Middle School Holds Annual 8th Grade Moving-Up Ceremony

The Western Wayne 8th grade class, the class of 2027, sit together as a class after having received their awards and honors.

Western Wayne Middle School Principal Mrs. Jennifer Bradley
reminded eighth grade students of the importance of completing small tasks so as not to become overwhelmed by large tasks as they prepare to head to high school. Bradley reflected on a speech that retired United States Navy Four-Star Admiral William Harry McRaven made by suggesting students “make their bed” in the morning to be able to then start a day with already one task accomplished.
Bradley reminisced about how middle schoolers, when they first enter sixth grade, have many anxieties about the small task of opening their lockers. She reminded the students about how far they have come and told them to continue to rely on their family and friends for support and guidance as they prepare to move on to high school.
Eighth grader Dakota Douglas, Middle School Student Council president, proudly led her classmates and all in attendance in the pledge of allegiance.
Dakota said she truly enjoyed her time in the Western Wayne Middle School. She looks forward to all she will learn in high school. She is especially excited for her high school chorus class and aspires to become a chorus teacher.
“I love singing and working together with my classmates,” she said.
The featured event of the Moving-Up Ceremony was all 8th grade students receiving awards in various categories for excellence or improvement in all academic and unified arts classes. In addition, students received awards for good citizenship, excellent work habits, and for a variety of high academic achievements such as making the honor roll for 11 quarters in middle school from 6th through 8th grade.
It is also a Western Wayne Middle School tradition for many years that two outstanding students, one male and one female, are recognized for their patriotism and leadership among other qualities. The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the local American Legion present these awards.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Award was presented to 8th grader Madelyn McClure.
Madelyn received the good citizenship medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution for being an outstanding student in the 8th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor and honesty, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.
George Schaffer presented the American Legion Award to 8th grader Grady Farley.
Grady received this annual award for being an outstanding student in the 8th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor, scholarship, Americanism, leadership, and courage.
Both Madelyn and Grady felt extremely honored to receive their respective awards. They also both, at first, felt shocked to learn the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Legion had chosen them for these high honors.
Madelyn is a hard-working young woman who especially loves to study science and who loves to work with her horses in her spare time.
She has done excellent work for her Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competitions throughout her middle school career and plans to continue her involvement in high school.
In addition, she is an avid member of her local 4-H Club and Pony Club having rode horses since she was a young girl.
She is an honor roll student who looks forward to her academic experiences in high school. “I am excited for my upper level math classes,” Madelyn said.
Fellow classmate Grady is also a hard-working individual and honor roll student. He most enjoys his science classes in middle school. In addition, he enjoys sporting activities in his free time including both boating and skiing.
“I am most looking forward to experiencing new classes and learning new things next year,” Grady said.
Another special part of this year’s Moving-Up Ceremony was a special recognition given by Mrs. Bradley to retiring secretaries Bridgit Erb and Michele Rosko, who both work in the middle school office. Between the two of them, they have a combined 51 years of service to the district. Both Erb and Rosko have worked for many years to plan and organize the moving up ceremony among doing so many other tasks. Bradley had the community, faculty, staff, and students give the ladies a well-deserved round of applause.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Bradley reminded students again to not forget “to make their bed” as they get ready to enter high school letting them know that taking the first step in a new journey is quite an accomplishment in itself.
On the way out and into the stadium, guests and others in attendance were treated to seeing a gallery of posters that students and their families made of favorite memories of their students to add a personal touch of their memories throughout the year to the event.
Western Wayne faculty, administration, and staff wish the class of 2027 best wishes for their high school experience.

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Western Wayne CATS Club Donates to Project Linus

The Western Wayne High School CATS Club donated 50 blankets to the Project Linus Organization. Project Linus provides blankets to children 0-18 who are seriously ill, traumatized, or in need of a handmade blanket. These fleece blankets will be completed by Project Linus blanketeers. In photo: Western Wayne senior Alyson Buchinski with the blankets she helped to prepare.

Middle School Holds Spirit Week

Middle School students participate in minute-to-win-it spirit games.

Western Wayne Middle School students couldn’t hide that Wildcat Pride during the week of May 8 through May 12. They had a variety of dress-up days such as character day and decades day to show their school spirit throughout the week ending with the school’s traditional spirit games celebration for students in grades 6 through 12. Students enjoyed playing a variety of games including dodgeball, minute-to-win-it games, and musical chairs, among others. All of the students enjoyed this bonding exercise with their classmates and look forward to the rest of their end-of-year activities.

