The students at RDW have been working hard to make Autumn inspired artwork! Students across grade level have used the changing seasons and weather, as inspiration for paintings, drawings, and collages! They have observed the environment around them and utilized a variety of techniques to create beautiful seasonal art!
Members of the Western Wayne Marching Band, Homecoming Court, some varsity athletes, and beloved school mascot Westie visited both EverGreen Elementary and RDW Elementary on Oct. 3 to perform songs, do meet and greets, and invite the students and their families to the Homecoming Game and ceremony on Friday, October 6, starting at 6:30 p.m. A fun time was had by students of all ages during the elementary school visits!
Picture Two, from left: Amelia Kosciuk, Avery Orloski, and Ariana Marsan.
Picture Three , from left, the 2023 Homecoming Court: Carter Mistishin, Brooke Kellogg, Frankie Leyshon, Lexi DeSiato, Rhayni Carroll, Allie Pauler, Vinny Tomasetti, Taylor Maiocco, and Ethan Grodack (absent from photo Gunnar Minor).
Nationwide, buddy benches are used at playgrounds as a place where students can go when they have no one to play with. When other students notice someone sitting on the buddy bench, they are encouraged to ask that student to join them. The RDW buddy bench was established by a group of kindness club students years ago. The bench has since been worn down, and the current group of kindness club students decided that it needed a facelift. Their goal was for it to represent Wildcat PRIDE and inclusion. We are very proud of their work, and they certainly captured what it means to be a student here at Western Wayne.
4th-6th grade parents and caregivers. Attend this FREE VIRTUAL five-session program to help your youth navigate the pressures and expectations of life during their teen years to succeed and achieve a brighter future.
Download the full flyer below.
The Third Annual Cat Pack Games were held on Wednesday, May 24 at Sharkey Rosetti Stadium. After a musical welcome from the Western Wayne Marching Band, student CAThletes from EverGreen, RDW, and the Middle and High Schools spent the day running, jumping, throwing, and playing! Student volunteers from the High School assisted in setting up and running the games and activities, taking photographs, and face painting. The day was a perfect highlight of some of the many talents of our students. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a great day!
The RDW PTA bought one flower for each student to take home to a parent for Mother’s Day weekend!
(children had the option to purchase additional flowers if they wanted)
The RDW PTA made a buffet style “brunch for lunch” for all faculty and staff. As well as helped stock their classrooms with more snacks, cleaning supplies, and writing utensils!
R.D. Wilson’s Student Council recently created a fun and informational video for students to enjoy. Their goal is to remind students about the important PRIDE expectations on the bus/van so that they can have a safe and pleasant ride to and from school. They asked teachers to play the video for their students and use the discussion questions to further drive home the message.
The Student Council hopes everyone enjoys the video. Have a great rest of the year!
Western Wayne elementary students placed well in their respective competitions at the 2023 Girls STEM Competition held at Valley View High School on Saturday, April 15. RDW 5th graders, Maria Shemanski (5), Skylar Horst (5), Hailey McCollum-Fitzpatrick (5): placed 3rdoverall in the 4-6th grade age group. In addition, for our RDW students, Rachel Enslin (4) and Makayla Franckowiak (5): placed 5th overall in the 4-6th grade age group. Also, Evergreen Elementary 4th graders, Mia Padula (4), Taylor Brown (4), and Molly Gifford (4): placed 1st overall in the 4-6th grade age group in the Computer Programming event.
The fourth grade students competed in four total events: Programming using Scratch; Mathematics solving problems and puzzle;, Science where they made their own lip-gloss with a Makeup Chemist; and engineering where they had to design, build, and test a vehicle, device and ramp to achieve a common goal. There were 1st place prizes in each of the four categories awarded, and there were overall places 1st through 5th for combined scores from all four events.
Finally, WWMS current 6th grader Reyna Weaver has been selected to attend the Appalachian STEM Academy at Oak Ridge this summer before her 7th grade year. She participated in this event when she was in fifth grade and really enjoyed applying her knowledge of science.
Established in 1990, the Appalachian STEM Academy at Oak Ridge is a residential, hands-on learning experience for Appalachia’s middle and high school students, as well as high school teachers in STEM-related fields. Hosted by Oak Ridge Associated Universities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, this program is a gateway to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the Appalachian Region.
All participants work with award-winning scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the largest U.S. Department of Energy research facilities in the United States. High school and middle school students conduct guided group science, math, and computer science technology research projects, while high school teachers work with science practitioners to develop STEM-related curriculum. The program culminates in a graduation ceremony where participants showcase their work.
Western Wayne Middle Schooler Reyna Weaver is very excited to be offered the opportunity to participate in this experience.
“I really enjoy working on STEM related projects and am excited to be offered the chance to participate in this event,” Reyna said.
“Robert D Wilson students give a huge SHOUT OUT to the Hamlin/Lake Rotary Club for the Colorado Blue Spruce. Thank you Jennifer Wargo for the delivery …we appreciate the kindness from all!”
