Author: Western Wayne Webmaster

Western Wayne Students Shine in Energy Efficiency Competition!

A group of ninth-grade students from Western Wayne High School earned a prestigious Honorable Mention in PPL Electric Utilities’ THINK! ENERGY Innovation Challenge—a competition that challenged students to create interactive presentations on energy conservation, natural resources, and environmental issues.
Aidyn Graci and Mitchell Ferraro, students in Dr. Mark Nebzydoski’s General Science class, took home the Honorable Mention award for their creative and engaging video on energy efficiency. Their project, which can be viewed on the Western Wayne website, used humor and storytelling to highlight the importance of saving energy. Throughout the video, the students repeatedly urged their teacher with the catchphrase, “Come on, Mr. Nebz!”, reminding him to be mindful of energy consumption in the classroom. https://youtu.be/EDmCGFHw4Lk
“I really enjoyed making the video and getting to boss Mr. Nebz around a little!” said Mitchell Ferraro, who aspires to become a social studies teacher. Fellow creator Aidyn Graci, who hopes to pursue a career in business, added, “It was a relief to see our hard work pay off.”
As part of the competition, Dr. Nebzydoski registered all Western Wayne students for free energy conservation kits, which included compact fluorescent light bulbs, a smart energy power strip, a shower timer, a faucet aerator, and a water-saving showerhead. Students installed the devices in their homes and measured their energy savings—applying science in a real-world, hands-on way.
“The creativity and enthusiasm in these projects were incredible,” said Dr. Nebzydoski. “Seeing students learn about energy efficiency and apply it to their daily lives is exactly what education should be about. These high school students are tomorrow’s homeowners, so reinforcing energy conservation now is essential.”
For their outstanding work, Aidyn and Mitchell were each awarded Beats wireless earbuds, and Dr. Nebzydoski received $250 for classroom supplies.
PPL Electric Utilities, in partnership with the National Energy Foundation (NEF) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), sponsors the THINK! ENERGY program to promote energy education among students. This initiative provides free resources to help young people develop a deeper understanding of energy conservation and efficiency.
For more information on the THINK! ENERGY Innovation Challenge, visit THINK! ENERGY. https://thinkenergy.org/ppl-innovation/teachers/
Caption: (LtoR) Mike Touey, PPL Electricity; Paul Gregorski, High School Principal; Aidyn Graci, Student; Mitchell Ferraro, Student; and Dr. Mark Nebzydoski, Science Teacher.

Kindness is key

The kindness club at R.D. Wilson aims to spread kindness for both students and staff. The winter kindness club completed two important projects. First was the Coffee Cart which provided staff members with free coffee and hot cocoa. Each cup had an uplifting message written on it. Next, they designed a bulletin board in the cafeteria. Their goal was to motivate kids to be friends and include others. The kindness club members hope their projects made a lasting impact.

Kindness Club Members (Bulletin board photo, left to right): Elisabeth Burry, Keagan Quinn, Mrs. Germani, Veronica Miller, Ben Vinton, and Colby Doud

Western Wayne 9th Graders Dive into Trout Conservation with FUDR

Western Wayne High School’s 9th-grade students recently had a unique opportunity to learn about trout, stream ecology, and watershed conservation through an engaging presentation by Taline Almasian and Ciara Gunderson, outreach coordinators for the Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR). The non-profit, based in Hancock, NY, is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Upper Delaware River watershed for the benefit of local communities.

The presentation covered the biology and ecology of trout, including their role in aquatic ecosystems, economic significance, and the importance of conservation efforts. Students learned about habitat restoration, sustainable fishing regulations, and ways to become stewards of local waterways. Almasian and Gunderson also shared insights into FUDR’s mission and projects, demonstrating the impact of their conservation work.

This experience also deepened students’ understanding of Dr. Mark Nebzydoski’s Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program, where students raise rainbow trout eggs provided by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. These trout will grow into fingerlings before being released during a field trip this spring to the Varden Conservation Area. The presentation reinforced the importance of trout conservation and gave students a broader perspective on how their classroom efforts connect to real-world ecological preservation.

To reinforce their understanding, students participated in a Jeopardy-style quiz, testing their knowledge on topics covered in the presentation. The interactive format made learning fun and encouraged deeper engagement with the subject matter.

“This was an excellent opportunity for our students to connect classroom learning to real-world environmental issues,” said Dr. Mark Nebzydoski, Western Wayne High School science teacher. “FUDR’s work is essential in protecting our waterways, and our students now have a better understanding of how they can contribute to conservation efforts.”

The event highlighted the importance of preserving healthy aquatic ecosystems and inspired students to take an active role in environmental stewardship. To learn more about FUDR and its conservation efforts, visit www.fudr.org.

RECYCLE YOUR ELECTRO JUNK – APRIL 26

Join the Y, Honesdale National Bank, Wayne County Fair Association and Advanced Recycling in being
environmentally active & recycling your broken & unwanted household or business electronic junk.
Special thanks to The Fair Association for allowing us to use their location.


All funds raised will support our financial assistance program for our community.
Cost: Households: $25 per household. Additional $20 for each item with Freon (such as air conditioners)
Business, Schools, Gov’t Agencies: Pre-registration required with Tina at the YMCA
570-253-2083


We accept: computers, servers, monitors, printers, keyboards, VCRs, CP batteries, cell phones,
terminals, cables, wires, power supplies, fax machines, radios, modems, CTRs, corded & cordless phones, TVs,


CPUs, copiers, scanners, cassette/CD/DVD players, typewriters, stereo equipment.
We don’t accept: Wooden TV consoles, glass, lightbulbs, cassette/video tapes, alkaline or cadmium batteries


Stay in your vehicles: We handle all removal.
WHEN: Businesses & Households: Sat, April 26, 2025 9:00 AM-2:00 PM
LOCATION: The Wayne County Fairground 270 Miller Drive Honesdale, PA 18431
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Wayne County YMCA• 570-253-2083 • wcymca.com

Electronic Recycling Flyer April 26, 2025

Created: 31 - 03 - 2025
Preview

Junior Information Night – Thursday, April 21, 2022

On Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. the Guidance Department will be conducting Junior
Information Night in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The purpose of this evening is to inform
parents/guardians about: selecting a college/training program, college cost, the college admissions
process, registration and deadlines for the SAT/ACT, general financial aid information, SmartFutures,
military and job opportunities and other important information.
This time in your student’s academic career is extremely significant to their life after high school. We
strongly encourage you and your student to attend together.

Some letters that were mailed home had the wrong dates and information. Please see the letter below and return the attendance slip if planning on attending.

https://ww3.westernwayne.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Junior-Information-Night-Letter-2022.pdf

Military Academy Event

April 13th

5:00 to 7:00 PM

Mid Valley Secondary Center Auditorium

Grades 9th through 12th

SAT Exams Postponed to March 26th

The SAT at Honesdale, North Pocono, Valley View, or Scranton High Schools tomorrow are rescheduled due to weather to Saturday March 26th. Please check your College Board account for more information.