Robert D. Wilson conducted the 4th Annual Turkey Trot November 29. 2019 thanks to the work and dedication of Elizabeth Musso, physical education teacher. Students enjoyed a variety of physical exercises stationed around the school and in the gymnasium. It a a tradition to get up and moving with friends and classmates. Students also had an opportunity to socialize and enjoy a Thanksgiving movie and popcorn supplied by the Robert D. Wilson PTA and prepared by office staff. It was a fun filled morning for all involved.
On November 19th, students in the Kindness Club and Student Council hosted the annual Olweus Kickoff Event to promote kindness and teach anti-bullying strategies. After two months of planning, rehearsals, and preparation, eleven students in the fifth grade held a school-wide assembly which included:
– The Bully Circle: teaching the different roles that bystanders play in bullying situations
– The Wildcat Pledge: where all students pledged to be defenders of their school
– Kickoff Videos: pre-recorded by the student council- interviewing students throughout the school
– Classroom Match-ups: each classroom in the school was randomly paired with another. These classroom pairs will perform acts of kindness for each other throughout the year
– Kindness Dance: all students learned the special kindness dance: Throw Kindness Like Confetti!
A very special thank you to the students who made it all possible! They are a shining example of Wildcat Pride!
Kindness Club members: Audrey Agnello, Ayla Butrim, Magda Malcolm, Grace Moser, Trista Murphy, and Alexis Weist
Student Council members: Kera Edwards, Brendan Mistishin, Khloe Mistishin, Makayla Moser, and Madelyn Vinton
MOSCOW, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WOLF) — “I was a bit less of a book-learned student… I didn’t learn as well from lectures and things like that. I learned well when I could combine that with taking what I learned in the classroom and applying it right there in their labs.”
Wayne County native Fernando Marques always had a knack for technology, having a role on the Western Wayne High School robotics team.
He says the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technology Program at Johnson College fit him best with his background.
“When I was coming out of high school I really wasn’t sure where to go. I actually haven’t found that degree program when I first graduated from Western Wayne. And then shortly after, I found their program so I had worked construction for a year to save up the money- and built a little bit of a buffer so that the following year I could start the AMET program,” said Marques.
Veteran Harry Howard Howell shakes hands with Western Wayne School Board member Bill Gershey when receiving his diploma at the Veterans Day Assembly. From left: Bernice Fiorella, school board president, and Ellen Faliskie, assistant superintendent, also joined Howell on stage for this special moment.
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As a tradition for many years, Western Wayne administration, faculty, staff, and students joined together on Thursday, November 9 to celebrate veterans in the community with a special in-school event that featured music from the high school band and chorus, wise words from a veteran guest speaker, and this year the event had the added component of a special presentation of a high school diploma to a former student that was 50 years in the making.
Mr. Harry Howard Howell, a Navy Seaman from 1964 through 1971, attended the Lake Consolidated School before enlisting. He would have received his diploma in 1966 but life had other plans. Howell went on to earn his GED at sea in 1967.
He grew up in Wayne County and returned to the area after his time in the military. He was honorably discharged in 1971 and returned to the area during a time when Lake, Hamlin, and Waymart were in the process of consolidating to Western Wayne.
He and his wife Jean raised a family in the Western Wayne School District. The couple has three children Bonnie Howell, Jamie Howell, and the late John Howell.
Howell explained how he enjoyed sending his children to Western Wayne. He served as a member of the Western Wayne School Board from1989-1997. During his tenure, he held the offices of vice president and treasurer. Howell is an active member of the community. Along with serving on the board, he is a Mason and a huge supporter and friend to the Western Wayne community.
“Anything the district needs- he is there to help and provide,” Ms. Ellen Faliskie, assistant superintendent, said. “His contributions are endless.”
Howell felt thrilled to return to Western Wayne for the special Veterans Day event in which he would receive his diploma.
“I enjoy coming and doing whatever I can for students,” Howell said. “It’s so nice to see good kids,” Howell explained, as he watched Western Wayne Middle school students serve veterans coffee and other refreshments before the event.
One such student serving Howell and the others was Gracie Clark, eighth grader.
“I like to honor them because they protected our country,” Gracie said. “It’s so exciting to greet all of the veterans and to hear about how they served us.”
Fellow student helper Tarena Strasburger feels the same.
“We get to make them feel comfortable here,” Tarena explained. “It’s so fun to see all of them come here and I enjoy getting to help them knowing how much they helped us.”
Howell hopes that students like Gracie and Tarena feel inspired from meeting the veterans and experiencing the Veterans Day program.
