Calling all students grades 9-12. We are looking for athletes and partners to join our team. Our club promotes a fun, competitive, and inclusive environment for students withand without disabilities. Interested students, please sign the sign up sheet located in the high school office or contact Coach Cardamone by 2/28/2022. For more information contact Coach Cardamone. Contact information is listed below.
(L to R) Mallory McCarthy, Aubrey Nixon, Sean Galliford, Daniel Hall, and Dr. Mark Nebzydoski.
Dr. Mark Nebzydoski’s and Mrs. Maria Phillip’s classes participated in the rEV electrifying educational experience program this fall. Four students were chosen by the National Energy Foundation (NEF) to receive a pair of Beats Wireless headphones for their online share form submission evaluating the program. The winners included Mallory McCarthy, Aubrey Nixon, Sean Galliford, and Daniel Hall. rEV is an electrifying educational experience driving electric vehicle (EV) adoption through an interactive presentation for students. Awareness of the benefits of EVs remains a significant barrier to mass-market adoption and rEV’s curriculum aims to dispel common misconceptions and promote future EV advocacy. The program is designed to educate students on the benefits of EVs through a STEM-based multimedia curriculum. After the experience, students and parents alike will understand the economic, environmental, and societal benefits of buying an EV. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the national level rEV Challenge, creating a video to compel their friends and family to learn more about the benefits and technology of EVs. The school-to-home approach will bring this knowledge and awareness into students’ households to accelerate market transformation. EVs are an integral part of the future of energy and the ongoing transformation of the smart grid with high school students as the next generation of vehicle owners. After a successful spring launch, NEF expanded the program further to reach 49 states, 500 schools and 44,000 students in the fall of 2021. The fall expansion also included the rEV Interactive Experience being presented in classrooms by our Energy Educators. Returning to the classroom has allowed us to further connect with students and see their excitement to take an active role in shaping their energy future. NEF is putting middle and high school students in the driver’s seat by dispelling the myths surrounding EVs and giving students the opportunity to look into the future of transportation. With engaging program materials and a school-to-home connection, rEV is already making its mark in schools across the nation. We’re excited to continue cultivating an energy literate society through EV education. Want to join our mission? Contact Chris Reilly at chris@nef1.org or 847-514-7626 to learn more!
The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) students approved and proposed to the Board of the Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF) a mini grant application for the purchase of a chiller for Dr. Mark Nebzydoski’s Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom (PATIC) program. The chiller is a necessary component for raising trout in the classroom as it maintains the proper temperature for egg hatching and fry development of trout. Dr. Nebzydoski’s science classes are engaged in the PA Fish Commission’s Trout in Classroom Program and had gathered most of the components necessary to raise trout from eggs for release in the spring but needed a chiller. This mini grant fulfils that final component. The Wayne County Community Foundation is a nonprofit foundation whose primary goal is to build a charitable reserve of funds for the current and future needs of Wayne County. The Foundation uses grant resources to support a wide variety of community organizations, empowering them where possible to thrive, grow, and become self-sustaining. The Wayne County Community Foundation, 214 Ninth Street, Honesdale, PA 18431, Phone: 570-251-9993, Email: info@waynefoundation.org https://www.waynefoundation.org/
Row 1: Stevie Wilkinson, Gabby Tetreault, Ava Compton, Kayla Stokesberry, Marshall Davis, Hunter Schmitt, and Morgan Coccodrilli. Row 2: Skylar Long, Ella Pavlovich, Rachel Hoch, Lou Azzato, Jamie Chapman, Alex Chapman, Gavin Murphy, and Adrian Agnello.
The 2021-2022 Region 22 FBLA Virtual Regional Conference was held in January. Western Wayne FBLA had 58 members place in the top 5 at the conference. Of those 58 members 51 are eligible to compete at the State Leadership Conference in Hershey in April. Jared Goldman was also elected as Region 22 Secretary for the 2022-2023 school year.
