High School CATS Club Spreads Holiday Cheer at Wayne Woodlands

Top row, from left: Allyson Irvine, Mackenzie Adams, and Angelina Correa.

The Western Wayne High School CATS club visited Wayne Woodlands Manor in Waymart on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, to spread Christmas cheer. They visited with all the residents and gave out a gift to each person. The residents and the students had a wonderful time talking to each other, singing, and spreading holiday spirit. Bottom row: Lizzie Washine. Middle row, from left: Lillian Bronson, Grace Lidy, and MaKennah Holbert.

High School Creative Writing Students Help Santa

Juniors MaKennah Holbert (left) and Elizabeth Washine (right) proudly display Santa letters.

Western Wayne High School students in the Creative Writing elective classes served as Santa’s helpers by composing official North Pole responses and crafting gifts for some RDW students who wrote to Santa about their wish lists. Students were excited for the opportunity to use their talents to do a good deed this holiday season.

High School Students Participate in WAHS Engineering Competition

From left: Makayla Walton, Julia Wehrmann, Colette Schmitt, Kallie Wehrmann, and Lia Hartman.

This past October Western Wayne High School science students participated in the WAHS Engineering Competition held at Wallenpaupack Area High School and hosted by the WAHS Technology Club Kiley and Associates.

It was a one-day engineering and design contest for local high schools. Teams were presented with a challenge at the start of the event. This year’s challenge was to make a marble move from one end of a board to the other in a certain timeframe. The marble had to move from one corner of the space to the other and couldn’t go off of it.

Students were given specific materials to use for the challenge which included: pipe cleaners, tape, uncooked pasta, rope, chain, silly puddy, wood blocks, etc.

Two groups of Western Wayne High Schoolers participated and competed against groups of students from other local schools. One of the Western Wayne groups won the award for the Most Ingenious Use of Materials. This winning group included: Makayla Walton, Julia Wehrmann, Colette Schmitt, Kallie Wehrmann, and Lia Hartman. A second group of Western Wayne students also participated and had a great learning experience: Anita Vanyo, Stephanie Mildner, Sean Owens, Jacob Dietrich, and Jacob Schott.

Lia Hartman, Western Wayne junior, who plans to attend medical school and study pathology in the future, explained how her group used their materials “ingeniously” for the challenge.

“Instead of having it all one dimension, we created a wall and along the wall funnels to slow down the marble,” she explained. ‘We also included a maze at the bottom of our project.”

All of Lia’s teammates were excited to be recognized for their work in the competition.

“I thought I was going to feel a lot more pressure,” Makayla Walton, a Western Wayne junior who wishes to attend a four-year college after graduation to study psychology and also wants to pursue a doctorate in the same field, said. “But I realized that everyone had the same task to accomplish and that we needed to have confidence in ourselves and each other.”

Another one of their teammates, Julia Wehrmann, a Western Wayne junior, who would like to study science and medicine after graduation, explained how she learned a lot about adapting to unexpected situations from the competition.

“When we practiced ahead of time for the event, we didn’t know exactly how difficult it would be,” she explained. “At the actual competition, the scenario was harder than we anticipated, and we had to work together to meet the challenge.”

All of the Western Wayne students who attended the event felt like they learned a lot and those who are not seniors look forward to participating in the competition again next year.

Semi-Formal Princess and Prince Crowned

From left: Khloe Mistishin, Semi Princess; and Paul Borowski, Semi Prince.

This past Saturday, Dec. 2, Western Wayne hosted their annual Semi Formal which took place at Ladore Camp in Waymart from 4 to 9 p.m. About 300 people were in attendance that included students, faculty, and security members. The theme was Hollywood and the student body voted sophomores Khloe Mistishin and Paul Borowski to be crowned as Semi Princess and Semi Prince.

Western Wayne Drama Club Visits Broadway

The Western Wayne Drama Club recently had its first-ever Broadway trip on November 8 to see the musical Wicked which is celebrating 20 years on Broadway this year. The students enjoyed a fun-filled day which also included a stop at the well-known Ellen’s Stardust Diner where they were entertained by their “world famous” singing wait staff while they enjoyed lunch. The students felt inspired by all of the incredibly talented performers they encountered on their trip and are set to begin working on their upcoming spring musical at Western Wayne, The Addams Family School Edition, with performances to be held on Friday, April 12; Saturday, April 13; and Sunday, April 14.

