The constantly changing fashion landscape has captivated teens for decades. From poodle skirts and leather jackets to baggy jeans and crop tops, clothing trends and choices have helped teens both fit in and stand out through self-expression. At what was originally Newton High School—later split into Newton North and Newton South—students’ styles have varied greatly from decade to decade, often reflecting not just popular fashion but also the music they listened to and, at times, the political or social groups they aligned with.

Thanks to the school’s long-standing lack of a strict dress code, stating that “students and parents have the right to determine how the student will dress providing that attire is not destructive to school property, complies with requirements for health and safety, and does not cause disorder or disruption,” North students had the freedom to reflect cultural shifts through what they wore.

The Newtonite reached out to various North alumni to highlight the styles of students over the years, beginning in 1950.

The average North student has seen countless lawn signs while commuting between school and home. Signs trend differently over time, whether political signs for elections, student graduation celebrations, or steady issues in the community—one example being housing. Throughout the years, Newton for Everyone and Save Newton Villages signs have remained staples on many lawns.

Signs for Save Newton Villages support a scaled-back version of Newton without major construction and increased density leading to more crowded roads and schools.

Students and staff in the Newton Public Schools face uncertainty over recent policy changes of the Trump administration regarding transgender rights, Diversity Equity and Inclusion programming (DEI), and the policing of undocumented immigrants. "What the current status of executive orders means is unclear," Superintendent Anna Nolin said in an email. "What is also unclear is, given that state law expects us to do one thing and executive orders another, what the government at the federal level will do to our funding if we comply with state law."

As the first of 14 grandchildren, I always need an escape during family gatherings. Since second grade, that escape has been Star Wars. This year as part of my duty during the holidays to rescue my younger cousins from awkward conversations with Uncle Matt, I rounded them all up and began their education on the galaxy far, far away. Unfortunately, I found that A New Hope could not compete with their iPads, epic fail compilations, Xboxes, or FYPs.