![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)
![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)
You’re at a Boston Red Sox game and you stand for the National Anthem. When you look at the field, you see many familiar faces of people you go to high school with. Surprisingly, this fantasy will become a reality on Sunday, April 5. The Wayland High School (WHS) Band was invited to perform the national anthem at the Boston Red Sox Sox game at Fenway.
WHS Band director, Joseph Oneschuk, was contacted by the Red Sox who looked at the WHS band website and saw that the jazz band had performed at the Massachusetts state house, and the band had played in Emanuel Hall and the Boston Conservatory. The Red Sox reached out to Oneschuk with an invitation to play the national anthem at a game. Oneschuk waited until he was sure it was going to happen and then surprised the band when telling them they will be performing at the Red Sox.
“I am really excited because I think it’s gonna be cool [to perform] and to be on the field,” sophomore Mateo Whelton said. “We have never performed at something like this, it’s pretty unique.”
The band practices the anthem everyday in preparation for the performance, they also practice playing on the WHS turf field as it’s the first time they will be playing a field. Oneschuck takes them outside in different temperatures to ensure they are ready no matter the conditions. Oneschuck even simulates the crowd noise through the press box.
“I haven’t performed at anything like this before,” freshman Noa Ferdman said. “We perform the national anthem at football games so it’s pretty easy.”
WHS students are able to attend the game at a discounted price, and bus transportation to and from the game is included in the ticket. The band was given a block of 300 seats to sell to WHS students so that the students can show support as their peers perform at the game.
“One of the main things that I love about this performance and experience is that it will be a lifetime memory,” Oneschuk said. “My students will tell their kids and grandkids about the time they performed the anthem at a Red Sox game at Fenway.”
This will be a big accomplishment for the band, however they do not plan on stopping here as they have bigger ambitions and goals to achieve.
“I think Celtics and Bruins are next, [which] could be down the road,” Oneschuck said. “I find with these kinds of performances, it’s like the saying ‘success breeds success.’”
