Creation of the NHS Mascot

A mascot defines crucial aspects of a school’s culture and enthusiasm, like school spirit and engagement in a general appreciation of the school community. Our Needham High School Mascot, the Rockets, represents the pride that the student body has for numerous sports teams and our strive for inclusiveness and equity. Rocket is even the name of our beloved police dog! But how did we develop this specific mascot? What is the significance of a rocket and how does that make our school community stand out?

Needham High School’s football team first landed the name “The Rockets” in 1957. Prior to that, the football team was simply referred to as the Needham High Football Team or the Hilltoppers - due to the arrangement of the hill by the football, and the name of our beloved school newspaper! 

But it turns out that the Rockets had been an inspiration to the Needham community ever since the 1930s. It was rumored by townsfolk and still might be a possibility that a semi-pro hockey team in Needham started calling themselves the Rockets after Dr. Robert H. Goddard’s successful attempt at creating the first rocket using liquid fuel. Its record high speed motivated the local hockey team to use the name for themselves. 

However, it is also a possibility that the “mascot was coined after the Cold War,” as Needham High School Athletic Director Ryan Madden reports.  From the 1950s up to the 1990s, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were heightened following the Second World War. Gloria Greis from the Needham Historical Society explains how Needham was one of eleven towns to assist with defensives in Boston: “Each town had a radar installation and a surface-to-air missile battery and ours was in the approximate vicinity to Muzi Ford.” This technology that Needham helped install allowed Boston to have more accuracy in identifying enemy units either on the ground or in the air and gave soldiers more resources and weapons during war. Thus, the town of Needham felt that the mascot Rockets was fitting for the high school, to serve as a reminder of the contribution the town made during a time of havoc. 

However, nothing is known for certain. Needham High School Principal Aaron Sicotte explains how “I’ve heard different stories, but don’t know the real background.” The exact history of the Rockets may be abstract, but no matter how or when the mascot was founded, it serves a great purpose in our community. It reminds us of the courage and excellence that the student body holds, and the power our community has to do good in the world. It expresses our school spirit and motivates us to keep thriving, in and outside the classroom.