“I want the students to know that they need to stay in school and graduate,” Howell said. “I think the service is a great avenue to look at for their education in the future. I know joining the military was good for me in so many ways.”
Howell explained how he came from a family that didn’t have a lot of money and that he looked to the military as a way to better himself.
He credits the military with helping him find a successful path for his life which eventually led him back to the area to raise his family.
Howell hopes that this generation of Western Wayne students take advantage of the great opportunities at the district to help them in their lives.
“Western Wayne teachers are 100 percent behind the kids in getting them a good education,” Howell said. “The teachers here have a big impact on students.”
Howell felt glad to get to experience the Veterans Day Assembly alongside other veterans and Western Wayne teachers.
One such Western Wayne staff member and veteran who served as the main speaker at the event was Mr. Robert Black, athletic director.
Black like Howell believes that students have a lot to gain from their experience in middle and high school. He explained that he was born and raised in Wayne County and attended school at Western Wayne where he was involved in a variety of activities such as athletics, band, drama, and the school paper before he enlisted with the Marine Corps.
“Become a part of this community,” Black told students. “You will gain great experience from it.”
Black explained that his time both inside and outside of the classroom better prepared him for life experiences later in boot camp and beyond.
“Change is a part of life,” Black explained. “But if you prepare now you’ll be ready for whatever happens”
Black further discussed that he learned a lot in his time in the Marine Corps about not fearing failure and seeking self- improvement. He asked the students to think about these values now and to always honor veterans in their daily lives.
“For me, if you want to honor the veterans and honor this country you need to value the things this country provides like tolerance. Live the life that America provides and you will honor all veterans,” Black said.
Those in attendance at the Western Wayne Veterans Day program were also treated to patriotic musical selections from the high school band and chorus along with a video presentation about the history of Veterans Day put together by Western Wayne history teacher and Iraq war veteran Shane Grodack.
All present enjoyed the special day for veterans at Western Wayne. Howell was very pleased after receiving his diploma from Faliskie, Mrs. Bernice Fiorella, school board president, and Mr. Bill Gershey, school board member. Howell hopes some students in attendance feel the same calling he did to join the military and serve this great nation.
“There’s nothing better than going into the service,” Howell said.
“Empowered women empower women. Help a “sister”- you just might save a life.” The Western Wayne Girls Lead Club used this quote for a sticker on a treat bag they gave out to high school students during lunches for homecoming this fall as one of their club projects.
The Girls Lead Club is an organization at Western Wayne whose purpose is to spread awareness about women’s rights and make all students feel more equal at school. The group is open to members of both genders and has been in existence at Western Wayne for about three years under advisor Mrs. Marianne Morgan, English department chairperson.
Morgan explained that the sticker with the empowering quote was on a bag that had bracelets that said WWHS Homecoming 2018 on one side, and Girls Lead on the other. The bag also had a symbolic Lifesaver inside.
“We chose this overall message to promote the attitude of befriending each other in a sisterhood and also to bring forth the topic of suicide prevention which has been at the forefront this year,” Morgan explained.
The next fall project the club will work on is set to take place in November. For this event the students will work at a table in the cafeteria during which other high school students, on a voluntary basis, will be invited to complete the sentence stem, “Empowering women is important to me because…”
Each student who does so receives one raffle ticket toward a variety of items the group has purchased to promote positive self-image and the worth of young women. These include cups which say, “Girl Power”; shirts with female super heroes; a glass tray that says, ‘She needed a Hero, so that’s what she became;” a storage cube that says, “Be Bold, Brave & Brilliant,” etc.
Student officers in the club include: Coral Swoyer, president; Sydney Peet, vice president; Vaeda Pontosky, treasurer; Trina Barcarola, activities director; Emily Kosciuk, art director; and Evan Thomas, press relations officer.
Trina, activities director, looks forward to this next Girls Lead event and is glad to work with this unique organization.
“I like to watch women empowerment figures on YouTube, so I thought this group would be something I would want to get involved with,” Trina explained. “I want to help girls become more confident.”
Fellow club officer Emily Kosciuk, art director, agrees.
“We really get things done when we meet,” Emily said. “The group is really a confidence booster.”
Emily and Trina hope that as the organization continues to grow and do more activities to involve the student body that more of their classmates will come out to support the group and what it stands for.
“I have seen some students come to understand our organization better once we explain the significance of who we are and what we are doing,” Trina said. “We hope to get as many students involved as possible.”
