Advisor Mary Brown estimates that World Language Club has existed at the high school for over 30 years. The club offers monthly cultural activities, including French and Spanish film and food, guest speakers and museum trips. This year, the club may take a trip to an international music festival at Berkelee College of Music.

World Language Club is perhaps best known for its community service component, the annual Haitian gift drive. During the month of December, club members and language students in general are encouraged to donate presents for Haitian children at multicultural centers in Boston. Club members then deliver these gifts for Christmas, engaging in activities with the three to five year old members of one center.

Game Design
Advisor: Michael Hopps

The Game Design club was founded last year by current seniors Jonathan Patsenker and Mark Bestavros. Club members have been designing a survival horror video game for the past year, which they hope to complete by this November. Bestavros and Patsenker encourage any students who are creative, regardless of their skill or experience in programming, to consider joining the club.

“Basically everyone has a place in this club. We need artists, we need programmers,” Patsenker said. “It’s a very creative process.”

Amnesty International
Advisor: Brian Keaney

The Amnesty International club seeks to promote the cause of the larger Amnesty International organization. The organization advocates on behalf of people who are prisoners of conscience, meaning people who are imprisoned on the basis of race, religion or political views.

The Amnesty International club finds most support for its humanitarian cause during annual coffeehouses, which are organized by the club. In preparation for these events, club members select a specific cause to promote. At the coffeehouse, guests are encouraged to sign letters, which are then flooded to leaders involved in the cause.

Science Olympiad
Advisor: Cory Lowen

Science Olympiad has been at WHS for over 18 years. Club members solve science problems competitively against other teams in their league. Members are sometimes recruited from science classes, but advisor Cory Lowen encourages anyone with an interest in science to join. According to Lowen, the Wayland Science Olympiad team tends to place in the top five of its division each year. This year, the team’s first meet will be in October.

Poetry Slam Team
Advisors: Janet Karman, Luann Duesterberg

The Poetry Slam Team, founded last year by English teachers Janet Karman and Luann Duesterberg, is a club that trains its members to compete in the Louder Than a Bomb poetry slam competition. By spring, six to eight members will be chosen to compete in the competition. Members will be expected to adjust to a stricter attendance requirement as the competition nears. Time commitment for practices can range from one to three hours on Tuesdays. This year, the team hopes to sponsor a competition in the theater.

Mock Trial
Lawyer Coach: Howard Lenow
Advisor: Kathy Sherry

Last year, mock trial had their greatest success in ten years, advancing to the “Elite Eight” (top eight) round in the state tournament. Potential members can expect to write examinations and case theories in preparation for trials against other high schools. Members are also expected to be confident in their public speaking skills. Mock Trial meets twice a week, typically after school until five p.m.

Students Against Destructive Decisions
Advisor: Christopher Taylor, Jared Walsh

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) was founded at WHS in 1981. SADD hosts drug-free social events, which in the past have included WayGlow, the Foam dance, the Fall Festival and coffeehouses. Club members can expect to present results from WaylandCares surveys to Wayland parents and school administration. Members are also required to attend a day long training session in September.

Robotics
Advisor: Paul Schiffler

The Robotics club is looking for members with an interest in math, science and engineering. Practices start in January with a six week building session for all members. Members should expect a commitment of one to two hours per week, in addition to Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to two p.m. The club’s team, Hurriquake, qualified for regional semi-finals at the Boston First Regional Robotics Competition last year.