Western Wayne Drama Club’s production this year is Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The cast, crew, and pit band are excited to perform the show for the community. Performances of Western Wayne Drama Club’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are at Western Wayne High School’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, and Western Wayne students are free with a student ID.  Follow us on instagram at @WW_DRAMA_CLUB

We will also have basket raffles and refreshments available at the show for purchase.
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.com

All involved with the show are grateful to have the opportunity to perform for an audience and cordially invite you to their show.

“We have been working on some of the scenes since December and can’t wait to bring this fan-favorite story to life,” senior Drama Club student director/ student music director Zachary Wilbur, who plays Mr. Beauregarde, and serves as one of the club’s treasurers, said.

Fellow student director/ dance captain junior Madison Forgione, who plays Veruca Salt, and serves as the club’s Public Relations officer, agrees, “There are so many scenes that I think the audience will connect with, because they know the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory characters so well.”

Picture one, from left, standing: Chloe Jewett, Jasmine Yamamoto, Johnathon Maxwell who plays Jerry Jubilee; Dominic Sgarlata, Jade Wetherington who plays Mrs. Bucket; Jesse Mitchell, Zachary Wilbur who plays Mr. Beauregarde; Dakota Douglas who plays Violet Beauregarde; Scott Kurent who plays Grandpa Joe; Jason Vass who plays Charlie Bucket; Owen Obloshny who plays Willy Wonka; Madison Forgione who plays Veruca Salt; Zachary Jordan who plays Mr. Salt; Molly French who plays Mrs. Teavee; Xavier Graham who plays Grandpa George; Laila Rainford, Elizabeth Bilski who plays Mrs. Gloop; Emma DeNunzio who plays Augustus Gloop; Michael Fullone, Avery Ullner who plays Cherry Sundae; Owen Capozzi, and Britney Wertman. From left, sitting: Ayvari Ford-Rakosnik who plays Grandma Josephine, Ruthann Neve, who plays Grandma Georgina; Mikayla Fullone who plays Mike Teavee; Samantha Torres Narvaez who plays Mrs. Green; Sophia Johns, and Arn Bryden. Cast missing from photo: Knight Vizcaino, Rowan Purvis, Katherine Berman, and Daria Ivakhnina.

Picture Two, standing: Elizabeth Bilski, Mrs. Gloop. Sitting: Emma DeNunzio, Augustus Gloop.
Picture Three, from left: Ayvari Ford-Rakosnik, Laila Rainford, Avery Ullner, Cherry Sundae; Madison Forgione, Veruca Salt; and Zachary Jordan, Mr. Salt.

Picture Four, from left, on floor: Laila Rainford, Ruthann Neve, and Samantha Torres Narvaez. From left, on blocks: Dakota Douglas, Violet Beauregarde; Zachary Wilbur, Mr. Beauregarde; and Avery Ullner, Cherry Sundae.

Picture Five, from left: Molly French, Mrs. Teavee; Mikayla Fullone, Mike Teavee; and Avery Ullner, Cherry Sundae.
Picture Six, from left, standing: Scott Kurent, Grandpa Joe; Zachary Jordan, Mr. Salt; Zachary Wilbur, Mr. Beauregarde; and Xavier Graham, Grandpa George. From left, sitting: Jade Wetherington, Mrs. Bucket; Owen Obloshny, Willy Wonka; and Mikayla Fullone, Mike Teavee.

Stage Crew students include: Luckus Balmer, Audrey Capozzi, Nathan Day, Adam Erb, Audrey Fitzmorris, Ayvari Ford-Rakosnik, Xavier Graham, Roslyn Knecht, Miley Layton, Kendall Murray, Margaret Norris, Charlotte Nutt, Milan Nguyen, Zoe Ratchford, Duke Shemanski, Lola Vertalics, Nichols Wilbur, Kaleb Zawisky, Tyler Buehring, Matthew Carlson, Cayden Clever, Coltan Davitt-Hillemann, Rachel Erb, Guinevere Homisak, Regan Lane, Gavin Lepkowsky-Polizzi, Victoria Neve, Emmett Roccella, Lylah Semon, Maria Shemanski, Patience Strocchia, and Liam VanOrden-AlSaidi.

Pit students include: Antonio Fisichella, Nicholas Fisichella, Isabella Hayden, Gideon Jezorwski, Michael Kaminsky, Makaya Moser, and Kaitlin Wargo.

Western Wayne High School students had the opportunity to take a cross-curricular field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Thursday, March 26. The World Language Department and Art Department partnered to bring this special experience to their students. Students from the Spanish Club and/ or National Art Honor Society attended the trip.
“It was really great to see such a wide variety of art from different cultures at the museum,” junior Jason Vass said. “It really helped me to better understand concepts we had been learning in class.”
The students all had a great experience and look forward to more opportunities like this in the future.
Back row, from left: Eleri Strocchia, Mrs. Elizabeth Sandrowicz, Spanish teacher; Ismael Sosa, Kyleigh Turner, Isabella Hayden, Jason Vass, Bella Kolp, Mrs. Sara Orloski, Spanish teacher; Giuliana Velazquez, Sonora Dockemeyer, Dominic Sgarlata, Mr. Justin Hayden, art teacher; and Mrs. Dorissa Ferraro, art teacher.
Front row, from left: Abigail Fox, Raegan Fox, Madison Vinton, Loucynthia Allen, Hayley Cordero, Alana Swingle, Emaan Tanveer, Maha Tanveer, Mikayla Fullone, Anayah Almonte, Lauren Beamer, Jacob Webb, Myles Lee, Evan Gallagher, and Katarina Shumski.

