By Audrey Burke and Ashley Cohen

As the holiday season kicks off, many people in the Greater Boston area seek festive, immersive activities to attend with family and friends. While perfect for embracing colder weather and holiday spirit, some of these limited-time opportunities are often lesser-known to the public. Some noteworthy examples of these events include: the Snowport in Boston, the Festival of Trees in Wellesley, ice skating on the Boston Common Frog Pond, and the Magic of Lights Drive-Through Show in Foxboro.

By Liza Scott

We’ve all seen it. The big sales at stores just around the holidays, the TV ads that harness holiday cheer in exchange for a subscription, and shops pushing the festive decorations as soon as Halloween ends. Walking into these stores in early November feels less like a festive tradition and more like a marketing ambush, with aisles exploding in blinding tinsel, lights, and gift baskets. Companies rush to capitalize on seasonal emotions, turning what should be a meaningful and nostalgic time into a nonstop reminder to buy.

By Madeleine Clark and Sophia Handler

As Needham High students get ready to rush out of school for winter break, teachers are scrambling to finish up units, assign wrap-up unit tests, and add what feels like a million more projects, all in the three weeks of school during December. Some teachers even began whole new units, piling up mountains of notes, worksheets, readings, and other various homework assignments on students’ workloads. However, at the same time, teachers are encouraging students to spend time with their families as we head into the holiday season.

By Nora Guttilla

As we approach winter break, many students begin celebrating their desired holiday traditions earlier each year to get them through the winter. From kindergarten all the way to senior year, various classes will often include miraculous fun holiday-like activities. From writing letters to Santa, to creating graphs of the North Pole, the diversity of holidays we celebrate in school could be improved. What if we create educational holiday activities other than Christmas for students? 

By Serena Tanna

You definitely know about the main winter holidays celebrated at NHS, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year. But the winter season offers the opportunity to learn about the culture and history behind many different holidays all around the world. In this article, I will take a closer look at some of the more obscure winter holidays that you’ve probably never heard of from all of the other continents. Hopefully by the end of this article, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the lesser known holidays of wintertime, and how they bring joy and connection to those who celebrate them.

By Lizzie Idelson

My wonderful English teacher Mrs. Grehoski, A.K.A Hester Prynne’s biggest fan, likes to say, “literature resonates with us because the human condition never changes.” I think Mrs. Grehoski’s words sum up pretty perfectly why I, and many other people, love to read. It’s because these made up stories with made up people, places, and different time periods, can seem distant from our reality, but nevertheless remind us of similar experiences and feelings that connect humans to a greater purpose.

By Calvin Schaffstein

Transitioning from fall to winter also marks a transition in sports seasons. Just after Thanksgiving break comes tryout week, signaling the beginning of a new set of fan-favorite sports, one of which is basketball. With games for both boys and girls held in the A gym, basketball is one of the most accessible winter sports, as it’s one of the only sports with regular games at the high school. It is also, in my opinion, the most enjoyable.

By Jack Krupat

This year on Halloween, the Class of 2027 gathered in the auditorium for the ceremony of the 34th NHS Distinguished Career Awards. The award was created in 1990 by then-NHS teacher George A. Dennett, for whom the award is now named. Its purpose is to inspire the high school’s Junior class with the experiences of Needham High School alumni who have gone on to have distinguished careers. The 2025 recipients of the award were retired Fire Chief Dennis Condon and educator Joe Cuddemi. Principal Aaron Sicotte spoke to the Junior Class to introduce the ceremony followed by performances by the NHS Chorale and the NHS String Ensemble.

By Molly Krupat 

This year on Halloween, the Class of 2027 gathered in the auditorium for the ceremony of the 34th NHS Distinguished Career Awards. The award was created in 1990 by then-NHS teacher George A. Dennett, for whom the award is now named. Its purpose is to inspire the high school’s Junior class with the experiences of Needham High School alumni who have gone on to have distinguished careers. The 2025 recipients of the award were retired Fire Chief Dennis Condon and educator Joe Cuddemi. Principal Aaron Sicotte spoke to the Junior Class to introduce the ceremony followed by performances by the NHS Chorale and the NHS String Ensemble.