A recap of the biggest WSPN stories of 2017.

January

To begin the new year, the wellness department announced that they would discontinue “girls only” hours in the weight room due to the low number of students and teachers using the weight room during these times.

In mid January, freshman Sam Cahaly broke the freshman boys’ diving record that stood for 11 years.

WSPN covered the rally at the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland and interviewed community members about why they were attending the rally.

Following the inauguration of President Trump, WSPN took a look into the WHS community’s reactions to his election, including interviewing students who attended the Women’s March for America in Boston and speaking with students who attended “Love Trumps Hate” rallies. In a video, students and teachers reflected on how Trump’s presidency would affect them and what the environment at school was like the day after Trump’s victory in the election of 2016.

At the end of the month, WSPN wrote a survival guide for midterms, including honors biology, honors chemistry, honors physics and honors U.S. history.

Finally, WSPN polled WHS students to find their favorite songs of the year.

February

In February, WSPN covered events from Winter Week 2017 including the talent show, the hypnotist show and a performance by the K-pop club.

WSPN examined WHS’ rankings by the numbers, noting that WHS has a 99% graduation rate, a 12-1 ratio of students to teachers and is ranked in the 87th percentile among public schools by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education based on student performance.

WHS was closed twice in the month of February due to weather. The first snow day was Thursday, Feb. 9 and the second was Monday, Feb. 13.

The Lunar New Year Festival was held at WHS, and community members enjoyed performances by the Wayland Chinese-American Association and visited cultural booths.

In sports, the swim and dive team hosted senior night, the boys’ varsity basketball team lost to Weston in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game, the wrestling team defeated Acton-Boxborough, and the girls’ varsity basketball team defeated Concord Carlisle in their senior night game.

In music, WHS hosted the annual Bandfest and welcomed middle school and elementary school musicians to play together.

March

In March, WHS faculty members expressed their opinions on recently appointed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

In arts and entertainment, seniors performed in “[Title of Show].” WHS hosted the annual Wayland Public Schools performances String Jam and Wayland Sings.

WSPN looked into the opt-out forms for prom coach buses that allowed students to choose to not take the coach buses provided to the junior prom.

METCO marked its 50th anniversary, and WSPN spoke with METCO students at WHS.

In community news, the Wayland Public Library announced an update on the relocation initiative, and the School Committee held a FY18 budget hearing

At the end of the month, the Class of 2017 put on the annual Senior Show.

April

In April, Wayland won the 9th annual Civics Bee in an unprecedented tie breaker.

Early in the month, the robotics team competed at the regional competition, where they made it to the quarterfinals.

WSPN looked into the end of the girls’ varsity basketball team’s season in a video.

With controversy over the new parking lot policy at WHS, WSPN interviewed juniors and seniors about their experience with parking.

WHS hosted the annual spring college a cappella concert where college groups and WHS’ a cappella groups performed.

In sports, the girls’ varsity lacrosse team defeated Weston and the boys’ varsity soccer team was honored at a Red Sox game after winning the Division 3 State Championship in the fall.

The orchestra and chorus groups performed in the annual Pops concert in mid April.

WHS Muslim students shared their experiences in a video.

WSPN celebrated our 10-year anniversary and looked back on the best stories throughout the years.

May

In May, WSPN spoke with the new superintendent Arthur Unobskey.

In arts and entertainment, students performed in the spring band concert, WHSTE performed “The Play’s the Thing” and Window danced in their annual spring show.

In sports, boys’ volleyball and girls’ lacrosse beat Newton South, boys’ lacrosse defeated Holliston and Wayland-Weston Crew had a strong showing at Northeast Regionals.

Over April vacation, students took a trip to Cuba and sophomore Olivia Harvey, who went on the trip, submitted a selection of her photos to WSPN.

In preparation for prom, WSPN interviewed students about their opinions surrounding promposal culture. Following the event, WSPN’s annual pre-prom gallery had over 300 photos.

WSPN reporters created guides for the SAT, ACT, and SATII

In school news, “We The People” posters were hung around the school, WPS announced a change in a school start times, Wayland Alliance hosted an “Out and Proud” panel and the athletic director announced that the athletic fields at WHS were going to be renovated and repositioned.

