RDW Elementary

Robert D. Wilson Elementary Kindness Club contributes through food drive

The Kindness Club played a pivotal role in organizing a significant event at Robert D. Wilson Elementary. From March 11th through the 15th, we conducted a food drive aimed at supporting those in need within our community. The Kindness Club took charge of collecting the donated items, and we are incredibly fortunate to have received an outstanding assortment of nonperishable foods. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this impactful initiative. Your generosity and support truly make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you.

RDW 1st Annual Spelling Bee Results!

Two divisions:  Grades 1 and 2; Grades 3, 4, and 5.

First pic:  3-5 winners from left to right:  1st place, Theodore Wood, 3rd place, Benjamin Vinton, 2nd place, Henry Barna

Second pic:  1-2 winners from left to right:  2nd place, Cally Non, 1st place, Spencer Cherinchak, 3rd place, Elizabeth Wood

Third Place:  All winners from left to right:  Henry Barna, Cally Non, Theodore Wood, Spencer Cherinchak, Benjamin Vinton, Elizabeth Wood

RDW to Host Annual Read Across America Night Thursday, Feb. 29

Members of the community who come out to enjoy the annual Read Across America Night at Western Wayne’s RDW Elementary School on Thursday, February 29, will surely leave thinking about all of their favorite creepy, kooky, and mysteriously spooky Addams Family members because the Western Wayne Drama Club will treat people in attendance to a sneak peak of their spring musical The Addams Family School Edition, a new musical comedy.
Western Wayne Middle and High School musical students will put on a performance from their upcoming spring production of The Addams Family School Edition as a part of the entertainment. THE ADDAMS FAMILY School Edition A NEW MUSICAL Book by MARSHALL BRICKMAN and RICK ELICE Music and Lyrics by ANDREW LIPPA Orchestrations by Larry Hochman
Based on Characters Created by Charles Addams Originally produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Productions, Stephen Schuler, Decca Theatricals, Scott M. Delman, Stuart Ditsky, Terry Allen Kramer, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Eva Price, Jam Theatricals/Mary LuRoffe, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman-Swinsky, Vivek Tiwary/Gary Kaplan, The Weinstein Company/Clarence, LLC, Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals; By Special Arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical

The event will kick-off at 4:45 p.m. and is free to the public. Kids of all ages can enjoy a variety of activities in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
There will also be a Book Fair at the event hosted by the PTA, and attendees can meet The Cat and Hat along with Thing One and Thing Two.
From 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. guests can tour the RDW building and stop in classrooms to hear stories read by RDW staff and friends. Starting at 5:30 through 6:30 p.m., there will be a concession stand open.
Then at 6:30 p.m. The Addams Family cast members will put on a performance. Senior Drama Club President Nate Conway is excited to welcome the audience playing the role of Gomez Addams.
“This is a role I never imagined having when I started out in the Drama Club in 8th grade,” Nate, who also serves as a student director, said. “I have always wanted to play a really humorous and dark lead role and now for my senior year I have that chance.”
The entire cast of The Addams Family are excited to entertain the audience at RDW.
“I love going out into the community and sharing what we have been working to create,” Colette Schmitt, who is the secretary of the Drama Club, and plays Pugsley this year, said. “ I can’t wait to see all of the students in attendance enjoy it.”
The Western Wayne community cordially invites the public to come and enjoy Read Across America Night on Thursday, February 29, at the RDW Elementary School, a free evening of entertainment and events perfect for kids of all ages.
In addition, you can also mark your calendar with the dates for our performances of The Addams Family School Edition at Western Wayne High School’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 13 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, and Western Wayne students are free with a student ID.
Pictured are some of the cast of Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of The Addams Family School edition with Owen Obloshny who plays Uncle Fester center dancing with Madison Forgione who plays the moon.

Local Community Asked to Vote for WW Students Online

Western Wayne High School has six students who are state finalists in a Prevent Suicide Contest. We are asking the local community to help make them winners!

Please vote using the following link: https://psa.preventsuicidepa.org/2024-public-voting-posters/.

There are four contests to vote on (poster, 30 second video, 60 second video and audio)

To vote for Izzy Azzato, Brooke Kellogg, and Cayden Rose’s 30 second video— vote Video #2  in the 30 second videos

To Vote for Connor Bryant, Jamie Chapman and Evan Dean’s 60 second video- vote Video #3 in the 60 second videos

Votes can be made daily until February 16.

The district appreciates your help in support of our talented students.

Wayne County Arts Alliance Student Art Exhibition!

