January 9th is Law Enforcement Recognition Day. Western Wayne School District would like to publicly recognize and thank our School Police Officers. The primary goal of the school police officer is to assist school administration in maintaining a safe and secure environment, and we are so thankful for their willingness to go above and beyond to support our Wildcat Family.
To Officer Paul Semler, Officer Marty Robbins, Officer Wayne Thomas, and Officer Danny Martin- THANK YOU for your service and dedication to our students, faculty, staff, and community.
From left are Western Wayne Senior art students, who will be featured in the Scranton Times 2022 Artist of the Month Exhibit: Adelaide Treibley, Carleigh Galliford, and Ella Dougher
Carleigh Galliford’s piece called “Beacon of Hope.”
Ella Dougher’s piece called “Autumn’s Arrival”.
Adelaide Treibley’s piece called “A Moment with Monet”.
Adelaide Treibley’s featured artwork that ran in the December issue of Happenings Magazine.
Western Wayne senior artists have been selected to be a part of the Scranton Times Artists of the Month Exhibit. They include Carleigh Galliford, February artist; Adelaide Treibley, May artist; and Ella Dougher, November artist.
The students’ artwork will be featured in the Scranton Times for their designated month. Carleigh’s acrylic painting titled “Beacon of Hope” will be featured for February. The picture depicts a lighthouse by an ocean and a cabin. Carleigh has been accepted at Marywood University for the fall. She wishes to pursue an art therapy degree.
She explained that most of her pieces are based on self expression.
“I enjoy art because it helps me to express things that can’t be expressed through words,” Carleigh explained.
Fellow senior Adelaide Treibley also enjoys the aspect of creative expression in her art work. Adelaide’s acrylic piece titled “ A Moment with Monet” will be featured for May.
She explained how her piece is a very detailed nature scene that took her a lot of time to work on all of the coloring throughout it.
“I like to create artwork with animals, wild life, and nature the most,” Adelaide explained.
Senior Ella Dougher’s artwork also features nature. Her Scranton Times acrylic piece is called “Autumn’s Arrival.” Ella is excited to have already received a scholarship to Mount Saint Mary’s. She enjoys doing art and hopes to pursue it in some capacity in her college studies.
“I like having the freedom to create whatever I choose,” Ella said in regards to her art work.
The students look forward to having their pieces featured in the Scranton Times and are all currently working on creating more artwork for their upcoming spring art show which will be the culmination of their high school art careers.
Elaine Ort, band director for Western Wayne High School, will join band directors from across the country next January 1st in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Rose Parade.
A custom-designed animated float will lead a “marching band of band directors” up to 300 strong from across the country. The Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, based in Pickerington, Ohio, is the sponsoring organization behind the project. The foundation was created to recognize and carry on the work of the late Mike Sewell, who dedicated his life to the school and community music programs in Pickerington and the Central Ohio area for more than 38 years.
The parade entry will convey the theme, “We teach music. We teach life.” The extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of band directors are well known to their students, to parents and to school teachers and administrators. No matter where they teach and work—public and private schools, colleges and universities, the military, community bands—dedicated music educators and leaders work long hours to not only teach and direct music, but to teach life itself. Students’ lives in particular are positively changed by a motivational leader who taught, inspired and mentored them.
“I am so incredibly excited for this experience, and so grateful to have had such wonderful colleagues and friends who have helped prepare me for this adventure,” Ort said. “ I hope that I will make all of you proud in Pasadena. Go Wildcats, and Go Band!”
Elaine Ort has devoted much of her life to the study and performance of music. A native of New England and graduate of Marywood University, Elaine is a member of the Scranton Brass Orchestra, the Providence Brass, the Schützengiggles Oompah Band, the Marywood University Wind Symphony, and performs often in musical pit orchestras throughout the region. As an educator, Elaine serves as the director of instrumental activities in the Western Wayne School District since 2014. At Western Wayne, her teaching responsibilities include sixth grade brass instruction, eighth grade band instruction, and the Pride of Western Wayne, the Wildcat High School Band. Under her direction and guidance the school continues to invest heavily in its music program, and was recently named a KHS America Academic Alliance Platinum school for its investment in instrumental education. It is the only school in Pennsylvania, and one of only 39 in the United States to have received that honor.
Complete details on the project are available on the Saluting America’s Band Directors website, BandDirectorSalute.org.
Mrs. Joyce Covaleski conducts the 7th grade chorus at their recent concert.
Mrs. Joyce Covaleski conducts the 8th grade chorus at their recent concert.
Piano soloist 8th Grade Beja Marcel plays at the recent holiday concert.
On December 14th, the 7th and 8th Grade Choruses of Western Wayne proudly presented their annual Winter Holiday Program to a very receptive audience. Through their singing, these students shared the joy of the holiday season!
