WW Hosts Johnson College and Five Star Equipment

Real world experience is still an option for students wishing to pursue a career in a variety of automotive-related fields. Western Wayne High School students were treated to a presentation in November from representatives with Johnson College and Five Star Equipment.
The college and company have teamed up to offer Johnson students the opportunity to take classes for their degree at Johnson along with working at Five Star in what they call Live Labs. Five Star Equipment is located in Dunmore and specializes in sales, rentals, parts, and service. The students get to work in real situations at Five Star and then discuss their experiences with their teachers at Johnson.
James Charney, an instructor at Johnson in technical transportation and heavy equipment, explained what he hopes the students gained from the presentation.
“There are many job opportunities for engineers and technicians,” Charney explained. “We have partnered with Five Star to make students aware of opportunities in continuing education. We have a focus on two year degrees and then placement in the workforce afterwards.”
Through the partnership with Five Star, Johnson students in the program can work two days a week there and are introduced to numerous repairs. Five Star service and safety training manager Tim Stevens, who has worked in the industry for 35 years, also, spoke with the students.
Charney explained how students’ work at Five Star with Stevens and other employees then translates into great material for classroom discussions.

“Students are then able to discuss scenarios they run into in the field in their classes and troubleshoot solutions for next time,” Charney explained.
Western Wayne junior Dawson Wargo enjoyed the presentation given to the auto students. “I have an interest in working with heavy equipment,” Dawson explained. “I could be interested in studying diesel mechanics at Johnson.”
Fellow Western Wayne junior Zach Kizer also enjoyed the presentation. “I am definitely interested in the possibility of getting some real experience in the field while I am in school,” he explained.
Charney hopes the information he shared with the students helps them see the different possibilities available to them.
“If you are interested in this field there are a lot of opportunities out there,” Charney told the students. “I was once in your shoes, and I decided to attend Johnson College.”

High School Celebrates Homecoming

Western Wayne Wayne High School Celebrated their traditional Homecoming Court Ceremony this past fall in a home game against Honesdale. Pictured are the homecoming court from left: Thomas Chernasky, Jaiden DeRosa, Ashton Fitzsimmons, Homecoming King Joshua Mahnke, Homecoming Queen Rylee Sheehan, Brooke Richardson, Rachel Tuman, Sarah Collins, and Ella Dougher. Absent from photo: Caden Brungard.

Turkey Trot Winners

front row: Juda Strocchia, Gavin Morcom, Annie Williams, Benjamin McCleland, Jake Grodack, Ava Fiorella

Second row: Landon Romanaskas, Aliyah Gregory, Eli Bilski, Frankie Leyshon (Turkey), Sadie Booths, Mia Gifford, Audrey Agnello

Middle School Hosts JLINE Dance Crew

Flashing lights, catchy songs, choreographed dances, and a powerful message were all a part of the show presented by the JLINE Dance Crew out of New York City.
The group entertained Western Wayne Middle School students in grades 6 through 8 on Thursday, Nov. 11, at a school assembly in the gym. Show creator and lead performer JLINE sang through a variety of songs for the students including some popular cover songs like “This is Me” and others that he wrote with a powerful message about anti-bullying.
JLINE had two back-up dancers in the show Darby Fulcher and Carrie Lee. The group led by JLINE performed high energy songs to engage the students.
“There was a lot of bullying in my school,” JLINE explained to the kids before starting the performance. “I got through it with song and dance. I think dance and music unite us all.”
After the musical portion of the show, JLINE told more of his story to the students. He explained that he experienced so much bullying as a boy in his school, in a small town in upstate New York, that he shut down and didn’t really speak to anyone for two years.
To get him to open up, his parents got him involved in cross country running, Taekwondo, and theater.
“I’m so lucky my parents believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” he told the students. JLINE believes that his involvement in these three activities greatly influenced his path in life and helped him to get where he is today creating shows to spread a powerful message to students.
After JLINE spoke, dancer Carrie Lee told the students about an experience she faced in school where she took a long time to stand up for another student she saw her friends repeatedly making fun of.
“It was just easier to walk away and pretend it wasn’t happening,” Carrie explained but then discussed how she finally decided to make a change and stand up for the student even if it meant losing friends. “I learned it’s not enough to just avoid bullying. You need to stand up for each other. You can be that one person to stand up for someone else.”
Fellow dancer Darby Fulcher was the last performer to speak to the students. She explained to them how she struggled greatly with her academics in school, but, in the end, graduated in the top of her class.
“If you have a roadblock in your life, push through it” Darby told the students. “Don’t give up.”
Western Wayne administration, faculty, and staff hope the messages presented to their students help them to develop as individuals who want to show kindness to others and persevere even in difficult situations.
From left: JLINE performs with dancers Darby Fulcher and Carrie Lee for Western Wayne Middle School students at an assembly on Thursday, November 11.

