![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)
The Watertown/Wayland co-op boys varsity hockey team took down Pembroke in the first round of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division III playoffs on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The back-and-forth game stretched to two overtime periods, with Wayland senior captain Jack Gavron scoring the game winning goal. The Raiders will now play against No. 5 seed Triton Regional on Sunday, March, 2 in the round of 16.
Credit: Edge Wheeler
The team gathers in the locker room before the game for their pregame prayer. "I think it's a great way to bring us all together and get us fired up right before we head out onto the ice," junior Griffin Wood said.
