25 increase from last year, prompting frustration among students already facing mounting school-related expenses.

The price change, announced on television screens throughout the school, quickly drew reactions from seniors who say the added cost comes at a time when many are managing multiple financial obligations tied to school activities. 

Students pointed to expenses such as class dues, honor society fees, Advanced Placement exam fees, club participation, athletics, and parking permits. For some, those combined costs can total more than $800 over the course of one year. 

“This is ridiculous. It’s a 25% increase from the price last year. The juniors could not get their money up,” said Naima Azzi, a senior at Norton High School.

Another student, Lonika Heng, said the higher ticket price makes attending prom more difficult, especially for students balancing part-time jobs and other expenses.

“Put this into perspective — this is ten hours of me working just for a damn prom ticket,” she said. 

Heng also noted additional costs beyond the ticket itself, including attire, transportation and personal care. 

“And I haven’t even bought my prom dress yet. You’re telling me that it’s $125? No — I’m livid.” 

Other seniors expressed similar concerns, particularly those planning to attend with a guest.

“I think it’s absolutely outrageous that these tickets are $125,” Melanie Sheedy said. “I have to buy two — one for me and one for my date — so that’s even worse.”

Students also pointed out that prom expenses come at a time when many are preparing for post-graduation costs, including college enrollment fees.

“I still have to pay my enrollment fee for UConn,” Heng added.

However, the cost of prom itself makes it difficult to find the balance between affordability and breaking even. According to advisors for the class of 2026, last year’s prom was around $30,000. There have been struggles of finding a proper venue at an adequate price. This year’s price increase was due to fundraising issues, the responsibility of which falls on the underclassmen as well as other fundraisers. Oftentimes, money is lost even with ticket sales to make up the difference.  

While prom remains a highly anticipated milestone for seniors, the increased cost has led some to question accessibility and whether all students will be able to participate. It raises the question of whether there is a cost for being an active, participatory member of one’s school community, and if it is worth it with college coming around the corner. 

Massachusetts Teachers Fight for Fair Contracts

By Alexandra Cahill

Teachers have been fighting for fair contracts in Massachusetts since the 60's. Teacher contracts show the teachers' rights, obligations, and how long they will be employed for, which is important for the educators working to know. 

In late 2024 and early 2025, there have also been many complaints about teachers' pay, which led to strikes and protests across Massachusetts, especially in towns like Beverly, Holyoke, and Marblehead. The current average salary for teachers in this state is from around $51,000 to $92,000, depending on location and if it is a starting salary or not.

One town that has experienced problems with in-contract negotiations is Holyoke, where a writer named Patrick O'Connor talks about the local teachers' issues with their contracts. At the beginning of the article, he states that teachers in the town are "being blocked at every turn in their effort to secure a fair contract."

He explains in detail about how inflation is cutting down their pay, and how the educators' annual raises are being cut off at two thousand dollars.

Another town where teachers had issues with their contracts was North Attleboro, in early November of this year. An article written by Geena Monahan explains the reality of teachers and their problems with pay decreases and longer working hours.

She interviewed many local teachers in the area, who all explained problems with their pay, such as a seven thousand dollar annual pay cut, struggling to make ends meet with their pay check, and even over a decade without a pay raise. 

There has been a rise in strikes over the past few years in Massachusetts because teachers are tired of working hard without a secure and fair contract or appropriate pay.

Stranger Things Season 5 Episodes 1 & 2 Recap [SPOILERS]

By Rylan Savas

After three long years, the first block of episodes of Stranger Things season 5 has arrived on Netflix. I’m here to give you a recap of the main events of the first few episodes and to prepare you for the following block of episodes arriving later this month.

Before we get into the happenings in season 5, let's review what happened last season on Stranger Things. In season 4, Eleven, Joyce, Will, and Jonathan are in California for Joyce’s new job. Max deals with depression while grieving the loss of her step brother, Billy. Mike and Dustin join Eddie in their D&D club which sparks controversy in Hawkins after Chrissy--a local cheerleader--is found gruesomely murdered in Eddie's home. Many similar murders follow. Much of the season is spent trying to clear Eddie's name of the untimely murders. A similar group of killings happened in Hawkins decades before; the assumed culprit--Victor Creel-- resides at Penthurst Asylum. Robin and Nancy interview Creel to get more information to use to defeat Vecna. Over in Russia, it’s revealed that Hopper is alive but unwell. He is imprisoned and forced to do hard labor. Joyce and Murray break Hopper out of Russia and back to the States. The season ends with an epic battle against Vecna in the Upside Down. Eddie is killed in the process, and Max ends up in a coma after a near death experience with Vecna. The season ends with Hawkins being physically split as mysteriously familiar particles from the Upside Down rain over Hawkins.

