On Tuesday, March 5th, The University of Scranton held their first World Language Day in which they hosted over 100 high school students to experience lessons in Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, German, and Arabic. Some Western Wayne High School students were in attendance and loved their experience.
“It was very interesting to be immersed in so many different languages,” Mackenzie Kennedy, Western Wayne senior, said. “I really loved making new friends and learning about different cultures. I am so excited to go to college next year and feel this experience makes me even more prepared for the future.
From left, Western Wayne students: Loucy Allen, Mackenzie Kennedy, and Vallita Belinova.
The cast and crew of The Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of The Addams Family School Edition will host a Character Breakfast on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m. in the High School cafeteria. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children and senior citizens. You can reserve tickets by using the following Google Form. Form link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OUPNEM06dLL5oewmhdM1fenYxIZEmWOwjw90UI5nXi4/edit
Ticket order deadline is Saturday, March 23. Any questions, email jmclau@wwsd.io
Save the date for our performances of The Addams Family School Edition on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 14 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 15 at 2 p.m. in the High School Auditorium.
Save the date for The Western Wayne Drama Club’s performances of The Addams Family School Edition on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 14 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 15 at 2 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. All ticket information on our flier.
The fourth-grade classes at EverGreen had the opportunity to meet Carbondale Area’s service dog after recently reading and learning about service dogs. Sansa, who works at Carbondale Elementary School, was at EverGreen on Wednesday with her one of handlers, Mrs. Vadella, who is an elementary school counselor. Mrs. Vadella and Sansa visited each fourth-grade classroom to talk with students about what service dogs do, the extensive training they go through before becoming a service dog, what makes services dogs unique, and students were able to see tasks that she does to help students while at work. Some tasks include deep pressure on an individual’s legs while they are sitting on a chair or the floor, going ‘place’ which allows Sansa to sit between an individual’s legs, or ‘visit’ when places Sansa’s head on a person’s lap allowing her to be pet. The students were extremely knowledgeable of the topic and asked great questions that Mrs. Vadella was able to answer and provide an in-person example. EverGreen Elementary would like to thank Carbondale Area Superintendent Mrs. Sayre and Elementary Principal Ms. Duffy for allowing Mrs. Vadella and Sansa to visit!
Members of the community who come out to enjoy the annual Read Across America Night at Western Wayne’s RDW Elementary School on Thursday, February 29, will surely leave thinking about all of their favorite creepy, kooky, and mysteriously spooky Addams Family members because the Western Wayne Drama Club will treat people in attendance to a sneak peak of their spring musical The Addams Family School Edition, a new musical comedy. Western Wayne Middle and High School musical students will put on a performance from their upcoming spring production of The Addams Family School Edition as a part of the entertainment. THE ADDAMS FAMILY School Edition A NEW MUSICAL Book by MARSHALL BRICKMAN and RICK ELICE Music and Lyrics by ANDREW LIPPA Orchestrations by Larry Hochman Based on Characters Created by Charles Addams Originally produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Productions, Stephen Schuler, Decca Theatricals, Scott M. Delman, Stuart Ditsky, Terry Allen Kramer, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Eva Price, Jam Theatricals/Mary LuRoffe, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman-Swinsky, Vivek Tiwary/Gary Kaplan, The Weinstein Company/Clarence, LLC, Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals; By Special Arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical
The event will kick-off at 4:45 p.m. and is free to the public. Kids of all ages can enjoy a variety of activities in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. There will also be a Book Fair at the event hosted by the PTA, and attendees can meet The Cat and Hat along with Thing One and Thing Two. From 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. guests can tour the RDW building and stop in classrooms to hear stories read by RDW staff and friends. Starting at 5:30 through 6:30 p.m., there will be a concession stand open. Then at 6:30 p.m. The Addams Family cast members will put on a performance. Senior Drama Club President Nate Conway is excited to welcome the audience playing the role of Gomez Addams. “This is a role I never imagined having when I started out in the Drama Club in 8th grade,” Nate, who also serves as a student director, said. “I have always wanted to play a really humorous and dark lead role and now for my senior year I have that chance.” The entire cast of The Addams Family are excited to entertain the audience at RDW. “I love going out into the community and sharing what we have been working to create,” Colette Schmitt, who is the secretary of the Drama Club, and plays Pugsley this year, said. “ I can’t wait to see all of the students in attendance enjoy it.” The Western Wayne community cordially invites the public to come and enjoy Read Across America Night on Thursday, February 29, at the RDW Elementary School, a free evening of entertainment and events perfect for kids of all ages. In addition, you can also mark your calendar with the dates for our performances of The Addams Family School Edition at Western Wayne High School’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 13 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 14 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. Pictured are some of the cast of Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of The Addams Family School edition with Owen Obloshny who plays Uncle Fester center dancing with Madison Forgione who plays the moon.
