Western Wayne High School Band students participated in the Junior Wind Band Celebration held at Marywood the first weekend in December. They joined students from a variety of local schools for this event that ended with a concert on December 4. From left are Western Wayne High School Band members who participated: Lillian Maros, Lia Hartman, and Robert Scramuzza.
Western Wayne Sixth Grade Chorus students performed their holiday concert on Tuesday, Dec. 7, for family, friends, and members of the community under the direction of Mrs. Joyce Covaleski. A great time was had by all.
Western Wayne Seventh and Eighth Grade students performed their holiday concert on Thursday, Dec. 9, for family, friends, and members of the community under the direction of Mrs. Maria Arneil and Mrs. Elaine Ort. A great time was had by all.
The 4th & 5th Graders at RDW used pastel chalks to draw beautiful glowing Christmas bulbs on black paper, they then added details in white. They did a terrific job!
Western Wayne High School students were thrilled to get to spend an evening together at this year’s Winter Wonderland Semi Formal, held at Ladore Conference Center in Waymart, PA on Saturday, December 4th . Students enjoyed a dinner together before they danced the night away! Students also nominated their classmates, sophomores Frankie Leyshon and Rhayni Carroll, to be crowned Semi Prince and Princess!
The Robert D. Wilson PTA received a donation of $400 from the weis4school rewards program. Accepting the check are students from the Advisory Council who plan special events for the student body.
Western Wayne Drama Club students were treated to a performance of the musical Annie at The Ritz Theater in Scranton on the evening of Friday, Dec. 3. Nearly forty students went on the field trip, some of which had never seen a live show before. The students were glad to have the opportunity to see the musical and will use what they learned from their experience as they work to prepare their spring musical Little Shop of Horrors. Pictured are Western Wayne Drama Club members in grades 8 through 12.
Western Wayne Select Chorus students were thrilled to return to singing in the community this past Saturday, Dec. 4. The students under the direction of Western Wayne choral teachers Joyce Covaleski and Taber Starnes sang at the Hideout’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and welcomed Santa to town. Pictured are members of Western Wayne’s Select Chorus in grades 6 through 12.
Western Wayne sophomore Hunter Smith has been chosen to represent Western Wayne at the 2021 Central Pennsylvania HOBY Leadership Seminar in June 2021.
Hunter is an accomplished Western Wayne honor roll student who enjoys being a part of a variety of clubs at school including: FBLA, FCCLA, and student council where he serves as president this year. Hunter, also, is a member of the track team where his main event is throwing.
In Hunter’s leadership essay for HOBY, he explained how he discussed his leading roles in the activities and sports he is involved with at Western Wayne.
“On track I use my leadership skills to help my younger teammates,” Hunter explained.
He looks forward to attending the conference in the spring and meeting other student leaders from various districts.
“I hope to learn about their different outlooks on life at the conference,” Hunter explained.
After high school, Hunter aspires to study education. He wants to work with high school students.
“I hope to become a leader for students in my classroom one day,” Hunter said. “Teachers are leaders who help their students become better members of society than they were before they entered their classroom.”
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.”
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. [...]
RDW Holds Art Show!May 14, 2026Please take a look at the creations displayed at RDW’s Art Show! [...]
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. [...]