Western Wayne Students to Attend District Chorus

From left: Vallita Belinova, Stephanie Maxwell, Emily Lescinski, and Owen Obloshny

Western Wayne chorus students have qualified to participate in the PMEA District 9 Chorus Festival at Dallas High School this coming January. Students were chosen from recorded video auditions that were submitted in October. The Western Wayne Chorus students selected to attend this year are Vallita Belinova, 11th Grade, 17th on Soprano 1; Stephanie Maxwell, 11th Grade, 2nd Alternate on Soprano 1; Emily Lescinski, 12th Grade, 16th on Soprano 1; and Owen Obloshny, 10th Grade, 12th on Tenor 1. All of the students are eager to have the opportunity to attend districts.

“I’m really excited to work with students from other districts and learn more about music,” senior Emily Lescinski said.

Western Wayne Celebrates Veterans Day

Mrs. Elaine Ort, high school band director, conducts her band at the Veterans Day assembly.

As a tradition for many years, Western Wayne administration, faculty, staff, and students joined together on Thursday, Nov. 9, to celebrate veterans in the community with a special in-school event that featured music from the high school band and chorus, a video presentation about Veterans Day, and a question and answer session with the veterans.
Many local veterans attended the presentation at Western Wayne, some of which had special connections to district faculty and students.
One such veteran at the assembly who has a connection was James English who served in the Marine Corps. English served with Major, USMA retired, Shane Grodack’s father, Sergeant Chester J. Grodack, USMC United States Marine Corp.
Major Grodack, a Western Wayne Middle School history teacher, organizes the Veterans Day assembly each year and was glad that an old friend of his father’s could participate.
English recalled that his best duty in the service was flying helicopters for the White House under presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy.
He fondly remembers traveling for this assignment to places like South America, Camp David, and Venezuela.
“At times we would go by sea and take the planes on ships,” he recalled. “It was amazing to get to see the world.”
English is now the Deputy Commander of the American Legion 15th District.
“I hope that the veterans presence at today’s assembly inspires others to go in the service and do good for others,” he said.
Fellow veteran Frank DiRosa had ties to two special students at the assembly. He had the pleasure of having his granddaughter sophomore Sydney Sosa help escort him. Sydney is a member of the Western Wayne Student Ambassador Program that helps to facilitate events of this nature at the school. His granddaughter Sophie Burian, 8th grade, was also at the assembly.
DiRosa left his senior year of high school early to become a Marine. He earned his GED while in the service which he spent six years in.
DiRosa hopes the middle and high school students who attended the event learned something from seeing the veterans there.
“Commitment is something that I think young people can learn from veterans,” he explained. “Too many times nowadays people start something and give up.”
Sydney is proud of her grandfather’s commitment to the service.
“I want him to be appreciated,” she explained. “I am glad that his friends who are veterans are here this morning, and I hope they all feel some joy.”
Sydney really enjoys spending time with her grandfather and learning from him.
“We play chess and golf together,” she said. “He loves history, and, sometimes, we just sit and talk about it.”
Fellow veteran and friend of DiRosa, Bryan Strubel also wished for the students at the assembly to feel inspired by the program.
“Patriotism is what I think they should gain from today,” he explained.
Strubel spent six years total in the Navy; four years active and two years reserve. He worked in a training squadron with trainer pilots. He also worked with F9s and FA4s. His job was being a jet mechanic working with A frames and quality control, among many other things.
He is originally from New York and later moved to Waymart. Currently he is a member of the American Legion 889 in Waymart.
His friend George Schaffer, an Air Force member, was also in attendance. Schaffer spent four years in the Air Force. He was also a part of the National Guard. In the service, his duty was a cook. Later he worked for 35 years as a Tobyhanna Army civilian doing electrical/ mechanical work. He is also a member of the 899 Legion in Waymart.
“I hope that students gain a respect for service people from the presentation,” he explained. “Maybe some will go into the Marines or the guard.”
DiRosa, Strubel, and Schaffer are grateful to still be friends and active in their American Legion years after their time in active service.
In comparison, Western Wayne Alumni from the class of 2023 Nathaniel Swingle and Luke Janiszewski are equally grateful for their friendship that blossomed at Western Wayne and led them to joining the service as a part of the buddy system. The two recent Marine Corps enlistees completed their first round of basic training together and will go on to join a fleet at an undisclosed location some time in the near future after additional training. The two served as squad leaders at their boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina.
Swingle and Janiszewski became friends with North Pocono graduate Kariem Withers after bootcamp. The three servicemen currently are working for the Scranton Recruiting Office. They go to local high schools and interact with students to inspire them to sign-up for military service.
“I joined the military to improve myself,” Withers explained. “I feel a lot more disciplined now even just having a short time in so far.”
Withers explained that he really enjoyed working with Swingle and Janiszewski. “They are motivators,” he said.
Janiszewski aspires to attend college after his time in the service and become a secondary social studies teacher. Swingle can see himself studying business in college and aspires to open a sporting goods store one day.
A veteran at the event whose service is inspiring to all there was Elwood Merring. Merring earned the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and three Purple Hearts for what he did in combat in his service to the Army in Vietnam.
Merring is a member of the American Legion 807 in Hamlin. He is an extremely humble, decorated serviceman.
“I hope the students learn about the history of what veterans went through,” he explained.
The Western Wayne School District is proud to host veterans on their campus in remembrance of Veterans Day as a yearly tradition since 1982. The entire District thanks all of the veterans who took the time to attend the assembly and especially sends well wishes to all Western Wayne alumni who have served or are currently serving.

