Western Wayne Students Present Research at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science

The Western Wayne School District congratulates the following students who presented scientific research at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science at Wilkes University recently. These students investigated a scientific question, carried out controlled scientific research and presented their findings to a panel of professionals in the scientific fields. The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) is a statewide organization of middle and high school students designed to stimulate and promote interest in science among its members through the development of research projects and investigations.

Adrian Agnello received a first award for his research in Botany as he studied the effects of pine tree needle decay on undergrowth plants. Allie Pauler received a first award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of OTC drugs on the heartrate of Daphnia magna. Olivia Cottell received a first award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of vape juice on the heartrate of Daphnia magna. Brooke Kellogg received a first award for her research in Microbiology as she studied the effects of age on the oral microbiome of piglets. Samantha Sharp received a first award for her research in Ecology as she studied the effects of saltwater on straw biodegradation.

Kennedy Mistishin received a second award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of alcoholic beverages on the degradation of bone mass. Kailey Tickner received a second award for her research in Behavioral Science as she studied the effects of music on memory. Stephanie Soom received a second award for her research in Botany as she studied the effects of water temperature on plant germination. Emily Romanowski received a second award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of supplements on the heartrate of Daphnia magna. Rhayni Carroll received a second award for her research in Botany as she studied the effects of soft drinks on plant germination. Lilly Bernardi received a second award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of soft drinks on the heartrate of Daphnia magna. Addison Purvis received a second award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of flour type of gluten content. Weston Nugent received a second award for his research in Ecology as he studied the effects of sampling location on stream water quality. Anita Vanyo received a second award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of cleaning products on plant germination.

Abigayle Pavlicek received a third award for her research in Botany as she studied the effects of classical music on plant germination. Lexi DeSiato received a third award for her research in Biology as she studied the effects of soft drinks on tooth decay.

Congratulations to all of these students for their hard work!

Adrian Agnello, Allie Pauler, Olivia Cottell, Brooke Kellogg, and Samantha Sharp are eligible to present their research at the PJAS state meeting at Penn State Main Campus in May. The club is advised by Western Wayne High School teachers Christine McClure and Maria Masankay.

Wayne County Responds to Presumptive COVID-19 Infection

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Wayne County Responds to Presumptive COVID-19 Infection

Maintenance staff have stepped up disinfecting routines at county buildings.

HONESDALE (March 6, 2020) – The Wayne County Commissioners have issued the following statement on COVID-19:

As you may have heard the governor announced today a presumptive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been reported in relationship to an individual Wayne County resident who we are told has travelled to multiple European nations recently.
The individual is being isolated in their home and is being visited multiple times a day by Department of Health officials who are also contacting others who may have come in contact with this individual.
It should be noted that this case has not been positively confirmed by the CDC at this point in time.
Please be aware that county maintenance staff are continually cleaning and disinfecting county facilities.
County officials have been in regular contact with the local school districts, the hospital, state and federal health and emergency management organizations and are continually being updated by those organizations and following their lead and guidance in implementing recommendations and protocols. We will continue to be updated by all involved agencies. There are no planned changes to county operations at this time.

As a reminder, the CDC recommends the following:
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze with your elbow to avoid touching your face;
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm/hot water for at least 20 seconds;
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available;
• Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other frequently touched items;
• Avoid shaking hands and maintain a six foot distance if possible;
• If you are feeling sick, stay home. Rest, take care of yourself and don’t spread the germs.

Call your healthcare professional if you develop symptoms, which include cough, fever and respiratory issues or if you have recently travelled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19. As with any medical situation, call 911 if you or the patient is in distress and it is an emergency.

If a resident tests positive for COVID-19, the County will follow the CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s recommendations. Stay informed with updates and resources from the Centers for Disease Control and PA Department of Health.

Elizabeth Watson Has Been Named a 2020 Pennsylvania STEM Ambassador

February 27, 2020 – Lake Ariel, PA. Elizabeth Watson, Principal of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics of Western Wayne School District has been accepted as one of 28 ambassadors in the Pennsylvania STEM Ambassador Program, which aims to shape the future of STEM education in the commonwealth by targeting vital policy conversations to legislative leadership in the areas of STEM Learning ecosystems, computer science, state and federal policy for formal and informal education, and workforce needs.

