This is a fundraiser to benefit the Western Wayne sophomore class of 2023. If you have any questions please contact Trina Collins (tcarito@westernwayne.org), or Helene Tscheschlog (htscheschlog@westernwayne.org). ***PLEASE NOTE*** – This survey is being used to gather interest. – Order forms will be available in each of the building main offices, and monies collected by building secretaries. – Orders and payment must be in by May 14th. – Ticket books will be available for pick up during the week of May 21st.
The National Business Honor Society is designed to recognize FBLA members who truly excel in academic preparation and will pursue an eventual career in the business world. Pennsylvania FBLA recognizes that to succeed as a true business leader, members need to be well prepared in terms of their academics, career skills, and leadership development. Nominees must have an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, an overall cumulative GPA of 3.5 in a minimum of two completed business courses, demonstrated leadership, and have clearly defined career objective. This year, two members of Western Wayne FBLA have been inducted into the National Business Honor Society. Lacey Falloon and Lenny Maiocco were recognized at the PA FBLA Virtual State Leadership Conference in April. Both received a membership certificate, an honor society pin, and honor cords to be worn at graduation. From left: Lacey Falloon and Lenny Maiocco.
Elaine Ort, band director for Western Wayne High School, will join band directors from across the country next January 1st in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Rose Parade. A custom-designed animated float will lead a “marching band of band directors” up to 300 strong from across the country. The Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, based in Pickerington, Ohio, is the sponsoring organization behind the project. The foundation was created to recognize and carry on the work of the late Mike Sewell, who dedicated his life to the school and community music programs in Pickerington and the Central Ohio area for more than 38 years. The parade entry will convey the theme, “We teach music. We teach life.” The extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of band directors are well known to their students, to parents and to school teachers and administrators. No matter where they teach and work—public and private schools, colleges and universities, the military, community bands—dedicated music educators and leaders work long hours to not only teach and direct music, but to teach life itself. Students’ lives in particular are positively changed by a motivational leader who taught, inspired and mentored them. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to march in the parade,” Ort said. “It is an honor to represent Western Wayne.” Elaine Ort has devoted much of her life to the study and performance of music. A native of New England and graduate of Marywood University, Elaine is a member of the Scranton Brass Orchestra, the Providence Brass, the Schützengiggles Oompah Band, the Marywood University Wind Symphony, and performs often in musical pit orchestras throughout the region. As an educator, Elaine serves as the director of instrumental activities in the Western Wayne School District since 2014. At Western Wayne, her teaching responsibilities include sixth grade brass instruction, eighth grade band instruction, and the Pride of Western Wayne, the Wildcat High School Band. Under her direction and guidance the school continues to invest heavily in its music program, and was recently named a KHS America Academic Alliance Platinum school for its investment in instrumental education. It is the only school in Pennsylvania, and one of only 39 in the United States to have received that honor. Complete details on the project are available on the Saluting America’s Band Directors website, BandDirectorSalute.org.
Western Wayne’s CTC cosmetology junior Madison Bower won the Gold Medal in the CTC District Cosmetology Competition and then went on to place third in the State Competition. Both competitions took place this past spring virtually.
At the district level, Madison competed in the nail competition. This is a notable accomplishment as she is one of very few juniors to participate and only Gold Medalists are invited to compete at the state level. At the state level, Madison also did the nail competition and placed third. At first, Madison did not realize how prestigious the competitions she was a part of were. “After winning gold in the district competition is when I found out how big this competition actually was. I googled SkillsUSA and saw all the opportunities I had with this type of competition. That’s when I started getting really nervous,” Madison explained. “I did nails every free second I had. My house smelled like a nail salon 24/7. I focused mainly on the nail art. But the state competition required much more. It wasn’t as simple as gluing on tips and a quick acrylic layer. We had to do a gel overlay as well as sculpted acrylics which is where you sculpt the nail itself with no tip. I also had to know all the nail health and nail care for the interview questions. Then the nail art for five nails with a theme.” Madison’s hard work and preparations paid off with her third place win at the state competition.
