Western Wayne freshman Rebekah Palko placed third in the walk/ jog intermediate competition at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Competition on April 30 in Harrisburg. Palko looks forward to next year’s competition season. Any other local middle and high school riders can join IEA. Students do not need to own their own horse in order to be a part of a team. The link for more information is https://www.rideiea.org/
For the first time since 2019, the PA FBLA State Leadership Conference was held in-person at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. The 50 members of the Western Wayne delegation were among the more than 2,900 members and advisers in attendance.
During the conference, 25 WW students were recognized on stage for excellence in various competitive events. Seniors Gabby Tetreault and Morgan Coccodrilli, PA FBLA state officers, along with the other state officers, conducted the sessions. Theresa Lubash, local chapter adviser, was honored during the Opening Session as the Outstanding Adviser of the Year.
The chapter garnered two first-place awards and four second-place awards as well as many more. Those students recognized included: Rhayni Carroll, first-place, Intro to Parliamentary Procedure, the team of Rachel Hoch, Kaeli Romanowski, Jenna Kwiatkowski, Aly McCarthy, and Alex Chapman, first-place, Parliamentary Procedure; Adelaide Treibley, second-place, Public Speaking; the team of Adrian Agnello and Weston Nugent, second place, Intro to Business Presentation; the team of Gavin Murphy and Morgan Coccodrilli, second-place, Sales Presentation; Emily Romanowski, second-place, Intro to Parliamentary Procedure; the team of Lou Azzato, Stevie Wilkinson, and Alex Iovacchini, third-place, Public Service Announcement. Also winning awards were the team of Julie Bryan, Niya Acosta, and Anjali DeLeon Bello, fifth-place, Digital Video Production; Rachel Tuman, sixth place, Entrepreneurship; Taylor Maiocco, sixth-place, Intro to Parliamentary Procedure; Xenia Vivona, sixth-place, Help Desk; Gabby Tetreault, eighth-place, Future Business Leader; Allie Pauler, ninth place, Introduction to FBLA; and the team of Raegan Palmer and Colette Schmitt, tenth-place, Intro to Business Presentation.
In Who’s Who in PA FBLA, Kaeli Romanowski and Rachel Hoch placed fourth and fifth, respectively. These two seniors also placed fourth and fifth in the William Selden Scholarship Award receiving each $1,000 scholarships. They will receive the money after successfully completing one semester of college.
Finally, the Western Wayne chapter received a fifth-place award in the Outstanding Chapter event and seventh place for the Local Market Share Award.
Also attending the conference were Mackenzie Adams, Zoe Albitz, Connor Bryant, Jamie Chapman, Brandon Cleveland, Sarah Collins, Ava Compton, Marshall Davis, Anthony Donnini, Ella Dougher, David Elias, Ashton Fitzsimmons, Jared Goldman, Addison Griffin, Morgan Heenan, Allyson Irvine, Audrey Lawlor, Grace Lidy, Laynee Nugent, Lucas Putman, Mason Rush, Hunter Schmitt, Kathy Shepherd, Hunter Smith, and Kayla Stokesberry.
On Tuesday, May 3, 2022, WWHS SADD/TRU club attended a “Virtual Day at the Capital” hosted by the American Lung Association. The group spread the word that” Vaping is harmful for youth and teens” by putting messages in chalk on the sidewalk outside the middle school. They also attended a Zoom conference along with Tobacco Resistant Youth members from all over the state, Lung Association representatives and the PA House of Representatives. In photo, from left: Kaitlyn McDermott, vice president; Madison Kammer, president of SADD; Zoey Goldman, secretary; McKenzie Laity; and Jaden Gregory, treasurer.
Students at Robert D. Wilson welcomed Spring by learning all about pollinators and the important role that honey bees play in growing our food ! Students made core curricular connections as they learned about the parts of a flower, and the parts of a bee! Additionally, students used printmaking techniques to mimic the unique honeycomb patterns bees create organically, while learning about shapes that tesselate, like hexagons!
