High School
WW FCCLA Recognized at Virtual State Leadership Conference
The FCCLA Western Wayne Chapter received recognition at the Virtual State Leadership Conference held this past spring. Western Wayne FCCLA received three award certificates.
The club’s adviser Mrs. Lori Lucchesi was recognized for being a PA FCCLA Adviser for five years; Western Wayne High School was recognized for outstanding FCCLA Membership for being the largest high school; and Western Wayne student Kennedy Mistishin received the great honor of being recognized as Chapter Member of the year.
Lucchesi is extremely proud of all of the work done in Western Wayne’s FCCLA chapter this year. The students helped at Western Wayne’s annual Veterans Day assembly, held a very successful Breakfast with Santa community service project, and worked many hours to prepare their FCCLA State Leadership Conference projects, among many other events and activities that the club did together. Mrs. Paula Lamberton was a volunteer for the organization this year, and the Breakfast with Santa would not have happened without Paula’s hard work.
“I am proud of all of the efforts of Western Wayne FCCLA members,” Mrs. Lucchesi said. “I look forward to continuing to work with our students to do more great work for FCCLA in the future.”
Pictured are students in Western Wayne’s FCCLA Club helping to greet Veterans for Western Wayne’s annual Veterans Day Assembly this past November. From left: Paige Bell, Zoey Goldman, Kennedy Mistishin, Chapter Member of the year; Jaquelyn Morris, and Jaden Gregory.
Western Wayne Virtual Graduation
Virtual Graduation Taping Time Slots
Attached to this message you will find a schedule of times for seniors to attend the Virtual Graduation ceremony. Seniors will report on either Thursday, May 28th, Friday, May 29th, or Monday, June 1st. Seniors should be dressed in their cap and gown. Appropriate dress attire should be worn underneath the cap and gown including shirt and tie with slacks and dress shoes. Dresses, dress pants, skirts and/or blouses or dress tops are also appropriate. Jeans, sneakers, and collarless shirts are not appropriate.
Seniors should arrive in one vehicle with their immediate family members a few minutes prior to their scheduled time and park outside of the high school auditorium entrance. A staff member will direct the graduate and their family into the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium. In order to maintain the safety of students and staff, individuals will not be permitted to enter the school building without a protective mask. The staff and administration will direct the graduate and their family to the stage where the graduate will be filmed receiving their diploma. Parents/guardians will be offered the opportunity to present the graduate with their diploma on stage during this event. There will be a professional photographer present to take pictures of each graduate and their family. One print of the graduate’s choice will be purchased by the senior class and provided to each graduate as a gift. Additional prints will be available to purchase from the on-site photographer at a later time.
Once the filming of the Virtual Graduation ceremony is complete the ceremony will be edited with assistance from the Sinclair Broadcast Group who have partnered with us to allow the Graduation ceremony to be aired on the FOX56 WOLF-TV, The CW WSWB-TV & MyTV WQMY family of stations. The time that the Graduation ceremony will be aired will be communicated to families when it becomes available.
https://ww3.westernwayne.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Virtual-Graduation-Time-Slots.pdf
Western Wayne Senior Receives Music Scholarship
Senior Western Wayne band student Kristoff Bien-Aime has received the Tim Bell Scholarship. It is a Fall Music Festival Scholarship awarded to the graduating senior who exhibits a passion for music and the ability to lead and inspire others with the power of music. The scholarship is given to a student who enhances and values their community by uniting others and creating an enriched environment with their love for music. Kristoff will use his scholarship at Widener University in the fall. In addition, Kristoff was recently awarded the Black and Gold Award by the Western Wayne Band. The Black and Gold Award is the only award that Western Wayne Band members themselves vote on for one of their own. Some of the qualities considered for this award are that it goes to the student who has the most spirit and school pride in the group.
Western Wayne FBLA Members Receive Awards at Virtual SLC
The Awards of Excellence Program at the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference (SLC) is a night many PA FBLA members wait for each year. With schools closed around the state members began to wonder if this night would ever happen.
On Friday, May 15, it did happen! The top 10 awards in competitive events and the PA FBLA State Officer Team for the 2020-2021 school year were announced virtually on the PA FBLA website. Trading their suits and dress for sweatpants and tee shirts, and the jumbo screens and large meeting hall for a computer screen and a couch in their living room, FBLA members from around the state were able to “attend” the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference this year.
