Featured News

Western Wayne School District Hosts Annual Reading Competition

Western Wayne School District hosted the Annual NEIU Reading Competition on Wednesday, May 8. Numerous area schools competed in both the high school and middle school divisions of the competition. Hundreds of students participated in the event that celebrates a love for reading. A team from North Pocono placed first for the high school division and a team from Forest City placed first for the middle school division. Congratulations to all involved! Pictured are some Western Wayne Middle School students who participated. From left standing: Kylie Merring, Elizabeth Wasylyk, Anna Mangieri, Chaz Smith, and Ella Merring. From left kneeling: Alyson Buchinski, Emily Brophy, Ashley Small Bermudez, and Adam Kellogg.

R.D. Wilson Awarded RAMP Designation; Erica Germani to represent at Boston Awards Banquet

The link below is the official press release from the American School Counselor Association regarding the 2018-2019 RAMP-certified schools. R.D. Wilson is one of only 71 schools across the country who were awarded this designation this year.

“ASCA officially announces the 2019 RAMP Schools.
71 schools across the U.S. obtained RAMP designation for the 2018-19 SY. The RAMP designation, awarded for aligning with the criteria in the ASCA National Model, recognizes schools committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-informed school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment. Since the program’s inception, nearly 900 schools have been designated as RAMP recipients.”

RAMP announcement from ASCA

Created: 06 - 05 - 2019
Preview

Harlem Wizards Come to Western Wayne Tuesday, April 30

The Harlem Wizards will host an event in the Western Wayne High School gym on Tuesday, April 30 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.  They will wow the crowd with their basketball tricks on the court along with playing a team of Western Wayne faculty and staff.  Proceeds from the event will support the Western Wayne football program.  Advance ticket sales: $10 for students; $15 general admission; $25 court-side plus (online only).  Court-side plus includes: meet and greet, free photo, reserve seat and $10 off a jersey—Only 60 court-side seats available.  At the door: $12 students; $17 general admission.  Tickets are available in all Western Wayne School offices or online at www. Harlemwizards.com

                Recently Western Wayne students at Robert D. Wilson Elementary, Evergreen Elementary and the Middle and High Schools were treated to a visit from David Paul of the Harlem Wizards.  He gave them a preview of the event along with teaching basketball moves to student volunteers and talking to students about showing respect for elders.  All Western Wayne students, faculty, and staff from Kindergarten through 12th grade are excited for this unique event happening at their district and invite the public to come and join them for an evening of fun.

Western Wayne Drama Club Opens Annie Friday

Cast of Annie- Front row, from left: Haley Strocchia, Ava Compton, Sophia Conaway, Natasha Orehek, Larissa Ellsworth, Jenna Frable, Julia Phillips, and Alex Taylor. Second row, from left: Lily Visceglia, Sydney Peet, Andie Solimine, Amanda David, R.J. Clemens, and Sam Clemens. Third row, from left: Rebecca Boots, Brandon Davis, Hailey Lightbody, Kevin Franc, Dakota Beavers, Rhonda Fenkner, Angelina Tornillo, Lilly Morcom, Honour Shaffer, and Madison Kapschull. Absent from photo: John Nichols, Adam Kellogg, and Chaz Smith.

“When I’m stuck with a day that’s gray and lonely / I just stick up my chin and grin and say the sun will come out tomorrow,” Annie sings this throughout the classic musical named after its leading lady.

          The curtain will rise for Western Wayne Drama Club’s production, of Annie, a show that will surely brighten up anyone’s day, at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 26, at the high school in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Additional performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 27; and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 28.  Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Western Wayne students are free with a student ID.

          This production will leave audiences humming many of the classic songs from the show such as “Maybe,” “Easy Street,” and, of course, “Tomorrow.”  Audiences will even be treated to seeing Annie’s special guest star, local dog Daisy Press who will play Annie’s dog Sandy. 

Daisy’s owner is Mrs. Christine Press, treasurer of the Western Wayne Drama Parent Club, who is excited for her pup to make her acting debut on the Western Wayne stage.  Daisy attended the Drama Club’s character breakfast, which was sponsored and run by the Western Wayne Drama Parent Club, earlier this month and was a hit with kids of all ages.

