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Western Wayne Junior Graduates Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

Western Wayne junior Ashton Fitzsimmons graduated from the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today 2020-2021 program this past May. He was one of several local students who had this experience.  Ashton feels grateful for the opportunity he had through Leadership Lackawanna’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.

“My experience with Leadership Lackawanna was very interesting. Normally everything is in person, you get to visit all these different places and do all these activities with people from all around; however, because of COVID everything was virtual,” Ashton explained. “Although that is a big curveball in the program, it did not stop the fun even a little bit. Everyone was able to participate and make new friends with a lot of people while learning what it takes to be a leader.  In my opinion, the experiments we would do was the best part of each session. For example, the members learned how to make a self-drawing machine with some wires, a battery, foam and colored pencils, and you got to draw different pictures and show everyone in the Zoom meet.”

Ashton has been highly involved in high school activities.  He is a member of  the varsity soccer and basketball teams, along with Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, and the Youth Advisory Committee.  Notably for soccer, he is on the First Team All-Star Roster. In FBLA, he placed 1st at States his freshman year, and 4th at States last year.  He especially enjoyed going to Hershey with FBLA and spending time with his friends in the club.

After high school, Ashton plans to attend West Chester University and earn his teaching degree.

“Western Wayne has prepared me for my plans after high school in many ways. The school offers so many opportunities with clubs inside and outside of school that give different outlooks on how the real world works,” Ashton explained. “ These opportunities not only prepare me for the future, but they also better me as a person. TLT is the perfect example. Currently, we are helping out different nonprofit organizations like Keystone Mission, which is a homeless shelter around Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.”

Lifesaving Help for Mental Health Awareness Month

More than 7,400 students in six area school districts received a treat with a message this month: snack packs with two lifesaver candies, resource cards listing organizations offering help for mental health issues, and a note that said “Be a lifesaver, let someone know help is within reach.”

            The packs, distributed for Mental Health Awareness Month by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Wayne/Pike Northeast Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI), went to students in grades 7 through 12 in Wayne Highlands, Western Wayne, Wallenpaupack Area, Delaware Valley, Forest City Regional and East Stroudsburg school districts.

Western Wayne students received their snack packs the week of May 24.  The students were glad to get their treat and this important information.

 “This past year we saw so many changes in our daily lives, it was hard for everyone, but especially for young people,” said Carol Kneier, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, manager Wayne Memorial Community Health, a member of NSPI.  

According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, between April and October 2020, at the height of the pandemic, hospital emergency departments saw visits from children for mental health needs rise sharply from the year before – up 24% for children aged 5-11 and 31% for young people 12-17.

“Our goal is to increase awareness about mental health and let students know that they are not alone and help is always available. The resource cards were designed to be handy – to fit in pockets and wallets—and to be conveniently accessed if and when needed.”

From left: Mrs. Jennifer Bradley, Western Wayne Middle School principal; Jean Tuttle, assistant to manager Wayne Memorial Community Health; Carol Kneier, manager Wayne Memorial Community Health; and Mr. Paul Gregorski, Western Wayne High School principal.

NSPI groups involved in the effort also included the Wayne County Office of Behavioral and Developmental Programs and Early Intervention and Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services.

Kneier reiterated the national message of NAMI,  “Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives — a nation where no one feels alone in their struggle.”

For more about Mental Health Awareness Month, visit the NAMI website Mental Health Month | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness  or for information about Pennsylvania’s Statewide Suicide Prevention Plan, visit PA SSPP.

Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program

We are informing you about the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program. This program was developed by the FCC to help provide internet service to low-income families who qualify. We want to make you aware that students in your household may qualify. Eligible consumers can receive up to $50/month discount for broadband services.

In order to qualify for the EBB Program, at least one member of the household meets one of the following criteria:

1. Participates in a Lifeline-qualifying government program such as Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefits.

