Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16. The administration has been working with school districts as well as state and local officials to gather input on this decision. The Wolf Administration will continue to monitor Covid-19 in the commonwealth, and at the end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed.

Please read the full article here.
https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/governor-wolf-announces-closure-of-pennsylvania-schools/

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Western Wayne School District, along with all Northeast Intermediate Unit school districts will be closed during the week of March 16 through March 20, 2020. The rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the spread of Coronavirus require this response. The decision is made out of concern for all staff and students in our schools, especially those who are most vulnerable. Each school district will monitor developments closely and consult with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies. Western Wayne and all NEIU districts recognize the impact school cancellations can have on families and communities. Timely and transparent updates will be provided by each district to its local communities.

The School Districts in the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit include:

Abington Heights School District
Blue Ridge School District
Carbondale Area School District
Dunmore School District
Elk Lake School District
Forest City Regional School District
Lackawanna Trail School District
CTC of Lackawanna County
Lakeland School District
Mid Valley School District
Montrose Area School District
Mountain View School District
North Pocono School District
Old Forge School District
Riverside School District
Scranton City School District
Susquehanna Community School District
Susquehanna County CTC
Valley View School District
Wallenpaupack Area School District
Wayne Highlands School District
Western Wayne School District

-Matthew Barrett, ED. D., Superintendent

As a reminder, tomorrow March 13th is a 12:00 PM early dismissal for our teacher in-service. Also, as a precautionary measure over the next 2 weeks, there will be several events postponed or cancelled, such as field trips and large community events. You will receive further information about schedule changes as we move forward. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Department of Health have scheduled a press conference tomorrow morning to provide updates for school districts across the state. We will continue to inform you of any pertinent information or developments. Thank you and have a good evening.

Dear Western Wayne Community,

As we continue to communicate with our local emergency management agency, the Department of Health, and other organizations in relation to the Coronavirus, the District will keep you informed of any developments or changes in school operations.  While the current recommendation is to maintain appropriate and preventative hygiene, our custodial staff has also been working diligently to thoroughly clean and disinfect our facilities.  Our school nurses and faculty are also aware of proper protocol to ensure a healthy school environment.  Additionally, it is also important for families to be mindful of preventative measures and practice them at home.  We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the recommendations from local, state, and federal authorities.  The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we will exercise necessary precautions for their well-being.  Please contact us with any questions or concerns. 

Coronavirus Attachment 1
Coronavirus Attachment 2
Coronovirus Attachment 3

Download the orginal release here.

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.

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.