“ I can’t wait for next year and the chance at coming back to a SkillsUSA competition either in the nail care or cosmetology (hair) part of the competition,” Madison explained. She is excited to compete in a variety of areas and demonstrate her skills. Madison has been interested in the cosmetology field for many years. She discussed what first got her hooked. “When I was probably 12 years old, I went swimming and my hair turned bright green,” Madison described. “No matter what we did the green wouldn’t come out, so my mom let me dye my hair, and it escalated from there. My hair has been every color you can think of. After that I started really getting into make up. I was always watching YouTube and trying out all types of makeup techniques. When I found out about CTC and that they had a cosmetology program, I knew when I was a freshman that I would apply to CTC for the program and see if this was the right field for me. I absolutely love it and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” Madison feels passionately about all aspects of cosmetology. “ I love almost everything to do with cosmetology,” she explained. “I think my favorite part is just being able to be creative whether it’s with nail art, hair coloring, up-dos. I just love trying new things and see how it turns out.” Madison plans to pursue the cosmetology field after graduation next year. “My future goals are to attend college for a business degree as well as cheer in college and to work in a salon while earning my degree,” she explained. “ I’d also have to keep up on continuing education for cosmetology. Once out of school, I would love to open my own salon and possibly my own competitive cheer team. I have two loves, cosmetology and cheerleading.” Pictured is Western Wayne junior Madison Bower with her gold medal and some of her cosmetology tools.
Pictured is Caitlyn Burdick, Western Wayne FCCLA president, who won the Western Wayne FCCLA Chapter Member of the Year Award at a recent virtual Eastern Region FCCLA conference.
From left Western Wayne students Zoey Goldman and Kennedy Mistishin who were recognized as Silver Medal Recipients at a recent virtual Eastern Region FCCLA conference for the Community Service Project event.
Pictured is Western Wayne student Adelaide Treibley who was also recognized as a Silver Medal Recipient at a recent virtual Eastern Region FCCLA conference for her work in the Professional Presentation event.
Western Wayne Family Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) recently were recognized for being Silver Medal Recipients at a virtual Eastern Region FCCLA conference. These students are now part of the Star Events National Team and will compete this summer at the virtual national conference.
FCCLA President Caitlyn Burdick, senior, won the Western Wayne FCCLA Chapter Member of the Year Award. Caitlyn serves as president of the club and has worked on many projects this school year.
“I most enjoyed my work this year planning our community events such as our Breakfast with Santa Drive-through,” Caitlyn, who plans to attend Marywood University upon graduation with a major in early childhood education, said. “We did our best to work with COVID guidelines for such programs. It was really worth it to see the smiles on little kids faces when they saw Santa at our event.”
Another winner at the conference was junior Adelaide Treibley. She competed in the Professional Presentation event. She had to present a ten-minute speech on the topic of her choice which was unemployment.
Adelaide feels passionately about her topic. She discussed how she thinks a solution to the unemployment problem is to have more funding for higher education. Therefore, more people would be trained for specialized jobs. Adelaide became interested in this topic during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She explained how she had to dress professionally for her presentation and deliver her message in a strong and academic manner.
Adelaide placed second in this STAR Event. She will compete virtually in the National FCCLA competition.
In addition, Western Wayne juniors Kennedy Mistishin and Zoey Goldman placed second for their Community Service Project event. The girls were co-chairs of Western Wayne’s Drive-Through Breakfast with Santa this past December. For the competition, they had to create a display board and give a ten-minute speech about their experiences creating, preparing, and running the event.
The girls explained how they created a board with many pictures of their successful event along with how they illustrated their budget.
“I discussed how we were thrilled to get people out for our event, yet still keep them at a safe distance,” Kennedy explained.
Zoey added, “It was such a good event during a year where our community has struggled so much. I think we really helped the community.”
Both Kennedy and Zoey look forward to moving on to the National level of competition for their service project. The girls also feel excited for their senior year in FCCLA where they hope to do even more good for the community.
PPL awarded Western Wayne student Amy Newman Wireless Beats Headphones as a prize for completing a survey about her usage of tools in the Innovation Kit that all Western Wayne 9th grade high school students and some students in other grades got as a part of the PPL Think! Energy program this past fall. The students were challenged to use the items in the kit such as a smart power strip and a special shower head for water conservation, among other items. Newman and many other Western Wayne students used these items and then filled in a survey about their experiences. Newman was the lucky winner drawn at random for the Western Wayne School District. “I love my Wireless Beats Headphones,” Amy said. “They are so much fun.” Pictured is Amy Newman enjoying her prize.
