![Gap years are an uncommon alternative for high school graduates, in which graduates take a year or more off from schooling and pursue something separate from college until they are ready to return to their education or something else. Wayland High School psychology teacher David Schmirer believes that college is a good route for many high school graduates, however, he also says that its best to keep an open mind when thinking about gap years. “I think the vast majority of our students are going to be fine with [going to college] and [are] ready to go, but for those students who are having [gap years] be a more visible choice I think [it] is a good thing both for physical and mental health,” Schmirer said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/xZ9lq7i7NbhVXpa2kT21s3Wz8PHl5Df0bATRSq6x-1200x800.png)
![In previous years, New England ski mountains have left eager skiers unsatisfied because of the sub-par and icy conditions on the slopes. Despite this situation, veteran skiers, and WHS sophomores Tobias Kyleber, Mathew Moscoffian and Colin Moleux provide some insight on why some mountains have a higher level quality than others, in their eyes. “[Two of my favorite mountains in New England] are Mount Stow and Mount Cannon,” Moscoffian said. “These mountains are better because they have the best quality of snow and have the most trails open, usually.”](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Untitled-design-6-1200x800.png)
![On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Wayland Cares director J Verhoosky led a presentation on the importance of choosing to be vulnerable in conversations. Through various activities and experiments, the audience was instructed to confront how they approach risk taking and their comfort zones. “[My biggest takeaway was] make yourself available for other people and share things you might not share with other people to make them feel like they're in a safe environment,” junior Addison Voight said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/JLb1q3m4ZHvNAKYzv7c60kyyrrafzS8pJlYoJcoj.png)
![After the Raider's first goal of the game, scored by senior captain Luke Galizio, the players pile onto the glass by the student section to celebrate, igniting the crowd into a roar. "The atmosphere was incredible, having two towns that both come to support us is amazing," Galizio said. "When [the crowd] started chanting 'Raider nation' it made [the game] feel like it wasn't just one team against another, we had a whole building of fans supporting us."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/06FBB04E-4C03-408A-B554-FE6C06CE8C08_1_105_c.jpeg)
On Monday, Jan. 28, a magnitude 3.8 earthquake originating from the coast of New Hampshire and Maine was felt in Wayland. Although considered rare, earthquakes do occur on the east coast, and can be felt more widely than those that happen on the west coast.
Earthquakes are caused by sudden movements along tectonic plates that release energy which causes the shaking that humans feel. Since the east coast does not lie on the boundary of any tectonic plate, it’s more unusual when earthquakes are felt.
Some students at WHS felt the waves during their second block class. Senior Ella Moscoffian was sitting in her Advanced Placement (AP) United States Government and Politics class when she felt the rumbling.
“The desk started shaking and then I felt my body kind of shake,” Moscoffian said. “It didn’t really seem like anyone else noticed it.”
WHS physics and astronomy teacher, Ken Rideout, says that he didn’t feel the earthquake despite the magnitude of it. He only recalls feeling the seismic waves once when he was in Europe.
“It was really kind of a mild tremor,” Rideout said.
Despite not experiencing the tremors of today’s earthquake, he feels that earthquakes are not only powerful physically, but also a powerful reminder to people.
“Earthquakes are a good reminder about just how unpredictable and powerful nature is,” Rideout said. “We live these kinds of artificial lives in a way. We’ve manufactured these cities and towns and think we have control and understand everything, but Mother Nature can come around and give us a reminder every now and then.”
