Starting June 17, 2019, The Cooperage Project, in collaboration
with the Wayne Highlands School District, will open its doors Monday through
Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm to kids ages 0-18 to receive FREE lunch. No
income requirements or sign ups. The program will continue Monday through
Friday through August 6, with the exception of July 4 & 5. Join in the fun
with arts and crafts, story time, music and more!
Our 1st grade students at EverGreen Elementary hosted Dr. Tickner for a career day presentation! Students were able to learn all the information they would need in order to become a beekeeper. Our students had already studied bees earlier in the year in order to write an informational piece on bees in writing workshop. They then were able to learn more firsthand from our local beekeeper! They were able to interact with all the tools and materials, and even see a real live hive with the queen bee! Dr. Tickner was also gracious enough to give each student a sweet ending and sent them home with a honey sample!
Pictured is Western Wayne Special Olympics participant Kameron Sic, fifth grade, Evergreen Elementary School, with a look of pure joy on his face as he competes.
Pictured is Western Wayne Special Olympics participant Kameron Sic, fifth grade, Evergreen Elementary School, with a look of pure joy on his face as he competes.
Pictured is Western Wayne Senior Sebastian Tomasetti crossing the finish line at one of his races at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Misty Rodriguez running in one of her events.
Pictured is Western Wayne Senior Michael Phillips jumping at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne Senior Marisol Henkel jumping at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Jordan Diaz running at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Jared Loveland running at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Evergreen Elementary student Jake Hart running at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Caleb Burns running at Special Olympics.
Western Wayne Special Olympians in the elementary, middle, and high schools had another successful year at the 13th Annual Track and Field Area P Special Olympics that took place on May 8 at the Delaware Valley High School stadium.
“It’s an incredible experience for our students,” special education teacher Mrs. Sarah Rickert explained. “They all take it very seriously. There is something magical about seeing the wheelchairs lined up and ready to go for some of the races.”
One such student who had the chance to participate in races at Special Olympics with his wheelchair was Western Wayne senior Sebastian Tomasetti. He competed in the 25 meter speed and 50 meter speed.
“I had fun,” Sebastian said.
Rickert explained that a lot of the other students had really nice wheelchairs in the race this year and that Sebastian was racing with a new chair as well.
Sebastian’s classmate ninth grader Michael Phillips participated in a variety of Special Olympics events including: shot put, 100M dash, and the long jump.
“I liked seeing old friends at the event,” Michael said.
Rickert explained that one highlight of Special Olympics for the students is to reconnect with former classmates who have since graduated from Western Wayne.
“Outside agencies bring people to the event, so it is nice to see the students have a reunion of sorts,” Rickert said.
A student who enjoyed reuniting with former classmates was senior Marisol Henkel. Along with having fun with friends that were both former and current classmates, Marisol participated in the softball throw, long jump, and 100M dash.
Rickert described the Special Olympics as having an open format in which parents can move about freely to support their children. Sebastian, Michael, and Marisol had parents in attendance.
Along with the support of parents, friends, and teachers, the students were treated to the support of the Delaware Valley Marching Band who came out to play some music for all to enjoy.
Rickert said her students really enjoyed the music along with the support of Delaware Valley Elementary students who spent some time in the stands cheering on all of the Special Olympians.
A great day was had by all involved. Western Wayne participated along with students from Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack, and Delaware Valley among other schools and local agencies.
This year, as a special treat, the Western Wayne students wore bright yellow t-shirts to show their Wildcat pride and pride for themselves as unique individuals.
“The shirts had the word ‘disability’ on them with the ‘dis’ crossed out,” Rickert explained. “I think the message was powerful.”
The Harlem
Wizards will host an event in the Western Wayne High School gym on Tuesday,
April 30 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. They will wow the crowd with their
basketball tricks on the court along with playing a team of Western Wayne
faculty and staff. Proceeds from the event will support the Western Wayne
football program. Advance ticket sales: $10 for students; $15 general
admission; $25 court-side plus (online only). Court-side plus includes:
meet and greet, free photo, reserve seat and $10 off a jersey—Only 60
court-side seats available. At the door: $12 students; $17 general
admission. Tickets are available in all Western Wayne School offices or
online at www. Harlemwizards.com
Recently Western Wayne students at Robert D. Wilson Elementary, Evergreen
Elementary and the Middle and High Schools were treated to a visit from David
Paul of the Harlem Wizards. He gave them a preview of the event along
with teaching basketball moves to student volunteers and talking to students
about showing respect for elders. All Western Wayne students, faculty,
and staff from Kindergarten through 12th grade are excited for this
unique event happening at their district and invite the public to come and join
them for an evening of fun.
Parents and Community members, please take a moment to add your input into this critical survey. Thank you!