PA STEM Ambassadors met for an inaugural training session today at the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) to receive advocacy training from state and national leaders in the field.

The Western Wayne School District, through the creation of Ms. Watson’s position, have prioritized the creation of sound STEM curriculum in grades Pre-K-12 in an attempt to best prepare their students for both future academic and career success. The district intends to focus on STEM as a cross-curricular instructional practice in grades PreK through five and through industry aligned credentials and career pathways in grades 6 through 12.

Representing leaders and emerging leaders in corporate, PreK-12 and higher education, and afterschool programs from 18 counties, PA STEM Ambassadors have agreed to invest the next nine months in training and policy development to share expertise and content knowledge with influential stakeholders to help develop a stronger voice in shaping STEM education policy issues.

“Pennsylvania is considered a leader in STEM policy across the country and, in order to maintain that, we need to develop leaders across the state to advocate for bipartisan support in advancing STEM Education policies to affect change,” said Laura Saccente, director of the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN). “PA STEM Ambassadors have been vital part in shaping STEM education and workforce policies, such as PAsmart and the landscape of STEM Learning Ecosystems.”

“PreK-12 Education is a service industry where we work to prepare our students for what comes next for them, both academically and otherwise. The heart of STEM education is creating a system where student academic programs are directly correlated to where they are going after graduation, particularly in the direction of the most available and lucrative careers that exist in tomorrow’s career market,” Elizabeth Watson, principal of STEAM.

PSAYDN collaborated with the Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC), the national STEM Education Coalition, the Afterschool Alliance, 2018 National STEM Ambassador Jeff Remington and staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Labor to provide training support to the ambassadors. This year, STEM Ambassadors will have an option of a leadership track as well.

About PSAYDN

Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) promotes sustainable, high-quality out-of-school time youth development programs through advocacy and capacity building to enhance the welfare of Pennsylvania’s children, youth and families. PSAYDN believes all children and youth deserve access to programs that encourage positive youth development and support the successful transition to adulthood. PSAYDN is managed by the Center for Schools and Communities. More information is available at www.PSAYDN.org.

Western Wayne Students Learning Through STEAM

Designing balloons worthy for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and constructing a house that could withstand the big bad wolf’s huffing and puffing are just two applications of STEAM that Western Wayne teachers tested out in their classrooms this year.

Elizabeth Watson, Western Wayne principal of STEAM, explained how STEAM is working at the district this year. Watson was recently selected STEAM Ambassador for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“I have been working in the classrooms with teachers and designing lessons to help them come up with other ideas on their own,” Watson said. “It all boils down to project-based learning.”

Western Wayne fifth grade teacher Joanne Connolly did a STEAM project with her students at Evergreen Elementary that was a week-long problem-solving activity called “Balloons Over Broadway.”

Connolly described the event. “Due to a helium shortage, the students were then tasked with engineering a new way to keep the balloons afloat without helium,” she said. “We incorporated science by learning about the properties of helium and its importance in many applications other than balloons. Students learned that helium is used in the cooling process for the magnets in an MRI machine, for example.”

Connolly gave more information about the week-long event. “Students then worked in small groups to engineer a design to keep their balloon afloat,” she said. “Next, a parade was held, and students then voted for the most creative balloon and the most functional design.”

Connolly and her students were both very excited about the results of their STEAM project.

“As a teacher it is exciting to watch the students problem-solve and work collaboratively for a common goal,” she explained. “The incorporation of STEAM into our classrooms has sparked a new excitement for learning, tremendous conversations, and more students getting to share their unique talents.”

Watson agrees that the STEAM lessons this year are really engaging the students.

“Kids are loving the things we are doing,” Watson explained. “It is good motivation for them to work hard in class.”

Another Western Wayne elementary school teacher Sarah Wood, from Robert D. Wilson Elementary, has also been incorporating STEAM in her classroom.

Wood explained how the students did a The Three Little Pigs unit and used STEAM. “We start each unit reading the book, then identifying a problem or science element,” she explained. “After The Three Little Pigs, we talked about wind and what made the different materials in the book hardier to the wolf’s attempts at knocking them down.”

