Pictured is Western Wayne Special Olympics participant Kameron Sic, fifth grade, Evergreen Elementary School, with a look of pure joy on his face as he competes.
Pictured is Western Wayne Special Olympics participant Kameron Sic, fifth grade, Evergreen Elementary School, with a look of pure joy on his face as he competes.
Pictured is Western Wayne Senior Sebastian Tomasetti crossing the finish line at one of his races at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Misty Rodriguez running in one of her events.
Pictured is Western Wayne Senior Michael Phillips jumping at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne Senior Marisol Henkel jumping at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Jordan Diaz running at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Jared Loveland running at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Evergreen Elementary student Jake Hart running at Special Olympics.
Pictured is Western Wayne High School student Caleb Burns running at Special Olympics.
Western Wayne Special Olympians in the elementary, middle, and high schools had another successful year at the 13th Annual Track and Field Area P Special Olympics that took place on May 8 at the Delaware Valley High School stadium.
“It’s an incredible experience for our students,” special education teacher Mrs. Sarah Rickert explained. “They all take it very seriously. There is something magical about seeing the wheelchairs lined up and ready to go for some of the races.”
One such student who had the chance to participate in races at Special Olympics with his wheelchair was Western Wayne senior Sebastian Tomasetti. He competed in the 25 meter speed and 50 meter speed.
“I had fun,” Sebastian said.
Rickert explained that a lot of the other students had really nice wheelchairs in the race this year and that Sebastian was racing with a new chair as well.
Sebastian’s classmate ninth grader Michael Phillips participated in a variety of Special Olympics events including: shot put, 100M dash, and the long jump.
“I liked seeing old friends at the event,” Michael said.
Rickert explained that one highlight of Special Olympics for the students is to reconnect with former classmates who have since graduated from Western Wayne.
“Outside agencies bring people to the event, so it is nice to see the students have a reunion of sorts,” Rickert said.
A student who enjoyed reuniting with former classmates was senior Marisol Henkel. Along with having fun with friends that were both former and current classmates, Marisol participated in the softball throw, long jump, and 100M dash.
Rickert described the Special Olympics as having an open format in which parents can move about freely to support their children. Sebastian, Michael, and Marisol had parents in attendance.
Along with the support of parents, friends, and teachers, the students were treated to the support of the Delaware Valley Marching Band who came out to play some music for all to enjoy.
Rickert said her students really enjoyed the music along with the support of Delaware Valley Elementary students who spent some time in the stands cheering on all of the Special Olympians.
A great day was had by all involved. Western Wayne participated along with students from Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack, and Delaware Valley among other schools and local agencies.
This year, as a special treat, the Western Wayne students wore bright yellow t-shirts to show their Wildcat pride and pride for themselves as unique individuals.
“The shirts had the word ‘disability’ on them with the ‘dis’ crossed out,” Rickert explained. “I think the message was powerful.”
On
May 7, 2019, Western Wayne High School General Science Students visited the
Varden Conservation Area and participated in ecology activities presented by
Lacawac Sanctuary. Students participated in three different activities,
which involved the topics of macroinvertebrates in a pond environment,
topographic mapping, and soil percolation and pollution.
Lacawac
Sanctuary instructors included Jamie Reeger, Environmental Educational Manager,
who presented the soil percolation studies and how they tied into the water
table. Devan George, Environmental Educator, explained water
quality health through identification of macroinvertebrates found at the
pond. Bruce and Kathy Grandjean, Environmental Educators, explained
topographic mapping and orienteering with compasses and maps of the area.
The
field trip will be followed by a classroom presentation on water quality and
the environment. Students will participate in activities that model
ground water and surface water and how they fit into a concept of a water
shed. These activities will lead to discussions about the local area and
incorporate the concept of a water table and common water resources shared by
all.
Funding
for the Varden classroom education as well the field trip was provided through
an Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) grant from the nonprofit Western
Wayne Education Foundation. Christine McClure, President, 1970C Easton
Turnpike, Western Wayne School District, Lake Ariel, PA 18436
Accompanying the students were instructors Dr. Mark Nebzydoski and Mrs. Maria Phillips. For more information on:
The Western Wayne High
School Band was treated to some time with Marywood’s F. David Romines, Music
Theater Department co-chair, associate professor of music education, and
director of band activities, on Tuesday, May 7, during their band class.
The students were thrilled to expand their knowledge of music through working
with Romines.
