Around the Schools

Western Wayne Cheer, Football, and Band Host Young Wildcats

It’s never too early to try out a future Wildcat activity. Western Wayne cheerleaders, football players, and the band showed their Wildcat Pride through hosting young Wildcats at the home game on Friday, Sept. 16, versus Abington Heights at the Sharkey Rosetti Stadium. Junior Wildcat players and cheerleaders got a taste of what it is like to play and perform under the Friday night lights. In addition, the band hosted students from 8th grade considering joining the high school marching band. They got to play stand tune music with their assigned band buddies during the game. All of the young cheerleaders, football players, and band students had an excellent experience and look forward to possibly participating in their respective activities in high school.

Back-to-School gift from the RDW PTA

Pictured are students using the water bottles they received from open house last night at RDW. The bottles were donated by the RDW PTA. Welcome back!

Student Body PBIS Drone Photograph

On Homecoming Day, September 30, 2022, we are planning a school-wide event to assemble students at the Sharkey Rossetti Stadium to form the letters “WWHS” on the field. We will use a drone to take a photograph of the student body in formation as a fundraiser for our high school PBIS team. PBIS is a nation-wide evidence-based program that is used in all Western Wayne buildings. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and it is a team of students and teachers that function to support our student body by rewarding good behaviors to improve the climate of the school. 

The cost of the photo will be $15.00 for an 8×10 image. All checks can be made out to WWHS PBIS. Cash will also be accepted. Please send your cash or check to the high school Guidance Office to complete your purchase. Checks can be mailed to: WWHS Guidance 1970A Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, PA 18436. 

If you are interested in purchasing an image, please pre-order it using the Google form: https://forms.gle/tvoUckBg6Bi6rHvE6

All money is due prior to your order being placed. Orders will be accepted and money collected until November 1, 2022. An email will be sent to the address you provide when the orders have arrived. Orders are expected to be fulfilled in November.

Western Wayne Students Awarded with Academic Honors from College Board National Recognition Programs

Jenna Kwiatkowski, Evan Peirce, Eleanor Black, and Kylie Merring

Western Wayne High School students Eleanor Black, Evan Peirce, Jenna Kwiatkowski, and Kylie Merring have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them meaningfully connect to colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded National African American, Hispanic, Indigenous and/or Rural/Small Town Recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service. All of the Western Wayne students who were recognized received the National Rural and Small Town Award.

The Western Wayne students who achieved this honor are excited to be recognized and are pleased to be back in school experiencing their senior year and look forward to attending college next fall.

Eleanor Black plays soccer and is a member of FBLA, student council, and the literary magazine.  She is also a member of NHS and NAHS.  She intends to study English or design in college.

Fellow senior Evan Peirce is also a member of the student council and NHS.  In addition, he is one of the drum majors for the Western Wayne Wildcat Marching Band.  He also is a tutor through Khan Academy.  He plans to join the Naval Academy upon graduation.

 In addition, Jenna Kwiatkowski is highly involved in school.  She is a member of FBLA, envirothon, science olympiad, and CATS Club, along with being a member of NHS.  She aspires to study biochemistry in college.

Finally, Kylie Merring also has many accomplishments.  She is a member of FBLA, FCCLA, and Spanish Club along with being a member of NHS. She hopes to attend Marywood University in the fall to study mathematics.

 “We’re thrilled that our students have earned this recognition. We are very proud of them for their achievements in their classrooms and on College Board assessments,” said Paul Gregorski, Western Wayne High School principal. “These programs help students from underrepresented backgrounds stand out to colleges during admissions.”

Students who may be eligible have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous, and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.  

Eligible students will be invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year and will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.

 “We want to honor the hard work of these students through the College Board National Recognition Programs. This program creates a way for colleges and scholarship programs to connect directly with underrepresented students who they are hoping to reach,” said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We hope the award winners and their families celebrate this prestigious honor and it helps them plan for their big future.”

Western Wayne to Host 7th Annual Car Show on Sunday, Oct. 2

The Western Wayne Hot Rod Club will host their 7th annual Car Show on Sunday, Oct. 2, 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 Western Wayne Drama Club and Drama Parents Club will partner with the Hot Rod Club for the event.  The Hot Rod Club will give prizes for best car, truck, tractor, motorcycle, and best in show.   

In addition, the Drama group will sell a variety of concessions.  There will also be a raffle of baskets and gift certificates generously donated by businesses and families in the local community. 

Drama Club student Amanda David is excited to partner with the Hot Rod Club for the third time 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,” Amanda 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 gathered 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.  This year the school musical will be The Little Mermaid coming to the stage in spring 2023.