Students from a variety of local schools have the opportunity to participate in an educational forum in which they can learn about the environment and collaborate with each other throughout the 2023-24 school year. Students from Western Wayne, Carbondale Area, Forest City, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, Mountain View, Old Forge, Riverside, and Wayne Highlands have already started their journey in this exciting, educational experience.
Each school will have a team of five students and a teacher-advisor. The forum will engage students through place-based educational field experiences and hands-on investigations.
For the month of February the students participated in a trip to the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center.
“I really feel like my experiences through the Watershed Program are helping me to expand my knowledge of science,” Madelyn McClure, freshman said.
From left, Western Wayne students: Audrey Agnello, Sofia Ochlan, Madelyn McClure, and Abigail Bell.
Cheers filled the Western Wayne Middle School Gym during the annual Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game on the morning of Friday, February 16.
This year as a special treat both the middle school principal Mrs. Jennifer Bradley and the middle school assistant principal Mr. Matthew Barr participated in the game. The event was a morale booster for both students and staff.
The entire middle school student body and staff enjoyed watching the friendly yet intense game and are excited to attend the event again in years to come.
Picture One: Mrs. Jennifer Bradley, middle school principal, plays on the court with her students and staff.
Picture Two: The Western Wayne Junior High Cheerleaders entertain the crowd at the game.
The Western Wayne Middle School, Western Wayne High School, and Liberty Middle School Bands joined together on Tuesday, February 6, to participate in a one-of-a-kind clinic and exhibition concert sponsored by the KHS America Academic Alliance.
After working tirelessly on the festival music in their own schools, band students from the two districts met for the first time as a band early on the morning of the event and spent the day getting to know one another through music. Under the baton of esteemed clinician Dr. Peter L. Boonshaft, the students had the opportunity to collaborate and learn festival rehearsal techniques to take back to their schools.
Dr. Boonshaft, Director of Education for KHS America, is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise. He was honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education.” Dr. Boonshaft was selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University in Hempsted, NY, where is Professor Emeritus of Music.
The culminating exhibition concert was free and open to the public and very well attended.
Western Wayne Assistant Superintendent Dr. Cynthia LaRosa gave the opening address to the audience and welcomed Dr. Boonshaft and the students and staff of Liberty Middle School to Western Wayne. She told the crowd she hoped they would “experience what can happen when students are motivated and inspired and to enjoy the magic of music.”
The audience certainly did enjoy the magic of music that afternoon being first treated to a variety of musical selections performed by the Pride of Western Wayne, the High School Marching Band. Then they experienced the truly unique musical collaboration of Western Wayne Middle School and Liberty Middle School students playing together after having worked with the esteemed Dr. Boonshaft.
“What happened here today is because of dedicated teachers,” Boonshaft told the audience. “Music allows someone to gaze into the infinite, and today I spent a few hours gazing into the eyes of the infinite with these talented students and their teachers. They are the future of music.”
The Western Wayne School District congratulations its 2023-24 FBLA State Qualifiers that will be competing at the State Leadership Conference in Hershey this April.