Taber Starnes conducts the Western Wayne High School Chorus at their recent concert
Elaine Ort and Taber Starnes conduct the Western Wayne High School Band and Chorus in their final joint number at their recent holiday concert.
Elaine Ort conducts the Western Wayne High School Band at their recent concert.
The Western Wayne High School Chorus and Band students performed their holiday concert on Friday, December 17, for family, friends, and members of the community under the direction of Mr. Taber Starnes, chorus, and Mrs. Elaine Ort, band. A great time was had by all.
The winners of this year’s Holiday Door Decorating Contest are as follows: 1st Place is Mrs. Jenkins Room 104 with her Buddy’s Starbucks Café! 2nd Place is Mr. Hayden Room 102 with the Polar Express. 3rd Place is Ms. Ferraro Room 101 with her Cozy Log Cabin. 4th Place is Mrs. Orloski and Mrs. Rush with their Cat Lady Meme. Runners up are Mrs. Masankay with the Year without a Santa Claus AND Mr. McCaffery with Putting the Fro in Frozen.
For their final project, the RDW Kindness Club decided to do something nice for the younger students in the building. They wrote inspiring messages on over 150 snowflakes and delivered them to Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade classrooms while they were away at lunch. Teachers later reported that students “loved” receiving the snowflake surprise.
Mrs. Germani is proud of the work that this group accomplished and is excited to be welcoming a new group of KC students after the holiday break!
TUESDAYS, FEBRUARY 15 – MARCH 29, 2022 5:30- 8 PM WESTERN WAYNE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Eligible to ALL students ages 10-14. Limited to the first 15 families.
A Free and Fun Program for the Entire Family. Take advantage of this opportunity to make your family stronger and give your child the skills to transition into their teen years successfully.
Western Wayne middle school students in Ms. Starlah Robbins English Language Arts classes were treated to a book tasting this week during class time. The students got to sample a variety of new books to see what new flavor of reading sparked their interest. The students were thrilled to get to experience so many new books at once, and many chose a new story to start reading for class assignments and for pleasure! The classroom was decorated as a sort of book café with table cloths and other trimmings, and Robbins herself dressed as book chef to make the atmosphere fun. Ms. Robbins hopes to do more engaging activities of this nature in the future, and the students are looking forward to it as well!
The Western Wayne Drama Club will be wrapping gifts for community members and/ or faculty and staff on Tuesday, Dec. 21, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Snow date is Wednesday, Dec. 22. Let the students wrap your gifts for you! All are welcome! Cost of wrapping is a donation of your choice. Hope we can take some stress off of you during this busy holiday season! All proceeds benefit our Drama Club students. Our spring 2022 production will be Little Shop of Horrors. From left, sitting in the back row, Drama Club members: Colette Schmitt and Joanna Regalbuto. From left in front row: Robert Scramuzza, Julia Phillips, Amanda David, and Gabe Treibley.
ALL NEWS
Western Wayne Car Show and Lead Motorcycle Run on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 May 19, 2026The Western Wayne Hot Rod Club and Drama Club will host their 2026 Annual Car Show on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the high school parking lot, 1970A Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, PA, near the football stadium.
Food to be sold at the concession stand. Registration fee is $10. Spectators are free. The Hot Rod Club will give prizes for best car, truck, tractor, motorcycle, and best in show.
The Drama Club will also host a Lead Motorcycle Run the same day starting at BAER Sports Center, Honesdale, with the finish at the Western Wayne High School. Registration for Motorcycle Run from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The ride begins at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $20 per driver and $15 per passenger. Register day of event at BAER Sports Center. Receive a food voucher and basket raffle ticket for Western Wayne Car Show with Lead Motorcycle Run registration.
In addition, the Drama group will sell a variety of concessions at the car show. There will also be a raffle of baskets and gift certificates generously donated by businesses and families in the local community.
Drama Club President Dakota Douglas is excited to partner with the Hot Rod Club for the Car Show. She explained how the Drama Club students will be dressed in 50s attire for the event.
“We wanted our presence at the event to go along with the variety of cars from the past that surely will be there,” Dakota said. “We hope that the public comes out to enjoy the cars and to have some good food and purchase some chances to win baskets and gift certificates.”
Members of the Drama Parents Club are working to obtain a variety of items for the raffle at the Car Show from many very generous businesses and families in our Wildcat community. The students involved in the Hot Rod Club and Drama Club can use the funds raised from this event for their club activities.
The Hot Rod Club meets on a regular basis to work on a variety of automotive projects after school and can use the funds for their projects among other activities.
The Drama Club meets on a regular basis after school to work on a variety of projects and activities.
“Drama Club gives students a place where they can express themselves,” club vice president, Jason Vass, explained. “We are like one big family in our club and really enjoy coming together to work as a team on events such as the Car Show.”
