Members of the local community are cordially invited to Western Wayne’s RDW Elementary School’s annual Read Across America Night starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 27. Guests in attendance will surely leave singing their favorite ABBA tunes, because the Western Wayne Drama Club will treat people in attendance to a sneak peak of their spring musical Mamma Mia! as one part of the night’s entertainment.
The annual Book Fair will take place between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Classroom readings will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the Cat in Hat and then the Mamma Mia! sneak peek performance around 7 p.m.
Mamma Mia! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
All are invited to come and enjoy Read Across America Night on Thursday, February 27, at the RDW Elementary School, a free evening of entertainment and events perfect for kids of all ages.
From left: Stephanie Maxwell as Rosie; Lilly Maros, as Donna; and Jade Wetherington as Tanya.
Western Wayne Drama Club’s production this year is Mamma Mia! The cast, crew, and pit band are excited to perform the show for the community. Performances of Western Wayne Drama Club’s Mamma Mia are at Western Wayne High School’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, and Western Wayne students are free with a student ID. Follow us on Instagram at ww_drama_club
This year we will have pre-sale reserved seating tickets available for purchase at the high school auditorium doors on Saturday, March 22, and Saturday, March 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. on both days. All ticket sales will be final. Tickets will also be available at the door. There are no online sales.
Mamma Mia! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com The production is also licensed by Music Theatre International.
All involved with the show are grateful to have the opportunity to perform for an audience and cordially invite you to their show.
The following students were recognized by the Student Council as students of the month for January. Their teachers and administrators weighed in on the decisions. All of the students chosen hold a high standard of academic and personal excellence. They are true examples of the P.R.I.D.E. standards for PBIS at our school.
First, Grace Owens is our selected freshman. Grace is dedicated to all of her studies in school and is looking forward to her honors English class next year. In addition, Grace is a member of the Wayne County Youth Advisory Committee this year. She also is a member of the high school CATS Club. In addition, she plays volleyball and will be playing lacrosse this spring. Grace is also highly involved in her church LCBC in Dickson City. Her faith is a large part of her life. She has always enjoyed helping others and just completed the Unified Bocce Ball season at Western Wayne in which she participated with special needs and regular education students.
“It is such a cool experience,” Grace said. “This is because the atmosphere is always positive.”
Grace aspires to be an agricultural engineer and a student pastor in the future.
Next, Madelyn McClure is our chosen sophomore this month. Madelyn is highly involved in FBLA having been recently elected as the FBLA regional secretary. She will go with Western Wayne FBLA students chosen to compete in states this April. Her event is Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure. In addition, she is an honor roll student involved in many other clubs, sports, and activities at school including: Envirothon, Science Olympiad, PJAS, tennis team, and Unified Bocce Ball. She aspires to be a physician’s assistant.
“I think the time management skills learned through FBLA competitions will help me in the future,” she said. “For one test you get only 40 minutes to answer the questions correctly and this really makes you learn how to think quickly.”
In addition, Zachary Wilbur is this month’s featured junior. He is extremely involved in the performing arts at Western Wayne. He has been in the Pride of Western Wayne Wildcat Marching band since his freshman year playing percussion. This year he serves as a band librarian. Zachary also is highly involved in the school’s Drama Club since his freshman year. This year he serves as the show’s student music director and is an essential part of the club’s creative team that works to create the musical.
In addition, Zachary is a member of NHS and aspires to be a constructional electrician. He is currently working to explore the many college degree paths that could lead him to his end career goal. He is grateful for the many leadership opportunities he has had working in performance arts in high school.
“My leadership roles have taught me a lot about responsibility,” Zachary said.
Finally, Nicole Klim is our senior spotlight this month. Nicole is dedicated to her academic studies and is a member of NHS. She has currently been accepted to three local colleges and wishes to pursue her degree in early childhood education having always enjoyed spending time with children.
“Their personalities are great and the stories they tell are so entertaining,” Nicole said of her time working with kids and babysitting over the years. “I love to watch how children develop.”
Nicole is also highly religious and dedicated to Thrive Church in Honesdale. She enjoys being a part of their youth group and has made many great friendships through being a part of it.
The Western Wayne School District congratulates these January students of the month and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.
From left: Grace Owens, Madelyn McClure, Zachary Wilbur, Nicole Klim, and Mr. Paul B. Gregorski, high school principal.
The Western Wayne High School received a 500 dollar 2025 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant to support STEM education. ExxonMobil and Onvo present these grants to various area schools each year. The check was awarded to Western Wayne recently. Western Wayne Administration and staff are excited to use these funds to better the educational experiences of their students. The District intends to use these funds to enhance students’ experiences in STEM related studies. From left: Mr. Paul B. Gregorski, high school principal; and Mike Kizis, Onvo District Manager.
Jesse Weinberger, former programmer, nationally recognized speaker and author of The Boogeyman Exists: And He’s in Your Child’s Back Pocket, 2nd ed., will be presenting to Parents/Guardians Only on March 26th from 6-8 PM at the Wallenpaupack Area High School Auditorium!
The District is aware of concerns and potential misinformation regarding CAT Pack games. To clarify, Western Wayne School District is excited that our student-athletes will once again participate in Special Olympics at Delaware Valley; an opportunity that has not happened since COVID.
We acknowledge the excitement around CAT Pack games, and to increase opportunities for peer engagement, the district plans to incorporate CAT Pack activities into building-level events, such as monthly PBIS, spirit games, and field day. Funds acquired through a local grant will be used to create a memorable experience for those students who may not meet Special Olympic criteria.