1st row (l to r): Morgan Coccodrilli, Rhayni Carroll, Emily Romanowski, Kaeli Romanowski, Gabby Tetreault, Rachel Tuman, Adrian Agnello 2nd row (l to r): Skylar Long, Julie Bryan, Alaina Maiocco, Laynee Nugent, Rachel Hoch, Lacey Falloon, Alex Hineline, Alex Chapman, Dustin Ferraro
Twenty members of Western Wayne’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter were recognized at the Awards of Excellence program during the Virtual State Leadership Conference held recently.
During this conference, senior Lenny Maiocco, the PA FBLA Parliamentarian, and the other state officers conducted the session from their homes. Nine officers were elected/appointed to lead the organization during the 2021-2022 school year including Morgan Coccodrilli, State Reporter; and Gabby Tetreault, State Parliamentarian. Both students are juniors at Western Wayne.
The top ten members/teams were recognized for their performance in one of the 70+ different competitive events. The top four winners in each event qualify for the National Leadership Conference to also be held virtually because of the Pandemic.
The members from Western Wayne included: Intro to Parliamentary Procedure: Jenna Kwiatkowski, first; Alex Chapman, third; and Skylar Long, fifth place. Intro to FBLA: Rhayni Carroll, second; and Emily Romanowski, tenth place. Parliamentary Procedure. The team of Lenny Maiocco, Lena Piccolino, Gabby Tetreault, Rachel Hoch, and Kaeli Romanowski, third place. Accounting II: Alex Hineline, fifth; and Lacey Falloon, ninth place. Management Decision Making, Rachel Tuman, fifth place. Intro to Public Speaking: Adrian Agnello. Word Processing: Laynee Nugent; Intro to Business Presentation: Alaina Maiocco and Ella Pavlovich, ninth place. Public Service Announcement: the team of Julie Bryan, Cyrah Biehler, and Dustin Ferraro, ninth place.
In addition, the Western Wayne chapter placed fourth in the Outstanding Chapter event and third in the Local Market Share Award. Lenny Maiocco placed third in Who’s Who in Pennsylvania FBLA and William Selden Scholarship Award.
Photo (left to right): Adalyn Fox, Morgan Malloy, Liam Pauler, Mrs. Maria Shelp, Grace Owens, and Vincent Delaney
Officers of R.D. Wilson’s student council wanted to do something special for their school nurse, Mrs. Shelp. Recognizing that this has been an especially challenging year for nurses, they arranged for a surprise presentation during student lunch. A personalized poster and special gift basket were given along with some thankful words including:
“You had to make a lot of tough decisions throughout the year, and we appreciate that.”
“You’re an amazing school nurse, and it’s time that everyone knows it!”
The gift basket included some of Mrs. Shelp’s favorite things, such as Doritos, Swedish Fish, and Alice in Wonderland mask and necklace.
We would like to extend our appreciation for all of the medical staff working in our district and surrounding area. Thank you for all that you have done to keep us safe and healthy this past year!
What options exist both before and after graduation for individuals with special needs? Come learn about the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Job coaching, the Office of Developmental Programs waivers, PROJECT SEARCH, Community Participation Supports, Post Secondary options, ABLE accounts and other supports. For more information or help with the zoom link, contact James Furiosi jfuriosi@cmpmhds.org or 570-730-3981 or Traci Hall thall@waynecountypa.gov 570-253-9200
Ticket prices are 5.95 for Western Wayne students and senior citizens and 7.95 for the general public.
The students have been working on the musical since January and are excited to perform their show live via the internet.
The full-length classic tale of Cinderella finding her prince will be performed by our cast. The show is perfect for kids of all ages!
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to entertain the public in this new way,” senior Rhonda Fenkner, who plays Cinderella, said. “We are so grateful to have this chance to do what we love, and hope the public enjoys the show!”
Any questions on how to purchase a ticket, contact Mrs. McLaughlin at jmclau@wwsd.io
ALL NEWS
Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Graduation – May 1, 2026May 1, 2026Congratulations go out to Donovan Gregorski and Emaan Tanveer on their recent Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Graduation!