Wood further explained the students’ STEAM work. “The students then experimented with hay, sticks, and bricks to see which were more easily blown away by their breath. Their final project was to build a house that could stay standing when blown with a hair dryer.”

Wood’s students also completed another STEAM project.

“The second unit was the Gruffalo. Students programmed robot mice to make their way through a maze and past the characters that wanted to hunt it down,” she explained. “We started the programming with paper arrows, then gradually introduced punching code into the mice.”

In addition, Wood described another STEAM project in her class.

“Another unit was on the Gruffalo’s Child. In this unit, we looked at shadows,” she explained. “We experimented with making shadows on the wall and then built a shadow box theater from cereal boxes and wax paper to retell the story to the parents.”

Wood truly believes that her students benefit from STEAM.

“I believe that STEAM can give different students a chance to shine,” Wood explained. “I did a coding lesson with first grade this year as part of the Pennsylvania CS grant initiative, and it was fun to see students who struggle with reading or math discover that part of learning that comes naturally to them. They became the experts to their friends and were able to be the ones who shared knowledge instead of being the receiver.”

Watson is thrilled that students in Wood’s classes and so many others in the Western Wayne School District are benefiting from learning through STEAM. She explained that thinking through STEAM lessons can be helpful to students in today’s day and age.

“Today’s students understand what ‘debugging’ means,” Watson explained. “Through STEAM students learn that stumbling blocks are part of the process of learning. They essentially learn about revision and how sometimes the only way to fix or improve something is by toiling and persevering through it. Creating inventions in the real world is a process that takes years, and students can learn this concept through STEAM.”

Watson feels excited that so many Western Wayne students are being exposed to lessons and projects associated with skills needed for possible careers in STEAM areas that they may want to pursue.

“There are so many jobs that are available in technology fields, engineering fields, etc.,” Watson said. “The sooner they get a feel for what they like then we can tie it in other places and set them on a career path early on.”

Western Wayne High School Student Earns President’s Volunteer Service Award

Western Wayne senior Alyssa Iovacchini has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of time to service their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Western Wayne nominated Alyssa for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service.

Throughout Alyssa’s four years in high school she volunteered at Arrowhead Bible Camp in Brackney, PA. She found out about this opportunity through her pastor at the Waymart Church where she is an active member.

Alyssa described the service work she does each summer at the James Project held at Arrowhead Bible Camp. The James Project, named after the Book of James in the Bible, is a summer camp for mentally disabled adults. Alyssa and other volunteers work to clean the camp, so that the camp counselors can more focus their time on working with the campers.

In addition, Alyssa works at the camp in the winter doing the same jobs when youth groups and church retreats are at Arrowhead.

“I really enjoy this type of volunteer work because I am putting others before myself and making sure they have the most enjoyable time they can at the camp whether they be adults or other campers,” Alyssa explained.

She also participates in other various service activities in Waymart with her church throughout the school year.

“The faculty, staff, and administration at Western Wayne feel very proud of Alyssa’s accomplishments,” Western Wayne High School Principal Paul Gregorski said. “We hope our other students look up to her as a role model.”

In its 25^th year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service.

“Across the United States, young volunteers are doing remarkable things to contribute to the well-being of the people and communities around them,” said Prudential Chairman CEO Charles Lowrey. “Prudential is honored to celebrate the contributions of these students, and we hope their stories inspire others to volunteer too.”

“Demonstrating civic responsibility through volunteerism is an important part of life,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. “These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate.”

Prudential Spirit of Community Award application details were distributed nationwide last September through middle level and high schools, Girl Scout Councils, County 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and Points of Light Global Network members. These schools and officially-designated local organizations nominated Local Honorees, whose applications were advanced for state-level judging. In addition to granting President’s Volunteer Service Awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria including initiative, effort, impact, and personal growth.

Alyssa feels honors to have been given this service award and to be able to represent the Western Wayne School District’s commitment to excellence through this honor. Along with her service activities, Alyssa also is involved in other activities at Western Wayne which include the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and FBLA. After graduation, Alyssa aspires to attend a four-year college to pursue her teaching certificate in secondary education English.

“I think that my service work is preparing me for when I will one day work with students in my own classroom,” Alyssa said.

