High School

FCCLA Students Place at National Leadership Conference


From left, Western Wayne FCCLA members, all seniors: Adelaide Treibley, Kennedy Mistishin, and Zoey Goldman.

Western Wayne students participated virtually in the FCCLA National Leadership Conference held the first week of July in Nashville, Tennessee, this past summer. 

According to FCCLA’s official website, “More than 4,500 members, advisers, and supporters from across the country participated in FCCLA’s first-ever Hybrid National Leadership Conference. Whether attending virtually or in-person, FCCLA challenged all conference attendees to grow “Beyond Measure” through career exploration, virtual networking, Competitive Event recognition, professional development opportunities, student-led leadership sessions, and more!”

Western Wayne students Zoey Goldman and Kennedy Mistishin presented their community service project which involved a very successful Breakfast with Santa for our local community.  The girls placed in the top five percent at nationals.

Fellow classmate Adelaide Treibley did a public speaking presentation on the effects of COVID on professional employment.  She placed in the top ten percent at nationals.

“I enjoyed preparing my presentation and participating in nationals this year,” Adelaide said.  “I look forward to another great year in FCCLA.”

The FCCLA program helps students to develop skills for life through: character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation.

Western Wayne Creates Safe Space for High School Students

The Western Wayne School District is excited to announce the opening of  Western Wayne High School’s Wildcat Den. The Wildcat Den will be available to students in need of a safe space to de-escalate, de-stress, and re-set. Initially, the Wildcat Den will be open and staffed during the lunch periods. It is our vision that teachers will reserve the space for their classes on occasion. In addition, any student wishing to utilize the space can talk to their school counselor. 

“The Wildcat Den offers multiple stations designated to calm the sensory system,” Rachael Palko, high school guidance counselor, explained.  “There is a station for auditory, tactical, visual, olfactory, vestibular, and proprioceptive. Examples of some tools in the space include: a weighted lap pad, balance pods, comfortable seating, elliptical training machine, fidget tools, games, music, and many other wonderful resources.”

The Wildcat Den is sponsored through Western Wayne School District and developed by the High School Counseling Department in conjunction with Dr. Katie Shemanski – Moro.

The Wildcat Den

We are excited to announce the opening of the Western Wayne High School’s Wildcat Den, located in room 202. The Wildcat Den will be available to students in need of a safe space to de-escalate, de-stress, and re-set. Initially, the Wildcat Den will be open and staffed during the lunch periods. It is our hope teachers will reserve the space for their classes on occasion. In addition, any student wishing to utilize the space can talk to their School Counselor. The Wildcat Den offers multiple stations designated to calm the sensory system. There is a station for auditory, tactical, visual, olfactory, vestibular, and proprioceptive. Examples of some tools in the space include: a weighted lap pad, balance pods, comfortable seating, elliptical training machine, fidget tools, games, music, and many other wonderful resources.

College Fair @WWHS – 10/6/21

Western Wayne’s College and Career Fair will be on October 6th during 1st through 4th periods. We are excited to announce we have partnered with Strive Scan. This is an easy and contactless way for students to share their information with the Colleges in attendance. There is no longer any need to complete the information cards at the tables. Following the fair, each student will receive an email with information about each college they connected with, through their individualized barcodes.  All students should register at https://www.strivescan.com/visits/ . Select student registration and complete the personal and student information. The academic and demographic information is optional. Your individualized barcode will then be texted and emailed to you. If you do not have a cell phone, you can print out the barcode to be scanned during the fair.

Hot Rod Club Hosting 6th Annual Car Show

The Western Wayne Hot Rod Club will host their 6th Annual Car Show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3.  Spectators enter for free.  Registration cost for vehicles is ten dollars.  Cars will be directed to park in the lots near the football stadium for the show.  The Drama Club will sell concessions  at the stadium for spectators.  In addition, there  will be music, basket raffles, and, of course, prizes for car, truck, tractor, motorcycle, and best in show.  All proceeds benefit both the Hot Rod and Drama Clubs.  Please come out and support our students for this event to end Homecoming weekend.

National Substitute Appreciation Week

National Substitute Appreciation Week is September 6-10. Western Wayne is grateful for our substitute and guest teachers. Thank you for stepping in to work with students when we need you the most!

If you are interested in joining the Western Wayne team, contact the District Office at 1-800-321-9973 Option 5.