Western Wayne School District hosted the Annual NEIU Reading Competition on Wednesday, May 8. Numerous area schools competed in both the high school and middle school divisions of the competition. Hundreds of students participated in the event that celebrates a love for reading. A team from North Pocono placed first for the high school division and a team from Forest City placed first for the middle school division. Congratulations to all involved! Pictured are some Western Wayne Middle School students who participated. From left standing: Kylie Merring, Elizabeth Wasylyk, Anna Mangieri, Chaz Smith, and Ella Merring. From left kneeling: Alyson Buchinski, Emily Brophy, Ashley Small Bermudez, and Adam Kellogg.
The Western Wayne
Ultimate Frisbee Team recently won the Spirit Trophy at a tournament this past
April called the Firebird Invite hosted by Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, PA.
One of the team’s coaches
high school science teacher, Anthony Zoppi explained the significance of such
an award for the sport.
“To be clear, this is not
a first place trophy,” Zoppi said. “It
is the spirit trophy which in our sport is regarded as the more coveted
trophy. After each round the teams have
to fill out an evaluation sheet about themselves and the other team. We were rated so high above the other teams
that the tournament director said he didn’t even need the last round to know
who won.”
Both Zoppi and co-coach
Alex Marchena, Western Wayne Alumni 2015 and former Western Wayne Ultimate
captain, discussed the great importance of sportsmanship in Ultimate.
“I
think the level of sportsmanship really sets it apart from almost any other
sport and it is also the reason I love the sport,” Marchena said. “Ultimate is almost entirely self-officiated. Even at the professional level, players still
call their fouls, call whether they scored a point, and whether they remained
in bounds on difficult catches. Referees
are only there to ensure fair play and even though they have the ability to
overrule a player’s call based on what they saw, players on the opposing team
have the right to overrule calls made by the referee if they object to the call
in favor of the opposing team.”
Along
with being a sport unique in regards to sportsmanship it also is different from
other more traditional sports in a variety of other ways.
“It
stands out in multiple ways,” Zoppi explained.
“It is co-ed. It’s self-officiated.
And without the leagues like Philly has, it isn’t mainstream. In that area [Philly], Ultimate is regarded
just as highly as soccer or football.
Even more to a certain extent as several Radnor players have become
pro. We just don’t have the same ultimate
scene and probably won’t until other schools in the area get on board with it.”
Despite
being one of the few Ultimate high school teams in the area, Western Wayne has
been able to play at many tournaments since the team first began in 2006. The Western Wayne Ultimate Frisbee Team
started out playing intramural from 2006-2008 at the request of Western Wayne
students who got interest going in a team.
Once approved by the high school principal at
the time the students sought out a faculty member with experience in the sport
and discovered Zoppi’s background in Ultimate.
Having first played Ultimate for East Stroudsburg University from 1994-1998
and having served as Vice President for the team in 1998, Zoppi seemed like the
ideal candidate.
Zoppi explained he was
enthusiastic to work with the students on the endeavor of starting the Ultimate
team. He explained how he worked to get
the students involved in scrimmages and other parts of the history of Western
Wayne Ultimate.
“In the beginning of
spring 2008, I asked ESU, who was my alma mater, if they would mind a scrimmage
game. We played ESU and put up a fair
amount of points. I don’t remember the
score, but it was enough for ESU to invite us to their tournament later that
spring. At that tournament, we met most
of the college teams from the area and invites to other tournaments started
coming in. Then Principal Diane
Scarfalloto and Superintendent Andy Falonk approached me and asked if competing
in these tournaments against other schools was going to be a regular
thing. I asked our players at the time,
and that’s what they wanted. At that
point, the principal and superintendent felt it should become a school
recognized sport and asked me if it was approved by the school board would I
apply to be coach. In 2009, it was
considered a sport under the coaching contract.
I have been officially coach from 2008-2019,” Zoppi explained. “This year, I split coaching duties with
former captain Alex Marchena. He was
approved as a volunteer last year and this year got approved to split coaching
with me. I am happy to know that as I
stand down from coaching that he applied and got hired for next year. It’s great to see it live on past me, and
even better to see it is living on with someone that came through the program
himself.”
And the foundation for
the legacy of Western Wayne Ultimate to live into the future is being created
by Marchena and the current team. The
group practices on Mondays and Wednesdays in both the fall and spring sports
seasons.
“Kids train the same way
all the other teams train, we work on conditioning, run through offensive and
defensive plays, run drills, and have scrimmage games. Endurance is key,” Zoppi explained. “A tournament usually has 4-6 rounds over an
hour long each round. A starting player
usually runs four to five miles per game.
