In the dead of winter, as the second quarter comes to an end and midterms approach, it may seem for many Wayland High School students that time relaxing has been transformed to time spent buried under piles of schoolwork. Whether it’s staying up all night to finish an end-of-quarter project, or cramming for a test or midterm, this time of year is never fun. However, Wayland students are nearing the light at the end of the tunnel. Winter Week is just two weeks away, which means that students will finally get a chance to relax.

Although Winter Week will not be a full week—just Wednesday through Friday—there is still much to look forward to. Student Council has been working hard to ensure that students will enjoy these relaxing few days, when they can spend time with friends and listen to presentations, performances, and guest speakers during both free periods and classes. Everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of presentations and special activities including musical performances by Wayland High School’s very own teachers and students, along with some former students who will return to play their music and join the fun.

As for anticipated highlights of the week, former WHS student and singer Adam Ezra, who in the past has been a Winter Week favorite, will be singing at the end of the day on Wednesday. Tickets will also be on sale for an after-school hypnotist show. As in past years, there will be concerts by student bands including Mighty Jungle and the Rosenblatt Band, along with performances by all three of Wayland High School’s A Capella groups—the Muses, T-Tones, and Madrigals. And, there will be various presentations on everything from Roman Mosaics to the annual poetry slam to a program called ‘City Year’. On Friday afternoon, at the close of Winter Week, the entire school will gather in the Field House for a school wide dance-off called ‘Dance 360.’

Last year, kicked off by a comedian performance in the field house, Winter Week went on to include musicians, presenters, and a hypnotist. The week concluded with the annual Dance 360. As Wayland High School junior Mellisa Yu recalls, “Last year’s winter week was probably my favorite part of the school year.” And it sounds like Winter Week ’09 is shaping up to be just as great.