Middle School Hosts Visit From Author J. E. Thompson

From left: Western Wayne Middle School teacher Starlah Robbins, who worked to coordinate the visit from Thompson, and J. E. Thompson.

Western Wayne Middle School students learned about the time and effort it takes to have a career as a published author on Tuesday, Nov. 16, when award-winning author J. E. Thompson spoke to them. Thompson told the students about his latest book Buccaneer’s Spit. In the novel, two teenagers work to save a spit of land in South Carolina from a developer who wants to take it over.
Thompson explained that his books are mystery, thriller stories. He told the students about the process he goes through to write a novel. He explained that he likes to start by creating characters that readers will care about. Then he creates a large problem for those characters to overcome, and, as he writes, he discovers how his characters will overcome the obstacles they face. Thompson explained to the students the many times a writer has to edit, revise, and rewrite a story before it is finally published.
“Imagination is one of the greatest skills you’ve got,” Thompson told the students. “If you have a great imagination, you can figure things out and be a good problem solver.”
The students had the chance to purchase a signed copy of one of Thompson’s novels after the presentation. Many of them are excited to read a book from an author they have met. Thompson’s other two published novels are The Girl From Felony Bay and its sequel Disappearance at Hangman’s Bluff.
Thompson let the students know that his next book is set in the woods of rural Pennsylvania.
“There is so much beauty out here [where you live] that I am fascinated by,” Thompson told the students. “You are lucky to live here.”

Holiday Gift Registration

Western Wayne School District in coordination with community donors will be sponsoring a limited number of students for holiday gifts. If you are experiencing hardship this holiday season and are interested in your child/children being sponsored please complete this google form by Friday November 19 at 3:00 p.m. All identifying information will remain confidential. All students will be assigned a number. No names will be provided to the person sponsoring them. Pick up for gift items will be held on December 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the High School Main Office.
https://forms.gle/KjnKEhdiFWmghe7V7

High School Chorus Halloween Bonus

The Western Wayne High School Chorus is excited to share a short performance that we recorded this October along with a spooky bonus song for Halloween. We hope you enjoy!

FEED-A-FRIEND – DONATIONS ARE NEEDED!

Please bring in non-perishable canned foods to
help feed needy people from our area this
holiday season!

Drop off barrels will be located at all schools in the district.

”Together, We Can Help Make A Difference For Our Less Fortunate Friends.”
If your family needs help from the food pantry this holiday season, contact 253-4263

RDW studies the Art of Wassily Kandinsky

The Kindergarten and 1st Grade students at RDW studied the Art of Wassily Kandinsky, focusing especially on his most famous painting, Squares with Concentric Circles, done in 1913. Students also learned about warm and cool colors, and how colors can convey feelings. Students practiced both drawing, cutting, and painting concentric circles. They also practiced proper painting procedures and brush control in the process! Students also talked about the idea of collaborative art as we combined everyone’s paintings together to make the beautiful installation hanging in the hallway. The Students learned a lot and had a great time!

Public Invited to WW Cavalcade of Bands on Thurs. Oct. 14

The Western Wayne School District will host a cavalcade of bands on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 14, at our football stadium. A total of eight schools will participate including: Lakeland, West Scranton, Valley View, Delaware Valley, North Pocono, Northwest Area, Dunmore, and, of course, Western Wayne will close out the show.

“It is exciting to get to perform in a cavalcade after not being able to do them last year [because of COVID],” senior drum major Hudson Malinowski explained. “I hope everyone comes out to enjoy our show!”

The public may start arriving at the stadium as early as 5:45 p.m. Lakeland will be the first school to perform starting at 6:30 p.m. with the National Anthem being played shortly beforehand.

Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children under 12 and senior citizens, or free with the donation of pet food or supplies at the gate. All donations will be given to the “C Alley Cats of Lake Wallenpaupack” organization. C Alley Cats provides low cost spay/ neuter services, provides adoption and foster programs, and gives support to caregivers of medically challenged cats.

In addition, concessions will be sold with all proceeds benefiting Western Wayne band and color guard students. 

Western Wayne’s field show this season is “A Full Course Meal” with the selections of “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke,” “ Cheeseburger in Paradise,” Chicken Dance,” and “I Want Candy.” Come out and enjoy the hard work of all of the local school bands participating in this event.

Pictured is Malinowski conducting the Western Wayne Band during their recent performance at a home football game that also served as their senior night. Malinowski’s fellow drum major is junior Maggie Nagle.