It is conceivable for a starting player to put in 20 miles of running
through the course of the day.”
All the members of the
Western Wayne Ultimate Team are extremely dedicated to their training and
teammates. Western Wayne Ultimate
Captain Tyler Keill, senior, loves working to see his teammates develop into
stronger players.
“I like watching my team
grow,” Tyler who has played Ultimate for Western Wayne for four years
explained, “It’s not about correcting them when they are wrong but working with
them to help them grow.”
Tyler
has nine years of experience with Ultimate in general having first become
interested in the sports through Western Wayne alumni Mike Koch.
Through
working with the Western Wayne team Tyler feels like he is a part of the strong
legacy of Western Wayne Ultimate built by Zoppi, Marchena, and other past team
members.
“Overall
everyone is there to help each other and that’s what I like,” Tyler, who
aspires to one day join the military, said.
Fellow
Captain junior Matt Romanowski agrees with Tyler and feels excited to continue
working with underclassmen in his senior year to ensure that the enthusiasm for
the sport will continue long into the future.
Zoppi
is grateful to work with students as dedicated as Tyler and Matt. He knows it is their efforts that will keep
the program alive in years to come.
At the
end of this season, Zoppi will turn the program over completely to Marchena
after having coached for the past decade.
Zoppi
has a multitude of favorite memories with the team including their recent
Spirit trophy win and a variety of wins the Western Wayne team has had over the
years where they came in as underdogs and came out on top at different events.
A
special memory of Zoppi’s involves an experience he had with the team some
years ago at a Wilkes University tournament held at a field in Kirby Park. He recalls it being half time when one of his
players took action.
“One of
my players notices a homeless woman sleeping on a park bench. Instead of talking strategy or trying to
figure out what offense or defense we want to run in the second half of the
game, my team decided to not only give the women our whole food bag [each team
in the tournament was given one], but go to other teams and collect more,”
Zoppi fondly remembers. “I don’t think I
have ever been more proud of the team.”
Zoppi,
also, in reflecting on his many years coaching, feels proud of all of the
students he has seen go through the Western Wayne Ultimate Team including
Marchena. He knows he is leaving the
team in good hands and is glad to be ending his final coaching season this year
on a high note.
Marchena,
who went to Lackawanna College for culinary arts and works as a chef in Hawley,
has been a volunteer coach with the team in the past and feels honored to now
be the coach for next year’s season.
“I was
both excited and honored to be asked [by Zoppi] to take over the coaching
position,” Marchena explained. “I’m
truly happy that the sport that Zoppi put so much time and energy into building
at Western Wayne is going to live on even as he is done coaching, and I’m sure
he would say the same thing.”
Tommy Motichka a Junior had 14 kills, 7 aces, 18 service points, 13 digs and 7 assists that week. Only a freshman, Kennedy Mistishin landed the varsity 3rd base job and plays outstanding defense there. She is batting .229 this year.
The May Edition of Scholarships & Career Opportunities is now available. Click on the link to see all that is going on with Colleges, Careers, SATs, Scholarships & much more.
The Harlem
Wizards will host an event in the Western Wayne High School gym on Tuesday,
April 30 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. They will wow the crowd with their
basketball tricks on the court along with playing a team of Western Wayne
faculty and staff. Proceeds from the event will support the Western Wayne
football program. Advance ticket sales: $10 for students; $15 general
admission; $25 court-side plus (online only). Court-side plus includes:
meet and greet, free photo, reserve seat and $10 off a jersey—Only 60
court-side seats available. At the door: $12 students; $17 general
admission. Tickets are available in all Western Wayne School offices or
online at www. Harlemwizards.com
Recently Western Wayne students at Robert D. Wilson Elementary, Evergreen
Elementary and the Middle and High Schools were treated to a visit from David
Paul of the Harlem Wizards. He gave them a preview of the event along
with teaching basketball moves to student volunteers and talking to students
about showing respect for elders. All Western Wayne students, faculty,
and staff from Kindergarten through 12th grade are excited for this
unique event happening at their district and invite the public to come and join
them for an evening of fun.