2021-2022 FBLA Regional Conference Results
Name
Place
Event
Skylar Long*
Second Place
Accounting I
Laynee Nugent
Fifth Place
Accounting I
Emilie McAllister*
Second Place
Advertising
Kylie Merring*
Third Place
Business Calculations
Eleanor Black*
Fourth Place
Business Communication
Catherine Cavage
Fifth Place
Business Communication
Alexandra Butler*Sarah Collins*Morgan Heenan*
First Place
Business Management
Ella Dougher*Audrey Lawlor*Lucas Putman*
Third Place
Business Management
Bernard Roedel*
First Place
Computer Applications
Joseph Skirpan
Fifth Place
Computer Problem Solving
Rachel Tuman*
First Place
Entrepreneurship
Ava Compton*Kayla Stokesberry*
Second Place
Entrepreneurship
Hunter Schmitt*Katherine Shepherd*
Fourth Place
Entrepreneurship
Gabby Tetreault*
First Place
Future Business Leader
Xenia Vivona*
First Place
Help Desk
Mackenzie Adams*
Third Place
Hospitality & Event Management
Jayden Kellachow*
Fourth Place
Introduction to Business Communication
Adrian Agnello*Weston Nugent*
First Place
Introduction to Business Presentation
Raegan Palmer*Colette Schmitt*
Second Place
Introduction to Business Presentation
Addison Griffin*Allyson Irvine*Grace Lidy*
Fourth Place
Introduction to Event Planning
Allie Pauler*
First Place
Introduction to FBLA
Jamie Chapman*
Second Place
Introduction to FBLA
Hunter Smith*
Third Place
Introduction to FBLA
Rhayni Carroll*
First Place
Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure
Taylor Maiocco*
Second Place
Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure
Emily Romanowski*
Third Place
Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure
Zoe Albitz*
First Place
Introduction to Public Speaking
Ethan Lamberton*
Second Place
Introduction to Public Speaking
Connor Bryant*Anthony Donnini*David Elias*
First Place
Introduction to Social Media Strategy
Jared Goldman*Mason Rush*
Second Place
Introduction to Social Media Strategy
Rylee Sheehan*
Third Place
Marketing
Brandon Cleveland
Fifth Place
Marketing
Ashton Fitzsimmons*
Fourth Place
Organizational Leadership
Alex Chapman*Allison McCarthy*Rachel Hoch*Jenna Kwiatkowski*Kaeli Romanowski*
First Place
Parliamentary Procedure
Adelaide Treibley*
First Place
Public Speaking
Morgan Coccodrilli*Gavin Murphy*
Second Place
Sales Presentation
Lillian Maros
Third Place
Sales Presentation
Lucius RichnerAlex Enslin
Fifth Place
Sports & Entertainment Management
Marshall Davis*
First Place
Word Processing
Jared Goldman
2022-2023 Region 22 Secretary
*Eligible to compete at the State Leadership Conference in Hershey.
This is the board game students created to facilitate their discussion of independent reading books in Mrs. Petty’s ELA classes.Students in Mrs. McLaughlin’s ELA class dressed up as figures from the biographies they read for the second quarter for a book project, from left: Antonio Fisichella, Adrianne Waller, Sydney Sosa, Madison Trapanese, Ethan Gillott, Hailey Wasman, and Vinny Baldini.Students in Mrs. Petty’s ELA class play a reading board game, in this photo Mackenzie Warnock looks on and takes notes on her classmates’ reading.Students select books donated from the The Wayne County Community Foundation through a project called Building Home Libraries at their lunch, from left: Kayelin Martin, Hailey Wasman, Phoebe Schmitt, and Madelyn Vinton.
Book clubs, book presentations in character, book board games, and book tastings are just some of the classroom projects that Western Wayne Middle School students have been participating in through their English Language Arts classes this year.
ELA teacher Starlah Robbins treated her students to a “book tasting” earlier this year where students sampled a variety of different books in her class. She set up her room like a book café and served as the reading chef. In addition, Robbins explained other projects she does with her students.
“ I allow class time for independent reading and then do both journaling and book talks,” Robbins explained. “They discuss conflict, characters, themes, etc. in their books, without giving away any spoilers. From these talks students make “read next” lists for books that catch their interest. Aside from book talks, students have done book reviews, which is another way for students to see what other good books are out there that they can read.”