Mrs. Ort and Marching Band on WBRE WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15 from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Mrs. Ort and the Pride of Western Wayne, the Wildcat Marching Band will appear on WBRE television tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 15. The group will have a live spot at 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m., and 6:30 a.m. that will be broadcast from our high school. The station will interview Mrs. Ort about her upcoming performance with the Saluting America’s Band Directors project in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Both Mrs. Ort and the band will be featured in this broadcast. Be sure to tune in to watch them shine TOMORROW, WED. NOV. 15, starting at 5 a.m.

High School Creative Writing Students Submit Their Work to Contests

Winners pictured (left to right):
Olivia Ford (junior), Melinda Kopcza (senior), and Laylah Epstein (sophomore).

In the month of October, students in the inaugural Creative Writing elective at Western Wayne High School were challenged with the task of composing a 100-word or less mini saga with the purpose of evoking suspense and intrigue. While students had the option to submit their sagas to a national level competition via the Young Writers 2023 “SOS Saga: Hunted” contest, their pieces were entered in to the class contest evaluated by a variety staff and students.

Runners up were Olivia Ford’s “Inner Demons” and Laylah Epstein’s “The Wake.”

The first place “boo-basket” prize was awarded to Melinda Kopcza for her thrilling saga, “Mama’s Boy.”

Sophomores Chosen to Attend HOBY

From left: Cassidy Levens and Laylah Epstein.

Western Wayne sophomores Cassidy Levens and Laylah Epstein have been chosen to represent Western Wayne at the 2024 Central Pennsylvania HOBY Leadership Seminar this June 2024.

Cassidy is an accomplished Western Wayne honor roll sophomore student who enjoys being a part of a variety of clubs at school including: football cheerleading, basketball cheerleading, political science club, softball, and drama club.

In Cassidy’s leadership essay for HOBY, she explained what leadership meant to her by discussing strong leadership role models she has worked with.

“I think that a good leader influences people around them in a positive way,” Cassidy said. “Leaders I have worked with have not tried to boss me around, instead they have made me want to become a leader as well. These leaders have truly cared about me and other members of my teams and have inspired me.”

After high school, Cassidy aspires to study political science in college and go on to pursue a career as a lawyer and/ or a legislator.

Cassidy’s classmate Laylah Epstein, a sophomore honor roll student, also is a Hoby winner for Western Wayne and shares a similar view on leadership as Cassidy.

“I think a good leader leads by example,” Laylah explained. “Good leaders I have worked with want to see others succeed.”

Laylah is a member of both football and basketball cheerleading.

After high school, Laylah plans to major in nursing and become an ER nurse.

Both girls look forward to attending the conference in the spring and meeting other student leaders from various districts.

“I hope to learn about their different outlooks on life and leadership at the conference,” Cassidy explained.

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