The following students were recognized by the Student Council as students of the month for February. Their teachers and administrators weighed in on the decisions.  All of the students chosen hold a high standard of academic and personal excellence. They are true examples of the P.R.I.D.E. standards for PBIS at our school. 

  First, is our selected freshman Audrey Fitzmorris. She is called hard-working, creative, insightful, communicative, caring, and talented by her teachers.  She goes above and beyond in her assignments.  In addition, she is very respectful, mature, and a positive role model for her peers.  She is a dedicated member of the high school marching band and is a member of stage crew.

 Next, Kyle Matthews is our chosen sophomore this month. He is called polite, agreeable, honest, hard-working, and courteous by his teachers.  He is highly involved in his schoolwork and extracurriculars.  In addition, he has integrity and is always helpful and kind.

  In addition, Cole Combs is this month’s featured junior.  He is called pleasant, friendly,  respectful, kind, polite, courteous, and genuine by his teachers.  They also note he has a great sense of humor.

  Finally, Mia Gifford is our senior spotlight this month. Mia’s teachers say she is an incredible role model who works hard and doesn’t quit until the work is done!   She is noted to have a very strong resilience and desire to be the best at everything she does.  She is an  all-around outstanding student, person, and outstanding student athlete, who is a  great team player in all aspects of her school experience and beyond.

The Western Wayne School District congratulates these February students of the month and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.

From left: Audrey Fitzmorris, Kyle Matthews, Mia Gifford, and Cole Combs.

Western Wayne Students Continue Watershed Studies Through Fall and Winter Field Experiences

Western Wayne High School students are continuing their hands-on environmental education journey through the Community Connections to Our Watershed forum. The yearlong regional initiative brings together teams of students from nine local school districts to explore watershed science, land use, ecology, and sustainability through immersive field experiences across Northeastern Pennsylvania.  The Western Wayne students involved include:  Noah Benson, Aidyn Graci, Giana Graci, Aliyah Gregory, and Rhys Locklin.

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October: Understanding Our Ecological Footprint at Lacawac Sanctuary

On October 24, students traveled to Lacawac Sanctuary Field Station and Environmental Education Center for a program centered on the theme “Leaving a Footprint.” The day focused on understanding how human activity impacts lake ecosystems and how individuals can reduce their ecological footprint.

.Working with environmental educators, students explored:

• Their personal ecological footprints and how daily choices affect natural resources
• The impact of climate change on lake ecosystems
• Methods for collecting physical and chemical data from a lake system
• Techniques for detecting microplastics in bodies of water
• How individual and group actions can reduce water pollution

Through hands-on lake monitoring activities and microplastics investigations, students gained a deeper understanding of how scientific data is used to assess ecosystem health. The experience reinforced the idea that while everyone contributes to environmental impact, everyone can also contribute to solutions.

Students were also challenged to collect water samples from their local communities for later analysis and to evaluate sustainability practices within their own school cafeterias.

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November: Examining Land Use and Mining Legacy

On November 6, students shifted their focus to Land Use, visiting the Anthracite Heritage Museum before traveling to the Old Forge Bore Hole.

This experience examined how Northeastern Pennsylvania’s historic coal mining industry was shaped by regional geology—and how it, in turn, reshaped the landscape. Students discussed how historical land-use decisions continue to influence water quality, ecosystems, and community development today.

The day included:

• Continued microplastics research (Part II)
• Discussions on how communities make modern land-use decisions
• Chemical water analysis at the borehole site
• Exploration of how abandoned mine lands still impact present-day watersheds

By connecting history, science, and civic decision-making, students gained a clearer understanding of how environmental stewardship requires both scientific knowledge and community engagement.

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January: Exploring Winter Ecology

On January 16, students returned to Lackawanna State Park to study Winter Ecology. Despite cold temperatures, students rotated through hands-on learning stations led by professionals from Pennsylvania State Parks, the Bureau of Forestry, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Students:

• Participated in Project FeederWatch, contributing to winter bird population monitoring
• Studied how forests adapt to winter stressors
• Learned about Snowshoe Hare population dynamics and ecosystem shifts
• Examined how climate change is altering winter weather patterns in the Northeast
• Strengthened their observational skills through structured nature journaling

The winter session also encouraged students to reflect on the human dimension of climate action, discussing both the scientific and psychological challenges associated with environmental change.

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Preparing for Stewardship in Action

Through these fall and winter experiences, Western Wayne students have examined environmental impact from multiple perspectives—personal responsibility, historical land use, ecosystem science, and climate change.

The forum will culminate this spring with a regional showcase, where each school team will present a stewardship action project designed to improve their campus or local community.

Western Wayne High School is proud of its student participants for their continued leadership, curiosity, and dedication to understanding and protecting our region’s natural resources.

Pictures One and Two: Western Wayne students participating in October Watershed activities.

Picture Three:  Western Wayne students participating in November Watershed activities.

Pictures Four and Five:  Western Wayne students participating in January Watershed activities.