Save the Date: Western Wayne to Host Annual Car Show

The Western Wayne Hot Rod Club and Drama Club will host their 2023 Car Show on Saturday, September 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the high school parking lot, 1970A Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, PA, near the football stadium. Food to be sold at the concession stand. Registration fee is $10. Spectators are free. The Hot Rod Club will give prizes for best car, truck, tractor, motorcycle, and best in show.
In addition, the Drama group will sell a variety of concessions. There will also be a raffle of baskets and gift certificates generously donated by businesses and families in the local community.
Drama Club president Nate Conway is excited to partner with the Hot Rod Club for the fourth time for the Car Show. He explained how the Drama Club students will be dressed in 50s attire for the event.
“We wanted our presence at the event to go along with the variety of cars from the past that surely will be there,” Nate said. “We hope that the public comes out to enjoy the cars and to have some good food and purchase some chances to win baskets and gift certificates.”
Members of the Drama Parents Club are working to gather a variety of items for the raffle at the Car Show from many very generous businesses and families in our Wildcat community. The students involved in the Hot Rod Club and Drama Club can use the funds raised from this event for their club activities.
The Hot Rod Club meets on a regular basis to work on a variety of automotive projects after school and can use the funds for their projects among other activities.
The Drama Club meets on a regular basis after school to work on a variety of projects and activities.
“Drama Club gives students a place where they can express themselves,” senior member Robert Scramuzza, club co-vice president, explained. “We are like one big family in our club and really enjoy coming together to work as a team on events such as the Car Show.”
All of the members of the Hot Rod Club, Drama Club, and Drama Parents Club cordially invite the public to attend this fun-filled event on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the High School parking lot near the stadium. Come out and see some great vehicles, take some chances on our basket raffle, enjoy some food, and enjoy some time socializing. Rain date is Sunday, September 10.

Western Wayne Drama Club Enjoys Field Trip

The Western Wayne Drama Club rounded out their 2022-23 season with a field trip to The Scranton Cultural Center to see Disney’s The Little Mermaid. It was a great experience for the students because they recently put on their own production of the same show this past April. The students look forward to their next season, and the club wishes it’s seniors the best in all of their future endeavors!

Middle School Chorus Students Enjoy Field Trips

The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Middle School Chorus groups recently went on a variety of fun and educational spring field trips. All groups are under the direction of the Middle School Chorus and General Music teacher, Mrs. Joyce Covaleski. The Eighth Grade Chorus’s field trip to Knoebels Amusement Resort was a reward for three great years in Middle School Chorus. The second trip was the Sixth Grade Chorus who enjoyed some fun and sun at McDade Park after seeing Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the Scranton Cultural Center. The third trip was the Seventh Grade Chorus’s field trip to Bethel Woods to visit the field where Woodstock took place, see the 1960s Music and Art Museum, and learn about the 1960s, protest music, and visual arts. Mrs. Covaleski is proud of all of her students’ accomplishments this year and was glad they could enjoy their field trips!

Junior Leadership Northern Poconos Graduation – 2023

Western Wayne High School hosted the Junior Leadership Northern Poconos Graduation on May 24, 2023. Karina Booths, Weston Nugent, Alexandra Rodriguez, Emily Romanowski and Hunter Smith were the Western Wayne representatives.

The Chamber of the Northern Poconos’ 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 from Forest City Regional, Wallenpaupack Area and Wayne Highlands. The students from all four districts collected items for the Wayne County Food Pantry.

Western Wayne Annual Art Show a Success

From left: Emily Brophy, Lillian Morcom, Alex Wallace, Eleanor Black, Kourtney Franklin, Alice Davis, Angelina Salvatore, Eriana Figueroa, and Anjali de Leon-Bello.

Western Wayne hosted their annual spring Art Show on Saturday, May 13, for the community with a special section of pieces from Western Wayne alumni this year in honor of Western Wayne’s 50th Anniversary celebration. The show featured art from students in grades 8 through 12 and art from graduating seniors. The following list of nine seniors exhibited their portfolios at the art show: Eleanor Black, Emily Brophy, Alice Davis, Anjali de Leon-Bello, Eriana Figueroa, Kourtney Franklin, Lillian Morcom, Angelina Salvatore, and Alex Wallace. Their displays represented an accumulation of up to four years of artwork.