2. Participates in the free and reduced-price school lunch/breakfast program in 2019-20 or 2020-21 school year.

3.Received a Federal Pell Grant in the current award year.
Significant loss of wages in the year 2020

In order for the household to be considered for the EBB Program, they must complete a National Verifier Application Form through the website www.usac.org. Once approved they will then have to contact their approved internet provider and provide proof of approval.
Please note that all eligible households must individually be registered through the National Verifier, The Community Eligibility Provision does
not automatically grant approval into the EBB Program.

The official start date for EBB Program Wednesday May 12. Complete information regarding the EEB Program can found at www.fcc.gov/ broadbandbenefit.

Additionally, in an effort to identify the level of Internet access and connectivity that residents have within our school district, we are asking that you complete a short survey. The data collected will greatly assist our school district with obtaining local, state and federal broadband funding to provide additional resources to our students and families. The survey can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/broadbandsurveypa. Thank you in advance for your time in taking this survey!

High School Hosted Live Spring Chorus and Band Concert

Western Wayne High School came together on Saturday, May 8th, in an exhibition of the arts. The chorus concert took place in the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium and the band concert followed in the high school gym. 

            The concerts showcased the groups’ musical abilities honed after months of hard work. Both the band and choir have faced challenges from a school year rife with uncertainty, but even through the difficulties of rehearsing in a pandemic the ensembles pressed onward and were proud to present a spring concert.

 As chorus member and band drum major Rhonda Fenkner puts it, “Generally in the music program we’ve had our struggles, but thanks to the work of administration and teachers we were able to put on a show and persevere.”

The choir, directed by Mr. Taber Starnes, performed “Gratias Deo”, “We Believe in Music”, “Bully in the Alley”, and “Shenandoah”, as well as “Here’s to Us” featuring 12th grade students and “Wade in the Water” featuring PMEA District Chorus students. The band, directed by Mrs. Elaine Ort, presented their performance From Mozart to Modern with the songs “Overture to the Marriage of Figaro”, “Irish Tune from County Derry”, “The Wrong Note Rag”, “Sunchaser”, and “Fate of the Gods”. 

The members of the band and chorus were pleased to have this opportunity to share their music with the community.  Attendees of the event had preassigned tickets, and all COVID safety measures were in place for the performances.

            A recording of the chorus concert can be found at the following link: https://youtu.be/e62QpzTlZ-w. As the school year ends, the Middle School chorus and band programs will also have concerts presented in much the same way as the High School music events. As they become available links to these performances will be posted on the Western Wayne web page https://ww3.westernwayne.org/

District Celebrates School Lunch Hero Day

  • From left: Sharon Fairclough, Martha Carutt, Jill Scaduto, Denise Williams, and Kristy Rusin.

Western Wayne Middle School students were treated to a lunch served by super heroes on Friday, May 7, for School Lunch Hero Day. The cafeteria workers dressed up in capes and masks for the occasion, but, in reality, these ladies serve as heroes to the students on a daily basis.
Jill Scaduto, who has worked in cafeteria service at Western Wayne for eight years, said she was excited to dress up for the kids.
“It is great just to know that we get to serve each student and that each one appreciates what we do,” Scaduto said.
Co-worker Sharon Fairclough, who has worked in cafeteria service at Western Wayne for fifteen years, agrees.
“I like my job because I get to spend time hanging out with the kids on a daily basis,” Fairclough said, noting that her own two children, both Western Wayne alumni, have since graduated.
The ladies look forward to continuing their work feeding the students of Western Wayne and plan to do some other theme days amongst themselves to brighten the kids spirits as the school year winds to a close.

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Knoebels Ride Tickets: Sophomore Class Fundraiser

This is a fundraiser to benefit the Western Wayne sophomore class of 2023. If you have any questions please contact Trina Collins (tcarito@westernwayne.org), or Helene Tscheschlog (htscheschlog@westernwayne.org). ***PLEASE NOTE*** – This survey is being used to gather interest. – Order forms will be available in each of the building main offices, and monies collected by building secretaries. – Orders and payment must be in by May 14th. – Ticket books will be available for pick up during the week of May 21st.

To access the survey, please click on the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc00wchuYeD2LGrDwT9KmYrFAJPJr3KOr5DoFvsA5ZCHVAbWg/viewform?usp=sf_link