The Western Wayne Drama Club is now accepting reservations for our HOLIDAY MURDER MYSTERY DINNER on Friday, December 6, from 6 to 8 pm in the High School Cafeteria.
This event is for adults and students grades 8 and up ONLY. Adult ticket cost $25 dollars; students and senior citizens for $20 dollars. Cost includes: appetizers, soda and water, buffet dinner catered by RPlace, and live show. More information in ticket link.
Reservations accepted now through Nov. 22. PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO DRESS IN 1920s ATTIRE. There will be audience prizes for best costume! We hope you join us for this unique night out hosted by our Drama Club students this holiday season! Questions, email jmclau@wwsd.io
See order link for more details below. Paper order form attached, if preferred.
Western Wayne sophomores Donovan Gregorski and Isabella Kolp have been chosen to represent Western Wayne at the 2025 Central Pennsylvania HOBY Leadership Seminar this June 2025.
Donovan is an accomplished Western Wayne honor roll student who enjoys being a part of a variety of sports and clubs at school including: football, basketball, outdoor track, and FBLA.
In Donovan’s leadership essay for HOBY, he explained what leadership means to him by discussing how it relates to his life, and its overall importance in the world who benefits from it in so many ways.
“Leadership influences my life through its role in sports, work, and so many other things,” Donovan said. “Through using leadership skills in my life, I feel more determined to accomplish my goals.”
After high school, Donovan aspires to study sports analytics in college to work as a sports statistician in the future.
“I have a strong love for both sports and math, and I really want to pursue a career path that will let me combine these interests,” he explained.
Donovan’s classmate Isabella Kolp, a sophomore honor roll student, also, is a HOBY winner for Western Wayne and shares a similar view on leadership as Donovan.
“I think it is important for the world to have good leadership,” Isabella explained. “This is necessary for things to run well.”
Isabella participates in the following activities: tennis team, Cats Club, FBLA, and student council.
After high school, Isabella plans to major in international business. She loves to travel with her family and has gone on a variety of trips abroad during her high school years so far to places such as France, Japan, and Spain with Japan being her favorite experience at present.
“I really like learning about different cultures and want my future career path to include a way to foster my passion for travel,” she explained.
Both students look forward to attending the conference in the spring and meeting other student leaders from various districts.
The Western Wayne School District wishes them both much success at the conference and in their very bright futures.
From left: Isabella Kolp, Mr. Paul Gregorski, high school principal; and Donovan Gregorski.
The Western Wayne High School Marching Band took their show on the road for their annual Halloween festivities on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
First, the students gave a performance to elementary students in the district at the R.D. Wilson School and on the same day, they performed in the community at the Wayne Woodlands and Julia Ribaudo Nursing Homes. They also included in their day a performance for the Western Wayne Middle School and Evergreen Elementary School as well.
The band students were thrilled to be able to perform for these very special audiences. All of the students and nursing home residents who got to see the performances felt a lot of Halloween spirit.
“I am so grateful to be able to go out and perform in the community,” junior Kayelin Martin, color guard captain said. “It adds another layer to our performances, and we get to have such fun experiences with new audiences.”
Fellow senior color guard student Rebekah Palko agreed.
“It was so wonderful to be able to go out into the community for our Halloween performances,” Rebekah said. “I really enjoy performing for various audiences.”
Pictured is the Western Wayne Marching Band and Color Guard with director Elaine Ort and assistant director Maria Arneil.
The November 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!
In conjunction with Special Olympics, we are hosting our annual Open Mic “Special Edition” for members of our special needs community to perform at an open mic/karaoke setting. As described in the attached flyer, the event will be held at the Wallenpaupack Brewing Company on November 10 from one to four. There is no admission charge, and all are invited (we hope you can make it!). Please circulate this information however you see fit to as many as possible as we hope to bring in a crowd of both performers and audience supporters.
Western Wayne High School students participated in the Engineering Competition at Wallenpaupack High School on Friday, October 25. The team of Lia Hartman, Colette Schmitt, Kayla Walton, Julia Wehrmann, and Robert Scramuzza earned the Innovator Award for “most ingenious use of materials” during the competition. This is the second year in a row that a team from Western Wayne has won this award. From left: Julia Wehrmann, Robert Scramuzza, Colette Schmitt, Kayla Walton, and Lia Hartman.
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!
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.
We will host the PSAT tomorrow from 8:15 to 11:30. Students who registered for the test should arrive to their assigned testing room with a fully-charged laptop, a charger, and a calculator.
