1st Day of Practice is March 2

Sports available to 7th & 8th grades are Baseball, Softball, and Track. Boys Volleyball and Tennis are for High School only.

Western Wayne Students Receive YAC Grants

Wayne County Community Foundation, Youth Advisory Committee presented two separate grants to Western Wayne High School students Rachel Hoch and Sydney Hutchinson on Friday, January 24.

Ryanne Jennings and William Gershey, representing the Wayne County Community Foundation, presented the grants to the students.

Rachel Hoch, sophomore, received a grant to use for her senior project. The project involves her work with Western Wayne High School’s annual spring Catwalk fashion show themed “Tune into Fashion”. Rachel will work to plan decorations for the show along with sewing other projects for the event. She also will choose a charity to donate proceeds from the event to.

“I felt glad I wrote the grant,” Rachel explained. “I know the funds will greatly benefit our spring show along with the community that will get to enjoy seeing it.”

Fellow classmate Sydney Hutchinson, junior, received her grant for her senior project which is a 5K color run to take place at Western Wayne High School on May 16. More information on her project will be available at www.westernwayne.org in the spring. Sydney is a member of both the Cross County and track teams and has an interest in studying business in college. She believes that her project will combine all of her interests and give her some experience in event organizing.

“I’m excited to use the grant money to develop an amazing 5K event for the public to enjoy,” Sydney explained.

Western Wayne High School administration and staff feel proud of these students who received grants and encourage the community to come out and enjoy both of these upcoming spring events.

Picture one, from left, standing: Trina Barcarola (YCA), Mrs. Colleen Carmody, Rachel Hoch, and Brendan Fitzsimmons (YCA).

Picture two, from left, standing: Trina Barcarola, Mrs. Laura Wojnar, Sydney Hutchinson, Mrs. Annette Fox, and Brendan Fitzsimmons (YCA).

Western Wayne Ambassador Program Off to Strong Start

This year Western Wayne High School has begun a student ambassador program. Ambassadors greet visitors to the high school and escort them to their destination in the building among participating in other school events. In November, the ambassadors went through a training with Julie Bialkowski from Penn State Scranton.
Senior Lenny Maiocco explained how students learned a variety of skills at the training like how properly to shake hands, how to introduce themselves, how to speak at an accurate volume, and how to be open in speaking to others along with how to dress in a presentable manner. In addition, all student ambassadors have Western Wayne blazers with the school emblem on them to wear to look uniform and professional for all of the events they participate in.
The following high school students are a part of the program:
Celeste Orchard, Madison McGlone, Jamie Bryan, Kaeli Romanowski, Skylar Long, Cyrah Bihler, McKenzie Laity, Miranda Montijo, Cassidy Asinski, Angelia Reggie, Trina Barcarola, Landon Firmstone, Zane Janiszewski, Alex Amorine, Asia Nichols, Sinclaire Ogof, Brendan Fitzsimmons, Zachary Rovinsky, Jack McAllister, Parker Howell, James Fryzel, Derek Mason, Lenny Maiocco, Alaina Maiocco, Abby Black, Sinaea Buford, Ashton Fitzsimmons, Morgan Coccodrilli, Sydney Peet, and Ezra Tetreault.
The students felt very excited to attend their first event, Curriculum Night in January. The student ambassadors had the pleasure of serving as escorts for 8th grade students and their families to give them a taste of what the high school has to offer. The following ambassadors attended Curriculum Night: Jamie Bryan, Cassidy Asinski, Miranda Montijo, Celeste Orchard, Trina Barcarola, Lenny Maiocco, Ezra Tetreault, Derek Mason, Brendan Fitzsimmons, and Landon Firmstone.
Senior Landon Firmstone was especially glad to share information about the Robotics Team to an eighth grader in his tour group. Landon is highly involved in the Robotics Team and feels privileged to help pass on the legacy of the club to future freshmen.
“You almost don’t realize how much you know about the school until you serve as an ambassador and have to pass on your knowledge about it,” Landon, who aspires to study business management in college, explained.
Fellow ambassador Jamie Bryan also made connections with students in her Curriculum Night group. Jamie is a proud member of the Western Wayne Marching Band and discussed how she met five students who have an interest in joining band in high school.
“It was great to relate to possible future band students,” Jamie said. “I hope I helped them to feel confident in their decision to join our band.”
Senior Class President Ezra Tetreault explained how he also took time during Curriculum Night to inspire young students.
“I really wanted to impress on them that they can be who they want to be at our high school,” Ezra explained. “Whether it is in band, Spanish classes, business classes, sports, everywhere you look there is another opportunity to find yourself at our school.”
In addition to the ambassadors attending Curriculum Night, they have also started giving high school campus tours to visitors from the community.
Senior James Fryzel was the first ambassador to give a tour. He escorted John Brennan and Paul Brown from the Carbondale Technology Transfer Center (CTTC). Brennan and Brown spoke to Theresa Lubash’s marketing class about the CTTC which is a place to help people start businesses. The students learned how at CTTC they provide business and technical support, guided access to funding for businesses, and space with no long-term leases among a variety of other services and resources.
James felt honored to be able to give the opening student ambassador tour to Brennan and Brown. He was able to show them around the high school before taking them to his marketing class where they gave their presentation. Just as James was glad to share his knowledge of Western Wayne with the businessmen he was also glad to gain knowledge from his experience with them as was his marketing class.
“I learned that hard work and dedication can get you far in the business world,” James explained. “I think it is important to learn from people who have experience.”
James’ marketing class will be working to gather ideas for CTTC’s marketing department and will make a trip to CTTC as a way to further enrich their business studies.
James and all of the other Western Wayne student ambassadors look forward to meeting and welcoming more community members into their school.
Pictured are the members of the Western Wayne Student Ambassador Program. Row 1 (l to r): Celeste Orchard, Madison McGlone, Jamie Bryan, Kaeli Romanowski, Skylar Long, Cyrah Bihler, McKenzie Laity, Miranda Montijo, Cassidy Asinski, Angelia Reggie, Trina Barcarola, Landon Firmstone, Zane Janiszewski, and Alex Amorine. Row 2 (l to r): Asia Nichols, Sinclaire Ogof, Brendan Fitzsimmons, Zachary Rovinsky, Jack McAllister, Parker Howell, James Fryzel, Derek Mason. Absent from photo: Lenny Maiocco, Alaina Maiocco, Abby Black, Sinaea Buford, Ashton Fitzsimmons, Morgan Coccodrilli, Sydney Peet, and Ezra Tetreault.

