December Edition
Letter from the Editors:
We uncovered shocking news this month... Mr. Stanczak is a 750s hallway person (if you don't get the reference, you clearly haven't taken this quiz - how dare you!). In other shocking news, Eleanor is Mr. Stanczak (if you don't get this reference, you clearly haven't taken this quiz). We will forgive you, but get on it, it's a great way to procrastinate... as is reading this edition of the Hilltopper.
Seniors, shoutout to you! You're sooooo close to not having to pay attention in school anymore. In the meantime, mock your friends for what they looked like freshman year (we have thoroughly enjoyed mocking Nicole :/ ).
In this month's edition, you can find out how your peers have been quarantining, what other's think of the Chem scale, as well as hearing the latest fluff from our favorite figment of the imagination, Señor Hilly the Hilltopper, and their quest for love. We, the Hilltopper Editors, would once again like to thank you for stopping by - we're always presently surprised when people actually read our articles. Or do our Buzzfeed quizzes!
We know we're the only newspaper you all read regularly, and we need your help! Send us Needham High's viral TikTokers and give us your best ideas for Buzzfeed quizzes anonymously here for our next edition. Go rockets!
Your editors,
Nicole, Eleanor, and Maddie ♡
Will Needham Schools Close? Other Schools Might Tell Us the Answer
By Eleanor Mackey
While Gutekanst is not known following nearby schools, these districts' choices on when to close and what schools to close gives an interesting insight into what might happen in Needham.
Standard Based Grading in Chemistry: Fundamentally Flawed?
by Bayley Basson and Talia Bloom
Students have found that this system does not reward students’ effort, leads to an unhealthy environment of perfectionism, prevents learning, and does not make sense given the stress of the pandemic and the flipped classroom model.
Picture This: Sports Growing Up
by Emma Curry, with images from Dave Arnold
What it's like to Quarantine from Needham High
by Nicole Allen
Quarantine, both as a positive individual or a contract-trace, left these five students, and many others, feeling a bit isolated, confused, and frustrated. With the social and emotional impacts of quarantining on students, it’s important for the school district to consider how students are affected as they continue to contract-trace the virus.
Remote Students Against TECCA
by Jeremy Gold
Many questioned whether or not TECCA be a sufficient alternative to a typical Needham High School course. The short answer is no.
How Do Students Really Feel About the 10% Term?
by Alex Goodale
Despite all the challenges with remote/hybrid learning, we all (hopefully) survived. Now that we are in the second quarter, we can finally discuss a hot topic: the first term is only worth 10% of our overall grade.
Picture This: Girls' Field Hockey vs. Brookline
by Gwen Kwong
How Wonder Woman Might Change Cinema
By Nick George
Studios have continued to always debut their blockbusters in traditional theaters before sending them off for digital releases… until now. Because thanks to the global pandemic, Wonder Woman 1984 is headed to cinemas as well as the streaming service HBO Max on the same day: December 25th, 2020. And that just might change everything.
Picture This: Girls' Soccer vs. Wellesley
by Gwen Kwong
Needham Votes Blue...What a Surprise
by Abigail Sprinsky and Sasha Reiser
The results of this election are important to look at to understand what Needham is like in relation to the rest of the country. Needham is known to be a deeply blue town in a safely blue state, but HOW blue is it?
Fall in Love with Hilly the Hilltopper
By Hilly the Hilltopper
Basically the only famous I would ever want to be is married to a very rich man famous- like Elizabeth to a Darcy but I don’t even need the hundreds of pages of awkward sexual chemistry. I just need the copious amounts of cash and the feeling that I’m doing something good for the world.
Picture This: Boys' Soccer vs. Wellesley
by Gwen Kwong
The Perils of Holiday Travel During Covid
by Hadas Duchin
This is our new reality. And like it or not, we have to abide by these rules in order to protect ourselves and each other. Just like we wouldn’t want strangers touring Needham, potentially increasing cases, which would lead to schools shutting down amongst other things, strangers don’t want us to come to their towns or countries and mess up their plans.
Picture This: Needham in Winter
by Sophia D'Amelio
Winter Positives Despite Pandemic
By Chloe Shigueta
With the Coronavirus death toll in the United States rising, it can be hard to stay optimistic and find something positive to grasp onto. So, here are just a few things to help you roll into the holiday season smoothly...
A Recap of The 2020 Election Results
By Owen Woo
As most people know, Joe Biden is the winner of the U.S. 2020 Presidential election, making him the 46th President-elect. Biden won the Electoral College 306 to 232, and he won the popular vote by more than five million votes.
Which Late-To-Zoom-Class Excuse Are You?
From the Procrastination Station, By Rena Hneidi
We've all been late to Zoom class before. Sure it slides the first few times, but after a while, you need some fresh excuses. Take this quiz to find out which late-for-class excuse you are!
NHS ShelterBox Club Raises $4,000 in 2020
by Alex Goodale
The ShelterBox club has achieved much success since 2020 began, and in total has raised $4,000. Each ShelterBox, which consists of a weather-resistant tent, blankets, cooking set, water filter, etc, costs $1,000, and each tent can house up to 10 people. This means that the NHS ShelterBox club has provided a temporary shelter for 40 people!
Cross Country vs. Natick
by Gwen Kwong