Now in season 5, Hawkins is on full military lockdown, and it’s completely cut off from the outside world. The damage from Vecna is now covered by metal plates. Robin and Steve work at a radio station (WSQK a.k.a. "The Squak") where they use coded messages to send the others information about the next “crawl.” The “crawls” are missions into the Upside Down where Hopper ventures into the Upside Down in order to try and locate Vecna. At the radio station, Steve and Jonathan compete to win Nancy’s admiration. Dustin is grieving over the loss of Eddie and deals with some familiar bullies from season 4. El is training and her powers are stronger than ever. Max is still in her coma; however, Lucas holds on to hope that she will wake up. The Wheelers are struck with disaster when The Demogorgon goes to retrieve Holly. Fighting with all of their might, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are severely injured in the process, and Holly is taken. Nancy blames herself for her parents' injuries and Holly’s disappearance because Vecna showed her what was going to happen to her family and she believes that it could’ve been prevented. Hopper and El venture into the Upside Down, but El is met with her “krytonite.” Hopper takes down the military officials, leaving one alive for interrogation. Lastly, Will learns that he can see through the other eyes in the “hive mind.” This includes Vecna’s other victims and The Demogorgon's.

Historic Snowfall Disrupts Norton Classes and Academic Calendar

By Alison Hwang

NORTON, MA -- The powerful nor’easter that swept New England in late February forced school closures in Norton, pushing the last day of school to June 23 and disrupting lesson plans.

The Blizzard of 2026, intensified by a rapid weather phenomenon known as bombogenesis, brought more than 30 inches of snow to Norton. Strong winds and whiteout conditions prompted travel bans and widespread power outages across Massachusetts.

The district canceled classes from Feb. 23 to 26, extending February vacation. While many students welcomed the unexpected break, some were frustrated by the decision to resume classes on Friday. The storm also shifted the academic calendar. Term Three will now end April 8, and report cards will be issued April 17.

“I think they should have canceled school for the entire week,” said Erika Murphy, a senior at Norton High School.

Murphy highlighted difficulties students had with parking on Friday. Snow banks prevented some from being able to park in their designated spots, leading to a parking war with spots being stolen, or strategically plowed and guarded. Students questioned the value of attending for a single day under those conditions.

Teachers also faced challenges as the cancellations disrupted instructional schedules.

“I spent a lot of the time when we were at home reworking my lesson plans,” said Mrs. “Madame” Bray, who teaches AP French.

Bray said losing a week of instruction created added pressure for Advanced Placement courses.

“We are beholden to a very strict date with our exams,” she said.

Though the snow days were a welcome break from classes, they have disrupted instruction time. However, it has been reported that La Niña conditions are weakening, and there is a 55% chance for the weather to return to neutral conditions. 

Strategies for the SAT Using Psychology

By Meg Smith

Have your friends or family ever mentioned the standardized test that has haunted American high schoolers for an entire century? Previously known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the SAT serves as a way for students to show to colleges their hard work throughout high school if they choose to do so. It’s considered essential for any Ivy-League application: every student dreads the thought of taking a two-hour long standardized test (with annoyingly dense excerpts and frustrating math problems, by the way). The SAT’s implications for a student’s future can make the foreboding thoughts that occur in a student’s head during any school test multiply until it’s impossible to read the SAT’s scientific passages. However, understanding both the way our brains often fall apart during a test and the best ways to get ready for the exam can transform test anxiety into test readiness. 

The Psychology Behind Test-Taking

The SAT, just like any other test, sets up the perfect traps for students to fall into, especially if one lets their panicking get the better of them. That sinking feeling of dread, however, is avoidable if we dive into the reasons behind the doubtful, chaotic voices in our heads. 

While taking a test, the mind is searching for information like it never has before, reacting and thinking about every question. A neurotransmitter (chemical messenger responsible for sending signals to the nervous system) called dopamine (the staple “feel-good” chemical) is incredibly active during a test, helping students stay focused and accurate. However, it’s working against cortisol (the “stress hormone” that harms our cognitive function), the chemical responsible for fight-or-flight responses (adrenaline) that serves as an obstacle on a student’s way to that perfect score. Dopamine is released while the mind is anticipating doing well (the reward). Cortisol, on the other hand, is released while the mind anticipates not doing so well. Typically, if cortisol (stress) levels are high, then students are prone to taking risks--making that mistake again or guessing on a question. When dopamine levels are high, the body begins to increase cortisol. Increased cortisol for long periods of time (called chronic stress) can decrease dopamine levels, draining the battery of dopamine receptors by inhibiting them. 