This program brings the opportunity for college education closer to home without the long
drive and time to campus. Both high school and adult students will have interactive, two-way
access to Johnson College faculty and will participate in remote education, discussions,
testing, and skill demonstrations. The program will create a direct route to career technology
education (CTE), a college degree, and ultimately a fulfilling career with family-sustaining
wages for students in rural Northeastern Pennsylvania. See the attached flyer for details.
The Western Wayne High School CATS club recently raised money for Ukraine children. The group sold t-shirts with the saying “Children Helping the Children of Ukraine”. With the help of the whole district, the club was able to raise $400. The CATS Club is sending a check to Unicef and the money will be targeted for the children in Ukraine. Pictured are Western Wayne High School CATS Club members from left Zoey Goldman, president of CATS Club; Madison Kammer, secretary of CATS Club; and Kaitlyn McDermott, vice president of CATS club.
The Western Wayne School District applied for and was granted a $250,000 RACP State grant in 2009 to do construction at the High School/Middle School site. Then Governor Rendell, approved the funding and ear marked the monies for Western Wayne School District, through the Wayne County Redevelopment Authority, to complete the project. The project was completed and documents were submitted to have the State Funding released. The funding did not arrive, modifications were made, yet the funding never came through.
Fast forward to 2016, Mike Peifer, PA House State Representative of the 139th district, called Superintendent Joseph Adams to let him know that the RACP $250,000 Grant was still on the books at the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to be funded, but the window to submit was closing in 2019. Mr. Adams retired, but agreed to continue, with the help of Western Wayne Superintendent Matt Barrett, Western Wayne Business Manager Rose Emmett, the Wayne County Redevelopment Authority Director Robbin Morgan and DCED, to pursue this approved grant to provide $250,000 of State money for capital projects and savings to the Western Wayne local taxpayers.
Since 2017, this team of professionals submitted and re-submitted plans, drawings and documents and worked with the consultants from the State DCED office, until the Fall of 2021. Finally, after 13 years, Western Wayne’s grant was funded and received in January 2022.
Superintendent Matt Barrett said, “It paid off to keep grinding for this pre-approved grant funded project and I would like to thank Mike Peifer, Joe Adams, Rose Emmett, Robbin Morgan and Paul Macknosky of DCED for working so diligently for the past five years in delivering this $250,000 RACP Grant. It is a $250,000 savings to our Western Wayne taxpayers and reimburses the District for capital projects completed.”
Western Wayne Middle School Students enjoyed a treat of activities with their classmates including listening to songs from the high school band and middle school chorus and a treat from the ice cream truck among other activities on April 14 as a part of the school PBIS initiative. The PBIS initiative involves successfully creating a proactive positive school environment in which students are demonstrating their Wildcat PRIDE daily.
PBIS is an ongoing effort of the Western Wayne School District to guide students in behaving and interacting with others in such a way as to promote an effective learning community.
Pictures are members of the Pride of Western Wayne, the High School Marching Band, under the direction of Mrs. Elaine Ort, as they perform for the middle school in the gym.
R.D. Wilson’s Kindness Club started a neat project and introduced some new members this week. Our winter group did some research and chose to do a “Kindness Tree” to display in our cafeteria. When students or staff are observed doing exceptional acts of kindness, their name gets put on a leaf or flower which is then hung up on the tree. Our hope is that the tree is in full bloom by the end of the year!
Mrs. Germani also inducted four students to serve as new Kindness Club members for the remainder of the year: Keira Sic, Robert Bronson, Kenzie Gregory, and Evan Davitt. We are excited to see all of the ways that these students can promote kindness in our school!
Science meets nature: Students release trout at Varden Conservation AreaMay 6, 2026Students in Wayne County are getting an up-close look at nature with an opportunity to study what’s right in their backyard.
https://www.wnep.com/video/news/local/wayne-county/science-meets-nature-students-release-trout-at-varden-conservation-area/523-3cf2ef49-624d-4f00-95cd-f2573064bf60 [...]