Robert D. Wilson Elementary School to hold Read Across America Night

Kids of all ages can enjoy a night of entertainment to include the reading of children’s books, performances from the upcoming Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of Once Upon a Mattress, and even a performance by local magician David Black.

Western Wayne’s Robert D. Wilson Elementary School PTA will host Read Across America Night on Thursday, March 5, beginning at 4:45 p.m. The event is free of charge to the public. There will be tours of the RDW building and opportunities to stop in classrooms to hear stories read by RDW staff and friends from 4:45 until 5:30 p.m.

In addition, concessions will be available for purchase from 5:30 to 6 p.m. At 6 p.m. Western Wayne Drama Club students will perform excerpts from their upcoming spring show Once Upon a Mattress with performance dates set for April 17, 18, and 19. The musical is the classic story of the princess and the pea.

Senior Sydney Peet plays Queen Aggravain in the show. Her character is determined to keep her son Prince Dauntless, played by senior Honour Shaffer, from marrying an unsuitable bride. Sydney has really been enjoying playing the role of the queen who is quite out spoken.

“I enjoy playing a character who is set in what she wants and not afraid to get her point across,” Sydney, who is playing her third role in a Western Wayne musical and has played various roles in community theater, said. “I hope the audience likes our performance of “Sensitivity.” This is the queen’s solo in which she tries to come up with an unfair way to test the new princess in the kingdom suing for her son’s hand in marriage.”

“Sensitivity” is just one song from Once Upon a Mattress to be performed at Read Across America Night.

Another Western Wayne senior who is excited to perform is Sydney’s costar Honour Shaffer. Honour looks forward to performing in “The Swamps of Home” at Read Across America.

“I really think the audience will find this number entertaining because the princess tells a story about growing up in an unconventional swamp kingdom that she and everyone else on stage comes to find fascinating,” Honour, who is playing his fourth role in a Western Wayne musical, explained.

Senior Andie Solimine plays the role of Princess Winnifred. She feels very happy to be playing a lead role for her senior year having been in two musicals prior to this one at Western Wayne.

“I love to sing, act, and dance,” Andie said. “I really look forward to sharing what we have been practicing each day with the community.”

The final act of the evening will be a performance by local magician David Black at 6:30 p.m.

The RDW PTA, cast of Once Upon a Mattress, and everyone involved in Read Across America Night encourage the public to attend this fun event for kids of all ages.

German cuckoo clocks and the art of clock making in RDW Art class

The 3^rd & 4^th grade students at RDW learned about German cuckoo clocks and the art of clock making in Art class. They watched videos about the craftsman of the Black Forest, and talked about the relationship between the environment & natural resources of a region, and the art the people of that region create. The students learned about carving as subtractive sculpture as well as the inner workings of a clock. Students then practiced a variety of skills to make their own cut paper cuckoo clocks. They folded hinges to create working doors, they used an accordion fold to make their cuckoo bird pop out of the door. They also made an accurate analog clock face complete with numbers and moving hands, as well as pine cones for weights, just like the real thing! Classes discussed the importance of using good craftsmanship to ensure a sturdy and attractive finished product. Students then added embellishments and personal touches to their clocks using markers, colored pencil, cut paper and cutout shapes.

Standards:

9.1.A, 9.1.C, 9.1.F

9.2.A, 9.2.C, 9.2.D, 9.2.E, 9.2.G, 9.2.K, 9.2.L

Western Wayne Middle School Hosts Minute to Win It

The Western Wayne Middle School hosted a Minute to Win It event for their students in grades 6, 7, and 8 on Friday, February 14, as a part of the district’s PBIS initiative. Our PBIS initiative is successfully creating a positive school environment in which students are demonstrating their Wildcat PRIDE daily. Pictured, from left, are seventh grade students Lilli Maros and Aliya Fiorella, who served as special helpers during the Western Wayne PBIS event. Both girls said they really enjoyed helping out at the event and felt good to have a special role in the activities. The students look forward to other special events such as these.

Pictured from left, playing the Minute to Win IT game Stack Attack are: Austin Barger, Jake Moyer, Sean Owens, Lareina Tirado, Katherine Roedel, and Loucynthia Allen.