![The Wayland Police Department have issued a warning on the rise of scammers during the holiday season. “Hang up [the phone]. if you get a text and you do not know who it's from, just delete it. Don't click on any links, nothing,” Wayland police chief Edward Burman said. “Every single one of them is a scam.”](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_0954_720-e1734676255647.jpg)
![WHS’s Connect Program ran its annual holiday gift drive to fulfill the wishlist of children enrolled in the Dorchester based non-profit daycare organization, the Yawkey Center. This drive brought the town together and impacted both the students in Connect, as well as the greater Wayland community. “You could see how helpful the town was and how our community came together and wanted to help out a community that wasn't our own [and] kids who were less fortunate than we were,” senior and Connect Program member Jordynn Lee said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/screenshot_2024-12-20_at_12.21.24___pm_720-e1734734228474.png)
![The Boy Scouts will be selling trees on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. until they sell out.
“This event is one of the things that [the Boy Scouts] get to have a direct impact on the community,” freshman Alex Macleod said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-8.38.38 AM.png)
On Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 8:50 a.m., the Wayland Police Department (WPD) received reports of antisemitic vandalism along Rice Road. After investigation, police officers found two large swastikas painted in separate places along the road.
The WPD called the Wayland Department of Public Works to cover the graffiti. Detectives are currently investigating this incident along with the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center.
“There is no place for this kind of hatred and bigotry in our community,” Acting Police Chief Ed Burman said in a statement published by the Wayland Police Department. “Every resident deserves to live their life free of harassment and hatred, and we will do everything in our power to support our community.”
As of 2 p.m. on Nov. 14, the WPD is still investigating the incident and has been in contact with the Anti-Defamation League New England. The WPD encourages anyone with information to call the WPD directly at 508-358-4721 or call the anonymous tip line at 508-358-1726.
The WPD invites anyone interested to read a statement from the Wayland Human Rights, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee about the conflict in the Middle East, and to reference the community resources available to them.
Acting Superintendent David Fleishman also shared a similar statement on Nov. 7 with Wayland Public Schools families about an antisemitic act that occurred at Wayland Middle School. According to Fleishman, students were making the “Heil Hitler” salute to each other in the hallways.
“When these types of incidents occur, it is critical that schools act swiftly when it comes to disciplinary action,” Fleishman wrote in his statement. “Additionally, all students need to understand that acts of hate and intolerance have no place at school. They are encouraged to report any type of discriminatory behavior to a trusted adult, which is exactly what transpired at WMS.”
Fleishman reported that all WMS students learned about antisemitism and the Holocaust on Friday, Nov. 3, and that he and WMS officials are looking into having an outside organization provide lessons on antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.
“It is inevitable that members of our community have different perspectives regarding what is transpiring in the Middle East,” Fleishman wrote. “Emotions are high and a number of people are experiencing pain and despair. During this tense time, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that both our Israeli and Jewish students and Muslim and Palestinian students feel a sense of belonging and safety at school and feel protected from any type of harassment or discrimination.”
This article is a developing story that is subject to updates.