          The Drama Parent Club will have a table of show memorabilia for sale at this weekend’s performances with all of the proceeds benefiting Western Wayne Drama Club students.  They will also sell raffle tickets throughout the weekend for a special Annie-themed teddy bear dressed like Annie. 

This bear was modeled after teddy bears auctioned off on Broadway in New York City.  Tickets for the bear will be sold all weekend with the drawing taking place on Sunday.  You do not have to be present at the Sunday show to win the prize.

          In addition, the Western Wayne Band Parents will also have refreshments available for purchase at the show will all proceeds benefiting Western Wayne Band students.

          Many band, chorus, and a variety of other students are involved in the production.  Western Wayne Drama Club students in grades 8 through 12 have been hard at work on the musical since December.  Students are involved in a variety of facets from playing roles on stage, to building and moving sets as stage crew members, to playing musical instruments in the pit band.

          This is a very special production for all involved especially for some senior cast members.  One such student is R.J. Clemens who has performed on stage with Western Wayne musical productions since his 8th grade year when he played a Wicksham Brother in Seussical.  He moved on to playing lead roles for the rest of his high school career including taking on the roles of Shrek in Shrek, Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, Jimmy Winters in Nice Work if You Can Get It, and now Oliver Warbucks in Annie.

          “It’s always a lot of fun to work on productions like these,” R.J. said.  “I get to make a lot of new friends and create many memories.”

          R.J. has enjoyed all of his roles in Western Wayne musicals.  He names the “100 Ways Ballet,” which was a fantasy dance sequence from Bye Bye Birdie in which his love interest imagines different ways to end his life, as one of his favorites because of its uniqueness along with the musical number “I Don’t Need Anything But You” from this year’s production.

          “I really think the audience will enjoy this piece because it’s when Annie and Warbucks’ relationship as father and daughter is solidified,” R.J. explained.  “We get to share a special song and dance together in front of the entire mansion staff, who have been hoping for this happy moment since first meeting Annie’s character.”

          Eighth grader Amanda David makes her Western Wayne musical debut in the title role.  This is Amanda’s first leading role in a production, and she is thrilled to share what she and the rest of the cast have been working on with the community this weekend.

          “I saw Annie on Broadway when I was younger,” Amanda explained.  “This is a role I have always wanted to play, and I can’t wait to do it for an audience.”

          Amanda is delighted to share the stage with some of her eighth grade classmates who play orphans including: Larissa Ellsworth who plays Tessie; Jenna Frable who plays Pepper; and Julia Phillips who plays Kate.

          “My favorite part about playing Kate is when she has lines annoying Miss Hannigan,” Julia explained.  “I also really enjoy the musical number ‘Little Girls’ because of how different it is.”

          In “Little Girls,” Hannigan sings about her never-ending frustrations of having to be around the girls in the orphanage.  During it, all of the orphans do a contemporary-style dance in which they move like puppets being manipulated by Hannigan.

          The rest of the orphans are played by Natasha Orehek as Molly, Haley Strocchia as July, and Ava Compton as Duffy.

          “It’s awesome to work with so many talented students in each scene,” Amanda said.

          Another one of these talented students is none other than Miss Hannigan herself played by junior Sydney Peet.

          Sydney has been a part of the ensemble for previous Western Wayne productions with this being her first year playing a leading role.

          “I really enjoy playing a character that has sides to her personality that are different from how I usually act,” Sydney explained.  “It’s fun to play Hannigan when she is flirtatious or creating conflict with other characters.”

          One such moment is during Act One when Hannigan and Grace Farrell, Oliver Warbucks’ secretary played by junior Andie Solimine, have an argument about how long Annie should stay with Warbucks while pulling back and forth on one of the orphan’s dolls.

          Sydney also shares the stage with two other cast mates who have many comical moments in the show.  Junior John Nichols plays Rooster Hannigan and sophomore Lily Visceglia plays his girlfriend Lily St. Regis.  The two conspire with Hannigan to get the money Warbucks eventually offers to find Annie’s parents.  The three sing about their big plans for living a life of luxury in the musical number “Easy Street.”

          Another character in Annie who actually wants to help Oliver Warbucks in his quest to find Annie’s real parents is none other than President Roosevelt played by sophomore Alex Taylor.  Roosevelt, also, has many funny moments throughout Act Two, especially when he leads his Cabinet in a rendition of “Tomorrow” in hopes of rising their spirits to help him come up with the idea of the historically infamous “New Deal.”