Similarly fellow ELA teachers Dawn Krautter and Jessica Fullwood host book talks within their classrooms and say their students truly enjoy being able to read books of their choice and then share their reading experiences with classmates. This practice helps promote students learning about and choosing a variety of books to read throughout the school year.
Sixth grade ELA teacher Kathleen Petty had her students create and play a book talk board game.
“After reading independently selected sixth grade-appropriate books, the students shared information about their selections as they played the board game,” Petty explained. “Simultaneously, the other players would record details of the book on their score sheets. The kids were really comfortable discussing and sharing details about their books in a small group setting. This was a fun way to spark student interest in new books. Throughout the game several students exclaimed, ‘I’ve got to read your book!’ It was a great way to break up the regular classroom routine!”
Eighth grade ELA teacher Jessica McLaughlin has her students choose their independent reading books in a variety of categories throughout the school year to help them diversify their reading patterns. For the second quarter, students read a biography or autobiography of their choosing. As their final book project, they discussed the biography figures they wrote about with their classmates. Some students dressed in character for the activity. The students said their favorite part about the project was learning about different people throughout history that they didn’t know existed.
Another way that students are being able to expand their knowledge on a variety of topics through reading comes from an opportunity provided to them by The Wayne County Community Foundation through a project called Building Home Libraries. The Foundation has donated books to Western Wayne Middle and Elementary schools to help students to build their own home libraries. All students received books the week of February 7 to take home and enjoy.
Eighth grader Hailey Wasman was excited to get a new book.
“I have been reading a really great series lately, but I am always ready to try out a new story,” Hailey said.
In addition, this coming spring Western Wayne Middle and High School students will participate in NEIU 19’s Virtual Reading Relays where they will get to discuss books in a competitive and friendly way with students throughout the local area. Western Wayne students are thrilled to have so many different and unique ways to involve reading in their education.
Curriculum Night will be held Wednesday, February 16th from 6:00 to 7:00. Administration, Guidance and the Department Heads will go over the curriculum, graduation requirements and the scheduling process.
“The silent cries of a blank page/ Waiting for words for an age” writes Western Wayne freshman Lillian Maros in her poem “Rushing Words” which won an Honorable Mention award from Scholastic Art & Writing Awards from The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Lillian entered the contest after having heard about it in one of her classes last year. She is thrilled to have been recognized for her poetry. She has been writing fiction for a number of years now and truly enjoys crafting stories. She explained the meaning of her poem, “It is about writing a book during COVID times and the pressure of all of that. The poem summarizes my life in general.” Although Lillian enjoys writing full length stories best, she explained how writing poetry is a fun new challenge for her. “Poetry is interesting because of all of the rhymes,” she explained. “It is a challenge to come up with many specific words. You have to have a large vocabulary. When I write fiction, I concentrate more on what I would want to read in a book and then try to put that in my stories.”
The full length poem is below:
“Rushing Words” Blocked by the pain of a lightning-struck tree Beaten and battered by winds from the sea Screaming thoughts of inspiration whizzing by at blazing speeds Small ideas and breakthroughs alike peaking through the weeds The silent cries of a blank page Waiting for words for an age Water slamming against the rocks at the Point The still, quiet sigh of the glistening pond The whisper of the Lord’s sweet voice in my ears The mind screaming of the horrors of school work, health, and all fears Dreaming of words painting a story While fears of failure come to worry Goals upon goals of awards and approval The dismay of the words they said would come cruel The hoping and praying for an adventure of my own The wish for a journey beyond that of my home Could such exploits only exist in the brain? Or is it just my want to dance in the rain? The gift of thoughts flowing like a river The pride of a medalist who has just won a silver The confidence of a glorious choir The constant need to reach higher and higher The scratching and scraping of a pen on the paper The paint soaked brush on a canvas is my nature Words billowing like a raging cascade Rushing words from which I am made
“Hope you have a great day!” and “Your day will get better!” are just two of the positive messages that Western Wayne Sixth Grader Grace Owens has written for others around her she thought needed some positive inspiration.