ALL NEWS
5th students at RDW Elementary engaged in a culminating self-portrait projectMay 28, 2025Fifth-grade students at Robert D. Wilson Elementary engaged in a culminating self-portrait project to conclude their elementary visual arts experience. Students used sculpture techniques to construct three-dimensional plaster models of their faces. Over the course of the unit, learners explored human facial proportions and studied influential portrait artists throughout art history to inform their progress. Students applied their knowledge of proportion, drawing and painting to add accurate facial features. Through the use of mixed media techniques, and creative problem-solving strategies, students personalized their sculptures with details such as hairstyles, eyeglasses, jewelry, and accessories. The 5th graders worked hard to synthesize years of art instruction to create this meaningful visual representation of their time and growth at RDW. Each student’s unique and individual personality shines through! [...]
High School Watershed Group Leads Fourth-Grade Environmental Education Program with Support from Community Grants May 28, 2025Lake Ariel, PA — Western Wayne High School’s Watershed Group is proud to announce the successful completion of a student-led environmental education initiative originally planned as a field trip to the Varden Conservation Area. This spring, thanks to grant funding and outstanding community partnerships, fourth-grade students at RDW and Evergreen Elementary Schools experienced a day filled with hands-on watershed education, led by professionals and high school mentors.This project is part of the long-standing Community Connections to Our Watershed program, which for over 20 years has connected students in northeastern Pennsylvania with local environmental experts and conservation educators. Each year, students explore watersheds, learn about clean water initiatives, and participate in forums alongside professionals from agencies committed to preserving Pennsylvania’s natural resources. More information about the program can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/CCTW2025This year’s participating schools include:• Lackawanna County Teams: Carbondale, Forest City, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, Mountain View, Old Forge, Riverside, Western Wayne, and Wayne Highlands• Luzerne County Teams: Crestwood, Hanover, HAAS, HACC, Hazleton, Northwest, Tunkhannock, and Wyoming AreaWestern Wayne High School students participated in several preparatory field trips, including visits to Lackawanna State Park, Keystone College, the Old Forge borehole, and the Alliance Landfill, the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania American Water Treatment and Sewage Treatment Facilities, and the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. These experiences helped students learn how to assess watershed health and explore solutions to protect local water resources. Support for these programs was provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Pennsylvania American Water Company, and the DCNR Watershed Education Program.The culminating event was presented at a student showcase held at Montage Mountain on May 6, 2025, where Western Wayne students unveiled their vision: an interactive field trip experience for all district fourth-grade students. They designed original ecology-based activities and coordinated programming with outside agencies to bring their vision to life.Originally planned for the Varden Conservation Area, the field day was quickly relocated indoors due to cold, wet weather. Thanks to the flexibility and determination of teachers, administrators, and partners, the program was successfully delivered on-site at both elementary schools—retaining all core educational experiences.Participating Agencies and PresentersThe program featured presentations and hands-on stations from a wide range of environmental organizations, including:• Lacawac Education Department: Nichole Seul• Lacawac Sanctuary PLEON Department: Theresa Black• Promised Land DCNR Environmental Education Specialist: Joshua Heath• Trout Unlimited: Don Strathy, Paul Guinnane• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (National Park Service): Anna Grismero All participating 4th graders received a free National Parks pass good for unlimited admission for them and their families during their 4th-grade year• Wayne County Conservation District: Olivia D’Amore• Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Rachel Morrow• Western Wayne High School Science Faculty: Mark Nebzydoski Ph.D.• Community Connections to Our Watershed High School Student Leaders: Dakota Douglas, Aliyah Gregory, Giuliana VelazquezHigh school students acted as presenters, group leaders, and support staff, working closely with fourth graders during each 45-minute station rotation. Activities included a watershed model demonstration, casting skills with Backyard Bass, and a water chemistry/biology interactive lesson.Funding and Community SupportFunding for the program was made possible through two generous sources:• A mini-grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation (WCCF), reviewed and awarded by the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee, which supported transportation and programming costs.• Additional funding for both the Varden classroom education and the in-school field trip was provided through an Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) grant from the Western Wayne Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting innovation and opportunity in the district.o For more information, contact Christine McClure, President, at 1970C Easton Turnpike, Western Wayne School District, Lake Ariel, PA 18436.Both the Wayne County Community Foundation and the Western Wayne Education Foundation play a crucial role in building long-term educational opportunities for students in the region.A Day of Fun, Learning, and ResilienceDespite the weather challenges, the program delivered an enriching experience filled with environmental discovery, hands-on activities, and expert instruction. Students were engaged, enthusiastic, and inspired by what they learned—and most importantly, they had fun doing it.Western Wayne High School extends its sincere thanks to all agency partners, grant providers, faculty, and students who made this unique educational day possible. The project is a testament to the power of youth leadership, collaboration, and environmental stewardship.