All of the members of the Hot Rod Club, Drama Club, and Drama Parents Club cordially invite the public to attend this fun-filled event. Come out and see some great vehicles, take some chances on our basket raffle, enjoy some food, and enjoy some time socializing. Hope to see you there on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. The rain date is Saturday, September 26. [...]
9th Graders Explore Outdoor Education at Varden Conservation AreaMay 14, 2026On May 4, 2026, Western Wayne High School 9th grade students stepped outside the classroom and into nature for a day of immersive, hands-on learning at the Varden Conservation Area. This unique outdoor educational experience brought students face-to-face with real-world environmental science through a collaborative effort involving educators from Lacawac Sanctuary, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Wayne County Conservation District, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited.
Students rotated through a series of engaging, station-based activities focused on local ecology. These included examining macroinvertebrates in a pond ecosystem to evaluate water quality, practicing fishing and casting techniques, identifying local plants and trees, and conducting chemical testing to assess stream health and pollution levels.
A highlight of the day was the release of rainbow trout, marking the culmination of the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom (PA-TIC) program. Throughout the school year, students in Dr. Mark Nebzydoski’s classes raised trout from eggs provided by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The release was supported by the Pike–Wayne Chapter #462 of Trout Unlimited, with assistance from Chapter President Don Strathy and Conservation Chair and Past President Paul Ranello.
The environmental education team included Sue Cosgrove, Director of Environmental Education at Lacawac Sanctuary, Richard Arthur, Environmental Educator, Lydia Freethy of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and Jen Campbell of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, who guided students in macroinvertebrate identification and explained their importance as indicators of water quality. Theresa Black of the Pocono Lake Ecological Observatory Network (PLEON) led students in chemical water testing and analysis. DCNR Environmental Education Specialist Josh Heath, along with Trout Unlimited representatives Don Strathy and Paul Ranello, introduced students to responsible fishing techniques and how environmental conditions influence bait and casting choices. Rachael Marques and Alicia Utegg from the Wayne County Conservation District led a nature walk focused on plant and tree identification, highlighting key characteristics and environmental adaptations.
Prior to the field trip, students participated in classroom lessons focused on water quality, groundwater, surface water, and watershed dynamics. These preparatory activities helped students connect local environmental issues to broader ecological concepts and reinforced the importance of protecting shared water resources.
This enriching educational experience was made possible through an Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) grant provided by the nonprofit Western Wayne Education Foundation. Foundation President Christine McClure was also in attendance. Additional Western Wayne staff supporting the trip included Maria Phillips, Helene Tscheschlog, Anthony Zoppi, and Sara Orloski.
This strong collaboration between local environmental organizations and educators highlights the power of experiential learning and reflects Western Wayne’s ongoing commitment to fostering environmental awareness and stewardship among its students.
The event also received coverage from WNEP-TV, where reporter Emily Kress highlighted the day’s activities.
The news story can be viewed here: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
Learn more about the partner organizations:• Varden Conservation Area: www.vardenconservationarea.com• Lacawac Sanctuary: www.lacawac.org• Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom (PA-TIC): www.patroutintheclassroom.org• Pike–Wayne Chapter #462 Trout Unlimited: https://pwtu.org/
Picture one, from left: Josh Heath DCNR; Caspian Davis, Ryan Geisheimer, Troy Gregorski, Christopher Wright, Daisy Gravell, Addison Bartholomew, Rachel Warnock, and Madalyn Warrick.
Picture two, from left: Haley McGuire, Raelyn Simpson, Aiden Manning, Remmy Fedoryk, and Charlie Vinton. [...]
Paul Borowski & Jade Wetherington – NEIU 19 Scholar of the Year & Performing Artist of the Year – Western Wayne High SchoolMay 12, 2026Congratulations go out to Paul Borowski for being name the NEIU 19 Scholar of the Year for Western Wayne High School for the 2025-26 school year. Paul was recognized, with 23 other students from the NEIU 19 Region, at a ceremony at Lackawanna Trail High School.
Congratulations also go out to Jade Wetherington for being name the NEIU 19 Performing Artist of the Year for the 2025-26 school year. Jade was the lone recipient of the award, being chosen over other students from the entire NEIU 19 Region. [...]
Grace Moser – The Times-Tribune Scholastic Superstar – Western Wayne High School – 2026May 11, 2026Congratulations to Grace Moser on being selected to The Times-Tribune 37th Annual Scholastic Superstars.
The Times-Tribune has sponsored the annual Scholastic Superstars ceremony for nearly 40 years. This year, 25 students were selected from 15 local schools, culminating in the ceremony at Peoples Security Bank Theater of Lackawanna College for a celebration of their academic achievement, extracurricular endeavors, community service and plans for the future. Each high school in The Times-Tribune coverage area is invited to nominate three students. Sixty-eight nominations, with the names and schools redacted, were judged by a panel of local college officials. [...]
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention
program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize
warning signs and signals, especially within social media,
from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others
and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late.