![After Massachusetts voted to remove the MCAS graduation requirement, policy makers are reshaping graduation standards. "The top-line understanding is that we’ve moved away from a system that we’ve known for about 24 years, which is one where every school district in Massachusetts had wide latitude to decide what their graduation requirements were in terms of coursework or other experiences, but every single student, in order to earn a diploma, needed to pass the MCAS in one English, one math and one science assessment," Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler said. "We’ve moved away from that now, by virtue of the outcome of [the MCAS] ballot question in November, to a place where communities can still decide what their graduation requirements are, but there’s no requirement for students to pass the MCAS.”](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/img_3067_720.png)
![At 5:45 a.m. on April 19, a reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord took place at Old North Bridge in Concord. The reenactment was followed by a parade, where several dignitaries, including Gov. Maura Healey, gave speeches. "This is our generation's time, standing here in this place at this moment, we must commit ourselves to defending [freedom]," Healey said. "That's what I will do, and I encourage everyone who knows our history and values our freedom to do the same."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/93EBB942-34BA-42D3-85A5-220D17FE7E44_1_105_c.jpeg)
![From left to right, junior Ben Pyhtila, sophomores Aadith Charry and Owen Chislett play their cello instruments. Junior Jubin Kim also plays the cello and has been playing the instrument since third grade. "I think that [the cello] is a good balance between a high instrument versus a low instrument, and I just really like the rich sound that it makes," Kim said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_6540-1200x800.jpg)
The boys volleyball team hosted its first game of the season against Lexington High School on Thursday, March 27, in the WHS field house. The two teams played a total of five sets, and Wayland came out on top with a 3-2 win.
“I really enjoyed playing so competitively in our first game of the season,” sophomore Mason Lee said. “We demonstrated focus and perseverance.”
Credit: Mischa Lee
Before the game starts, some Wayland and Lexington players high-five each other along the net.
