Mental 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.
Participants complete a 2.5 hour online self-paced course prior to the virtual training. The next training is on: Thursday, January 16 from 6-9 PM AND Thursday, January 23 from 6-9 PM.
Guiding Good Choices for 4th-6th grade parents and caregivers. Attend this FREE VIRTUAL five-session program to help your youth navigate the pressures and expectations of life during their teen years to succeed and achieve a brighter future. Parents and caregivers can enhance their parenting skills by learning how to:
Promote health and well-being during the teen years.
Develop health beliefs and clear standards for behavior.
Deal with anger in a positive way and manage family conflict to strengthen bonds with youth.
Protect their children from substance abuse and other problematic behaviors.
Strengthen family bonds and increase youth’s involvement in the family through the teen years. Youth attend session 4 with their parents and caregivers. The program will be held on five Mondays: February 3, 10, 17, 24 and March 3 from 6 to 8 PM via Zoom. For more information or to register, e-mail or call Christy Tomascik at cat127@psu.edu or 570-814-2392.
On Sunday November 17, twelve students from Evergreen Elementary and two students from R.D. Wilson participated in the Girls on the Run 5k at Keystone College. The three mile run capped off the first ever ten week season of Girls on the Run at EverGreen Elementary.
Girls on the Run is a national non-profit which hosts after school programs promoting healthy habits, life skills and running based activities. Coach Rachel Fitzmorris said, “We are so proud of the 14 girls who completed this program. Watching them run three miles while cheering for each other was so inspiring. The whole mission of Girls on the Run is to show girls that they can do hard things. Seeing them come through the tunnel and get their medals was incredible. I want to thank coaches Mark and Beth Staples and Tanya Metschulat for all their hard work this season.”
Members of the Hamlin Rotary Club were at EverGreen Elementary on Thursday, October 24th to participate in in Apple Crunch Day. They read Andy and Elmer’s Apple Dumpling Adventure to the second grade classes. This is a day for learning about local farms and where food comes from, and to celebrate local produce while supporting local farmers. We appreciate the individuals from the Hamlin Rotary Club for taking the time to visit our second grade classes!
Fire Safety was held at EverGreen on Friday, October 11th. EverGreen Elementary hosted Hamlin Fire & Rescue, Lake Ariel Volunteer Fire Company, Maplewood Volunteer Fire Department, and Ledgedale Volunteer Fire Company where local emergency personnel presented students with life saving strategies and showed different pieces of equipment that they use. Students also were able to tour apparatus that local companies had on hand that day. The fire companies presented winter hats to all students. We would like to thank these fire companies for coming to EverGreen for the presentation and helping our students understand ways to be safe.
First and second grade students in EverGreen Elementary School received book bags from Reading is Fundamental and Amazon Volunteers on Monday, September 23.
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. is the oldest and largest non-profit children’s literacy organization in the United States. RIF provides books and reading resources to children nationwide with supporting literacy resources for educators, families, and community volunteers. Mr. Greg Martin from the Amazon Jessup Distribution Center delivered the books to the students.
Pictured from left to right. Sitting: Matthew Patuto, Tyler Trevor, Lucas Convery, Evelyn Rosengrant, Kaylee Edwards, Florence Neagu, and Rayanne Worzel. Standing: Mr. Greg Martin, Piper Fontana, Jasmyne Hollister, Noah Courtright, Bryson Pauselli, Rylee Long, Michael DiPierro, Brooks Warholic, Eloise Dolph, and Jasmine Gravell.
The first ever Western Wayne Girls on the Run summer camp has been declared a “runaway success!!” Twenty-three students from EverGreen and R.D. Wilson Elementary schools spent a week running, playing, creating arts and crafts, and team building at the EverGreen campus in June.
Well-deserved thanks to coaches Bernadette Metschulat, Taryn Vitris, Dr. Stephanie Major, Kristin Rock, and Sara Orlosky.
The group would also like to recognize our junior coach, high school student Annie Williams. High School students earn volunteer hours by coaching with GOTR!
Finally, thanks to our unbelievably supportive Western Wayne Administration and the United Way for fully funding all twenty-three students.
