This school year, NHS implemented a new policy that requires each student to deposit their phone in a phone hotel during each class and homeroom. As we at The Hilltopper have experienced the time before this policy and are now experiencing the new phone policy, we thought we would share our thoughts on its effectiveness thus far. While we see immense value in increasing focus in school, the current state of the phone ban prevents self-regulation lessons and increases anxiety while ineffectively eliminating distractions.

At the end of the second long-block, the question “What am I going to do for lunch?” lingers in most NHS students’ minds. When considering where to eat, Needham High School students share the five most common locations. In no particular order, the list goes as follows: The tables in the 200s hallway, the desks and couches in the 450s or 750s, the picnic tables outside the school, or one of the local places to eat outside the high school. The most agonizing and least popular choice is the cafeteria.

Caffeine. It’s everywhere at NHS. Most times when I walk into a classroom I’m greeted by a water ring on my desk from the iced coffee of the person who sat there before me. Students will chug a Celsius as they walk the halls and favor a Starbucks run over a sit-down lunch. Sure, it isn’t abnormal to need an energy boost to get through the day. However, in such young adults, does caffeine cause more harm than good?

We’ve all seen the bedazzled ankle monitor. Anna Delvey is back in the public eye, and this time, she’s dancing. But what does that say about us?

As the fall season begins, the humidity and long hours of sun have been replaced by cold mornings and increasingly short days. In response, popular establishments such as Dunkin’ and Starbucks have started leaning into their “fall menus,” which include various flavors that are only available for certain months of the year.

When former President Trump announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate in the 2024 election, the venture capitalist and Hillbilly Elegy author was lambasted for everything from his eyeliner to his controversial comments about liberal women and former status as a “Never Trumper” to his deviant relations with a certain couch. It seemed like a misstep for a candidate that has been dealt numerous hits in the past year, including federal convictions and an assassination attempt. 

In the past couple of years, the world has seen a rapid increase in the use of artificial intelligence, in schools, businesses, social media, and elsewhere. Forbes predicts, “AI is expected to see an annual growth rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030.” But what exactly is AI? According to the University of Illinois Chicago, artificial intelligence “enables machines to learn from experience, adapt to new inputs, and execute tasks resembling human capabilities.” A popular usage of AI among students and teachers is the generative AI software ChatGPT. CNBC says, “Almost half of U.S. teachers and K-12 students say they are using ChatGPT weekly.” 

It's that time of year again! Halloween is quickly approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about costumes. Whether you’re struggling to think of something creative, or you want to go as something trendy or current, we’ve got your back because here are our top eight picks for the costumes we think are going to be most popular this year. There’s something for everyone on this list, whether you want to go as something funny, fashionable or you are looking to do a couples costume. We hope this list can be helpful to you, so good luck and happy Halloween!

What name do you use when you introduce yourself? First name? Nickname? First and last name? Personally, I’ve always preferred introducing myself with my first and last name, and avoiding the subject of a nickname all together. Yet, since my first name is Madeleine, people tend to assume that I liked to be called Maddie, but that name has never felt right to me.

Anthony Borrelli, the president of the newest Needham chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, is this edition’s Club President of the Month. Anthony is a dedicated senior with a passion for listening to and creating music. It was a pleasure to interview him!

Needham High School has a vast number of clubs, and with the options ranging from Cooking Club to Investment Club, there is a place for everybody. Students have generally become more interested in STEM subjects, and clubs involving STEM concepts have reflected that. But in a world where STEM careers are typically dominated by men, it is difficult for everyone’s opinions to be heard. The HackHers, a branch of the Robotics Team at Needham High School, empowers women and non-binary students interested in technology. 

Amid the sea of stale, lethargic students, a hot, salty odor floats overhead from the great stainless steel wonderland of the kitchen. Behind the counter stand three benevolent members of the cafeteria staff, who portion out the meal du jour and place the recyclable (holier than thou) trays within reach of hungry hands. A laminated sign announces, “Doubles $2.00. NOT FREE.” I don’t know if I will be able to restrain myself from exceeding the limits of free lunch, especially with the harmony of whole grains and wet vegetables pulling me in, but I will try.

Happy October, and welcome back to Fashionista of the Month! This month’s fashionista is one of our beloved NHS seniors. She’s super cool, she’s super fashionable, she’s Linnea Stark!