![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)
![Troy Hoyt finishes the Boston Marathon, running for the Hoyt Foundation. T. Hoyt is the son of Hoyt Foundation CEO Russ Hoyt.
“[Running a marathon] might seem like a big thing, when it’s presented to you at first, but if you break it up and just keep telling yourself, “Yes, you can,” you can start chipping away at it. And before you know it, you’ll be running the whole 26 miles, and you won’t even think twice about it.” T. Hoyt said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/C36E8761-1CBB-452E-9DF2-543EF7B1095E_1_105_c.jpeg)
![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)
On Thursday, April 3, the boys varsity lacrosse team faced off against the Shawsheen Valley Technical High School lacrosse team in its second game of the season and first home game. Wayland ultimately lost with a final score of 13-4.
First quarter:
Starting off the game, Shawsheen won the draw, and quickly transitioned to offense. Shawsheen kept possession of the ball, passing around the net. Then, at the eight minute mark, Shawsheen was able to score. Following this, the team scored another goal from the right side of the field. Later in the first quarter, there was a foul called on Wayland, which resulted in an important offensive play by Shawsheen. Despite this, Wayland was able to defend well and avoid a goal against. Then, Shawsheen played well offensively, scoring another goal, making the score 3-0. Time ran out and the score at the end of the first quarter was 3-0 in favor of Shawsheen.
Second quarter:
Wayland won the draw and went on offense, however, there was a foul on Wayland. As a result, Shawsheen gained a counter and scored. Wayland was able to pick up the slack, allowing senior captain Donovan Mason to score. Then, Wayland was able to score again. Both teams subsequently played with higher intensity and quicker speed of play during possessions. As the quarter was about to end, Shawsheen scored right before the clock ran out. The score at halftime was 5-2.
Third quarter:
Shawsheen won the draw and transitioned to offense. From there, Shawsheen was an offensive powerhouse the entire quarter, scoring five consecutive goals. For the majority of the quarter, Shawsheen focused on maintaining possession, and would look to the net whenever there was an opening. Furthermore, from the six draws that quarter, Wayland was only able to win one. The score was 10-2, in favor of Shawsheen, at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth quarter:
Shawsheen won the opening draw of the quarter, causing Wayland to play a lot of defense. Shawsheen continued its pressure and scored off the draw. Wayland players was able to make a play and score their third goal of the game. Shawsheen countered with another goal. To finish off the game, Wayland scored the final goal which wasn’t enough to take the win. The final score was a loss for Wayland, 13-4.
