Around the Schools

Western Wayne CATS Club Raises Money for Ukraine Children

The Western Wayne High School CATS club recently  raised money for Ukraine children. The group sold t-shirts with the saying “Children Helping the Children of Ukraine”.    With the help of the whole district, the club was able to raise $400.  The CATS Club is sending a check to Unicef and the money will be targeted for the children in Ukraine. Pictured are Western Wayne High School CATS Club members from left Zoey Goldman, president of CATS Club; Madison Kammer, secretary of CATS Club; and Kaitlyn McDermott, vice president of CATS club.

Western Wayne School District Perseverance Delivers $250,000 Thirteen Years Later

The Western Wayne School District applied for and was granted a $250,000 RACP State grant in 2009 to do construction at the High School/Middle School site. Then Governor Rendell, approved the funding and ear marked the monies for Western Wayne School District, through the Wayne County Redevelopment Authority, to complete the project.  The project was completed and documents were submitted to have the State Funding released. The funding did not arrive, modifications were made, yet the funding never came through.

            Fast forward to 2016, Mike Peifer, PA House State Representative of the 139th district, called Superintendent Joseph Adams to let him know that the RACP $250,000 Grant was still on the books at the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to be funded, but the window to submit was closing in 2019. Mr. Adams retired, but agreed to continue, with the help of Western Wayne Superintendent Matt Barrett, Western Wayne Business Manager Rose Emmett, the Wayne County Redevelopment Authority Director Robbin Morgan and DCED, to pursue this approved grant to provide $250,000 of State money for capital projects and savings to the Western Wayne local taxpayers.

            Since 2017, this team of professionals submitted and re-submitted plans, drawings and documents and worked with the consultants from the State DCED office, until the Fall of 2021. Finally, after 13 years, Western Wayne’s grant was funded and received in January 2022.

            Superintendent Matt Barrett said, “It paid off to keep grinding for this pre-approved grant funded project and I would like to thank Mike Peifer, Joe Adams, Rose Emmett, Robbin Morgan and Paul Macknosky of DCED for working so diligently for the past five years in delivering this $250,000 RACP Grant.  It is a $250,000 savings to our Western Wayne taxpayers and reimburses the District for capital projects completed.”

Middle School Students Enjoy Spring PBIS Activities

Western Wayne Middle School Students enjoyed a treat of activities with their classmates including  listening to songs from the high school band and middle school chorus and a treat from the ice cream truck among other activities on April 14 as a part of the school PBIS initiative. The PBIS initiative involves successfully creating a proactive positive school environment in which students are demonstrating their Wildcat PRIDE daily.  

PBIS is an ongoing effort of the Western Wayne School District to guide students in behaving and interacting with others in such a way as to promote an effective learning community.

Pictures are members of the Pride of Western Wayne, the High School Marching Band, under the direction of Mrs. Elaine Ort, as they perform for the middle school in the gym.

R.D. Wilson’s Kindness Club creates Kindness Tree

R.D. Wilson’s Kindness Club started a neat project and introduced some new members this week. Our winter group did some research and chose to do a “Kindness Tree” to display in our cafeteria. When students or staff are observed doing exceptional acts of kindness, their name gets put on a leaf or flower which is then hung up on the tree. Our hope is that the tree is in full bloom by the end of the year!

Mrs. Germani also inducted four students to serve as new Kindness Club members for the remainder of the year: Keira Sic, Robert Bronson, Kenzie Gregory, and Evan Davitt. We are excited to see all of the ways that these students can promote kindness in our school!

Drama Club to Present Little Shop of Horrors April 1, 2, 3

The Western Wayne Drama Club will present “Little Shop of Horrors” this weekend on Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, 7 p.m.; Sunday, April 3, 2 p.m. at the Western Wayne High School Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1970A Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel. Tickets available at the door. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Western Wayne students get in free with a student ID. The public is welcome!

WW School Counselors Present at Local Conference

A local organization, School Counselors of NEPA, hosted a one-day conference at the University of Scranton. Erica Germani, RDW School Counselor, and Lisa Jacques, Middles School Counselor, presented a workshop as part of the day’s events. Their presentation was titled “The Advisory Council: Collaboration together towards a better tomorrow.” Mrs. Germani and Mrs. Jacques shared their experience of hosting these stakeholder groups at both the district and school levels. They offered tips and strategies to local school counselors who were interested in starting their own advisory councils. “It is so important that we collaborate and form relationships with other school counselors in the area,” Mrs. Germani remarks. “We were proud to share some of the great things that are happening at Western Wayne, and we in turn learned a lot by attending the conference as well.”