Young scientists from Western Wayne performed experiments on a variety of subjects including water conservation, soil erosion, auditory and visual learning, and even the true size of a double-stuffed Oreo cookie for the Region 2 Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Competition on Saturday, March 4, at Wilkes University.

Both Western Wayne High School and Middle School competed. Fourteen participated from the high school and six from the middle school.

The following students placed at the competition for the high school: Trina Barcarola, first for her work in behavioral science; Maya Black, second for her work in behavioral science; Paige Barillo, second for her work in behavioral science; Gianna DeBastiani, third for her work in behavioral science; Kirstin Metschulat, first for her work in behavioral science; Caitlin Falloon, second for her work in behavioral science; Mallory Jablon, first for her work in behavioral science; Noelle Orehek, first for her work in botany; Brianna Metschulat, second for her work in zoology; Jack Van Horn, third for his work in chemistry; Kathryn Mattern, second for her work in ecology; Darlene Black, first for her work in ecology; Vaeda Pontosky, second for her work in engineering; and Jillian Dudley, second for her work in mathematics.

The following middle school students, also, placed: Jamie Bryan, first for her work in behavioral science; Diala Hassan, second for her work in behavioral science; Caydence Faatz, first for her work in zoology; Jonatan Stanley, second for his work in chemistry; Haley Estus, third for her work in ecology; and Samantha Killian, second for her work in earth and space.

Of these high school and middle school students the following will present their research at the PJAS State Competition on May 14 through May 17 at Penn State Main Campus: Kirstin, Mallory, Noelle, Darlene, Jamie, and Caydence. Also, Jillian was awarded a fellowship to study at the Lacawac Sanctuary Field and Research Station this coming summer.

From left, high school participants: Noelle Orehek, Trina Barcarola, Jillian Dudley, Kirstin Metschulat, Mallory Jablon, and Darlene Black.

 

Western Wayne musical theater students performed for the community at the annual Dr. Seuss night event held at the R.D. Wilson School on the evening of Thursday, March 2. The students performed selections from their upcoming musical production of Bye Bye Birdie which will be on Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 30 at 3 p.m. All performances will be at the newly renovated high school auditorium located at 1970A Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, PA 18436. From left: Marty Spewak, Lily Visceglia, Maggie Podunajec, Holly Oppelt, Laurel Frable, Alivia DeLeon, and Calla Shaffer. Back row: R.J. Clemens and Lindsey Karwacki.

Western Wayne Middle School students recently learned that even a small gesture can be extremely meaningful to others who are in need. A group of seven middle school students under the direction of Mrs. Carrie Wittenbrader, English language arts teacher, made blankets to give to families in need through the Victim’s Intervention Program in Honesdale.

A discussion in Wittenbrader’s first period class led to some of her students wanting to do a service for members of the local community. After going through a number of ideas, Wittenbrader and the students settled on the project of making blankets to give to VIP. Other clubs have worked with and made donations to VIP in the past from Western Wayne Middle School, so Wittenbrader thought this would be a perfect fit for the group’s new project. She assembled a group of 7th and 8th grade students who were interested in the project that she works with in class on a daily basis. Once all of the blankets are complete Wittenbrader will donate them to VIP.

Kneeling from left: Terron Keill, Maggie Millon, and Jagger Gale. Standing from left: Lily Visceglia,, Rachel Wertman, Keyly Robinson, and Anthony Benjamin.

Congratulations to the Western Wayne students who competed with our team this past weekend in winning the Regional District event. The FIRST FRC Competition is the highest level of robotics to compete in, and many teams compete for over 20 years and have not won… this is Western Wayne’s second time in six years! A big congrats to the team and our partners Wayne Highlands – Honesdale High School!  The picture is with our alliance partners we won with in the finals at Haboro-Horsham.

Western Wayne Students:
Collin Murray, Max Phillips, Matthew Rosengrant, Josh Shelly, and Spencer Smith

 

Monetary donations are given to the Wayne County Community Foundation from people throughout  Wayne County to purchase the dictionaries.  The Wayne County Community Foundation has been giving dictionaries to all of the 3^rd grade students throughout Wayne County for the past 14 years.

Students pictured:
Hailey Wasman, Dominic DeSiato, Brody Estock, Mia Gifford, Maggie Kotchessa, Alexzander DeCandis, Joshua Reingold, Anthony Zoppi, and Joey Tickner

Teacher’s pictured:
Stacy Box, Grace Clauss, Brenda Queipo, Sara Sepelyak, Christin Driscoll, and Mark James from the Wayne County Community Foundation

 

Students from Honesdale High School, Wallenpaupack High School, and Forest City Regional attended  a career day at Highlights in Honesdale on Thursday, February 23. The students heard from multiple people in the Highlights organization on their own personal career journeys and how they came to their job at Highlights. The students also toured Highlights and learned about the different aspects of producing the publication.  From  left:  Aileanna Hutchins, Emily Garcia, Brooke Hedden, Miriam Sheehan, and Lilli Millon.

Five Western Wayne High School students participated in the PMEA Regional IV Chorus Festival which took place February 22 and February 23.  Dominic Corma placed as first alternate for the upcoming PMEA All-State Chorus Festival to take place from April 19-22 in Erie, PA.  He came in fifth out of twenty students who auditioned in the tenor 1 part.  From left:  Ellie Motichka, Brady McElheny, Samantha Pritzlaff, Dominic Corma, and Julianna Cruz.

A case involving an accused arsonist was the challenge local mock trial teams faced at the recent Region 10 District 1 Mock Trial Competition which recently was held at the Scranton courthouse.  The Western Wayne Mock Trial Team participated in this event which took place on February 8th for the defense and on February 16th for the prosecution. Western Wayne competed against Holy Cross for the defense round and Dunmore for the prosecution/ plaintiff round.

The students from the Western Wayne team learned a lot from their experience about preparing and presenting a trial.  All of the eight students on the Western Wayne team believe that in some way this opportunity will help them in the pursuit of their future goals.  The members of the Western Wayne Mock Trial team are pictured  with their adviser. From  left, in front:  Lindsey Karwacki, Samantha Pritzlaff, and Holly Oppelt.  From left, behind:  Mr. Jared Hayden, Vidya Vanyo, Amanda Herold, Emily Garcia, Nadia Vanyo, and Martin Spewak.