Grain to Glory Field Trip

Western Wayne would like to thank Ryan, founder of Grain to Glory, for his hospitality and generosity! Ryan gave us the opportunity to learn how to make and take one of his signature flags. Students loved having the chance for such a hands on and engaging learning experience, with a wonderful host and his mascot Dora.

Western High School Students Participate in District Chorus Festival

Western Wayne High School Chorus students participated in the PMEA District Chorus Festival from January 15 through January 17. Sophomore Joanna Regalbuto qualified for the PMEA Region Chorus Festival, which will be held on February 26 through February 28 at the Greater Nanticoke High School. Pictured are the Western Wayne High School Chorus students who participated at this year’s District Chorus Festival. From left: Brad Wood, Alex Taylor, Dakota Beavers, Rhonda Fenkner, Andie Solimine, Joanna Regalbuto, and Trinity Williams.

Course Request Video – 2020-21

It is time to pick your classes for the 2020-21 school year. Please watch the video to hear about courses, requirements and the course request process.

Zane Janiszewski Named to WNEP’S “Super 16 Football Dream Team” 2019

Zane Janiszewski has been selected to Channel 16’s prestigious“Super 16 Dream Team” for football. The football players are selected from District II, IV, and XI by the Sports Department at WNEP Channel 16. Zane is the first football player ever selected to represent Western Wayne.

Zane led the Wildcats’s this year with the following:

Total Rushing Yards – 1,881 on 231 carries
Average Rushing Yards per carry – 8.1
Rushing Touchdowns – 30
Receiving Yards – 142
Total Yards – 2,023
Total Touchdowns 33
On Defense – 42 Solo Tackles and 59 Assists
Sacks – 1.5

Zane is a 3-Sport Athlete, he also plays basketball and baseball for the Wildcats. He is the son of Ken & Karen Janiszewski and resides in Moscow.

The show was taped today, and will be aired on Channel 16 on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 7:00 PM.

#wildcatproud

Western Wayne High School Band and Chorus

The Western Wayne High School Band and Chorus entertained students and staff on the day before the holiday break per years long tradition. Everyone enjoyed the in-school holiday concert that lifted their spirits.