“The Awards Program was a shining light in what has been a really weird past two months. Seeing Pennsylvania FBLA come together as a membership, it spread a feeling of positivity we hadn’t felt in months. I am so proud of Western Wayne FBLA for still succeeding no matter the circumstances.” Western Wayne FBLA Chapter President and outgoing PA FBLA First Vice President, Ezra Tetreault said.
“We work extremely hard all year to experience the exhilaration of hearing our names called in front of 5,000 in Hershey. We have built a FBLA legacy here. It began way before my time and I am confident the classes down the road will keep pushing it forward. Winning is the culture and it was writing on the wall in 2020.” Said Tetreault.
Twenty-two of the forty members that competed at the SLC placed in the top 10 in their competitive events. Western Wayne FBLA swept 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in three individual events. In Accounting I, Lacey Falloon placed 1st, Alex Hineline placed 2nd, and Celeste Orchard placed 3rd. Rach Hoch placed 1st, Kaeil Romanowski placed 2nd and Abby Kapschull placed 3rd in Introduction to FBLA. In Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure, Gabby Tetreault was the 1st place winner, Rachel Tuman was 2nd and Ashton Fitzsimmons was 3rd. Also, in individual events, Adelaide Treibley placed 8th in Impromptu Speaking.
Four teams also placed in the top 10. James Fryzel and Caden Slifko captured 8th placed in Emerging Business Issues. Skylar Long and Ella Pavlovich placed 5th in Introduction to Business Presentation. The team of Landon Firmstone, Julia Lamberton, and Collin Murry placed 3rd in Entrepreneurship. The Parliamentary Procedure team of Darlene Black, Lenny Maiocco, Kate Mattern, Lena Piccolino and Sydney Peet had a 1st place win.
Additional awards included an 8th and 3rd place win for Sydney Peet and Ezra Tetreault in Who’s Who in PA FBLA. Western Wayne FBLA received 8th place in Outstanding Chapter and 10th place in Local Market Share. Darlene Black, Sydney Peet, and Ezra Tetreault each received a William Seldon scholarship ranging from $250 to $750.
Lenny Maiocco was selected as the Pennsylvania FBLA State Parliamentarian for the 2020-2021 school year. The parliamentarian in not an elected position, the candidate with the highest score on the Parliamentary Procedure test is appointed to the position.
“Even though the Awards Ceremony was not what it usually is, it was really great to see how well everyone did,” Lenny Maiocco said. “It is easy to just say that I am not going to do anything because the State Leadership Conference was cancelled, but Western Wayne really excelled and the hard work that everyone put in paid off.”
The competition is not over yet. The FBLA members that placed in the top 4 in their respective events will have the opportunity to compete at the national level. FBLA will be hosting a virtual National Leadership Experience this year to members to engage in this June.
Caption: Pictured is Lenny Maiocco who was selected as the Pennsylvania FBLA State Parliamentarian for the 2020-2021 school year. The parliamentarian is not an elected position, the candidate with the highest score on the Parliamentary Procedure test is appointed to the position.
Graduation Plans – 2020
The Western Wayne School District is pleased to announce plans for celebrating the Class of 2020 Graduation ceremony and activities. Please see the letter below with the official announcement. More information and specific instructions for graduating seniors and their families will be provided in the coming days. Again, we thank you for your patience and your understanding throughout this process.
Color Guard New Membership Google Meet
Wednesday, May 20, 3:15 p.m.
Interested students who will be in grades 8 through 12 next year should email Mrs. McLaughlin at jmclaughlin@westernwayne.org for more information prior to the meeting.
We perform with the Marching Band along with participating in various trips and events throughout the school year.
We are looking to recruit new members for this coming school year and hope to see you at our meet.
Remember to email jmclaughlin@westernwayne.org prior to May 20 to get more information on this meeting.
attention high schoolers, who wants to cheer for the wildcats this fall?
Western Wayne Senior Accepted to Fashion Institute of Technology
Abby Black models one of her designs in last year’s Cat Walk. 
Abby poses in front of her soon-to-be school after being accepted to the prestigious FIT in New York City. 
Abby Black, center, is pictured here with members of her design team. (left Trina Barcarola and right Noelle Orehek. 
Abby Black models her design using recycled materials during the 2019 Cat Walk. 
This is just one of the fabulous creations by senior designer and seamstress Abby Black who has been accepted at FIT for the fall. 
Choosing the right material is an integral step in fashion design. Here Abby chooses some fabric for her senior design class.
By Eleanor Black, Western Wayne freshman.