The following students were recognized by the Student Council as students of the month for September. 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, Olivia MacCollum is our selected freshman. Olivia has been on the Western Wayne Color Guard team for two years and is a member of the National Art Honor Society. Olivia enjoys making ceramic art.
“I love being able to share my personal experiences, emotions and activities through my art,” Olivia said.
In addition, Olivia enjoys being in a creative writing class at school and sharing all of her original ideas there.
Next, Kaylee Heise is our chosen sophomore this month. Kaylee loves her ELA class, because it is a calm place where she can practice her writing.
“Writing helps to calm me down,” she said. “I really like journaling.”
Her hobbies include: listening to a wide variety of music from rock to rap and going for walks. She aspires to study psychology in college and pursue a career as a psychiatrist.
In addition, Logan Pauler is this month’s featured junior. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Robotics Team, the soccer team, and the volleyball team. His favorite class is pre-calculus, and he plans to study mechanical engineering in college with his preferred school being Penn State.
“All of my teachers at Western Wayne have been a great help in leading me to figure out my path and to learn problem-solving skills,” he explained.
Finally, Makayla Walton is our senior spotlight this month. Makayla enjoys most her advanced placement government and psychology classes this year. She aspires to be a forensic psychologist. She is involved in many activities including: band for four years, where she plays both the flute and piccolo. She also serves as a woodwind section leader and band librarian. In addition, she is Student Council secretary, a member of National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, and Envirothon. She thinks she learned the most about leadership skills from her experience in the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program her junior year.
“I learned how to be able to better communicate with others through confidence in my leadership skills,” she explained.
The Western Wayne School District congratulates these September students of the month and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.
From left: Olivia MacCollum, Logan Pauler, Mr. Paul Gregorski, high school principal; Kaylee Heise, and Makayla Walton.
FAFSA COMPLETION NIGHT – DECEMBER 10TH – 5:30 PM – LGIDecember 6, 2024The Western Wayne School Counseling Department is sponsoring a FAFSA (Financial Aid Form) COMPLETION SESSION. FAFSA is required to qualify for most student aid programs such as the Pennsylvania State Grant, Federal Pell Grant, institutional awards and low-cost federal student and parent loans.
We will have a representative from the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency/PA School Services Access Partner available to assist you as you complete the FAFSA. The representative will answer your questions and guide you along the way to submitting your financial aid form.
https://ww3.westernwayne.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FASFA-COMPLETION-NIGHT-2024.docx [...]
Scholarships & Career Opportunities – December EditionDecember 3, 2024The December 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/2024/12/Scholarships-and-Career-Opportunities-December-2024.pdf [...]
Elementary Students Celebrate First- Ever Girls on the Run Season!November 25, 2024On 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.” [...]
Western Wayne Celebrates Veterans Day November 20, 2024Picture 4
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As a tradition for many years, Western Wayne administration, faculty, staff, and students joined together on Friday, Nov. 8, to celebrate veterans in the community with a special in-school event that featured music from the high school band and chorus, a presentation by a keynote speaker, and a question and answer session with the veterans.
Many local veterans attended the presentation at Western Wayne, some of which had special connections to district faculty and students.
One such veteran at the assembly who has a connection to the district is Western Wayne coach Josh Harrison, Army. Harrison served ten years in the army, nine of which were active duty. He served in Afghanistan and one year in the Army National Guard. He is a Western Wayne graduate who left the service in 2021. Currently he works at Signode for his day job and, in addition, coaches a variety of athletics at Western Wayne including: head junior varsity football coach for grades 7 through 9 as well as helping with varsity football; head wrestling coach for boys varsity, girls varsity, and junior high girls.
Harrison graduated from Mansfield University where he played football. When Harrison was younger he never imagined himself being in the military or coaching, but now that he has been on this path he truly believes that it is a life course that was meant for him.
“Coming back to Western Wayne and coaching now feels really great,” Harrison said. “My first time at the Western Wayne Veterans Day assembly was last year. I didn’t realize how many students didn’t know I was a veteran and was glad I could make an even further connection with some of them through their new knowledge about my background. I feel that I use my military background in coaching to teach the kids discipline and organization, but I also want to make sure that they are having fun. I love coaching,” Harrison said.
Fellow school employee and Navy veteran John VanLeuven also enjoys attending the Veterans Day assembly to show the students that people which they see everyday made sacrifices for their country. VanLeuven fondly remembers his experiences in the service as a time when as a young man he had dreamed of leaving his hometown to do something more with his life.