Leadership Lackawanna’s seven-month Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program develops the leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills of high school juniors and provides real-world experiences in the areas of health care, STEAM, history and heritage, crime and corrections, financial literacy, philanthropy, non-profit organizations, and community service. Each year, a class of approximately 70 students, representing various geographic areas and schools, is selected to participate. The program begins in October and concludes with a graduation ceremony in May. Sessions are held one full weekday each month from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Upon completion of the TLT program, participants will have the necessary skills to become concerned and committed citizens who participate and invest in our community. Tomorrow’s Leaders Today turns aspiring teens into future adult leaders. [...]
Junior Information Night – May 13th – 6:00 PMApril 30, 2026On Wednesday, May 13th, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. the Guidance Department will be conducting JuniorInformation Night in the LGI. The purpose of this evening is to inform parents/guardians about:selecting a college/trade school/training program, college cost, the college admissions process,registration and deadlines for the SAT/ACT, general financial aid information, Maia, SmartFutures,military and job opportunities and other important information.
https://ww3.westernwayne.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Junior-Information-Night-letter-to-parents-2026-1.pdf [...]
Student Council Attend Pennsylvania Association of Student Council Regional ConferenceApril 23, 2026Members of Western Wayne High School Student Council attended the Pennsylvania Association of Student Council Region H’s Annual Conference on Friday, April 17, hosted by Wyoming Valley West. There were hundreds of middle and high school students from area schools in the region in attendance.
Mr. Mason Wooldridge gave a presentation. Wooldridge encouraged students to remember that “things don’t happen to you; they happen for you” and encouraged them to take on challenges in life and know that everything is an opportunity for learning and growth.
In addition, Pennsylvania State Representative Mr. Alec Ryncavage, who represents the 119th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving parts of Luzerne County, also gave a presentation. He was a WVW graduate who spoke about feeling called to public service at a young age and the responsibility he holds for representing 65k residents and encouraged students to follow their calling.
Another part of the experience involved students attending three different workshops of their choice. The workshops all focused on student leadership, teamwork, mental health, fundraising, and making connections with a fun twist. For example, they were able to make slime, friendship bracelets, and participate in breakout rooms.
Finally, there was a College/Vendor Fair that had 44 tables at the event.
Front row, from left: Evan Davitt, Ava Fiorella, Layla Persaud, Leah Reeger, Raelyn Simpson, and Meghan Rath. Back row, from left: Haley McGuire, Lillian Gilchrist, Olivia McGlone, Jailah McRae, Mackenzie Wehrmann, and Alexis Gill. [...]
High School March Students of the MonthApril 23, 2026The following students were recognized by the Student Council as students of the month for March. Their teachers and administrators weighed in on the decisions. All of the students chosen hold a high standard of academic and personal excellence. They are true examples of the P.R.I.D.E. standards for PBIS at our school.
First, is our selected freshman Xavier James. He’s a hard worker who actively participates in class and is extremely polite and respectful. He always strives to push himself to be his best. He is described as respectful, polite, hardworking, and all-around great young man, strong athlete with a commitment to his academics, kind, gets along well with both classmates and teachers, and diligent. It is also noted that he works hard to stay on top of his sports and classes.
Next, Leah Reeger is our chosen sophomore this month. She always participates during class, does her own work, and wants to learn. She is described as polite, hardworking, dependable, a stand-out amongst her peers, helps others, kind, a role model, and has integrity. In addition, it is noted that she is creative, insightful, dedicated, mature, hard-working, and courteous.
In addition, Makenzie Chearney is this month’s featured junior. She is noted as hard-working, completes all assignments on time, helps her peers, intelligent, friendly, determined and caring.
Finally, Katarina Shumski is our senior spotlight this month. Katarina’s teachers say she quietly goes about her business and is impeccable with her organization, school work, and time management. In addition, they note she is hard-working, dependable, considerate, reliable, and dependable because she is always on task.
The Western Wayne School District congratulates these March students of the month and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.
From left: Katarina Shumski, Leah Reeger, Makenzie Chearney, and Xavier James. [...]
FBLA Students Shine at PA State Leadership Conference in HersheyApril 23, 2026HERSHEY, PA — Students from Western Wayne High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter demonstrated outstanding achievement, leadership, and professionalism at the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference held this week in Hershey.