Wayne Memorial Hospital, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers and community leadership throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania are conducting our 2019 study on health care needs and priorities, which will guide the development of new or expanded programming and services in the Wayne/Pike/Carbondale/Forest City area. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete by accessing https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHNA19
In an article featured on USAtoday.com, at least 35 people reported seizures after using electronic cigarettes over the past decade, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency is investigating the incidents, which primarily involved youth and young adults and were discovered in its “adverse event” reporting system.
Seizures or convulsions are known to be possible side effects of nicotine poisoning. They have reportedly occurred after users swallow vaping liquid containing nicotine.
This is like a Broadway show on a basketball court. Our team will feature tricks, music dunks, comedy, dancing, and audience participation. It is an awe-inspiring, two-hour basketball show including an autograph session! See them take on the WW Ballers (WW faculty). Benefits the WW Football program.
Pictured are some of the Western Wayne Middle School students involved in the 2019 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Northeast PA Contest. From left: Trinity Foulds, Alaina Maiocco, Ella Pavlovich, Kailey Tickner, Julie Bryan, Skylar Long, and Evan Peirce. Team members not pictured: Bernie Roedel and Ivan Knecht.
Voting for the second-annual “What’s So Cool About
Manufacturing Contest?” will be open from March 27th through March
29th at https://www.whatssocool.org/contests/northeast-pa/
The public can support Western Wayne Middle School students by going on
and voting for their video submission as many times as they would like.
Western
Wayne Middle School students are part of this unique learning experience for
the second time. Created by the
Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in Allentown, PA in 2013, the “What’s So
cool About Manufacturing?” contests draw entries from more than 200 teams
across Pennsylvania. The teams of
students and teacher coaches receive camera equipment, software, and
professional guidance as they learn to script, record, and edit their video
stories of what it’s like to work in the manufacturing industry. Students learn
about the manufacturing career field and complete their projects at various
local manufacturing businesses.
The contest’s objective
is to change students’ perceptions about manufacturing careers by sending them
to local places where manufacturing is done to complete their submissions for
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?”. The
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contests are supported regionally by
their sponsors and partners.
The 2019 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Contest for Northeast PA
is produced by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial
Resource Center in Hanover Township, PA. Participating schools are from
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. Western Wayne is one of eleven schools
participating in the Northeast PA Contest.
For the second year, Western Wayne Middle
School students had the opportunity to explore Boyce Products Ltd., a
manufacturing facility located in Damascus, for their project. This winter the students toured Boyce to
learn about the manufacturing career field and gather information for their
submission.
The group of Western
Wayne students consisting of Bernie Roedel, Ella Pavlovich, Alaina Maiocco,
Skylar Long, Trinity Foulds, Evan Peirce, Ivan Knecht, Julie Bryan, and Kailey
Tickner felt rewarded and fulfilled after their experiences at Boyce and in
creating their video submission.
The students were
surprised to learn that Boyce makes a variety of products used in the national
spotlight. For example, the students
learned Boyce creates set pieces for CNN News, the tables used for interviews
in the NFL, along with different props used in popular movies, and the call
boxes used in New York City subways.
“It was neat to see how
much work goes into each piece they create,” Evan Peirce, 8th grader
from Western Wayne, said.
Evan’s fellow classmate
Julie Bryan said she was excited to see the different equipment in use at
Boyce.
“We got to see laser
cutters going through metal,” Julie explained.
After their trip, the
students worked on creating their video submission about their experience. Eighth grader Bernie Roedel acted as a
student leader for this effort. The film
is now finalized and can be viewed on the Western Wayne website at https://ww3.westernwayne.org/western-wayne-manufacturing-video-submission/
The Western Wayne School
Community invites the public to vote for Western Wayne Middle School’s video
submission to “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” at https://www.whatssocool.org/contests/northeast-pa/
The students have the chance to win for a variety of categories. Your vote can help them win the Northeast PA
Viewer’s Choice Award.
5th students at RDW Elementary engaged in a culminating self-portrait projectMay 28, 2025Fifth-grade students at Robert D. Wilson Elementary engaged in a culminating self-portrait project to conclude their elementary visual arts experience. Students used sculpture techniques to construct three-dimensional plaster models of their faces. Over the course of the unit, learners explored human facial proportions and studied influential portrait artists throughout art history to inform their progress. Students applied their knowledge of proportion, drawing and painting to add accurate facial features. Through the use of mixed media techniques, and creative problem-solving strategies, students personalized their sculptures with details such as hairstyles, eyeglasses, jewelry, and accessories. The 5th graders worked hard to synthesize years of art instruction to create this meaningful visual representation of their time and growth at RDW. Each student’s unique and individual personality shines through! [...]