Senior Eleanor Black’s senior exhibit was titled “Our Past.”

“My portfolio theme centers around the concept of childhood,” Eleanor explained. “I wanted to convey senses of uneasiness and sadness within youthful and vibrant images.”

Eleanor plans to attend Vassar College and major in English.

Fellow senior Emily Brophy also had her display in the art show titled “Garden Party”.

She particularly likes drawing insects.

“I believe my specialty has become creating Greek and Roman statues as well as insects,” Emily said. “I enjoy more than just drawing insects, but also pinning and displaying them.”

Emily plans to attend Delaware Valley University to major in botany. She would like to have a future career working in environmental conservation at a local national park or for an agricultural business.

Another featured senior is Alice Davis who titled her display “Ghost Town.”

“In truth, I’ve always thought how fun it would be to be a ghost, to be so free and to not worry about the consequences of my actions, to just be able to have fun and to enjoy life to the fullest,” Alice explained. “I think I’ve shown my desire to be free and to be able to have that fun within my pieces.”

Alice plans to attend Lackawanna College this fall to study culinary arts.

Senior Anjali de Leon-Bello also had a featured display centered around the concept of “Change.”

Anjali doesn’t particularly like change and wanted to represent that concept in her senior collection.

“Change has always made me uneasy,” she said. “I don’t like surprises and I don’t like not knowing things. I’m at the part of my life where everything is a gigantic unanswered question and it drives me crazy. I wanted to represent that hardness of letting go, but keeping the constants in my life.”

Anjali will pursue a degree in art education at Kutztown University after graduation.

Fellow senior Eriana Figueroa’s senior collection was centered around animals.

“I like to explore various subject matter forms, but my favorite art is that which enhances the beauty of animals,” she explained. “I love all the details animals possess; therefore, I enjoy the challenge of trying to paint them, and it is why I chose this theme for my exhibit.”

Eriana believes her art is like a “form of medicine” which is fitting since she plans to attend Penn State in the fall to study nursing.

Senior Kourtney Franklin’s collection was titled “Enchanted Garden.”

“I enjoy doing mostly colored pencil, for I have always loved the outcome of it,” Kourtney explained. “I chose to base my portfolio around flowers and plants because the colors are beautiful and it is unique.”

Kourtney currently works as a CNA and plans to achieve a nursing degree at Penn State.

Senior Lillian Morcom also had a featured display titled “Me.”

“I want to convey to my viewers my life through all of my pieces,” Lillian said. “The theme I chose reflects the things I like and the things I enjoy. I chose my room as my display because I feel it reflects me the most. I can’t control everything in my life, but I can control how my room looks.”

Lillian plans to attend East Stroudsburg University with a major in English.

In addition, senior Angelina Salvatore had a display centered around people’s insecurities and things that people see as weird or unconventional.

Angelina has been very inspired by her family to pursue art.

“I want people to look at my art and feel it,” she said. “I want to capture emotions in my art and immortalize them.”

She plans to attend Albright University to pursue a degree for fashion and costume design.

Finally, senior Alex Wallace had a very unique senior display titled “Mind on a Permanent Vacation.”

“I chose this theme because my thoughts are literally everywhere,” he explained. “Throughout senior year, there were a lot of things going on and being able to mentally check out and work on my art provided me with an outlet. I want to convey to my viewers a sense of calmness and peace. I believe it’s okay to be busy and have a lot of things going on, but it’s important to reign it in and be proud of how far you have come.”

Alex plans to attend East Stroudsburg University in the fall with a major in integrated arts.

Many of the seniors plan to pursue art as a hobby if it is not part of their chosen career field. They are grateful for the experiences they had at Western Wayne in their art classes.

The District wishes them the best on their future endeavors and congratulates the Art Department on another successful Art Show.

Third Annual Cat Pack Games held at Sharkey Rosetti Stadium

The Third Annual Cat Pack Games were held on Wednesday, May 24 at Sharkey Rosetti Stadium. After a musical welcome from the Western Wayne Marching Band, student CAThletes from EverGreen, RDW, and the Middle and High Schools spent the day running, jumping, throwing, and playing! Student volunteers from the High School assisted in setting up and running the games and activities, taking photographs, and face painting. The day was a perfect highlight of some of the many talents of our students. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a great day!