Additionally, the district continues to collaborate with Special Olympics to offer extracurricular activities, such as unified track and field and more recently, bocce ball.
We will continue to celebrate all students in district activities throughout the year. Please contact the District Office with any questions. 1-800-321-9973 Option 5.
The February edition of Scholarships & Career Opportunities is now available. All grades should read this document to get information on college, careers, important dates, SAT/ACT exams and of course…scholarships!
National School Counseling Week 2025, “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from Feb. 3–7, 2025, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
Western Wayne FBLA recently attended the Regional Leadership Conference at The University of Scranton. Students participated in competitive events and attended workshops with local business leaders. Twenty-two Western Wayne Students qualified to compete in the State Leadership Conference in April. Students who qualified are as follows:
Clare Coccodrilli, Isabella Kolp, Avery Ullner – 1st Place, Intro to Social Media Strategy
The Western Wayne School District would like to congratulate high school band director Mrs. Elaine Ort on being the recipient of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9 Citation of Excellence. Mrs. Ort is the only band director in District 9 to be chosen for the award this year. This award is given to music educators who demonstrate high musical standards both inside and outside the classroom. She will attend an awards banquet at the PMEA State Conference in April to receive the official recognition. In addition, Mrs. Ort has had the honor of being a member of America’s Bands Directors with her most recent appearance with this group at the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The district is proud of Mrs. Ort’s past and most recent accomplishments. Pictured is Mrs. Ort at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Please also enjoy this link to an appearance Mrs. Ort made on PA Live last year to discuss her accomplishments in music.
Scholarships & Career Opportunities – May EditionMay 4, 2026The May edition of Scholarships & Career Opportunities is now available. All grades should read this document to get information on college, careers, important dates, SAT/ACT exams and of course…scholarships!
Click here: https://ww3.westernwayne.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Scholarships-and-Career-Opportunities-May-2026.pdf [...]
Western Wayne Annual Art Exhibit & Spring Concerts on May 9May 4, 2026Western Wayne’s annual art exhibit and spring concerts will take place on Saturday, May 9.
The art exhibit will run in the high school gymnasium from 2 to 5 p.m. It will mainly feature high school artwork with special displays by our seniors. In addition, a select sample of middle and elementary student artwork will be on display.
The concert schedule is as follows: the sixth-grade concert will begin at 11 a.m.; the seventh- grade concert will begin at 1 p.m., the eighth- grade concert will begin at 3 p.m.; and the high school concert will begin at 5 p.m. with all concerts in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the high school.
There will be concessions for sale in the high school cafeteria throughout the day. All events are free of charge. Please join us in the celebrating the arts in our school. [...]
Two Western Wayne Students Place at All-State BandMay 4, 2026 Western Wayne senior percussionists Antonio Fisichella and Nicholas Fisichella placed second and third respectively at PMEA’s All-State Band event this past weekend of April 24. It is a great accomplishment to place at All-State Band, which is very competitive. The district congratulates these students and their director, Mrs. Elaine Ort.
Picture one, from left: Antonio Fisichella and Nicholas Fisichella. Picture two, from left: Nicholas Fisichella, Mrs. Elaine Ort, and Antonio Fisichella. [...]
Western Wayne Represented at Scholar-Athlete BreakfastMay 4, 2026 Western Wayne seniors Khloe Mistishin and Paul Borowski recently represented Western Wayne at the annual Ann Marie Simons Scholar-Athlete Breakfast this spring. The annual Ann Marie Simons Scholar-Athlete Breakfast, hosted by the Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association (LIAA) at Montdale Country Club, honors top senior student-athletes from a variety of districts for academic and athletic excellence. The event commemorates Ann Marie Simons, a former teacher and pioneering female athletic director at Wallenpaupack Area. From left: Khloe Mistishin and Paul Borowski. [...]
National Speech-Language-Hearing Month at EverGreenMay 4, 2026May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, a time to raise awareness of communication and hearing disorders and to highlight the important role communication skills play in student success.
Speech and language disorders are among the most common disabilities, with over 1 million school-aged children in the United States receiving school-based speech and language services each year (ASHA, 2026). School-based Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) support students in grades K-12, as well as children ages 3 to 5 years, in developing and improving communication skills to promote success in school.
Teachers are at higher risk for voice disorders due to frequent speaking and projecting over classroom noise. Staying hydrated is one of the simplest ways to protect vocal health. In recognition of the month, EverGreen’s school-aged SLP, Alyssa Wesley, and Early Intervention SLP, Julie Conklin, provided teachers with water and mints to encourage hydration and healthy voice habits.
Hearing is an important part of learning. Even temporary hearing loss from colds, allergies, or ear infections can impact a student’s ability to follow directions, participate in class, and engage in instruction. Mild hearing loss may also affect comprehension, speech clarity, language development, the ability to distinguish speech sounds, and overall academic progress.
Sarah Taylor, one of Western Wayne’s Teachers of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, created an ASL Nook at EverGreen, made possible through a Youth Advisory Committee Mini-Grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation. The ASL Nook is a mobile cart that includes sign language books, flashcards, games, and a rotating “ASL Challenge”. The goal is to allow students to explore American Sign Language in a fun, hands-on way while also building awareness of Deaf culture and encouraging inclusive communication. [...]
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.