Grace explained that she writes inspirational messages on post it notes for her friends and teachers at Western Wayne Middle School when she knows they are struggling or facing challenges.
“When my one friend was getting braces, I wrote her a note that said she was beautiful no matter what and that it wouldn’t change,” Grace explained.
Grace said she pays attention to how the people around her are feeling and writes them a note when she thinks they need it the most. She also likes to write cards for her family members.
Grace is a member of student council, basketball, and cheerleading at Western Wayne along with being a teacher for children ages three through five at her church. She is also an honor roll student.
She looks forward to continuing to inspire others around her to feel the positivity she enjoys passing on.
Western Wayne sophomore Carly Schott recently had the opportunity to have her artwork published in a children’s book called A Butterfly Called Bennie. Carly is a member of Western Wayne’s National Art Honor Society and will donate any profits she makes from this project to a charity of her choosing. Nichole Laub, Director of Nursing at Aventura at Creekside in Carbondale saw some of her artwork through Carly’s mother. Laub then asked if she would like to work on doing some illustrations for the book project. The theme of A Butterfly Called Bennie is accepting the differences of others. Carly worked closely with the author in creating her illustrations. She was asked to create colorful images for the book. She used the medium of colored pencil to create her pictures. Having really enjoyed working on her artwork since the sixth grade, Carly jumped at the chance to use her art skills in this new way. “I enjoy the process of creating and being able to see the finished product that I create,” Carly explained. “ I want to be an artist someday.” The book is currently available at all local bookstores and the publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co. In addition, it can be purchased at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and BAM. Copies of the book also will be donated to all the local libraries and to all buildings within the Western Wayne School District. Pictured is Carly with a copy of the book she illustrated.
Western Wayne Middle School Students enjoyed a treat of activities with their classmates including a trivia contest, basketball tournament, and a variety of team building exercises on January 14, 2022, as a part of the school PBIS initiative. The PBIS initiative involves successfully creating a proactive positive school environment in which students are demonstrating their Wildcat PRIDE daily.
PBIS is an ongoing effort of the Western Wayne School District to guide students in behaving and interacting with others in such a way as to promote an effective learning community.
The students in grades six through eight enjoyed the activities on what was a half day of school on Friday, Jan. 14, 2002.
In photo one, from left: 8th graders Maggie Kotchessa and Logan Pauler participate in the 8th grade basketball competition while Mr. Darren Thorpe supervises and fellow 8th grader Phoebe Schmitt takes the score.
In photo two, from left back row: 8th graders Antonio Fisichella and Ethan Gillot. Front row, from left: fellow 8th graders Aiden Matthews and Zach Wilbur. The students completed a team building activity in class where they had to build a structure out of nothing but twenty sheets of paper.
ALL NEWS
Art Show a SuccessMay 16, 2025Western Wayne hosted their annual spring Art Show on Saturday, May 10, for the community. The show featured art from students in grades 8 through 12 and art from graduating seniors. The following list of seven seniors exhibited their portfolios at the art show: Aubrey Bell, Andy Dickison, Cedar Gilpin, Lillian Maros, Davis Sheppard, Neima Smith-Horst, and Lizzie Washine. Their displays represented an accumulation of up to four years of artwork.
Senior Aubrey Bell’s featured display focussed on contrast.
“In my senior display, I juxtaposed elements like skulls and flowers,” Aubrey explained. “To me, this pairing symbolizes the inherent beauty in contrast–how life and death are not opposites, but part of a shared, nature cycle. By combining them, I aim to present death not as an end, but as a meaningful and even peaceful transition.”
Aubrey said that Marvel and DC comics often influence her creative perspective as well.
She plans to attend Penn State University to pursue a four-year degree in nursing, with the ultimate goal of becoming a surgeon. In addition, she always plans to carry her artistic perspective with her.
Senior Andy Dickison’s artwork centers around the human form and all the ways it can be bent. Andy takes inspiration from artists who use “gross” color palettes and strange perspectives. In addition, drum-heavy grunge music has also been inspirational.