“Drama Club gives students a place where they can express themselves,” senior member Julia Phillips 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 on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the High School parking lot near the stadium.  Come out and see some great vehicles, take some chances on our basket raffle, enjoy some food, and enjoy some time socializing. Rain date is Oct. 9.

Western Wayne FBLA Attends National Conference

Individual student pictured is Rhayni Carroll.

For the first time since 2019, the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) National Leadership Conference was an in-person event.  Held in Chicago, Illinois, this conference brought together more than 12,000 members, advisers, and guests, including nearly 600 members of the Pennsylvania delegation.

            Besides informative workshops and exciting campaigns for national offices, students had the opportunity to participate in a competitive events program consisting of more than 70 different business/business-related events.  

            This year 12 students represented Western Wayne High School including Gavin Murphy and Morgan Coccodrilli, Sales Presentation; Lou Azzato and Stevie Wilkinson, Public Service Announcement; Alex Chapman, Kaeli Romanowski, and Jenna Kwiatkowski, Parliamentary Procedure; Rachel Tuman, Entrepreneurship; Adrian Agnello and Weston Nugent, Intro to Business Presentation; and Rhayni Carroll and Emily Romanowski, Intro to Parliamentary Procedure.

            At the Awards of Excellence Program held over two evenings, Western Wayne rising junior Rhayni Carroll captured a seventh-place award in Intro to Parliamentary Procedure.  In addition, Theresa Lubash, local chapter adviser, was recognized as Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Adviser of the Year.

            While in Chicago, the students had the opportunity to see many of the sights including “The Bean” in Millennium Park, the Navy Pier, a boat cruise focusing on the unique architecture of the city and a visit to the top of the John Hancock Building and the Willis Tower to take in the beautiful scenery.

            Accompanying the students were Theresa Lubash, business teacher and FBLA local chapter adviser, and former adviser, Fran Vitovsky.

Western Wayne Students Attend Junior National Youth Leadership Conference

Makayla,  Madelyn, and Hannah look forward to using the skills they learned at the conference as they begin their new journey in high school.  From left:  Makayla Moser, Hannah DeStefano, and Madelyn Vinton.

Western Wayne students attended the Junior  National Youth Leadership Conference held this past July in Washington, D.C.  Freshmen Makayla Moser, Madelyn Vinton, and Hannah DeStefano were recommended to attend the conference by their middle school guidance counselor Mr. Totsky.  The outstanding students did a lot of fundraising to be able to have this experience including selling handmade blanket baskets, having a small basket raffle, and reaching out to the local community and businesses like The Grim Foundation which helped tremendously.  All three students greatly enjoyed their experience at the conference.

Madelyn explained how her favorite part was a museum called Planet World that they saw.  She was also thrilled to meet many new friends from across the country.

“I think what I learned at this conference will help strengthen my leadership qualities by making me work hard and fast while working with everyone,” Madelyn said.  “It made me realize I’m not by myself, and I could never do it by myself.” Madelyn intends to pursue either law or pediatric audiology in the future.

Makayla agreed that getting to tour the monuments and historic places in Washington,  D.C. was her favorite part of the experience along with meeting new people.

“I especially liked visiting Arlington National Cemetery and learning about its history,” Makayla explained.  “We even got to see the changing of the guard. Another enjoyable part was how the new friends I made helped push me to achieve my goals at the conference.”  Makayla aspires to study forensic psychology and criminal profiling in college.

Fellow classmate Hannah’s favorite part of the experience was the guest speakers. Her favorite was a speech given by Anthony Robles, a NCAA wrestler who was born with one leg.

“ We got to speak with him, and his speech was very moving,” Hannah explained.   I learned that there are no excuses for things you can or cannot do.” Hannah is interested in a career in the medical field and has been researching careers like a travel nurse and anesthesiologist.

FREE & REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION IS NOW AVAILABLE!

The USDA funded free breakfast and lunch waivers that were in effect for the 2021-2022 school year are set to expire before the start of the 2022-2023 school year. WWSD is no longer permitted to provide free breakfast and lunch to students. Therefore, parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to apply for the federally assisted Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program for this upcoming school year.
Apply online at http://www.schoolcafe.com (free account set up required) or http://www.compass.state.pa.us.
Meal Prices for the 2022-2023 school year: Student Breakfast $1.35; Elementary Lunch $2.55;
HS/MS Lunch $ 2.85
Please reach out to Maria Liptak, RD Food Service Director with any questions: mliptak@westernwayne.org