Friday night lights brings a fight for more
The Wayland varsity football team faced Lincoln-Sudbury at home on Friday, Oct. 6.
The varsity football team dropped the ball against Lincoln-Sudbury on Friday, Oct. 6, facing a harsh loss of 27-0 after three consecutive wins.
In the first quarter of the game, both teams’ defense held each other off, ending the quarter with a score of 0-0. Lincoln-Sudbury picked up speed and ended the second quarter with a dominating score of 20-0. The Warriors were unable to make a comeback, and the score at the end of the third was 27-0 and stayed the same for the rest of the game. After the Warriors’ game against Waltham on Friday, Oct. 13, their season record is currently 4-2.
MVP Clubs holds fundraiser
For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, members of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) club set up a tent where they sold cotton candy to raise money for the Lauren Dunne Astley Fund at the game. The memorial fund is in remembrance of Astley, a Wayland resident and student who lost her life to domestic violence in 2011. Members of the Wayland MVP club as well as the Lincoln-Sudbury MVP club worked at the tent.
“All the money that we're making is going into the Lauren Dunne Astley Foundation, which goes directly into [implementing] education at schools about domestic violence,” club member and Wayland senior Giovanni Sebastianelli said.
From left to right, two Lincoln Sudbury seniors and senior Giovanni Sebastianelli pose in the Mentors in Violence Prevention club tent. (Photo Credit: Sasha Libenzon)
From left to right, two Lincoln Sudbury seniors and senior Giovanni Sebastianelli pose in the Mentors in Violence Prevention club tent. (Photo Credit: Sasha Libenzon)
The MVP club has been at Wayland since 2015. During the pandemic, the club wasn’t large enough to host fundraisers and events, so this football game was MVP’s first fundraiser in several years. Members of MVP are seniors who have taken a certain wellness course.
“Mentors in Violence Prevention is a club made up of senior leaders who have taken the junior wellness class called MVP,” club adviser and Wellness teacher Amanda Rukstalis said. “[The students] are passionate about spreading awareness about domestic violence and relationship violence.”
Rukstalis, along with Wellness teacher Scott Parseghian, are advisers to the club. When the MVP curriculum was brought to the school in 2015, students who had taken the class wanted to use what they had learned to help others who might be in situations of domestic violence. Other schools in the area, like Lincoln-Sudbury, already had the MVP Club, so the club was started at Wayland.
“It is a great resource for students to go to if they have concerns about their relationship or how to get out of an unhealthy relationship,” Rukstalis said. “Kids found a passion for it and want to help spread awareness. So we think it's really important for every school to have [an MVP Club].”
REACH: Beyond Domestic Violence also had a table at the game next to the MVP Club. Sydney Carter, the Community Engagement Coordinator for REACH, was at the table handing out “talking cards,” which provided tips to people on how to start conversations on domestic violence.
“[The talking cards are] really great talking points because sometimes it can be really hard, and maybe uncomfortable, to have conversations with your child or with a student if you think that maybe they're in an unhealthy relationship,” Carter said.
REACH is an organization based in Waltham that serves 27 communities in the area. One of their programs is the Community Advocacy program, where someone can get help from a representative. REACH can help those who are in situations of domestic violence by helping create a long term safety plan, accompanying people to court or paperwork.
“We work with multiple high schools and different community groups,” Carter said. “We go out to health care providers and police and train them on what domestic violence really is. [We also train] how [to] stop it and support the people that are going through it.”
Carter was at the game to answer any questions people had about domestic violence, and to inform people that REACH is a local resource they can use if they find themselves in situations of domestic violence.
On the ten year anniversary of Lauren Dunne Astely’s death, the community came together with the MVP Club making $1,500. During their recent fundraiser on Oct. 6, the club made over $900.
Freshman Brendan McGonegal plays the flute in the pep band. (Photo Credit: Sasha Libenzon)
Freshman Brendan McGonegal plays the flute in the pep band. (Photo Credit: Sasha Libenzon)
Throughout the school year, the club plans to engage with the student body, provide guidance and shed light on problems students might be facing in their relationships.
“[Our goal is to] raise awareness by being a voice for the student body,” senior and MVP Club member CC Haddad said. “Later on in the year, we're planning to have a panel at winter week.”
The club also plans to give presentations to juniors in school who will take the MVP course in their wellness classes. Though the club hopes to host events later on in the year, students can reach out to club members and advisers for help at any time.
“If you ever have any issues [regarding domestic violence], you can come to the student leaders, Coach Parseghian or I because we're happy to help you if you're in those situations,” Rukstalis said.
Captain junior Max Dresens (#21) tackles a Lincoln-Sudbury player who has possession of the ball. (Photo Credit: Sasha Libenzon)
Captain junior Max Dresens (#21) tackles a Lincoln-Sudbury player who has possession of the ball. (Photo Credit: Sasha Libenzon)
If you or someone you love is facing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
The REACH hotline is 800-899-4000.
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