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Western Wayne High School Student Earns President’s Volunteer Service Award

Western Wayne senior Alyssa Iovacchini has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.

          The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of time to service their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.  Western Wayne nominated Alyssa for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service.

          Throughout Alyssa’s four years in high school she volunteered at Arrowhead Bible Camp in Brackney, PA.  She found out about this opportunity through her pastor at the Waymart Church where she is an active member.

          Alyssa described the service work she does each summer at the James Project held at Arrowhead Bible Camp.  The James Project, named after the Book of James in the Bible, is a summer camp for mentally disabled adults.  Alyssa and other volunteers work to clean the camp, so that the camp counselors can more focus their time on working with the campers.

          In addition, Alyssa works at the camp in the winter doing the same jobs when youth groups and church retreats are at Arrowhead.

          “I really enjoy this type of volunteer work because I am putting others before myself and making sure they have the most enjoyable time they can at the camp whether they be adults or other campers,” Alyssa explained.

          She also participates in other various service activities in Waymart with her church throughout the school year.

          “The faculty, staff, and administration at Western Wayne feel very proud of Alyssa’s accomplishments,” Western Wayne High School Principal Paul Gregorski said.  “We hope our other students look up to her as a role model.”

          In its 25th year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service.

          “Across the United States, young volunteers are doing remarkable things to contribute to the well-being of the people and communities around them,” said Prudential Chairman CEO Charles Lowrey.  “Prudential is honored to celebrate the contributions of these students, and we hope their stories inspire others to volunteer too.”

          “Demonstrating civic responsibility through volunteerism is an important part of life,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti.  “These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate.”

          Prudential Spirit of Community Award application details were distributed nationwide last September through middle level and high schools, Girl Scout Councils, County 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and Points of Light Global Network members.  These schools and officially-designated local organizations nominated Local Honorees, whose applications were advanced for state-level judging.  In addition to granting President’s Volunteer Service Awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients.  Volunteer activities were judged on criteria including initiative, effort, impact, and personal growth.

          Alyssa feels honors to have been given this service award and to be able to represent the Western Wayne School District’s commitment to excellence through this honor.  Along with her service activities, Alyssa also is involved in other activities at Western Wayne which include the National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and FBLA.  After graduation, Alyssa aspires to attend a four-year college to pursue her teaching certificate in secondary education English.

          “I think that my service work is preparing me for when I will one day work with students in my own classroom,” Alyssa said.

Robert D. Wilson Elementary School to hold Read Across America Night

Kids of all ages can enjoy a night of entertainment to include the reading of children’s books, performances from the upcoming Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of Once Upon a Mattress, and even a performance by local magician David Black.

          Western Wayne’s Robert D. Wilson Elementary School PTA will host Read Across America Night on Thursday, March 5, beginning at 4:45 p.m. The event is free of charge to the public.  There will be tours of the RDW building and opportunities to stop in classrooms to hear stories read by RDW staff and friends from 4:45 until 5:30 p.m. 

          In addition, concessions will be available for purchase from 5:30 to 6 p.m.  At 6 p.m. Western Wayne Drama Club students will perform excerpts from their upcoming spring show Once Upon a Mattress with performance dates set for April 17, 18, and 19.  The musical is the classic story of the princess and the pea. 

          Senior Sydney Peet plays Queen Aggravain in the show.  Her character is determined to keep her son Prince Dauntless, played by senior Honour Shaffer, from marrying an unsuitable bride.  Sydney has really been enjoying playing the role of the queen who is quite out spoken.

          “I enjoy playing a character who is set in what she wants and not afraid to get her point across,”   Sydney, who is playing her third role in a Western Wayne musical and has played various roles in community theater, said.  “I hope the audience likes our performance of “Sensitivity.”  This is the queen’s solo in which she tries to come up with an unfair way to test the new princess in the kingdom suing for her son’s hand in marriage.”

          “Sensitivity” is just one song from Once Upon a Mattress to be performed at Read Across America Night.

