![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)
![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)
Editor’s note: Please be advised that some of the music listed may contain explicit and/or inappropriate content.
It feels like forever since I’ve made a post, but my absence has created a pile of great music to share with y’all!
So first off, Justin Timberlake decided to get back into the music scene and drop a captivating new single. When I pressed play, a smooth chopped-and-screwed beat started rolling, and I had to do a double take to make sure I had clicked the right song. But sure enough, Justin’s high-pitched vocals dropped with a funky, euphoric beat to follow. The chorus is catchy, and Jay-Z lays down a solid verse on the track. So what’s not to like?
Suit & Tie ft. Jay-Z – Justin Timberlake
On a more local scale, The High Life just dropped their debut Mixtape entitled The Time of Our Lives. The rap trio consists of WHS seniors Brian Garcia, Dayleon Mckenzie along with Daelin Holmes. It is an incredibly impressive 19-track production, and the professionalism is palpable. This is not a couple of kids spitting rap clichés in a basement, but a diverse showcase of an ambitious rap with the sky as their limit. “Ass Clap” is a hyphy-club-banger reminiscent of “Rack City” by Tyga that I can imagine getting dropped at house parties all across Massachusetts. “Pictures From My Phone” gives off that chill Kid Cudi vibe, “Absolutely” has a Kanye-esque pitched up soul sample and the classic G-funk bounce, and they show off their speedy chops on “Ball Out”. But don’t get me wrong, THL does not only emulate other rappers, they have their own modern style that really matches up with their personalities. They make a handful of witty Wayland and Boston references, and they really open up to lots of subjects that kids their age can connect to and others that are moving and personal. Although the Mixtape isn’t as catchy or memorable as other works out there, the High Life show they have ambition with The Time Of Our Lives, so be on the lookout for THL on the rise.
Pictures from my phone – The High Life
The Underachievers are a rap duo straight out of Flatbush NY, who just dropped a new mixtape, Indigoism. I’d liken them to a modern day Tribe Called Quest, with jazzy samples weaved into fluid beats, and distinctive flows that breathe life into each beat. Kick back and watch the Flatbush duo flow on “The Mahdi”.
The Mahdi – The Underachievers
When I first heard the drop (if you want to call it that) on this song, it instantly gave me a feeling that very few songs can. This is not your typical electronic dance song, while it is technically electronic music; it has a human pulse to it and an organic sound. Once you listen, you’ll know what I mean. Above the Middle is one of those songs I can listen to no matter what mood I’m in and paints an ever-evolving picture as it progresses. The artist responsible is ODESZA, and their whole album is available for download on their SoundCloud, completely free.