“I grew up on a dairy farm, and I just wanted to see the world,” he said, recalling that during three and a half years in the service he went to 17 countries and 21 cities.
“I think Norway was a favorite place in my military travels,” he explained. “I remember volunteering to give a ladies auxiliary a tour in that country with a number of other soldiers. We learned a lot about the history of the country and had a lot of fun.”
Another veteran in attendance at this assembly who originated the Veterans Day Program at Western Wayne in 1982 is Mr. John Gaudenzi, Sergeant First Class Army and 39 year educator of the Western Wayne School District. Gaudenzi originated the Veterans Day festivities at Western Wayne with fellow teacher Marie Casper.
Gaudenzi knows many veterans throughout the local community and says that many of them tell him that the quality of the Western Wayne Veterans Day Program is one of the best they have ever attended.
Gaudenzi was hired in 1974 to teach at the district and recalls vividly being asked in his interview if he would move to the district he teaches in.
Now for many years not only does Gaudenzi and his wife live in the district but they also get the pleasure of watching so many students Gaudenzi taught grow up and continue to shine as adults.
“We live in the district and have seen former students grow up to be great parents, teachers, and people,” Gaudenzi said. “We are proud of them all, and I’m most proud of having been a Western Wayne teacher.”
The keynote speaker of the assembly this year was Melissa McWilliams, Army Sergeant and bronze star medal recipient from Lake Wallenpaupack, who served five years as a paratrooper. Before she joined the military and spent time in Afghanistan, McWilliams started her nursing degree at Old Dominion University and then would go on to finish it after she served at Texas A&M University being the first person in her family to earn a college degree.
She decided to join the service because her family life was challenging growing up, and she was looking for a sense of purpose in a close knit community.
McWilliams worked in nursing in Texas after her time in the service being the first person in her family to earn a college degree. She later in 2017 started working for Wayne County Drug and Alcohol and has spent the past six years working with students in the Western Wayne School District offering services in prevention education. In addition, she coaches cheerleading at Wallenpaupack School District.
“I like to make an impact on others,” she said. “Even the smallest impact matters.”
McWilliams is grateful for her time in the service and how it shaped both her as a person and the course of her life, and she challenged the students in attendance to think about considering the military as an option for their futures.
“Your future is yours,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where you came from. You can make your future what you want it to be. The military gave me a family for the first time. My experience there was the most powerful change in my life.”
McWilliams continued imparting more strong advice to the entire middle and high school student bodies, “ You have the opportunity in front of you to choose what path you want to take, and I challenge you to listen to the stories of veterans. A life in military service can push you to do things you never thought you were capable of doing before,” she said. “ I’m grateful for all of the values the military instilled in me. That is why I am the person who I am today.”
McWilliams is currently pursuing her second degree through the military to follow a further path to work in the field of psychology/ psychiatry and help others facing many challenges in their lives just as she faced challenges in her young life.
One of the final parts of the assembly after the beautiful music provided by the Western Wayne Band and Chorus was the annual Veterans Question and Answer Session.
A variety of veterans including McWilliams continued to impart their wisdom and past experiences to the students in attendance. A new addition to both the panel and the Western Wayne School District this year is our new Middle School principal Casey Newcomer, Army National Guard.
He encouraged the students to pursue whatever mission in life personally calls to them whether it is to military service or another path.
“Be humble,” Newcomer told the students. “The room is always smaller than the individual. It is important to lean on your team and trust the people around you. Keep the mission first.”
Picture One: Back row, from left: Mr. Paul Gregorski, high school principal; Jared Goldman, Madison Trapanese, Makenzie Chearney, Sofia Ochlan, Mr. John Gaudenzi, Sergeant First Class Army; Aiden Van Orden, Cameron Press, Danika Duffy, Audrey McHugh, and Major Shane Grodack, USMC retired. First row: Madison Forgione, Bryn Vinton, and keynote speaker Melissa McWilliams, Army sergeant. All students pictured are part of Western Wayne’s Student Ambassador Program and helped at the Veterans Day event.
Picture Two: Mr. Taber Starnes, high school chorus teacher, conducts his singers at the Veterans Day assembly.
Picture Three: Mrs. Elaine Ort, high school band director, conducts her band at the Veterans Day assembly.
Picture Four: Senior Lilly Maros plays “Taps” to close out the assembly with senior Kaleb Franko, not pictured. [...]
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.