          Another Western Wayne senior who is excited to perform is Sydney’s costar Honour Shaffer.  Honour looks forward to performing in “The Swamps of Home” at Read Across America.

          “I really think the audience will find this number entertaining because the princess tells a story about growing up in an unconventional swamp kingdom that she and everyone else on stage comes to find fascinating,” Honour, who is playing his fourth role in a Western Wayne musical, explained.

          Senior Andie Solimine plays the role of Princess Winnifred.  She feels very happy to be playing a lead role for her senior year having been in two musicals prior to this one at Western Wayne.

          “I love to sing, act, and dance,” Andie said.  “I really look forward to sharing what we have been practicing each day with the community.”

          The final act of the evening will be a performance by local magician David Black at 6:30 p.m.

          The RDW PTA, cast of Once Upon a Mattress, and everyone involved in Read Across America Night encourage the public to attend this fun event for kids of all ages.

German cuckoo clocks and the art of clock making in RDW Art class

The 3rd & 4th grade students at RDW learned about German cuckoo clocks and the art of clock making in Art class. They watched videos about the craftsman of the Black Forest, and talked about the relationship between the environment & natural resources of a region, and the art the people of that region create. The students learned about carving as subtractive sculpture as well as the inner workings of a clock.  Students then practiced a variety of skills to make their own cut paper cuckoo clocks. They folded hinges to create working doors, they used an accordion fold to make their cuckoo bird pop out of the door.  They also made an accurate analog clock face complete with numbers and moving hands, as well as pine cones for weights, just like the real thing!  Classes discussed the importance of using good craftsmanship to ensure a sturdy and attractive finished product. Students then added embellishments and personal touches to their clocks using markers, colored pencil, cut paper and cutout shapes.

Standards:

 9.1.A, 9.1.C, 9.1.F

 9.2.A, 9.2.C, 9.2.D, 9.2.E, 9.2.G, 9.2.K, 9.2.L

‘Art and Author’ event held at RDW

“First grade students enjoyed ‘Art and Author’ event at RDW. Grandparents were treated to their grandchildren’s writings, a valentine snack and a beautiful art display. We hope you enjoy the artwork too!”

Students Earn Western Wayne School Police Exemplary Citizenship Awards

From left: Jennifer Bradley, middle school principal; Nicholas Fisichella, Antonio Fisichella, and Officer Robert Robbins, school resource office.

Western Wayne students Antonio Mwaura Fisichella,  Nicholas Gathama Fisichella, and Paityn Lynn Duprey received individual Western Wayne School Police Exemplary Citizenship Awards at the January, 2020, Western Wayne School Board meeting.

          The Western Wayne School District Police Department takes pleasure in presenting these awards to students who have done an outstanding job helping others.  School resource Officer Robert Robbins explained that the award was first created in May of 2019 after a high school student did an exemplary job helping a classmate during a medical emergency.

          “We wanted to create a way to honor Western Wayne students who go above and beyond upholding the Western Wayne principals of respect, integrity, dedication, and extra ordinariness,” Robbins explained.

          In May of 2019, Western Wayne high school student Giavanna Dawn Amy Rastello helped a fellow classmate in the hallway suffering a medical emergency.  She summoned help and stayed with the student until help arrived.

          Giavanna received the first Western Wayne School Police Exemplary Citizenship Award for her caring, compassion, and quick thinking.

          Robbins explained that the Exemplary Citizenship Award is not given out on a monthly basis but only when a student does something deserving of this type of award.

          “This is just another way that the police department can give back,” Robbins explained.  “We are so grateful to be here and recognize the students.”

          At the January 2020 Western Wayne School Board meeting, Western Wayne middle school students Antonio Mwaura Fisichella and Nicholas Gathama Fisichella received Western Wayne School Police Exemplary Citizenship Awards for their actions on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, when they were witness to a car fire outside of their home on the Mount Cobb Highway.