Rachel Fitzmorris, GOTR site liaison and middle school staff member said,
“We are focused on growing this wonderful program, and we would love to recruit more coaches! We are hosting a fall season of GOTR starting in September. Practices will be held on Wednesdays after school at the Middle School for 6th to 8th grade. We are firming up a location and time for the Elementary school students (3rd through 5th). The program culminates with a celebratory 5K at Keystone College (transportation provided) with dozens of schools in attendance.
Coaches only need to be willing to pitch in and support the students. No running experience is needed.”
Student sign-ups will start on our return to school. For more information or to volunteer, please email rfitzmorris@westernwayne.org.
Here’s what’s buzzin in 1st grade…bees…literally bees!
We were visited by beekeeper Dr. James Tickner. After doing our research and informational writing on bees this quarter, we learned a lot more and were also reminded that ANYONE can be a beekeeper!
The PTA Reflections Ceremony was held May 24, 2024, at EverGreen for students. This year, the theme was “I am hopeful because…” Students were selected at the local (county) level and moves on to the regional level and then the state level.
The mobile classroom traveled to EverGreen from May 13-16 to provide STEM-based science experiments to students in grades K-6. The students of EverGreen excitedly participated in many hands-on experiences, such as The Colorful Bean, How Well Do You Wash, Crawly Critters, and The Mighty Smooth Bean.
ALL NEWS
School Police Department participates in specialized, hands-on training.August 21, 2026This summer members of the Western Wayne School Police Department participated in specialized, hands-on training at the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute (PennSSI) to strengthen emergency readiness and threat response protocols.
Interactive Crisis Simulations: Officers engaged with PennSSI’s state-of-the-art multi-room simulator and 360-degree augmented reality technology, experiencing realistic emergency scenarios to test real-time decision-making and spatial awareness.
De-escalation & Tactical Response: The sessions emphasized practical de-escalation tactics, threat management, and building muscle memory for high-stress situations occurring on school grounds.
Crisis Communication & Incident Command: Training covered coordinated communication strategies within the Incident Command Structure, aligning police tactics with district administration and emergency management partners.
Behavioral Threat Assessment: Personnel expanded their knowledge on identifying concerning student behaviors, threat assessment frameworks, and applying trauma-informed protocols to keep schools secure without sacrificing a supportive environment.
This immersive training underscores Western Wayne’s ongoing commitment to proactive school safety, ensuring officers are equipped with the latest techniques to protect students, staff, and the surrounding school community. [...]
Senior Competes at FBLA National Leadership ConferenceJuly 6, 2026Western Wayne senior Grady Farley represented the school and the WW FBLA chapter at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, the week of June 29th.
Grady earned the opportunity to compete at the national level in the Agribusiness event, where he demonstrated his knowledge, preparation, and professionalism among FBLA students from across the country. Competing at nationals is an outstanding accomplishment, and the district is proud of Grady’s hard work and dedication.
Pictured is Grady Farley at the FBLA National Leadership Conference. [...]
High School Student Secures Spot on the Great Wall of HonesdaleJuly 6, 2026Western Wayne High School junior Archer Long has secured a coveted spot on the Great Wall of Honesdale with his painting entitled 250 Years Under One Flag.This year’s competition theme, 2026: American Perspective, inspired artists to explore the nation’s history, identity, and future through original works of art. Archer’s selected painting is an American depiction of our nation’s history, illustrating the symbolism of westward expansion and industrial progress. It reflects the idea that our country’s freedom was forged through sacrifice and hard work, honoring the generations whose perseverance helped shape the United States.Each selected piece is digitally reproduced on an impressive 11-by-17-foot billboard vinyl panel and exhibited for one year at the intersection of 4th and Main Streets in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.More than a decade after its inception, the Great Wall of Honesdale has evolved from showcasing primarily local artists into a juried international exhibition featuring entries from around the world. The installation is enjoyed by the occupants of more than 5 million vehicles that pass the site each year and has become a popular tourist destination. Both the exhibition theme and artwork change annually, while each year’s collection remains permanently accessible online through the Wayne County Arts Alliance, where visitors can also learn more about each exhibiting artist. Please visit the website for more information: https://waynecountyartsalliance.org/windows-on-the-wall/Congratulations to Archer Long on this outstanding artistic achievement and the opportunity to share his work with thousands of visitors throughout the coming year.Pictured is Archer Long, Western Wayne High School junior, who secured a coveted spot on the Great Wall of Honesdale and is shown standing below his painting 250 Years Under One Flag. [...]
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.