However, that burst of adrenaline from a test likely comes from another source: acute stress, an immediate response to a specific stimulus (like a test question). Acute stress causes high levels of cortisol too, but this release of cortisol actually boosts dopamine levels due to the brain’s need for a quick reward. This immediate demand can cause students to engage in risky behavior such as speeding through questions, changing answers at the last minute, overthinking, and getting stuck on a question. The inevitable fear that not even hours of studying can overcome arises from this pathway of chaotic dopamine release. 

Despite its ability to deliver motivation and attention, dopamine isn’t the savior of test-takers. In fact, excess amounts of dopamine can cause poor decisions to be made during a test. Dopamine, however, at the right concentration, helps students stay calmer by prioritizing accuracy over speed, promising a reward for calmness. 

The key to overcoming test anxiety is to learn how to find the equilibrium. Too much dopamine can destroy a student who’s well-prepared, while too much cortisol can cause a student to rush and panic. In order to reach flow state, a test-taker’s best friend that helps them stay concentrated and relaxed, one must surround themselves in dopamine, especially the days before a big test. 

The Dopamine Hunt

A plethora of activities can unlock the sweet spot of dopamine release and reduced cortisol, such as listening to music you enjoy, socializing, spending time outside (even just 15 minutes), indulging in creative hobbies, doing meditation, exercise, and eating a nutritious meal (certain foods like chocolate, cheese, bananas, avocados, and almonds can help). 

However, too much dopamine, can actually have the opposite effect on a test-taker, increasing the mind’s tolerance and causing a withdrawal effect that leads to impulsiveness-- unfortunately caffeine before the test may not be a good idea. 

What About the SAT?

Now that we know that maintaining healthy amounts of dopamine and cortisol can help reduce that test anxiety, we can approach the culprit of this dread: the SAT. 

Approaching a test unprepared can be detrimental to your score, so studying is key. Here are some tips for reaching your goals regarding the SAT.

Start Early and Study Daily

The earlier you start, the better chance you have of improvement. Studying more often will have the same effect. However, you don’t need to study all night every day. Pacing yourself and simply studying every day will build your retention of what you’re learning while also preventing burnout. Even small increments of fifteen to thirty minutes per day can help boost your score. Staying consistent is crucial to overcoming forgetfulness: the better you can cement information into your memory, the better you’ll perform. One simple way to stay consistent that takes under five minutes is using College Board’s Official SAT Question of the Day, which provides students with one question (reading and writing or math) per day. 

Use the Right Resources

The SAT covers a lot of material, but some resources for studying this are better than others. Instead of reviewing notes from all of high school to find and re-learn certain topics, use free, official resources online for preparation, such as Khan Academy or the College Board’s SAT Student Question Bank to target your weaknesses. Even a few lessons on Khan Academy or a few questions using the SAT Student Question Bank can be incredibly helpful for understanding what the SAT will ask you. 

Take Practice Tests

No matter how prepared you are, test anxiety can easily show up and ruin your test day. The best way to combat this is to get used to the test conditions. Install Bluebook, the application needed to take the SAT, on your chromebook or testing device, then take any of the practice tests. These tests allow you to feel how you would really feel on test day. The test is timed, but it’s also flexible. You can pause if needed and resume at a later date. However, if you have time, it’s more beneficial to take the entire test in one sitting in order to get acquainted with the test format and timing. Completing a practice test allows you to instantly see your score and your mistakes. The PSAT, a test juniors can take during the fall, is also a perfect way to see how you would perform on the SAT. 

Learn the Format

Learn how to use the Desmos graphing calculator and navigate through questions on the SAT. You can visit test previews on Bluebook and also practice using Desmos. Desmos is important especially for solving systems of equations and problems involving graphing. Simply plug in the equations, hit enter, and the solutions to your problems will be presented to you. This can speed up the test and also eliminate errors, giving you extra breathing room during the math section. 

DON’T CRAM

We’ve all been tempted to panic the night before an important exam. However, don’t fall for this. Cramming causes students to worry and often exposes them to their weaknesses, encouraging them to enter fight or flight mode on test day and become consumed with doubt and fear over concepts they don’t know. Instead, stay calm before test day. Engage in your hobbies, have fun (especially if it involves dopamine release), and understand that a bad score will not end the world. In the end, what matters in life is not a number on an SAT score, but what you do to bounce back from setbacks.