“A message I want to send through my pieces is that they can never be exactly replicated again,” Andy explained. “AI image generators cannot replace human creativity and artwork.”
Andy is proud of doing the artwork for the cover of the December issue for Happening Magazine this school year and for being Artist of the Week on WVIA.
Andy plans to attend Kutztown University and major in art.
Senior Cedar Gilpin feels that in her time taking art class throughout her high school career has really helped her expand her creative mind.
“A major source of inspiration for me is my mother,” Cedar said. “She’s always been incredibly creative and has encouraged me to express myself through drawing, painting and more. I’m genuinely proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, and I believe the skills I’ve developed will benefit me greatly in the future.”
Cedar will attend college in the fall with a major in art therapy.
Senior Lillian Maros’ display centered around art inspired by her family.
“My inspiration is my family and things I experience around me,” Lilly explained. “My father and brother are both cowboys. Yes, they still exist. They participate in rodeos around the country and are often far from home. My art is a way of connecting to them when I can’t see them, and showing my support for them as they have supported me. My mural is the centerpiece of my display, as is my art. It is the explanation of how my relationship with my brother works.”
Lilly is greatly inspired by all members of her family including her mother and grandparents as well as her father and brother. She is also strongly guided by her faith in God.
Lilly plans to move with her family to Texas after graduation where she intends to start her own mobile coffee truck.
Senior Davis Sheppard believes his artwork has helped him grow as a person.
“My artwork has profoundly shaped my life, giving me a more positive outlook and inspiring personal growth to elevate my creative expression,” Davis explained. “Through my work, I found meaning and a sense of identity–I became someone. It also helped me open up to others.”
Davis wants others to know how truly free art is.
Davis plans to attend Marywood University to earn a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.
Senior Neima Smith-Horst’s primary medium for art is mixed media, combining unexpected things together and creating peace, but also holding versatility.
“Everything comes from trusting the process, and I find peace in creating and trusting my own heart in making something,” she explained. “Art is an escape for me, something to do without pressure and insecurity. Being able to create different things allows me to capture what I wish was, what I fear, feel, love, enjoy, and even things I have no interest or control over.”
Neima plans to continue to work and also attend college for directing and filmmaking.
Finally, senior Lizzie Washine has always had a love for art.
Watercolor is her favored medium.
“I draw inspiration from everything around me: my personal experiences, the world I observe, the music I love, and the poetry and literature I read,” she explained. “Art surrounds us in so many forms. I see it in the lyrical depth of artists like Bob Dylan, The Doors, and even Noah Kahan, and Zach Bryan–where every word feels intentional and alive with meaning.”
Lizzie plans to attend Duquesne University to pursue a dual major in elementary and special education with a minor in creative writing.
All of the seniors 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.
From left: Aubrey Bell, Davis Sheppard, Cedar Gilpin, Neima Smith-Horst, Lizzie Washine, and Lilly Maros. Absent from photo: Andy Dickison. [...]
Community Invited to Annual CatWalk Fashion Show on May 22May 16, 2025Western Wayne Fashion students are thrilled to invite the community to their annual CatWalk Fashion Show on Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This year the show titled “Eco Floral Fusion” is focussed on the theme of eco- sustainability .Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Free admission! The students will also host the show for an audience of their peers during the school day on Thursday, May 22.
Pieces made by students in grades 9 through 12 will be featured. The students also worked in teams that represent fashion collections based on the four seasons. The lead designers for the collections are senior Lily Kieva, spring collection, sophomore Bella Kolp, winter collection; sophomore Emma DeNunzio, summer collection; and sophomore Addriana Cangas, fall collection.
Show director and fashion teacher Andrea McCleland explained the way the students created their seasonalities collections to reflect the theme of the show.
“The designers thrifted what’s on stage,” she explained. “We studied in class how the fashion industry has been a burden on the environment, so for the seasonalities portion of our show, we have set an example of not burdening the environment for these collections.”