Western Wayne Hosts Prom with Support of Local BusinessesMay 6, 2026Western Wayne hosted their annual prom with “A Starry Night” theme at a new venue this year New Leaf Farm in Waymart on Saturday, May 2. The event focussed around local community businesses who hosted food trucks for the event including: Lupo Russo, 2 Ways One Passions, and Pop-Pop’s Grill and Catering. The students also enjoyed gourmet cupcakes from Ms. Michele Dugan along with cotton candy donated by Mrs. Paula Lamberton
There were 225 students and guests in attendance. Event sponsors included: Ariel View Inn (AVI), Leeward, Waymart Hotel, Iron Hill at 1940,and Meadowbrook Stables, and For the Birds, who provided flowers.
The students in attendance enjoyed this new experience. Senior Maggie Kotchessa thought this unique prom experience was a great idea.
“I really loved all of the food choices,” Maggie, who decided on a pulled pork sandwich from Pop-Pop’s, said.
Her classmate Norman Phillips’ grandfather owns Pop-Pop’s, and he was excited his family business could be a part of the event.
“It was really neat having my grandfather there doing what he loves,” Norman said. “He usually travels around to do a number of different gigs, and it was really neat having him at our prom.”
In addition to the variety of food items at the event, the students also were treated to a mocktail bar. Junior Madelyn McClure wrote a grant through the Wayne County Community Youth Advisory Committee and the district used the money to fund the mocktails for prom.
Also, the community donated a variety of gift cards for the students as prizes. Each student in attendance got a raffle ticket for a chance to win.
The 2026 Prom Court included: Vinny Baldini, King; Audrey Agnello, Queen; and
Mia Gifford, Hannah DeStefano, Olivia Haines, and Sofia Ochlan served as attendants.
The students enjoyed this unique prom experience and thank the district for their continued support of student events.
Picture one: Mr. Paul Gregorski, high school principal; Vinny Baldini, King; and Audrey Agnello, Queen.
Picture two:: Olivia Haines, Hannah DeStefano, Vinny Baldini, Audrey Agnello, Mia Gifford, and Sophia Ochlan. [...]
Scholarships & Career Opportunities – May EditionMay 4, 2026The May edition of Scholarships & Career Opportunities is now available. All grades should read this document to get information on college, careers, important dates, SAT/ACT exams and of course…scholarships!
Click here: https://ww3.westernwayne.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Scholarships-and-Career-Opportunities-May-2026.pdf [...]
Western Wayne Annual Art Exhibit & Spring Concerts on May 9May 4, 2026Western Wayne’s annual art exhibit and spring concerts will take place on Saturday, May 9.
The art exhibit will run in the high school gymnasium from 2 to 5 p.m. It will mainly feature high school artwork with special displays by our seniors. In addition, a select sample of middle and elementary student artwork will be on display.
The concert schedule is as follows: the sixth-grade concert will begin at 11 a.m.; the seventh- grade concert will begin at 1 p.m., the eighth- grade concert will begin at 3 p.m.; and the high school concert will begin at 5 p.m. with all concerts in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the high school.
There will be concessions for sale in the high school cafeteria throughout the day. All events are free of charge. Please join us in the celebrating the arts in our school. [...]
Two Western Wayne Students Place at All-State BandMay 4, 2026 Western Wayne senior percussionists Antonio Fisichella and Nicholas Fisichella placed second and third respectively at PMEA’s All-State Band event this past weekend of April 24. It is a great accomplishment to place at All-State Band, which is very competitive. The district congratulates these students and their director, Mrs. Elaine Ort.
Picture one, from left: Antonio Fisichella and Nicholas Fisichella. Picture two, from left: Nicholas Fisichella, Mrs. Elaine Ort, and Antonio Fisichella. [...]