Western Wayne School Resource Officer Makes a Difference

“A House is Not a Home” is a 1964 ballad made famous by Dionne Warwick in which she sings about how the most important part of a house is filling it with the people you care most for. This year, throughout the Western Wayne School District, faculty, staff, administration, and students are embracing the PBIS initiative which has the main purpose of creating a proactive positive environment for everyone in the school community.

PBIS is an ongoing effort of the Western Wayne School District to guide students in behaving and interacting with others in such a way as to promote an effective learning environment. A big part of creating a place where students can thrive is to have adult leaders that make the students believe school is like home in the respect that they can feel safe and cared for there.

School resource Officer Robert Robbins’ continued efforts at Western Wayne are one of the reasons why students feel so at home especially at the Middle and High schools.

Robbins has served in his position at Western Wayne since 2013. He takes extra time out of his day to get to know the students and let them know he is there for them. As a part of PBIS, students in the Middle School have been rewarded with being able to have lunch with Robbins. Many of them have enjoyed this perk.

“He listens to us,” eighth grader Ireland Swingle said. “It’s fun when I get to beat him at Uno. Spending time with him is something new, so it’s really fun.”

Robbins explained that he thinks playing cards with the students at lunch helps to break the ice.

“It’s actually great to sit with them,” Robbins said. “They open up, and you get to hear about what they like to do. They get to see a different side of me, and I get to see a different side of them.”

“He’s like a sports announcer when we play,” eighth grader Austin Barger said. “He’s really funny and really nice. He even gave me an Uno deck one time and I really liked that.”

Robbins explained how this year for the holiday season he sat with students at lunch and helped them color pictures to hang on the wall in the cafeteria.

“The students are encouraged to take them home with them,” Robbins explained. “However, any pictures that were left behind before the holiday, I took home and displayed at my house as a table cloth. They really mean something to me because they represent the quality time I get to spend with the students.”

Robbins discussed why he feels it is so important to spend meaningful time with them.
“You don’t often know what kind of or if any attention they are getting at home. I make myself available and I see a lot of positives come from that. The students don’t want to let any of the faculty down by misbehaving,” Robbins said.

Working with students to help guide them has been a part of Robbin’s job that he truly enjoys at Western Wayne. This type of work is a change from experiences he has had in work up to this point.

Robbins has a long career path that precedes his time at the district. Officer Robbins served in the United States Army in the 101^st Airborne Division as a Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic at Fort Campbell Kentucky for two years. He earned the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Air Assault Badge.

Upon the conclusion of his active service, Officer Robbins joined the Pennsylvania National Guard and served in Alpha Co, 1^st Battalion of the 109^th Infantry Regiment. In this unit, he served as a Squad Leader, Vehicle Commander, was promoted to Sergeant and was awarded the General S. J. Stewart Medal for service and NCO Academy Graduate Ribbon.

In 1991, Officer Robbins joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and served with the Security Police Flight at Willow Grove Naval Air Station. He was responsible for base security, Flight Operations Security, and the protection of aircraft and missile weapons sites. He earned the Rank of Staff Sergeant. He attended the Security Police Academy at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in which he earned the title of Honor Graduate and was awarded the Pennsylvania Commendation Medal. Officer Robbins received an Honorable Discharge from all three branches he served in.

Officer Robbins is a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper, who served for 23 years and spent his entire career in the Patrol Unit. He was promoted to Corporal in 1999 and was responsible for nearly every facet of daily operations in a State Police Troop. He was stationed all over the State from Bucks County to Wayne County.

Now Robbins, especially through this year’s PBIS initiative, works to provide many positive experiences for the students of Western Wayne. For example, the day before the holiday break Robbins served as D.J. for all of the lunches in the Middle School and got to interact with students. He, also, did this at the end of the first quarter as another PBIS reward for students and it went over so well that administration wanted him to do it for the holidays.

Robbins surely serves as an example of the purpose of PBIS through all of his interactions with students throughout the district. Through his service to students he is also duly rewarded.

“Western Wayne has saved me in a sense,” Robbins explained. “I now get to see a lot of positive things that I didn’t always see in my career before this. I think this is what God has called me to do. I get to spend time with the kids and let them know they are safe here, cared for here, loved here, and can get help here.”