Senior Lily Kieva is excited to debut her Lily of the Valley collection for the spring portion of the competition.
“It is a perfect theme for me,” she explained. “It is an eccentric spring theme with a reference to my name and Pennsylvania flowers of the valley.”
Lily is a four-year fashion student at Western Wayne. Upon graduation, she will attend Marywood University with a major in secondary education history with the intention of also earning a special education certificate.
She is most fond of the memories she has made through creating fashion and plans to continue to create designs after graduation with her sewing machine at home.
Fellow designer Bella Kolp also owns a sewing machine and learned how to sew at a young age.
She is thrilled to debut her winter collection called Whispers of Winter and other pieces in the show.
Bella shared how she has tied in another meaningful part of her high school years to the fashion show.
For the past two years, she has been a part of a program called EF Language Abroad which has given her the opportunity to study Japanese language and culture abroad in Japan both last summer and again this upcoming summer.
“I got the opportunity to study the language for about four hours a day and then travel throughout Japan,” she explained.
She discussed how one of the pieces she created for the show was inspired by her time in Japan. Bella aspires to study business in college.
Fellow sophomore Emma DeNunzio, who was encouraged by her aunt to start sewing years ago, is also excited to share her summer collection.
Emma just played the supporting role of Ali in Western Wayne’s production of Mamma Mia!
“One of my more beach-themed pieces was influenced by the musical,” she explained.
Her fellow fashion classmate sophomore Addriana Cangas is also happy to debut her fall collection at the show. She has greatly enjoyed her experience creating fashion and can’t wait to present her work to the community with her classmates and teacher.
McCleland and her students feel so grateful to be able to invite the community to their evening show on Thursday, May 22, and they look forward to creating more designs to share with the Western Wayne community in the future.
From left, standing: Chloe Gilpin, model; Clare Coccodrilli, model; Avery Ullner, model; and Davis Sheppard, model. From left, kneeling: Lily Kieva, designer; and Bella Kolp, designer. [...]
Hartman Named NEIU 19 Scholar of the Year and Scholastic SuperstarMay 14, 2025Senior, Lia Hartman, was recently recognized as both the NEIU 19 Scholar of the Year and The Times-Tribune Scholastic Superstar. The Scholastic Superstar Ceremony was held on May 5th at Lackawanna College. NEIU Scholar of the Year Ceremony was held on May 6th at Carbondale Area Jr./Sr. High School.Lia is a highly involved student who is the president of the Science Club. She, also, is in Envirothon, National Honor Society, and is president of the Band. In addition, she served as a drum major for the past two years playing the flute and piccolo.“I have learned a lot about leadership in my time at Western Wayne,” she said. “I’ve come to embrace the fact that everyone I work with is unique and to have success leading them I have to adjust to their needs. I have become a more understanding and open-minded person through being a drum major.”Hartman will take the leadership skills she learned at Western Wayne to college next year. She will be attending The University of Scranton in the fall with a major in biochemistry.“The human body is really interesting,” she said. “I want to contribute to people’s health, and I enjoy lab work best, so pathology embodies what I see for my future.”From left: Western Wayne High School Principal Mr. Paul B. Gregorski and Lia Hartman. [...]
Kloss Sets Junior High School RecordMay 14, 2025Congratulations to Kaitlyn Kloss for setting the JH School Record in the 3200 with a time of 12:23.74 with a Gold Medal effort at Abington Heights tonight in a makeup event from the invitational two weeks ago. Garrett Malakin earned a Bronze Medal in the event with a time of 11:56.24. From left: Kloss and Malakin. [...]
Band Director Receives PMEA District 9 Citation of Excellence AwardMay 14, 2025Mrs. Elaine Ort formerly received thePennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9 Citation of Excellence award at the school board meeting on Wednesday, May 7. 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 attended an awards banquet at the PMEA State Conference in April to receive recognition for this award as well.
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, PMEA District 9 vice president, shaking hands with and receiving her framed award from PMEA District 9 President Dr. Thomas Bassett.
Second picture is of Mrs. Ort with her well-deserved award. [...]
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.