Eleanor Black is a freshman attending WWHS. She’s active in FBLA, student council, track, and soccer.
As the school year dwindles to a close, high school seniors begin to file the first of their college applications. Several have their hearts set on the school of their dreams, picturing themselves walking across campus. For Western Wayne student Abby Black, this childhood dream became reality.
As a hesitant freshman, Abby was easily persuaded to join fashion. With a driving passion and a nervous heart, she did not know what to expect. “I didn’t even know how to sew properly,” she said with a laugh. Gaining some confidence, Abby volunteered to model in the yearly Catwalk held by the fashion department. She was filled with anxiety. Though, when stepping on stage, her fear dissolved, and a realization hit; this is where she belonged.
In her sophomore year, Abby brought the Catwalk to the public. She hosted the event to raise awareness and bring appreciation to the school’s fashion department. The community show gave acknowledgement to designers and allowed for them to proudly express their creations. It was a charity event, for all proceeds went to the food pantry in Honesdale. “It was stressful,” Abby admits.” But I still had a lot of fun.”
Throughout her high school career, Abby’s love for fashion only grew. She continued to design and create while taking inspiration from current trends and media, watching her sketches take life. “I love conceptualizing and portraying an importance message through fashion,” Abby said.
Wanting to pursue her dream, Abby applied to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The school’s selectiveness in design only pressed her to work harder. “I felt my work didn’t compare to the number of students who also wanted it,” Abby disclosed. Yet, despite these worries, Abby continued to perfect her portfolio, only wanting to exhibit her best work. “It was nerve-wracking because they don’t accept everyone,” she confesses. However, the days of hard labor worked! Upon getting her acceptance letter, Abby burst into tears, relieved. “It didn’t feel real.”
Abby will still go off to the college of her dreams but is stripped of her senior catwalk. The show, like other culminating events, is cancelled due to the closure of school amid the statewide COVID-19 shutdowns. Abby is saddened about the catwalk being cancelled. “I’ve looked forward to it every year,” she said. It’s understandably difficult for senior designers like her not to have this final moment to showcase their accomplishments. Abby was looking forward all year to creating the exciting stage she’s spent years planning and also to enjoying friendly competition with her peers. “I was excited about being the head designer and it is upsetting I won’t get that experience,” Abby said.
Still, despite a rough year to the school year, Abby plans to continue driving forward and eventually, make a name for herself in the fashion world.
Good luck in the Big Apple, Abby!
ALL NEWS
Students Attend World Language Day at The University of ScrantonMarch 7, 2025On Tuesday, March 4th, The University of Scranton held their second World Language Day in which they hosted over 100 high school students to experience lessons in Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, German, and Arabic. Some Western Wayne High School students were in attendance and loved their experience.
“It was very interesting to be immersed in so many different languages,” Kallie Wehrmann, Western Wayne senior, said. “I really loved making new friends and learning about different cultures. I am so excited to go to college next year and feel this experience makes me even more prepared for the future.”
From left: Mrs. Sara Orloski, Jack Sepelyak, Lance Hauenstein, Kaitlin Wargo, Leah Reeger, Julia Wehrmann, Katie Skirpan, Lily Kieva, Kallie Wehrmann, Chloe Gilpin, Maria Gadoua, and Mrs. Sandrowicz. [...]
High School February Students of the MonthMarch 5, 2025The following students were recognized by the Student Council as students of the month for February. Their teachers and administrators weighed in on the decisions. All of the students chosen hold a high standard of academic and personal excellence. They are true examples of the P.R.I.D.E. standards for PBIS at our school.
First, Leah Reeger is our selected freshman. Leah is an all-around excellent student who has a passion for art. In addition, she is involved in Envirothon, Student Council, and Ultimate Frisbee. One of her favorite classes is her Honors English class. She feels as though her writing is growing in strength this year, especially her poetry and literary analysis work.
She also is greatly enjoying her Introduction to Ceramics class this year.
“We are learning how to make basic items like bowls,” Leah explained. “I really like coming up with new items to create and then making them a reality through my art.”
Leah aspires to own a coffee shop with an art theme that focuses on nature.
Next, Eric McGrath is our chosen sophomore this month. Eric is an enthusiastic student who gives his best effort in all he does. His sports and activities include soccer, track, and Envirothon. His favorite class this year is English.
“I like writing best, especially fiction analysis,” he said. Eric plans to attend college after graduation with an undecided major at the moment.