          “One of my favorite parts is when I get to sing my solo in the Cabinet scene,” Alex said.  “It’s really neat to get to play a character as iconic as Roosevelt for my first role in a musical production.  This is my first year in chorus and after seeing last year’s musical I knew that I really wanted to get involved with it and experience what it’s like to be on stage.”           Alex takes the stage with all of the other students involved in Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of Annie on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the high school.  Everyone involved invites the community to come out and see these talented students shine in the telling of this classic musical perfect for all ages.  

Community Health Needs Assessment Survey

Parents and Community members, please take a moment to add your input into this critical survey. Thank you!

Wayne Memorial Hospital, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers and community leadership throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania are conducting our 2019 study on health care needs and priorities, which will guide the development of new or expanded programming and services in the Wayne/Pike/Carbondale/Forest City area. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete by accessing https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CHNA19

Western Wayne Drama Club to Perform Annie – April 26th, 27th and 28th

The Western Wayne Drama Club will present the classic musical Annie.  Annie is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).  All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.  www.MTIShows.com. Performances by Western Wayne students will take place Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m. in the Western Wayne Veterans Memorial Auditorium located at 1970A Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, PA 18436.   Students and senior citizens $3 dollars for tickets and adults $5 for tickets.  Western Wayne students’ admission free with a student ID.

Pit Band- Front row, from left: Taylor Altenhofen, Julia Lamberton, Katherine Moore, Alyssa Donnini, Madison Kammer, and Ashley Small-Bermudez. Second row, from left: Bryce Urian, Keith Franc, Nathan Taggart, Hudson Malinowski, and Bridgette Flannery. Third row, from left: Shawn Gilligan, Andrew Oudshoorn, and Joseph Jezorwski. Absent from photo: Evan Peirce
Stage Crew- Front row, from left: Emily Brophy, Jared Loveland, Kaitlyn McDermott, Logan Smith, Selena Gravell, and Estevan Mendoza. Second row, from left: Rachael Harsch, Abigail Lopez, Allison King, Lindsey Karwacki, and Hailey Robbins. Third row, from left: Anna Mangieri, Nathan McCollum, and Jonatan Stanley. Absent from photo: Adrian Shaffer and Emma Dwyer.
Cast of Annie- Front row, from left: Haley Strocchia, Ava Compton, Sophia Conaway, Natasha Orehek, Larissa Ellsworth, Jenna Frable, Julia Phillips, and Alex Taylor. Second row, from left: Lily Visceglia, Sydney Peet, Andie Solimine, Amanda David, R.J. Clemens, and Sam Clemens. Third row, from left: Rebecca Boots, Brandon Davis, Hailey Lightbody, Kevin Franc, Dakota Beavers, Rhonda Fenkner, Angelina Tornillo, Lilly Morcom, Honour Shaffer, and Madison Kapschull. Absent from photo: John Nichols, Adam Kellogg, and Chaz Smith.
Pictured is the notorious Miss Hannigan and her orphans. Floor, from left: Larissa Ellsworth and Julia Phillips. Second row, from left: Ava Compton and Haley Strocchia. Back row, from left: Jenna Frable, Sydney Peet, and Sophia Conaway.
Miss Hannigan played by Sydney Peet and Lily St. Regis played by Lily Visceglia pose in Hannigan’s office during the musical number “Easy Street.”
Pictured are the stars of “The Oxydent Hour of Smiles” radio show. Annie and Warbucks are guests of the show in the hopes of appealing to the public to find Annie’s parents. From left: Lilly Morcom who plays Bonnie Boylan, Madison Kapschull who plays Connie Boylan, Honour Shaffer who plays host Bert Healy, and Sam Clemens who plays radio’s only masked announcer Fred McCracken and his ventriloquist doll Wacky.
Bert Healy played by Honour Shaffer discovers our show’s Star-To-Be Rhonda Fenkner during the musical number “NYC.”
Bert Healy played by Honour Shaffer discovers our show’s Star-To-Be Rhonda Fenkner during the musical number “NYC.”
Pictured are all of the staff, residents, and guests of Oliver Warbuck’s mansion: Back row, from left: Dakota Beavers, Brandon Davis, Kevin Franc, Andie Solimine, Hailey Lightbody, Rebecca Boots, and Angelina Tornillo. Front row, from left: Amanda David who plays Annie; R.J. Clemens who plays Oliver Warbucks; and Alex Taylor, who plays President Roosevelt.
Pictured are some of the lead characters in Annie. From left: Amanda David who plays Annie; R.J. Clemens who plays Oliver Warbucks; and Andie Solimine who plays Grace.
Annie played by Amanda David and Warbucks played by R.J. Clemens hit a playful pose in the upbeat musical number “I Don’t Need Anything But You.”