Carter was nominated by his coaches and the board of the Western Wayne Little League Association to receive the Freach Keen Award. The Freach Keen Award is a district award in memory of P.J. Freach and Buddy Keen, who died in 1973. The award is given to one 12 year old baseball player in every league in District 17 and 32. The recipient of the award is chosen by the individual league because of their dedication, sportsmanship and performance throughout their little league career. Each nominee was asked to attend a meeting and write an essay on an undisclosed topic. Then the essays were judged and a winner was selected from all of the entries. Carter’s essay was chosen as the winning essay. He was the recipient of a plaque and a $500.00 scholarship.
In light of recent events in Pennsylvania and around the country, bus stop safety is a major concern for our students and families. Please review the information provided below to help keep our students safe when boarding and exiting their school bus. It is also important to speak with your children about the following recommendations. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.
The Pennsylvania State Police offer safety tips for children
Parents and guardians should keep reminding their children of the following:
When getting off a bus, look to make sure no cars are passing on the shoulder.
Before crossing a street, take five giant steps out from the front of the bus, or until the driver’s face can be seen.
Wait for the driver to signal that it is safe to cross.
Look left-right-left when coming to the edge of the bus to make sure traffic is stopped.
With the onset of inclement winter weather approaching use more caution when crossing the road or standing near the roadway.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offers advice on school bus safety for drivers
They include:
Being aware red flashing lights on buses indicate students are either entering or exiting a bus.
Motorists must stop at least 10 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights and/or its stop arm is extended when approaching from the rear and from the opposite direction on undivided roads.
Motorists are not required to stop for a bus if the bus is on the opposite side of a separated roadway (divided by a physical barrier or median, etc.), but they should remain alert for children.
Altering a route or schedule to avoid a bus route is one way motorists can help improve safety.
Motorists should always watch for school crossing patrols and pedestrians, as well as reducing speeds in and around school zones.
Every corner is a crosswalk. Motorists should always watch and stop for pedestrians. The law applies to street corners for both marked and unmarked crosswalks (in other words, all street corners).
As a reminder, parents/guardians should remain with their children until the students board the bus, and also be present at bus stop locations for drop-off.
Learning about what types of materials protect against ultraviolet light and figuring out what elements on Mars cause it to not sustain human life sound like topics for college students to tackle in their courses. However, Western Wayne students at the Evergreen Elementary School are getting a head start on understanding scientific questions of this nature through their work with Western Wayne High School chemistry students.
The week of October 22 was National Chemistry Week and in honor of this week Ms. Maria Masankay, high school chemistry teacher, and some of her lab technicians came to EverGreen Elementary to experiment with third and fourth grade students on Thursday, Nov. 1. The third grade students learned about UV light while the fourth grade students experimented the light spectrum and neon lights.
Senior Vaeda Pontosky explained that the experiment with the third graders involved testing out sunglasses to see if they truly protected people from ultraviolet radiation. Part of the test, involved them having the students make key chains with ultraviolet beads and then using a flashlight to see the beads change color under ultraviolet light.
“They were amazed at every little thing,” Vaeda, who is thinking about pursing a physician assistant program, explained. “They loved wearing the sunglasses and both creating the key chains and watching them change colors.”
Fellow senior Bryce Urian also loved working with the elementary students and seeing their reactions to the experiments.
“They were very excited,” Bryce, who plans to major in chemistry next year, said.
Bryce explained that the experiment the students did with the fourth graders tied in with their elementary science curriculum. The fourth graders are learning about Mars in class, so Masankay’s students did an experiment to help them identify the elements on Mars that make it impossible to sustain human life.
The students watched as the high school students used emission tubes with elements in them that they lit up to show different colors for the various elements on Mars. The fourth graders colored in papers to match what they saw in the demonstration and then labeled the elements with the help of their new teachers.
“I think the students really enjoyed having students as their teachers,” Bryce explained.
The week of October 23 was National Chemistry Week and in honor of this week Ms. Masankay, High School Chemistry Teacher, and some of her Lab Technicians came to EverGreen Elementary to experiment with third and fourth grade students. The third grade students learned about UV light while the fourth grade students experimented the light spectrum and neon lights.
The Western Wayne School District and the Carbondale Historical Society hosted a concert featuring the Western Wayne Band with the Côr Dathlu Cwmtawe Male Choir from Wales on Monday, October 29 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the Western Wayne High School. About 200 people were in attendance including members of the community, Western Wayne students and staff, and families of the choir who traveled here from overseas. The concert opened with selections played by the Western Wayne Band under the direction of Mrs. Elaine Ort followed by about an hour of musical selections by the choir. The second half of the show featured more musical selections by both the Western Wayne Band and the choir.