Throughout the multi-day conference, students participated in a wide range of enriching experiences designed to build career readiness and leadership skills. Attendees engaged in competitive events, attended dynamic leadership workshops, explored career pathways at the expo, and collaborated with peers from across the state. These sessions provided students with opportunities to strengthen their communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, hallmarks of FBLA’s mission to prepare students for success in business and beyond.
Western Wayne proudly celebrates Grady Farley, who earned an impressive 4th-place finish in the event of Agribusiness, qualifying him for the FBLA National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in June. This exceptional accomplishment reflects his dedication and expertise.
The chapter also congratulates Kaelyn Chearney for her 10th-place finish in Introduction to FBLA, showcasing her strong foundational knowledge and competitive spirit.
In the Business Ethics event, the team of Khloe Mistishin, Maggie Kotchessa, and Grace Moser advanced to the final round, demonstrating excellence in ethical reasoning, teamwork, and presentation skills at a highly competitive level.
Western Wayne FBLA members competed across a wide range of events, including:
Abigail Bell – Member at Large/Voting Delegate
Eli Bilski – Human Resource Management
Paul Borowski – Banking and Financial Systems
Julia Burry – Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure
Robert Carrelle – Banking and Financial Systems
Kaelyn Chearney – Introduction to FBLA
Makenzie Chearney – Journalism
Roxanne Dugan – Healthcare Administration
Paityn Duprey – Business Communication
Grady Farley – Agribusiness
Madison Forgione – Future Business Educator
Raegan Fox – Member at Large/Voting Delegate
Lillian Gilchrist – Introduction to Supply Chain Management
Charlianne Hachikian – Business Law
Justin Jimenez – Real Estate
Madison Kizer – Advertising
Kaitlyn Kloss – Introduction to FBLA
Maggie Kotchessa – Business Ethics
Raeleigh Kromko- Computer Applications
Kelsey Lokuta – Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure
Aiden Matthews – Banking and Financial Systems
Kyle Matthews – Introduction to Information Technology
Madelyn McClure – Organizational Leadership
Khloe Mistishin – Business Ethics
Grace Moser – Business Ethics
Madison Trapanese – Hospitality and Event Management
Graysen Valinski – Networking Infrastructure
Avery Vinton – Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure
Bryn Vinton – Business Communication
Madelyn Vinton – Computer Applications
Annie Williams – Job Interview
In addition to competitive success, several students were recognized for their leadership contributions at the regional level. Madelyn McClure was honored for her service as the 2025–2026 Region 22 Treasurer and was officially welcomed into her new role as the 2026–2027 Region 22 President, a testament to her leadership and commitment to FBLA.
The chapter also recognizes Raegan Fox and Abigail Bell, who served as Members-at-Large and voting delegates, representing Western Wayne in important conference decisions and leadership proceedings.
The State Leadership Conference is an incredible opportunity for our students to grow as leaders, connect with peers, and apply their skills in real-world scenarios. As their adviser, I am extremely proud of their hard work, accomplishments, and the way they represented Western Wayne. Students were also accompanied by Mrs. Megan Rush and Mr. Tim McClure, who are themselves WW FBLA Alumni.
The Western Wayne FBLA chapter looks forward to continuing its tradition of excellence and wishes Grady Farley the best of luck as he prepares to compete on the national stage this summer.
Picture one, front row, from left: Lillian Gilchrist, Madison Kizer, Kaelyn Chearney, Madison Trapanese, Khloe Mistishin, Grace Moser, and Maggie Kotchessa. Second row, from left: Madison Forgione, Madelyn McClure, Makenzie Chearney, Bryn Vinton, Annie Williams, Paityn Duprey, Madelyn Vinton, Julia Burry, Kaitlyn Kloss, and Avery Vinton. Third row, from left: Raegan Fox, Grady Farley, Abigail Bell, Eli Bilski, Kyle Matthews, Paul Borowski, Graysen Valinski, Robbie Carrelle, and Aiden Matthews.
Picture two, from left: Kaelyn Chearney, 10th-place finish in Introduction to FBLA; and Grady Farley, 4th-place finish in the event of Agribusiness. [...]
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.