L – R Top Row:
Weston Nugent, Adrian Agnello, Graysen Valinski, Connor Bryant, David Elias, Jamie Chapman, Hunter Smith, Kayden Peifer, Logan Pauler, and Paul Borowski.
On February 7, 2024, the Western Wayne School Counseling Department held their 339 Advisory Council Meeting. Dr. Jill Murray, President of Lackawanna College, presented to the stakeholders on the “New Collar Economy”. The NCE is creating many opportunities for the people, especially students, of Northeastern Pennsylvania. On behalf of WWSD, we would like to thank Dr. Murray, Sara Grande (Assistant Director of Enrollment) and all our stakeholders for supporting our school counseling program!
ALL NEWS
Girls on the Run Summer Camp a SuccessJuly 18, 2024 The first ever Western Wayne Girls on the Run summer camp has been declared a “runaway success!!” Twenty-three students from EverGreen and R.D. Wilson Elementary schools spent a week running, playing, creating arts and crafts, and team building at the EverGreen campus in June.
Well-deserved thanks to coaches Bernadette Metschulat, Taryn Vitris, Dr. Stephanie Major, Kristin Rock, and Sara Orlosky.
The group would also like to recognize our junior coach, high school student Annie Williams. High School students earn volunteer hours by coaching with GOTR!
Finally, thanks to our unbelievably supportive Western Wayne Administration and the United Way for fully funding all twenty-three students.
Rachel Fitzmorris, GOTR site liaison and middle school staff member said,
“We are focused on growing this wonderful program, and we would love to recruit more coaches! We are hosting a fall season of GOTR starting in September. Practices will be held on Wednesdays after school at the Middle School for 6th to 8th grade. We are firming up a location and time for the Elementary school students (3rd through 5th). The program culminates with a celebratory 5K at Keystone College (transportation provided) with dozens of schools in attendance.
Coaches only need to be willing to pitch in and support the students. No running experience is needed.”
Student sign-ups will start on our return to school. For more information or to volunteer, please email rfitzmorris@westernwayne.org. [...]
Join our food service team!July 18, 2024Join our food service team!
Part-time position opening at Western Wayne High School
Work when you student is in school 9:30 am -2:30 pm, no weekends, holidays or snow days
Starting rate $14.00 per hour
Please contact Western Wayne District Office for an application packet @ 800-321-9973 option 5 or email mliptak@westernwayne.org. [...]
Wayne Pike/Shriners Club receive monetary donation from fashion students and teacherJuly 1, 2024A monetary donation was made to Treasurer, Roger Dirlam of Wayne Pike/Shriners Club on behalf of the Western Wayne fashion students and teacher Colleen Carmody. This year’s proceeds were collected at this year’s show, titled “Fashion is Daunting” held on May 21, 2024 in WW Veterans Memorial Auditorium. While raising funds to help our community; this annual charitable event also allows for a display of students’ senior collections, competitive pieces, yearly projects and the continued support of the sewing and design vocation. [...]
High School Hosts Graduation for Class of 2024June 11, 2024The Class of 2024 celebrate at the end of their graduation ceremony
Western Wayne Class of 2024 Salutatorian Jacob Schott
Western Wayne Class of 2024 Valedictorian Adrian Agnello
President of the Class of 2024 Taylor Maiocco makes a speech at graduation.
The Class of 2024 stand after all have received their diplomas.