          As the fire crew from Hamlin Fire and Rescue was clearing the scene, the boys summoned Hamlin Deputy Chief Gene Koch and presented him with a donation from their own savings.  The students received the Citizenship Award for their selflessness and generosity that reflect a great credit upon themselves, their family, the Western Wayne Middle School, and the entire Western Wayne School District.

          In addition, at the January, 2020, board meeting, Evergreen Elementary student Paityn Lynn Duprey received the Western Wayne School Police Exemplary Citizenship Award for her service to the community for the past four years.  Paityn has held an annual Black Friday Bake Sale, with baked good she prepared, to raise money to be used to purchase toys that she donated to local toy drives for less fortunate children in the local community.

          Paityn’s actions exemplify Western Wayne PRIDE.  Most notably: respect, in caring for her community; integrity, in her strong moral principle; dedication, in continually striving to serve and improve quality of life for others; and extraordinary; in her going above and beyond by putting others first.

          All Western Wayne administration, staff, and the entire school community are proud of these extraordinary students and hope that all of their selfless actions inspire others to act in the same way.

         

Western Wayne Students Receive YAC Grants

Wayne County Community Foundation, Youth Advisory Committee presented two separate grants to Western Wayne High School students Rachel Hoch and Sydney Hutchinson on Friday, January 24. 

          Ryanne Jennings and William Gershey, representing the Wayne County Community Foundation, presented the grants to the students.

Rachel Hoch, sophomore, received a grant to use for her senior project.  The project involves her work with Western Wayne High School’s annual spring Catwalk fashion show themed “Tune into Fashion”.  Rachel will work to plan decorations for the show along with sewing other projects for the event.  She also will choose a charity to donate proceeds from the event to.

 “I felt glad I wrote the grant,” Rachel explained.  “I know the funds will greatly benefit our spring show along with the community that will get to enjoy seeing it.” 

Fellow classmate Sydney Hutchinson, junior, received her grant for her senior project which is a 5K color run to take place at Western Wayne High School on May 16.  More information on her project will be available at www.westernwayne.org in the spring.  Sydney is a member of both the Cross County and track teams and has an interest in studying business in college.  She believes that her project will combine all of her interests and give her some experience in event organizing.

 “I’m excited to use the grant money to develop an amazing 5K event for the public to enjoy,” Sydney explained.  

Western Wayne High School administration and staff feel proud of these students who received grants and encourage the community to come out and enjoy both of these upcoming spring events.

Picture one, from left, standing:  Trina Barcarola (YCA), Mrs. Colleen Carmody, Rachel Hoch, and Brendan Fitzsimmons (YCA).

Picture two, from left, standing: Trina Barcarola, Mrs. Laura Wojnar, Sydney Hutchinson, Mrs. Annette Fox, and Brendan Fitzsimmons (YCA).

Robert D. Wilson third grade students receives dictionaries -Wayne County Community Foundation

Robert D. Wilson third grade students received dictionaries from the Wayne County Community Foundation and Forest City Rotary this month.  The children were delighted to receive these beautiful dictionaries, one for use in school and the other at home. 

Pictured representing the Wayne County Community Foundation is Mrs. Ryanne Jennings and Mr. William Gershey.  The Forest City Rotary was represented by Mr. Richard Kresock, Ms. Ann Wolfe and Mr. Joe Smith.

A big thank you to these organizations for the wonderful gift. 

Strengthening Families Program returning to Middle School

The Strengthening Families Program is returning to Western Wayne Middle School February 27, 2020. This amazing seven session program is offered to students of fifth and sixth grade and their families. It is designed to help families successfully handle stress, peer pressure and risky teenage behaviors. A supper is provided prior to each meeting, and babysitting is offered for younger siblings. Now is the perfect time to learn more about Strengthening Families and to register for the program. Contact Mrs. Bradley Middle School Principal, Mr. Pidgeon EverGreen Principal or Mrs. Miller Robert D. Wilson Principal.