Western Wayne Class of 2021 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

  • Salutatorian, Celeste Orchard



  • Valedictorian, Leonard Maiocco III

Valedictorian, Leonard Maiocco III

Lenny’s hometown is Lake Ariel, PA. His parents are Christa and Len Maiocco. His activities in school are FBLA, NHS, Student Council, Spanish Club, Youth Advisory Committee, and tennis. In addition, he was named one of the Scranton Times Superstar Scholars. In FBLA, he was the State Parliamentarian for the 2020-2021 school year. In addition, he placed 1st at States in FBLA for Parliamentary Procedure, and in tennis he has won the District 2 Class 2A Boys Single Championships three years in a row and placed 3rd as a sophomore at States and 4th as a senior. His plans for the future are to attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Salutatorian, Celeste Orchard

Celeste’s hometown is Lake Ariel, PA. Her parents are Jeffrey and Magdalena Orchard. Her activities in school are National Honor Society, dual-enrollment, and Tomorrow’s Leaders Today. Her freshman year, she participated in girl’s JV soccer and art club. Also, she was a member of the Varsity Track team her freshman through junior years. In addition, she participated in Student Council and SAAD for her freshman through junior years. She also is a student ambassador for Western Wayne. In addition, she won second runner up in the American Chemical Society’s exam for first year high school chemistry. In her junior year in FBLA, she placed third in the Accounting I event. For her future plans, Celeste committed to Marywood University to study Pre-Professional Biology. She also completed her first year of college via dual enrollment from Penn State Scranton and Lackawanna College. In addition, she was named one of the Scranton Times Superstar Scholars. She maintained her class rank although she took on college coursework and completed her college courses with A’s. She took courses during winter break and intends to continue with a summer course. Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree, she plans to pursue graduate school to become an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Western Wayne High School Hosts Graduation for Class of 2021

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Picture One: From left, seniors Maggie Millon, Rachel Wertman, and Keyly-Shaye Robinson compare the unique caps they made for graduation. Millon will take a gap year and hopes to pursue a career that possibly involves fashion design. She was the only four-year fashion design student in the Western Wayne graduating class of 2021. Wertman plans to attend Iowa State University to major in science. Robinson plans to attend Nova Southeastern University in Florida to study Marine Biology.

Picture Two: From left, seniors Irene Sheehan, Thomas Gogolski,and Noelle Cruz chat about their friendship before the graduation ceremony. Sheehan plans to take a gap year and then do an internship in Kentucky in interior design. Gogolski will attend the University of South Florida and study finance. Cruz will attend the Pennsylvania College of Technology and study dental hygiene.

Picture Three: From left, band seniors head up from a final rehearsal to join their classmates in line for graduation Abigail Lopez, Stephanie Knecht, and Cheyenne Haney.

Picture Four: From left, band seniors head up from a final rehearsal to join their classmates in line for graduation Hailey Robbins, Julia Lamberton, and Alex Taylor.

Picture Five: Senior Rhonda Fenkner, one of this year’s drum majors, heads up to meet her classmates in line for graduation. Rhonda will attend Marywood in the fall and double-major in music therapy and music education.
Picture Six: Band Director Elaine Ort directs the Western Wayne Band as they play the processional music for graduation. Junior class president Morgan Coccodrilli looks on as the band plays (second row, end seat on left).

Picture Seven: Valedictorian Lenny Maiocco leads a line down to the field for graduation.
Picture Eight: Senior Hayley Kovaleski twirls around in the rain on the way down to the field to graduation. From left: Jordan Koch, Hayley Kovaleski, Michael Kromko, Miranda Kubilus, and Maggy Langendoerfer.

Picture Nine: Senior class president Madison McGlone passes the mantle on to junior class president Morgan Coccodrilli.

Picture Ten: Senior Gabby Velez receives her diploma. Velez plans to move to Illinois to be near family. After first joining the workforce, she hopes to attend college for art animation.

Picture Eleven: Salutatorian Celeste Orchard shakes hands with Western Wayne High School Principal Paul Gregorski after the graduation ceremony is over.

Picture Twelve: From left seniors Natasha Orehek and Maggie Millon embrace after receiving their diplomas. Orehek will attend Penn State Worthington in the fall with an undecided major.



True to the everchanging unique time the 2020-2021 school year was tonight’s graduation had a surprise rain shower as students processed onto the field in their caps and gowns.  Many say that rain is a sign of good luck or a blessing when it falls on an important day, and this graduation day for a class that had their senior year during a global pandemic was truly blessed with the love of all of the families of the graduates in attendance who cheered them on through rain and shine from the stands.  Students each had a limited amount of tickets to give to family members for tonight’s event to lessen the crowd.

Senior Madison McGlone, president of the Class of 2021, gave the Welcome Address.

“Once a Wildcat always a Wildcat,” she told her fellow classmates about how she knows they will always feel welcome back at the district in the future when they stop for a visit.

McGlone then presented the Class Mantle to Morgan Coccodrilli, junior class president.

Senior Celeste Orchard was then named salutatorian with a GPA of 101. Celeste gave a speech on the importance of words.“Words have power over us,” she said.  “Seldom do people celebrate themselves and it is important to celebrate our own value.  I have nothing but pride for myself and for my class.”

Next senior Leonard Maiocco III was announced as valedictorian with a GPA of 101.5.

“It is an honor and a privilege to give the final farewell to the class of 2021,” Maiocco said.  

He discussed the unique school year had by all. “We have faced challenges that no other class has ever had to face,” Lenny continued.  “We persisted and we are here tonight with our family members in the stands.”