High School Watershed Group Leads Fourth-Grade Environmental Education Program with Support from Community Grants May 28, 2025Lake Ariel, PA — Western Wayne High School’s Watershed Group is proud to announce the successful completion of a student-led environmental education initiative originally planned as a field trip to the Varden Conservation Area. This spring, thanks to grant funding and outstanding community partnerships, fourth-grade students at RDW and Evergreen Elementary Schools experienced a day filled with hands-on watershed education, led by professionals and high school mentors.This project is part of the long-standing Community Connections to Our Watershed program, which for over 20 years has connected students in northeastern Pennsylvania with local environmental experts and conservation educators. Each year, students explore watersheds, learn about clean water initiatives, and participate in forums alongside professionals from agencies committed to preserving Pennsylvania’s natural resources. More information about the program can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/CCTW2025This year’s participating schools include:• Lackawanna County Teams: Carbondale, Forest City, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, Mountain View, Old Forge, Riverside, Western Wayne, and Wayne Highlands• Luzerne County Teams: Crestwood, Hanover, HAAS, HACC, Hazleton, Northwest, Tunkhannock, and Wyoming AreaWestern Wayne High School students participated in several preparatory field trips, including visits to Lackawanna State Park, Keystone College, the Old Forge borehole, and the Alliance Landfill, the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania American Water Treatment and Sewage Treatment Facilities, and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. These experiences helped students learn how to assess watershed health and explore solutions to protect local water resources. Support for these programs was provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Pennsylvania American Water Company, and the DCNR Watershed Education Program.The culminating event was presented at a student showcase held at Montage Mountain on May 6, 2025, where Western Wayne students unveiled their vision: an interactive field trip experience for all district fourth-grade students. They designed original ecology-based activities and coordinated programming with outside agencies to bring their vision to life.Originally planned for the Varden Conservation Area, the field day was quickly relocated indoors due to cold, wet weather. Thanks to the flexibility and determination of teachers, administrators, and partners, the program was successfully delivered on-site at both elementary schools—retaining all core educational experiences.Participating Agencies and PresentersThe program featured presentations and hands-on stations from a wide range of environmental organizations, including:• Lacawac Education Department: Nichole Seul• Lacawac Sanctuary PLEON Department: Theresa Black• Promised Land DCNR Environmental Education Specialist: Joshua Heath• Trout Unlimited: Don Strathy, Paul Guinnane• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (National Park Service): Anna Grismero All participating 4th graders received a free National Parks pass good for unlimited admission for them and their families during their 4th-grade year• Wayne County Conservation District: Olivia D’Amore• Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Rachel Morrow• Western Wayne High School Science Faculty: Mark Nebzydoski Ph.D.• Community Connections to Our Watershed High School Student Leaders: Dakota Douglas, Aliyah Gregory, Giuliana VelazquezHigh school students acted as presenters, group leaders, and support staff, working closely with fourth graders during each 45-minute station rotation. Activities included a watershed model demonstration, casting skills with Backyard Bass, and a water chemistry/biology interactive lesson.Funding and Community SupportFunding for the program was made possible through two generous sources:• A mini-grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF), reviewed and awarded by the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee, which supported transportation and programming costs.• Additional funding for both the Varden classroom education and the in-school field trip was provided through an Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) grant from the Western Wayne Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting innovation and opportunity in the district.o For more information, contact Christine McClure, President, at 1970C Easton Turnpike, Western Wayne School District, Lake Ariel, PA 18436.Both the Wayne County Community Foundation and the Western Wayne Education Foundation play a crucial role in building long-term educational opportunities for students in the region.A Day of Fun, Learning, and ResilienceDespite the weather challenges, the program delivered an enriching experience filled with environmental discovery, hands-on activities, and expert instruction. Students were engaged, enthusiastic, and inspired by what they learned—and most importantly, they had fun doing it.Western Wayne High School extends its sincere thanks to all agency partners, grant providers, faculty, and students who made this unique educational day possible. The project is a testament to the power of youth leadership, collaboration, and environmental stewardship.
Picture One: Fourth grade students at EverGreen engaged in hands-on watershed education.
Picture Two: Fourth grade students at RDW engaged in hands on watershed education. [...]
Western Wayne Wins Wayne County EnvirothonMay 28, 2025Western Wayne High School students recently won The Wayne County Envirothon. These students include: Paul Borowski, Aiden Matthews, Logan Pauler, Robert Carrelle, and Phoebe Schmitt.
Envirothon is a hands-on environmental education and competition program for high school students, focusing on natural resource conservation and problem-solving. It involves students working in teams to demonstrate their knowledge of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. Back row, from left: Aiden Matthews, Paul Borowski, and Robert Carrelle. Front row, from left: Logan Pauler and Phoebe Schmitt. [...]
Mental Health First Aid Virtual TrainingsMay 23, 2025Mental Health First Aid training is an 8-hour evidence-based curriculum created by the National Council for Mental Well-being. This course helps adults working with youth ages 12-18 to identify, understand, and respond to the early signs of mental health and substance use challenges using the ALGEE action plan. Please download the flyer below for more details. [...]
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.