High School Receives 2025 ExxonMobil GrantFebruary 14, 2025The Western Wayne High School received a 500 dollar 2025 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant to support STEM education. ExxonMobil and Onvo present these grants to various area schools each year. The check was awarded to Western Wayne recently. Western Wayne Administration and staff are excited to use these funds to better the educational experiences of their students. The District intends to use these funds to enhance students’ experiences in STEM related studies. From left: Mr. Paul B. Gregorski, high school principal; and Mike Kizis, Onvo District Manager. [...]
Internet Safety Matters: Empower Yourself to Protect Your Child OnlineFebruary 14, 2025Jesse Weinberger, former programmer, nationally recognized speaker and author of The Boogeyman Exists: And He’s in Your Child’s Back Pocket, 2nd ed., will be presenting to Parents/Guardians Only on March 26th from 6-8 PM at the Wallenpaupack Area High School Auditorium! [...]
High School Student Chosen as a Winner of VIP Art ContestFebruary 10, 2025High School Picture 1
Middle School Picture 2
Winner Picture 3
Victims’ Intervention Program of Wayne & Pike Counties held their annual February Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) art contest recently and Western Wayne sophomore Elizabeth St. Louis was one of four winners who will have their art work displayed on billboards in the local community to raise awareness for this cause. Elizabeth was the only winner from Western Wayne with other winners coming from neighboring schools of Wayne Highlands and Lehman Intermediate. The winners also received Amazon gift cards and other prizes.
Debbie Cosentino, Children’s Program Manager, Victims’ Intervention Program of Wayne & Pike Counties, explained that the artwork for the contest fit the theme of “What does respect look like in a relationship?”
“The contest is allowing them to have a voice and an opportunity as a young adult to express how they experience and understand these relationships by knowing red flags early,” Cosentino explained.
She also discussed how the Victims’ Intervention Program hosts a yearly program at some local high schools including Western Wayne in which they meet with students in groups to discuss healthy relationships.
Cosentino was thrilled to be able to meet all of the Western Wayne students in the high school and middle school who entered the teen dating violence art contest.
One such student, freshman Layla Persaud explained that her entry which had puzzle pieces on it had a symbolic meaning for teen dating awareness month.
“It is about putting a relationship together on an emotional level,” she explained. “All of the pieces come together and have a role and meaning.”
Western Wayne winner of the contest Elizabeth St. Louis agrees that there are many pieces to a healthy relationship and that communication is key when putting it all together which is what she revealed in her winning art submission.
“When a couple talks, they should take the communication to heart instead of letting it go in one ear and out of the other,” Elizabeth, honor roll student and wrestling team member, explained. “Instead my picture shows how what is said should go straight to a person’s heart, because everything said in a relationship has great value.”
Elizabeth, who wishes to pursue elementary education in college, was surprised and honored to receive this recognition. She was inspired to pursue art from a young age by her mom. She especially enjoys painting, sketching, and water color with a focus on landscapes and nature overall.
“I hope that the billboard of my artwork inspires others my age to listen in their relationships.”
High School Pic One:
Back row from left: Mrs. Jessica Gregorski, Family Consumer Science teacher; Khloe Mistishin, Phoebe Schmitt, Sophia Franchak, Ellyana Armstrong, Abigail Brown, Liliana Hayes, Holly Kellogg, and Mr. Paul B. Gregorski, High School Principal.
Front row, from left: Morgan Malloy, Emaan Tanveer, MaKennah Holbert, Debbie Cosentino, Children’s Program Manager, VIP; Julia Hart, Lily Kieva, and Layla Persaud.
Middle School Pic Two:
From left: Cayden Clever, Mrs. Devon Farley, middle school art teacher; Mackenzie Hoke, and Aubrey Hendricks. Not pictured, middle school participant: Trinity Leonard.
Winner Pic Three:
From left: Debbie Cosentino, VIP; Elizabeth St. Louis, High school winner; and Mrs. Jessica Gregorski. [...]
SPECIAL NOTICE regarding the CAT PACK games.February 5, 2025The District is aware of concerns and potential misinformation regarding CAT Pack games. To clarify, Western Wayne School District is excited that our student-athletes will once again participate in Special Olympics at Delaware Valley; an opportunity that has not happened since COVID.
We acknowledge the excitement around CAT Pack games, and to increase opportunities for peer engagement, the district plans to incorporate CAT Pack activities into building-level events, such as monthly PBIS, spirit games, and field day. Funds acquired through a local grant will be used to create a memorable experience for those students who may not meet Special Olympic criteria.
Additionally, the district continues to collaborate with Special Olympics to offer extracurricular activities, such as unified track and field and more recently, bocce ball.
We will continue to celebrate all students in district activities throughout the year. Please contact the District Office with any questions. 1-800-321-9973 Option 5. [...]
District Receives Donation from Jersey Mike’sFebruary 3, 2025Jersey Mike’s recently made a donation to the Western Wayne School District. They held a fundraiser during their grand opening which resulted in a donation of over $3,600 to the district. The district is very grateful to the restaurant chain for their generous donation in support of our school community.
Pictured left to right: Casey Newcomer – WWMS Principal; Mike Tirko – Jersey Mike’s Regional Director; and Paul B. Gregorski II – WWHS Principal. [...]