ALL NEWS
Students Present 4th Grade Watershed Field Trip Project at Regional BanquetMay 9, 2025On May 6, 2025, students from Western Wayne High School proudly presented their student-led environmental education project at the Community Connections to Our Watershed banquet, held at Montage Mountain. Their project—a hands-on ecology field trip to Varden Conservation Area for Western Wayne’s 4th grade students—was designed, researched, and organized entirely by the high school team.
This presentation was the culmination of months of work as part of the Community Connections to Our Watershed program, a regional environmental initiative that began over 20 years ago. Each year, groups of five students and one teacher from schools across Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties participate in the program, which is coordinated by the education teams at Lackawanna and Nescopeck State Parks. The goal is to engage students in meaningful learning about watershed science and conservation through outdoor field experiences and professional mentorship.
Western Wayne students applied their knowledge by creating an original educational experience for younger learners. They began by researching costs for transportation and supplies, identifying local agencies that could provide environmental programming, and crafting a detailed plan for the trip. The students collaborated with representatives from Lacawac Sanctuary, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the National Park Service, and the Wayne County Conservation District to develop engaging, standards-based ecology activities. They then proposed the idea to their principal and worked with school administrators to schedule the trip, which will take place later this month.
To fund the initiative, the students successfully applied for a mini grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation. Their proposal was approved by the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and presented to the Foundation’s Board for final approval. The grant provides funding for transportation and program costs to make the field trip possible for all 4th grade students at Western Wayne Elementary.
During their presentation at the banquet, the Western Wayne team shared how their participation in field trips to Keystone College, Lackawanna State Park, the Old Forge borehole, Alliance Landfill, the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania American Water Treatment and Sewage Treatment Facilities, and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail shaped their understanding of watershed science. They explained how those experiences informed their vision for teaching younger students about local water ecosystems.
This year’s Community Connections to Our Watershed program included schools from across the region: Carbondale, Forest City, Lakeland, Mountain View, Old Forge, Riverside, Western Wayne, and Wayne Highlands in Lackawanna County; and Crestwood, Hanover, HAAS, HACC, Hazleton, Northwest, Tunkhannock, and Wyoming Area in Luzerne County.
The program is made possible with the support of Pennsylvania American Water Company, DCNR, and the DCNR Watershed Education Program.
To learn more and view highlights from the 2023–2024 program, visit: https://tinyurl.com/CCTW2025
From left: Mark Nebzydoski Ph.D. advisor; Jerrah-Ann DeBree, Kyleigh Turner, Aliyah Gregory, Dakota Douglas, and Giuliana Velazquez. [...]
Ms. Siena Cardamone honored as NEPA’s Outstanding TeacherMay 9, 2025PA Live (WBRE) — Congratulations to Western Wayne School District’s Ms. Siena Cardamone with being honored as NEPA’s Most Deserving Teacher. “Ms. C” as her students know her as is a Skill-Based Learning Support Teacher for grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Walmart loves to support the communities where it does business, and with this being Teacher Appreciation Week, local Walmart store at Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace – the closest Walmart to our 28/22 PA Live studio – reached out to ask for our help surprising Ms. C as the outstanding teacher in northeast and central Pennsylvania!
To celebrate the contributions of Ms. C – and to further their good work – Walmart committed to gifting $500 worth of classroom supplies and other essentials. <Read More> [...]
Junior Leadership Northern Poconos Graduation 2025May 8, 2025Congratulations to our Junior Leadership Northern Poconos graduates:
Ciarra Kidder
Phoebe Schmitt
Madison Trapanese
Graysen Valinski
Logan Vinton
The Chamber of the Northern Poconos is pleased to present the Junior Leadership Northern Poconos program. Our goal is to develop mutual understanding, respect, civic engagement, leadership and the interpersonal skills of high school juniors by proving real-world experiences. In addition to the skills learned and topics explored, the opportunities and challenges of the region are discussed as participants network with community leaders and other high school students. This program is for high school juniors from Forest City Regional, Wallenpaupack, Wayne Highlands and Western Wayne School Districts. [...]
Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Graduation – 2025May 2, 2025Congratulations go out to our two Tomorrow’s Leaders Today graduates… Audrey Agnello and Khloe Mistishin.
Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Program:
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 60 students, representing various geographic areas and schools, is selected to participate. The program runs from October through May. Sessions are held one full weekday each month from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. A graduation ceremony is held in the Spring. Upon completion of the 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. [...]
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.
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