Watch Drama Club Students Perform Annie on PA Live!

The Western Wayne Drama Club gave a preview of their upcoming musical Annie on WBRE’s PA Live show on Thursday, April 11.  R.J. Clemens, who plays Oliver Warbucks, and Amanda David, who plays Annie, sang “I Don’t Need Anything but You” from Act II of the show.  You can view their performance at the following link https://www.pahomepage.com/lifestyle/pa-live/pa-live-western-wayne-drama-club-annie-april-11-2019/1918779760  Mark your calendar with the dates for our performances of Annie at Western Wayne High School’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Friday, April 26, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, and Western Wayne students are free with a student ID. 

Middle School Students Win Outstanding Editing Award for Video

Western Wayne Middle School students are part of a unique learning experience for a second time.  Created by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in Allentown, PA in 2013, the “What’s So cool About Manufacturing?” contests draw entries from more than 200 teams across Pennsylvania.  The teams of students and teacher coaches receive camera equipment, software, and professional guidance as they learn to script, record, and edit their video stories of what it’s like to work in the manufacturing industry. Students learn about the manufacturing career field and complete their projects at various local manufacturing businesses.

The contest’s objective is to change students’ perceptions about manufacturing careers by sending them to local places where manufacturing is done to complete their submissions for “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?”.  The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contests are supported regionally by their sponsors and partners. 

The 2019 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Contest for Northeast PA is produced by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center in Hanover Township, PA. Participating schools are from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties.  Western Wayne is one of eleven schools participating in the Northeast PA Contest.

For the second year, Western Wayne Middle School students had the opportunity to explore Boyce Products Ltd., a manufacturing facility located in Damascus, for their project.  This winter the students toured Boyce to learn about the manufacturing career field and gather information for their submission.

FRC 4285 Camo-Bots Meet Governor Wolf at Regional Robotics Competition

FRC 4285 Camo-Bots student vice president Collin Murray shakes hands with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf at the FIRST Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship for robotics.

The FRC 4285 Camo-Bots competed in the FIRST Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship held at Lehigh University during the first week of April.  The team is composed of students from both Western Wayne and Wayne Highlands.

          The Camo-Bots had the honor of meeting Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf at the event.  In addition, the team was selected as one of four teams out of 60 teams to be ambassadors of FIRST.  The students were chosen because of their work in design, advanced manufacturing, and engineering.

          Junior Collin Murray, the Camo-Bots vice president, said everyone on the team greatly enjoyed meeting the governor.  Collin explained that Wolf personally introduced himself to all of the students from the ten Pennsylvania teams represented at the event.

          “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Collin explained.  “The governor even drove one of the team’s robots on the course.”

          Camo-Bot team member Western Wayne junior Max Phillips said the Regional Championship itself was a great learning experience for all involved.

          “It was intense competition,” Max explained.  “Everyone there is good.  There are strict rules and the referees check on minor details.”

          Collin explained how the Camo-Bots gained a lot from spending time with their peers at the event.

          “They are very kind to us and help us out,” Collin said of the other teams.  “Sometimes we share trade secrets with each other and discuss tricks to getting around certain problems when working with the robots.”

          The FRC 4285 Camo-Bots look forward to their participation in the World Championship event that will take place in Detroit, Michigan, at the end of April.  Collin and Max explained that there will be six competition fields set up where simultaneous competitive robot games will take place throughout the event.  Teams from countries such as Australia, India, China, and Israel will be there.

Western Wayne Team Mentor Mr. Brian Landry is very proud of the success of the Camo-Bots and is very thankful to Western Wayne  and Wayne Highlands administration, staff, students, their families, and members of the local business community who have and continue to support the efforts of the team.