During the month of February, Art students from all four Western Wayne schools are participating in the 1st Wayne County Arts Alliance Student Art Exhibition!  The opening for the show was well attended on Friday February 2nd, where students, their teachers and families enjoyed light refreshments and viewing the art from other participating Wayne County School Districts. Student work was selected based on a variety of criteria. Hopefully this show will become an annual event in the future! The show will be on display at the Wayne County Arts Alliance Gallery at 959 Main Street Honesdale through February 24, 2024. Congratulations to the participating artists; From Robert D. Wilson Elementary: Reaghan Sheehan, Nathan Klimczak, Felix Klimczak, Andie Trapper, Billie Joe Burnham, Orson Farley, Alice O’hora, Jameson Constantine, Luca Ferraro, Keira Marcel, Paige Weist, Zoe Borzek, and Caleb Tedesco. From the High School: Peyton Cook, Lila Rusin, Carly Schott, Kiersten McDonald, Aurora Morris, Cassidy Zeiler, Leo West and from the Middle School Teena Zotynia, Mackenzie Warnock, Abigail Wasman, Ava Borzek, Jailah McRae, Isabella Jason, Kenna Steinmetz, Jasmine Yamamoto, Makayla Franckowiak. EverGreen: Brooklyn Gill, Rayven Ford-Hetzel, Leiana Vetrano, Jereni Strocchia, Khloe Elias Lucy Olszyk, Mia Padula Emma Dougher, Nathanial Huff, Tucker Bell , Lillian Elders, Aria Takacs.

RDW Club Models Kindness

The Kindness Club at RDW recently performed a play for students in grades K-2. The play was called A Day in the Life of an RDW Student and included five different scenarios that a typical student might encounter. In each scene, one or more of the characters chose to demonstrate kindness in a challenging situation. The club members had questions for students to discuss between acts. At the conclusion of the play, Kindness Club members encouraged students to practice acts of kindness throughout their day and to consider joining the Kindness Club when they are in fifth grade.

Members, left to right from first photo: Ryan Nixon, Paxton Shiner-Lewis, Caden Reeger, Saga Bryden, Lillian Sorrentino, and Kelly Talarico

Guiding Good Choices for 4th-6th grade parents and caregivers.

Guiding Good Choices for 4th-6th grade parents and caregivers. Attend this
FREE VIRTUAL five-session program to help your youth navigate the
pressures and expectations of life during their teen years to succeed and
achieve a brighter future.
Parents and caregivers can enhance their parenting skills by learning how to:

  • Promote health and well-being during the teen years.
  • Develop health beliefs and clear standards for behavior.
  • Deal with anger in a positive way and manage family conflict to strengthen
    bonds with youth.
  • Protect their children from substance abuse and other problematic behaviors.
  • Strengthen family bonds and increase youth’s involvement in the family through
    the teen years.

Youth attend session 4 with their parents and caregivers.
The program will be held on five Tuesdays: February 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 6
from 6 to 8 PM via Zoom.
For more information or to register, e-mail or call Karen Thomas at kat1@psu.edu
or 570-878-2385

Universal Technical Institute Guest Speaker

On January 12th, Jay Amore from the Universal Technical Institute met with fourth and fifth grade students at RDW. Mr. Amore shared the different training programs that are offered at UTI and why many of these are in high-demand. He discussed the cost of technical school versus a traditional college and explained the difference between these two endeavors. He also shared his personal career journey to demonstrate the potential for success and happiness when pursuing a career in the trades.

Mr. Amore’s engaging presentation helped to expand students’ understanding of their post-secondary options, which is an important goal of the K-12 College and Career Readiness program here at Western Wayne.  

Such a joyful time at the RDW Elementary School!  Thank you to the RDW PTA

“ Such a joyful time at the RDW Elementary School! Thank you to the RDW PTA for putting on a week long Santa shop and gifting books and the love of reading to all of our RDW students!  We even had a very special visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause! “ All of the students LOVED the Christmas Fun and Spirit!” 

RDW Principal to Receive 2023 Administrator Appreciation Award

Mrs. Maria Miller has been chosen to receive the 2023 Administrator Appreciation Award from the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA). This rare distinction “acknowledges administrators who demonstrate an understanding and support of, commitment to and belief in the role of school counselors and comprehensive, developmental school counseling programs.”
Miller will be formally recognized at the PSCA annual conference on December 7th at Kalahari Resorts and Conference Center.
She has been an avid supporter of the school counseling program at RDW since they started working together in June of 2012. She is the reason the program has received national and state recognition; and she is a true champion of the school’s comprehensive school counseling program.
Miller was born and raised in Waymart and has lived there her whole life. She graduated from Western Wayne School District in 1986. She then attended Marywood University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Early Childhood (1990) and Master’s Degree in Early Childhood (1992). Later, she received her Principal Certification in 1997 from The University of Scranton.
Miller has worked at R.D. Wilson for the past 33 years. She was a classroom teacher for 10 years, serving students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Fourth Grade before entering her current role as principal. Miller is a champion of her community and has devoted her career to bettering the lives of the students and families in this area that she calls home.

Mrs. Miller spear-headed the efforts to bring the PROSPER Program to the Western Wayne School District. Based out of Penn State, this program trains local teams to lead family-based and school-based prevention program efforts on the ground in their communities.
In addition to her many roles at school, Miller is Waymart Historical Society: Vice President; has her RAMP-Certification: Principal of a RAMP-Certified school (2019-2024), currently supporting the counselor in applying for Re-RAMP and the PA Black Diamond Program award.
Also, R.D. Wilson received the Adequate Yearly Progress PDE achievement recognition every year from 2002 until 2011 (when PA stopped awarding this to schools) under Miller’s leadership.
Miller is thrilled to represent Western Wayne at the awards ceremony to receive her great honor in early December.