Picture One: Fourth grade students at EverGreen engaged in hands-on watershed education.
Picture Two: Fourth grade students at RDW engaged in hands on watershed education. [...]
Western Wayne Wins Wayne County EnvirothonMay 28, 2025Western Wayne High School students recently won The Wayne County Envirothon. These students include: Paul Borowski, Aiden Matthews, Logan Pauler, Robert Carrelle, and Phoebe Schmitt.
Envirothon is a hands-on environmental education and competition program for high school students, focusing on natural resource conservation and problem-solving. It involves students working in teams to demonstrate their knowledge of aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and a current environmental issue. Back row, from left: Aiden Matthews, Paul Borowski, and Robert Carrelle. Front row, from left: Logan Pauler and Phoebe Schmitt. [...]
Mental Health First Aid Virtual TrainingsMay 23, 2025Mental Health First Aid training is an 8-hour evidence-based curriculum created by the National Council for Mental Well-being. This course helps adults working with youth ages 12-18 to identify, understand, and respond to the early signs of mental health and substance use challenges using the ALGEE action plan. Please download the flyer below for more details. [...]
High School Students Explore Cutting-Edge Medical Science at Penn State College of MedicineMay 20, 2025 Western Wayne High School science students embarked on an educational field trip to Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA, this past April. The visit, made possible through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (PA-AHEC) and supported by the Western Wayne Education Foundation, offered students an immersive, hands-on experience with groundbreaking medical technologies and healthcare professions. Students were accompanied by Mrs. Christine McClure, Dr. Mark Nebzydoski, Mrs. Denise Johnson, and Mr. Matthew Fitzsimmons.
Throughout the day, students engaged in an array of interactive learning experiences. In the genomics lab, they explored the role of genetic sequencing in modern medicine. At the MRI and Cryo-Electron Microscope Core Facility, they witnessed the advanced imaging tools used to visualize the molecular structures of cells and tissues with astonishing precision.
A highlight of the visit was a stop at the Technology Center, where students learned how 3D printing is revolutionizing medical education by creating lifelike organ models. They also stepped into the human body—virtually—using state-of-the-art virtual reality technology to take a guided tour through major organ systems and diseases that affect those systems.
The experience extended beyond the lab as students participated in a professional panel featuring a nursing student and a public health doctoral candidate who gave students an insight into their journey from high school to healthcare and encouraged students to keep moving forward to follow their dreams. Students also had the opportunity to learn about child life services at Penn State Health’s Children’s Hospital and mental health services provided through Penn State Children’s Hospital’s Child Psychiatry and Behavioral Health department. These experts shared their career journeys, provided insights into their fields, and answered questions about working in healthcare today.
Another exciting moment came during the tour of the Life Lion medical helicopter. Students met with the flight crew—including the flight nurse, paramedics, and pilot—who explained how rapid-response care and critical patient transport services are conducted across the region.
“This trip opened our students’ eyes to the wide array of opportunities in healthcare and science,” said Christine McClure, who coordinated the trip. “The level of engagement, from both the professionals and our students, was truly inspiring.”
The field trip was coordinated in partnership with PSU College of Medicine’s liaison through PA-AHEC, whose mission is to strengthen the healthcare workforce in underserved areas by connecting students to academic and professional opportunities. Additional funding from the Western Wayne Education Foundation helped ensure that students had access to this enriching experience.
For more information about education through PA-AHEC or to support future science initiatives, please visit https://www.paahec.org/.
Kneeling, from left: Maggie Kotchessa, Raegan Fox, Audrey Agnello, Abigail Washine, Madelyn McClure, and Abigail Bell.
Row one, from left: Mrs. Denise Johnson, Alana Swingle, Laylah Epstein, Roxanne Dugan, Jade Wetherington, Beja Marcel, Grace Moser, Sydney Sosa, and Grady Farley.
Row two, from left : Mrs. Christine McClure, Norman Phillips, Jason Vass, Jasmine Rodriguez, Hayley Cordero, Cedar Gilpin, Emaan Tanveer, Scott Kurent, Madelyn Vinton, Mia Arcadipane, Hayden Mundrake, Madison Trapanese, Logan Vinton, Logan Pauler, Mr. Matt Fitzsimmons, Khloe Mistishin, Alicia Wertman, and Dr. Mark Nebzydoski. [...]
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention
program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize
warning signs and signals, especially within social media,
from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others
and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late.