Author: Western Wayne Webmaster
Middle School Student of the Month
From Left: Miss Elizabeth Watson, Assistant Principal, Dawson Wargo, Grade 7, Victoria Scarpati, Grade 8, Jocilyn Brungard, Grade 6, Mrs. Kristen Donohue, Principal
Students Enrich Spanish Curriculum with Dance
Whip, nae nae, and dab are all moves that most teenagers have mastered in today’s culture. However, it is not often that teenagers have an opportunity to learn traditional couples dancing. At the Western Wayne High School, it is a yearly tradition that students in the Spanish course take Spanish dancing as a part of their curriculum during the fall.
Local dance instructor and studio owner Vince Brust works with the Western Wayne students to teach a variety of traditional Spanish dances such as tango, merengue, mambo, and salsa among others.
The students had about nine sessions with Mr. Brust before debuting their new dance skills for other Spanish classes during the day on Thursday, Nov. 2, in Western Wayne’s newly renovated high school auditorium.
Students performed a variety of the dances they learned for their classmates. They did a choreographed dance with multiple partners and a mambo among other numbers during the day as a practice session for an evening performance. The Spanish students also gave the night performance on Thursday, Nov. 2, for their friends, family, and members of the community.
All of the students involved enjoyed having the opportunity to learn about this important aspect of Spanish culture.
From left: Brittney Reinert, Dillon Dante, and Bethany DeGroat pose at a final rehearsal before their evening Spanish dance performance on Thursday, Nov. 2, in Western Wayne’s newly renovated high school auditorium.
Local dance instructor and studio owner Mr. Vince Brust explains to an audience of Spanish students the types of dances they will see their classmates perform during an in-school performance on Thursday, Nov. 2. He is pictured with Western Wayne High School Spanish teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Sandrowicz.
Western Wayne Band to Close Halloween Performances on Nov. 5
The Western Wayne High School marching band took their show on the road for Halloween festivities during the final days of October.
The students performed at a number of events including Honesdale’s Annual Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 26. They also gave a performance to elementary students in the district on Tuesday, October 31 at the R.D. Wilson School and on the same day, they performed in the community at the Wayne Woodlands and Julia Ribaudo Nursing Homes.
The Western Wayne Marching Band will wrap up their Halloween season tour on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. in the 52nd Annual Barrett Township Halloween Parade, Route 390, Cresco, PA, which had been postponed from a previous date due to rain.
From left: Rachael Harsch, color guard captain; Ellen Dwyer, color guard captain; Katelin Dennis, drum major; and John Kear, drum major.
Football Playoff Ticket Information
RDW and EverGreen Elementary Schools Celebrate Apple Crunch Day
On October 24 the elementary schools celebrated Apple Crunch Day in their classrooms and were served apple crisp and apple slices for lunch. This is a nation wide event that encourages healthy eating habits. It’s an opportunity for teachers to teach their students how to use apples and other fruits to make fun and nutritious snacks. Teachers incorporated this day into their lessons and even used apples to create science experiments! Learning and healthy eating is beneficial and fun! If you want to make some apple snacks at home, just google, “Healthy snacks kids can make” and enjoy!
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Three Cross Country Runners make it to States.
Three Western Wayne high school members of the Cross Country team have made it to the State Championships in Hershey, PA. Senior Jake Pasake, Junior Annie Skirpan and Freshman Anya Rusnak will run on Friday, November 3, 2017 at the Parkview Cross Country course in Hershey. We wish them luck in their quest for a medal! For additional information please visit www.piaa.org. 
Western Wayne High School Students THINK ENERGY!
On October 23rd Western Wayne High School Students in grade 9 experienced the THINK! ENERGY Innovation Program. This program is an interactive, hands-on presentation with a take home energy efficiency kit for each participating student and teacher. The program teaches the importance of energy, natural resources and environmental resources, and gives each participating student’s family energy-efficient technologies to install at home. Students and Staff in the high school received innovation kits on October 23rd. The kits included four LED light bulbs, shower timer, a water conserving shower head as well an advanced smart energy power strip. 180 innovation kits were distributed overall. This comes to 3,012 new LED bulbs distributed to the Western Wayne School District since the program’s launch in 2015. This program will also result in a number of mini grants for the teachers in the high school as well. The Think Energy Innovation Program has been brought to the schools by the National Energy Foundation, PPL Electric Utilities and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For more information or questions, please contact National Energy Foundation at 1-855-494-2942 or email stephanie.dorman@nef1.org.
Caption: Left to Right: Science Teacher, Mark Nebzydoski; Presenters Stephanie Dorman and Robert Penkala; Principal, Paul Gregorski.