June

To finish off the school year, WSPN covered events from the senior class including Senior Awards Night, senior assassin and graduation. In a video, the Class of 2017 reflected on their high school experience.

In school news, there were mixed reactions from students after WHS announced a change in the school logo, removing the Native American spear. The administration announced the removal of the Principal Scholarship Award, which had existed since the beginning of the Underclassmen Awards.

In sports, both the girls’ and boys’ varsity tennis teams won state championships. The boys’ varsity volleyball team beat Needham and made it to the state final where they fell to Westfield. WSPN highlighted students from the class of 2017 that committed to playing sports in college.

WSPN honored English teacher and long-time journalism adviser Janet Karman with a video.

To end the school year, WSPN published a “Year in Review.”

September

To start off the new school year, WSPN spoke with students about their first day of school experiences and WHS teachers discussed their back to school night preparation in a video.

WSPN explored WHS’ political climate and attitude towards minority views.

In school news, WPS implemented a new student information system called eSchoolPlus.

In sports, the girls’ varsity field hockey team fell to Natick, girls’ varsity soccer lost to Cambridge Rindge and Latin, varsity football defeated Newton South, boys’ varsity soccer beat Acton-Boxborough in the Kicks for Cancer game and Wayland-Weston Crew hosted the annual Ergathon.

October

WSPN kicked off the new month with the annual “Meet the Freshmen” video to introduce members of the Class of 2021.

WSPN members Naomi Lathan and Julia Callini spoke on both sides of the “Stop the Monster” debate.

In arts and entertainment, WSPN looked behind the scenes of the WHS pep band.

During the Columbus Day holiday, reporters Amira and Tamira English gave their opinion on if the day should be celebrated, and WHS students shared their feelings on the day.

In school news, Student Council hosted a spikeball tournament for hurricane relief, the Class of 2018 painted “The Rock,” an ALICE drill was held at WHS, Student Council President and Vice President Jaylen Wang and Kanming Xu began “Advisory Report” and Wayland football players knelt during the national anthem to express their beliefs.

In sports, boys’ varsity soccer beat Waltham, varsity football defeated Concord-Carlisle on senior night, Wayland-Weston crew rowed in the 53rd Head of the Charles Regatta and girls’ varsity soccer beat Cohasset.

Sophomores attended the annual sophomore semi-formal in the end of October.

On Halloween, the Class of 2018 celebrated by dressing up in costumes during the school day.

November

WSPN interviewed sophomores at the semi-formal dance in the “Meet the Semi Dates” video.

In sports, girls’ varsity soccer defeated Arlington Catholic on senior night, boys’ varsity soccer defeated Weston in D3 North Sectional Quarterfinals, and WHS coaches gave their opinions on cutting athletes during tryouts.

In a new series, “Tryout,” sophomore reporter Julia Pak spent a practice with the freshmen boys’ football team.

WSPN’s Nathan Zhao investigated the administration’s decision to disable eSchoolPlusPlus on school servers.

Student Council announced that Spirit Day would include both dodgeball and color blast.

WHSTE put on a fall production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

WSPN looked into the history of Spirit Day at WHS in the series “Warriorpedia.”

With the release of a new plan for school start times, WSPN reporters wrote opinions on both sides of the issue, and WHS students spoke about the possible start time pushback.

During Thanksgiving break, the senior girls defeated Weston in the annual powder puff game and the varsity football team beat Weston in the annual Turkey Day game.

December

The month began with a video exploring the Wayland-Weston powderpuff game.

The renovation of WHS turf fields was passed at a special town meeting.

In school news, Snapchat, iMessage and FaceTime were blocked on school servers. Freshman Michael Long designed and sold alternative class of 2021 sweatshirts, the class of 2018 senior show directors were announced, numerous cases of mononucleosis were reported at WHS and alcoholic apple juice was sold from the snack bar.

In sports, the girls’ varsity basketball team lost to Westwood in the season opener and boys’ varsity basketball lost to LS in the season home opener.