Local students had the chance to work hands-on with a 3D-printing machine, robots, and dissection tools among many other things at the 5^th annual Women in Science Symposium hosted by the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance and the Lacawac Sanctuary& Biological Field Station on September 17 at the Woodloch Pines Resort.

       Western Wayne was one of the schools present at the event along with Delaware Valley, Wayne Highlands, Valley View, MMI Preparatory School, and Wallenpaupack Area.  Over 300 students attended the event. The keynote speaker this year was Dr. Katie Leonard, president of Johnson College. 

       The purpose of the event was to give students, like women, minorities and other underdeveloped groups, information on STEM career paths, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education. Students met with representatives from local colleges to discuss career options, hear presentations from female, working professionals and had the opportunity to speak with these professionals after the presentations finished. 

       Female students from both the Western Wayne middle and high schools had the chance to attend the event.

       The high school students from Western Wayne in attendance who have attended the event for multiple years prior said this was the best symposium yet.

       “It was all very interactive and hands-on,” Alexandria Bien-Aime, a sophomore at Western Wayne, explained.  “I want to be a surgeon so I was particularly interested in the station where I got to use tools to dissect animals.”

       Alexandria’s classmate Hudson Malinowski also liked the unique hands-on stations at the symposium.

       “I got to work with a robot and program it to play music,” Hudson, who wishes to pursue a career in music, said.

       The students explained how there were many different colleges represented at the event and that they were able to explore different majors.

       Sophomore Mia Rovinsky especially enjoyed the college fair portion of the event.

       “It was good to hear other students’ questions and concerns about the STEM field in the question and answer sessions,” Mia, who wants to be a doctor, said.

       Mia’s classmate sophomore Rachel Tuman also enjoyed taking advantage of all of the information about colleges and STEM at the symposium.

       “I think the experience helped us all to refine our knowledge,” Rachel, who wishes to pursue a career in forensic science, said.  “I enjoyed seeing all of the people there willing to help propel us into a science career.”

From left:  Western Wayne sophomores Hudson Malinowski, Alexandria Bien-Aime, Rachel Tuman, and Mia Rovinsky.

Western Wayne students learned about the physics, artistic qualities, and chemical properties of glass among many other things when the mobile glass studio based out of Keystone College visited on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Friday, Sept. 27.  Approximately 678 middle and high school students viewed the mobile glass laboratory, and 49 students had the unique opportunity of taking part in an individual hands-on demonstration.

The mobile glass studio is the only one of its kind in the region and is sponsored by the Dorflinger Glass Museum and Keystone College.  Funding for the mobile glass laboratory comes from donations to the Dorflinger Glass Museum by corporations under the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development EITC program. The companies get tax credits for donations that support innovative educational programs such as the glass studio.

The glass studio last visited Western Wayne in November of 2017 and the district was thrilled to host this experience for its students again.  Mark Nebzydoski, high school science teacher at Western Wayne, played a key role in planning this event.  He believes that Western Wayne science students greatly benefit from unique educational opportunities such as this.

          “It’s meaningful for students to learn about glass through these visual and hands-on demonstrations,” Nebzydoski said.  “They get to have an educational experience that they wouldn’t have anywhere else.”

 Keystone faculty member Brandon Smith, an advanced glass instructor and studio technician from Factoryville, was one of the teachers from the college that led the Western Wayne students through their experience with the mobile glass lab.

Smith explained how this glass lab is a part of Keystone’s STEAM project and that he helped to build the lab with various students from different parts of the world.

“The main goal of this project is to present information to students,” Smith said.  “We want to show kids that with a single material you can drive yourself into many different careers.”

Smith explained that students who study glass can go into fields such as museum archaeology, architecture, chemical laboratory work, laser technology work, and so many other areas.

Seniors Cooper Mistishin, Matt Rosengrant, and Max Phillips had the opportunity to learn from Smith and Michael Swanson, who teaches an introduction to glass course at Keystone College.  The boys participated in the individual hands-on glass demonstrations.

Cooper was surprised at the intensity of the heat used to mold the glass.

“It was interesting to see the differences in the glass from when it was really hot to when it cooled,” Cooper explained.  “When it was warm it looked like all of the glass was blended together and when it cooled you could see its shape better.”

Cooper, who plans to study computer science in college, was glad to have this experience and especially liked molding the glass.

His classmate Matt Rosengrant also had fun molding glass during the demonstration.

“I liked how hands on the demonstration was and how they allowed us to shape the glass,” Matt, who plans to study electrical construction after graduation, said.

Senior Max Phillips agreed that having this experience was particularly helpful for him as a student because of everything he was able to see and do.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Max, who plans to study computer science in college, said.  “I enjoyed learning about the properties of glass and how it works.”

In addition, Keystone College admissions counselor Colin Dempsey admitted three Western Wayne students to Keystone during the glass blowing event at the school.  He read their transcripts and gave them admissions letters on the spot.

Nebzydoski and the Western Wayne community are excited for the prospects of having the mobile glass lab return for future learning events at Western Wayne.

In the meantime, Keystone College invites the public to their Keystone College Glass Harvest Sale and Glass Pumpkin Patch event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 12 at their campus lawn.  There will be live glass blowing at this event.

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The Western Wayne School District hosted a very successful 12th Bi-Annual Cavalcade of Bands on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 25.  The stadium was standing room only.  A total of eleven schools participated including:  Dallas, Dunmore, Delaware Valley, Honesdale, Mid Valley, North Pocono, Northwest Area, Valley View, Wallenpaupack, West Scranton, and Western Wayne.  Many coats also were donated at the event for “Warming Up Wilson.”  Western Wayne would like to thank all schools who participated and all in the community who came out to support our local marching bands.

The Western Wayne School District will host a cavalcade of bands on the evening of Wednesday, September 25 at our football stadium.  The National Anthem will be played at 6:10 p.m. followed by the first band performance at 6:15 p.m. A total of eleven schools will participate including:  Dallas, Dunmore, Delaware Valley, Honesdale, Mid Valley, North Pocono, Northwest Area, Valley View, Wallenpaupack, West Scranton, and Western Wayne who will be the closing performance.  Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students and senior citizens, or free with the donation of a new or gently used winter coat for “Warming Up Wilson.” In addition, concessions will be sold with all proceeds benefiting Western Wayne band and color guard students.  Come out and enjoy a great night of music and fun.