AP Biology Forest Ecology Trip to Lacawac Sanctuary
On October 16, 2017 the Western Wayne High School AP Biology students visited Lacawac Sanctuary and Biological Field Station. Students had the opportunity to engage in field research in the area of Forest Ecology and Population Studies. During the course of the visit students collected and analyzed data from the Lacawac Forest including a comparison of biodiversity inside of Deer Exclosures as compared to the rest of the forest, population studies of earthworms and salamanders, tree identification, invasive species discussions and predatory/prey relationships. These rich field experiences allowed students to really understand the characteristics of a stable forest ecosystem. Students learned about research that is happening at the collegiate level at Lacawac Field Station and about partnerships between Lacawac and various Universities. Following our visit students were able to collect data from a wooded area on our WW campus and plan to relate this data to their research data fromm Lacawac.
Please take a minute to view the attached PDF file with pictures and descriptions from our trip. We would like to thank Mrs. Jamie Reeger and Mrs. Sarah Corcoran for organizing, coordinating and creating such rich learning opportunities at Lacawac for our students and the Western Wayne Education Foundation for their generous grant that funded our experiences. We would also like to thank our administration for their support of this trip. We look forward to working with Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station in the future as we continue to promote scientific research and career pathways in our community.
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Mr. Pidgeon Breaks a Board!
During a presentation by Twin Dragons Martial Arts, participants were able to find their inner ninja skills by breaking a board. Mr. Pidgeon was presented with a white belt for his board breaking effort! Children also learned strategies to protect themselves in situations that can potentially be dangerous, such as a stranger approaching. Master Kennedy donated all of the proceeds that were collected to purchase the boards, to the EverGreen PTA.
ALL NEWS
School Police Department participates in specialized, hands-on training.August 21, 2026This summer members of the Western Wayne School Police Department participated in specialized, hands-on training at the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute (PennSSI) to strengthen emergency readiness and threat response protocols.
Interactive Crisis Simulations: Officers engaged with PennSSI’s state-of-the-art multi-room simulator and 360-degree augmented reality technology, experiencing realistic emergency scenarios to test real-time decision-making and spatial awareness.
De-escalation & Tactical Response: The sessions emphasized practical de-escalation tactics, threat management, and building muscle memory for high-stress situations occurring on school grounds.
Crisis Communication & Incident Command: Training covered coordinated communication strategies within the Incident Command Structure, aligning police tactics with district administration and emergency management partners.
Behavioral Threat Assessment: Personnel expanded their knowledge on identifying concerning student behaviors, threat assessment frameworks, and applying trauma-informed protocols to keep schools secure without sacrificing a supportive environment.
This immersive training underscores Western Wayne’s ongoing commitment to proactive school safety, ensuring officers are equipped with the latest techniques to protect students, staff, and the surrounding school community. [...]
Senior Competes at FBLA National Leadership ConferenceJuly 6, 2026Western Wayne senior Grady Farley represented the school and the WW FBLA chapter at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, the week of June 29th.
Grady earned the opportunity to compete at the national level in the Agribusiness event, where he demonstrated his knowledge, preparation, and professionalism among FBLA students from across the country. Competing at nationals is an outstanding accomplishment, and the district is proud of Grady’s hard work and dedication.
Pictured is Grady Farley at the FBLA National Leadership Conference. [...]
High School Student Secures Spot on the Great Wall of HonesdaleJuly 6, 2026Western Wayne High School junior Archer Long has secured a coveted spot on the Great Wall of Honesdale with his painting entitled 250 Years Under One Flag.This year’s competition theme, 2026: American Perspective, inspired artists to explore the nation’s history, identity, and future through original works of art. Archer’s selected painting is an American depiction of our nation’s history, illustrating the symbolism of westward expansion and industrial progress. It reflects the idea that our country’s freedom was forged through sacrifice and hard work, honoring the generations whose perseverance helped shape the United States.Each selected piece is digitally reproduced on an impressive 11-by-17-foot billboard vinyl panel and exhibited for one year at the intersection of 4th and Main Streets in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.More than a decade after its inception, the Great Wall of Honesdale has evolved from showcasing primarily local artists into a juried international exhibition featuring entries from around the world. The installation is enjoyed by the occupants of more than 5 million vehicles that pass the site each year and has become a popular tourist destination. Both the exhibition theme and artwork change annually, while each year’s collection remains permanently accessible online through the Wayne County Arts Alliance, where visitors can also learn more about each exhibiting artist. Please visit the website for more information: https://waynecountyartsalliance.org/windows-on-the-wall/Congratulations to Archer Long on this outstanding artistic achievement and the opportunity to share his work with thousands of visitors throughout the coming year.Pictured is Archer Long, Western Wayne High School junior, who secured a coveted spot on the Great Wall of Honesdale and is shown standing below his painting 250 Years Under One Flag. [...]
