FREE MEALS AVAILABLE WHILE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED

Schools closed due to the coronavirus are able to provide free meals to all students through the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option. These meals are available for all families and to any child age 18 and younger.

The Western Wayne School District invites families and care-givers to drive through* and pick up meals for their children beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Lunch and breakfast for the following day will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Children must be present in order for meals to be provided. Please stay in your car and meals will be passed through based on the number of children in the car.

Pick up is available Monday through Friday at:

Evergreen Elementary Student Drop off area   
                                  11:00 am – 12:30 pm

 Robert D. Wilson Bus Loop
                            11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Lunches will include sandwiches, fresh vegetable and/or fruit, milk and a dessert treat. Breakfast bags will include fruit, juice, milk, cereal and assorted cereal bars.

We encourage families to continue to be proactive in reducing the risk of coronavirus by not congregating at the pick-up site once meals have been distributed, continue to wash your hands often, sneeze or cough into a tissue, and stay home if you are sick.

Contact the Western Wayne School District Food Service Department at 570-937-3085 or mliptak@westernwayne.org if you have questions about this service or if you need to make arrangements for medically necessary meal accommodations.

*Families who live in Waymart may walk to pick up their meals but are asked not to congregate at the pick-up site.

Governor Wolf Announces Closure of Pennsylvania Schools

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/

Western Wayne – Closure Notice

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

Early Dismissal – Reminder

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.

– Message regarding the Coronavirus –

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

LOOKING FOR PROM ATTIRE?

AURORA’S CLOSET – LOOKING FOR PROM ATTIRE?
Need the perfect dress, shoes, handbags, etc.?

Come to visit Aurora’s Closet on Friday, March 20, 2020 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Held at Calvary United Methodist Church, Belmont St., Waymart

Shop for gently used articles to complete your wardrobe for your big event!

SPONSORED BY AURORA ASSEMBLY,
INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF RAINBOW FOR GIRLS

All proceeds will be donated to the Waymart Area Food Pantry!

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

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.

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.”