In addition, Loucynthia Allen is this month’s featured junior. She is another very dedicated student who enjoys art. Her clubs and activities include Spanish Club, National Art Honor Society, and Envirothon.
Her favorite class this year is ceramics.
“I really like being in my own world when I create art,” she said.
She aspires to become a dentist or dental hygienist for her future career.
Finally, David Elias is our senior spotlight this month. David is an exceptional academic student and talented student athlete. His sports and activities include basketball, track and FBLA.
His favorite class is calculus.
“I enjoy problem solving and working with numbers,” he said.
David plans to attend a four-year university upon graduation with an undecided major.
The Western Wayne School District congratulates these February students of the month and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.
From left: Leah Reeger, Eric McGrath, Mr. Robert Black, high school assistant principal; Loucynthia Allen, and David Elias. [...]
PA State Grant UpdateMarch 5, 2025PA State Grant Information:
PHEAA has informed us that they will be not be using GrantUS to process the PA State Grant. They will be using their legacy system and expect to have initial emails to students to apply for the 2025-26 PA State Grant in April. Please be on the lookout for an email from PHEAA if you filled out your FAFSA regarding the state grant [...]
Students Win Big With Energy Efficiency!March 4, 2025A group of ninth grade students at Western Wayne High School received the Honorable Mention award in a special PPL contest.
Aidyn Graci and Mitchell Ferraro General Science, students from the high school were the Honorable Mention winners in the PPL Electric THINK! ENERGY Innovation Challenge. The contest required students to develop an interactive and hands-on presentation on energy, natural resources and environmental issues.
Science teacher Dr. Mark Nebzydoski led the challenge for Western Wayne by registering all Western Wayne High School students for free energy conservation kits, which consisted of three compact fluorescent light bulbs, a smart energy power strip, a shower timer, a faucet aerator and water-saving shower head. Each student was then asked to take the kits home, install the energy-saving equipment and survey how much energy was saved due to the use of the equipment.
“The students projects submitted were very creative and entertaining.” Nebzydoski said. “Seeing students learning about energy efficiency and applying it to the real world is the perfect model of how education should work.” “High school students are tomorrow’s homeowners, so reinforcing energy efficiency messages is important.”
The winning students’ project included a video on energy efficiency. They can be found from a link on the Western Wayne Website. https://youtu.be/EDmCGFHw4Lk Winning students each received Beats wireless earbuds. Dr. Nebzydoski received $250 for classroom supplies.
“I am proud of the student’s hard work and achievement,” Dr. Nebzydoski said.
The students really had a lot of fun making the video with the ongoing theme of “Come on, Mr. Nebz!” Throughout the clip, they kept telling their favorite teacher to be more careful about energy usage in his classroom.
Mitchell Ferraro, who of the winning students who aspires to be a social studies teacher, really liked how fun it was to make the video and tell Mr. Nebz what to do throughout it.
Fellow video creator Aidyn Graci, who aspires to study business one day be very successful, was relieved when they finished the project. “I was glad to get to the end and see our hard work pay off,” he said.
PPL Electric Utilities, in conjunction with National Energy Foundation (NEF) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), is proud to sponsor the THINK! ENERGY with E-power educational program. There are three program offerings for various grade levels and each is designed to provide teachers and students with energy education. All program offerings are free and are correlated to Pennsylvania learning standards.
Please see contest link https://thinkenergy.org/ppl-innovation/teachers/
From left: Dr. Mark Nebzydoski, Mitchell Ferraro, and Aidyn Graci. [...]
PPL Awards Gift Certificate to Western Wayne SophomoreMarch 4, 2025PPL awarded Western Wayne sophomore student Liam O’Brien an amazon gift card as a prize for completing a survey about his usage of tools in the Innovation Kit that all Western Wayne 9th grade high school students got as a part of the PPL Think! Energy program this past fall. The students were challenged to use the items in the kit such as a smart power strip, LED bulbs, and a special shower head for water conservation, among other items. Liam, who aspires to study culinary arts or sports broadcasting in the future, and many other Western Wayne students used these items and then filled in a survey about their experiences. Liam was the lucky winner drawn at random for the Western Wayne School District. Liam said he got the most use out of the power strip from the PPL kit. He likes his science class and prioritizes helping the environment. “I think it is important to be environmentally conscientious so that plants in nature can thrive and people in general have better health,” Liam said.From left: Dr. Mark Nebzydoski and Liam O’Brien. [...]