Wildcat Pride was bursting from the audience at Western Wayne’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on the evening of Thursday, June 6, for the graduation of the class of 2024. This is a class with a high school experience unique in many ways having had to do some of their time in school virtually for the end of their 8th grade year and in masks for their freshman and part of their sophomore years. They have learned to persevere through uncertain times and are ready for the next steps of their lives. Student speakers at graduation gave their classmates advice for the exciting, new journey that lies ahead of them.Senior Taylor Maiocco, president of the class of 2024, gave the welcome address. She left her classmates with some advice about not fearing change, “Life isn’t long enough to do something you don’t love. So don’t be afraid to change your mind or actions because your options are limitless. Live life to the fullest; be as present as you can be; and do what makes you truly happy.”Later, Taylor presented the Class Mantel to Lillian Maros, junior class president. Following the presentation of the mantle, the class salutatorian and valedictorian gave speeches. Senior Jacob Schott, Waymart, was named the salutatorian of the class of 2024 with a final overall GPA of 101.78. Jacob is the son of Daniel and Denise Schott. Along with being an excellent academic student, Jacob was involved in Western Wayne clubs and activities. He was extremely dedicated to the Robotics Club, FRC Team 4285 the Camo-Bots for four years, and served as the co-team captain. In addition, he was a member of the National Honor Society. In the future, he plans to attend Pennsylvania College of Technology to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Automation Engineering Technology: Robotics and Automation. “My favorite high school memory is qualifying for and competing at the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in Houston, Texas, and finishing in the top 25% overall,” Jacob said. “ I believe that it was through my participation on the robotics team that I have become most prepared for my chosen career field of automation engineering. This club taught me all about the world of robotics, but also challenged my engineering and design process skills. I learned valuable life lessons, such as public speaking, and trade skills through this club. I also believe my advanced classes, such as AP Language and Composition, AP Calculus, and AP Physics have helped me, by allowing me to earn college credit while in high school.” In his salutatorian speech, Jacob summed up the evening with a quote from Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it is done.”He then discussed the many seemingly impossible achievements that his classmates have achieved both academically and in their various extra-curricular activities throughout their time in high school. Jacob’ seemingly impossible achievement was helping to lead the robotics team to their great success at worlds this year which put Western Waye on the map in the world of robotics.“Four years later, here we are. We did what seemed impossible,” Jacob said. “The ball is in your court now. I challenge each and every one of you to leave here tonight doing what Nelson Mandela said. Try something new. Take a risk. You never know what kind of an outcome it could have. Leave these four walls and make a name for yourself. Change the world for the better. I know you are all capable of doing so.” Fellow classmate Adrian Agnello, Waymart, was named valedictorian of the class of 2024 with a GPA of 102.13. Adrian is the son of Jessica and Joseph Agnello.Adrian also has done numerous activities both inside and outside of the classroom at Western Wayne. He has participated in FBLA, PJAS, Student Council, Student Ambassador, Scholastic Team, Varsity Soccer and Swimming. In the future, he plans to attend The University of Scranton to attain a degree in BioChemistry and then attend medical school with hopes of becoming an anesthesiologist. “My favorite high school memory is making it to nationals for FBLA twice and getting to visit Chicago and Atlanta,” he said. “At Western Wayne, I was taught to not fear failure, and this will help me be even more successful in my future.” In his valedictorian speech, Adrian quoted successful businessman and author Robert T. Kiyosaki, “Winners are not afraid of losing, but losers are. Failure is simply a part of the process of success.”Adrian continued, “Failure can be a reminder that success is not always easy, but with hard work and perseverance it is possible.” He then asked his classmates to reflect on some of the failures they encountered in high school and what they learned from them.“High school is filled with failure and so is life,” Adrian said. “However, if these failures are taken as learning experiences, our lives can be filled with even more successes than failures. It is what you choose to take out of it that determines your outcome.”He gave his classmates more advice, “We must learn to view every mistake or failure as an opportunity to learn and to improve.” Adrian ended his speech by saying, “High school has been an incredible journey, however, the best is yet to come. Remember to never fear failure.”Following the speeches, all graduates received their diplomas and were presented as the Class of 2024 to the audience. They then sang the school’s alma mater one last time as a class on stage. The Western Wayne School District wishes all the graduates the best in their bright futures. [...]
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention
program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize
warning signs and signals, especially within social media,
from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others
and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late.