The Western
Wayne Drama Club hosted New York based actor/singer/ dancer/ instructor Darius
Jordan Lee for a Broadway Workshop held Monday, March 18, through the support
and arrangement of the Western Wayne Drama Parent Board.
The students and parents have held
many fundraisers throughout the school year to pay for this and other programs
to support the students learning of performance arts.
This workshop
was funded by our Western Wayne Drama Parents. We are excited to use our
many fundraising efforts to bring more opportunities to our students in the
future.
The students welcomed the opportunity
to learn from a professional who most recently was seen in Clueless the Musical as the role Sean/ Murray Cover at the
Signature Theatre Company. Lee’s credits include: Guthrie Theater: West Side Story (Riff), John W. Engeman Theater: In the Heights (Benny Cover), Mamma Mia! (Eddie), among many
others. He has a B.F.A. in musical
theater with a minor in computer science from Montclair State University.
Lee treated the students to a two and
half hour session of sharing his professional experiences, leading them in
acting exercises, and teaching a dance combination from the musical Clueless.
The students were very engaged with
Lee and enjoyed having the chance to perform and be critiqued by a professional
actor. Lee felt most grateful for being
able to help students get out of their comfort zones and gain confidence in
themselves.
“I’m so glad I was able to get them to
try something new and not be afraid to be themselves,” Lee said.
From left, kneeling: Bailey Quick (Boyce Products Representative), Drew Hazen, Josh Shelly, Ryan Fiorelli, Matt Rosengrant, and Collin Murray. From left, standing: Brian Landry (Western Wayne Mentor), Nick Denoie, Cody Kretschmer, Cal Downey, Cooper Mistishin, Jacob McCormick, Michael Wass (Computer Programming Mentor), Max Phillips, Nathan Taggart, John Gilson, Kristoff Bien-Aime, Joel Landry, Levi Landry, and Joe Mang (Wayne Highlands Mentor).
Western
Wayne and Wayne Highlands students earned the title of District Event Winner at
the FIRST Robotics @ Bridgewater 2019 competition held in March. The team
is called FRC 4285 Camo-Bots and is a partnership between Western Wayne
School District and Wayne Highlands School District to operate a unified
robotics team that resembles the blended post-secondary/workforce that students
will encounter after graduation. Students develop their individual talents to
be utilized as a collaborative team effort though our academic and
business/industry partnerships.
Students involved in the FIRST Robotics competition produce and present
business plan, design plan, machining and production, testing of components,
engineering analysis, networking with students/engineers/business/industry, web
page design, computer programming, advanced
electronics/pneumatic/mechanics/sensor, and intense competition.
The competition has strict rules, limited resources, and an
intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to raise
funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and
program industrial-size 125 pound robots to play a difficult field game against
like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student
can get.
FIRST Robotics Competition operates during the
school year. Teams form and register in the fall. However, the “official
season” begins early in January when the season’s Challenge is
announced at a Kickoff ceremony to the world. Teams are then given six weeks to
create their robot. District and Regional competition events start in late
February and continue through April. Teams that qualify are invited to FIRST Championship
at the end of April. There are also many off-season events in which teams can
participate, strategize, hone their skills, learn new technology, meet other
teams, and have fun!
FIRST FRC Competition is honored as the highest form of STEM
competition on the planet. Every team is given the same competition
constraints, time format, and open-ended strategy. It is up to the team then to
produce a robot to compete within the 300 page rule book, present, and attain
awards.
This is FRC 4285 Camo-Bots team 3rd “Blue Banner” win.
Only the 1st place winner attains this and it a very highly sought
after recognition and award. Many teams compete for decades and not attain
this, the Camo-Bots have attained this goal in eight years. The FRC 4285
Camo-Bots are always recruiting any student interested in areas of business,
marketing, webpage design, Computer Aided Drafting, CNC machining, electronics,
sensors, computer programming (Java & Python), presentation, engineering
analysis, mechanical, and networking with students/colleges/business/industry.
The team has had five students in their eight years take advantage of the FIRST
scholarship program utilizing over $500,000 in paid college tuition in
engineering related STEM fields.
Western Wayne Team Mentor Mr. Brian Landry is very proud of the
success of the Camo-Bots and is very thankful to Western Wayne administration,
staff, students, their families, and members of the local business community
who have and continue to support the efforts of the team.
From left: Freshmen Ryan Vinton and Richie Reed enjoy learning at Western Wayne’s first Engineering Day held on Tuesday, March 12, at the high school.
Western Wayne Class of 2015 graduate Carly Swingle
wants students at her alma mater to choose fulfilling career paths and not
settle for work they find uninteresting.
On
Tuesday, March 12, Swingle had the unique opportunity to return to Western
Wayne High School as a part of the first Western Wayne Engineering Day for
students in grades 8 through 12. The
program included presentations by employees of Lockheed Martin, where Swingle
has worked for the past three month, a video presentation about the engineering
field, a female panel discussion of engineers and future engineers, and a 3-D
printing activity with Johnson College.
Industrial
arts teacher Mr. Brian Landry worked with high school science teacher Ms. Maria
Masankay and middle school guidance counselor Mr. Joe Totsky to coordinate the
event to give Western Wayne students the chance to learn about opportunities in
the engineering field.
“Sometimes
middle and high school students don’t realize that the engineering field is so
diverse,” Landry explained. “I hope this
event gives them some exposure to it.”
Students
in both the middle and high school were given the option to attend the event,
and about 40 students interested in learning more about the engineering field
attended.
The
attendees believe that their experience at Engineering Day has helped them to
get more information about possible career paths.
Eighth
grader Tarena Strasburger has always felt interested in an engineering
career. She feels her time at Engineering
Day has helped her want to pursue a career in this field.
“When I
was younger I enjoyed building things out of wood or playing with Legos,” she
explained. “I love to build and would
like to develop my skills and someday work in aerospace engineering.”
Tarena’s classmate, fellow eighth grader, Kristin
Hauenstein has also felt she has excelled at working with her hands from a
young age.
“I like
working on cars and am looking forward to taking introduction to auto-technology
in high school,” Kristin said. “I most
enjoyed finding out about mechanical engineering at today’s event.”
The
high school students in attendance also were excited to attend a program
focused on a career field they found of high interest.
Senior
Josh Shelly wishes to attend Johnson College next year to study CNC
Manufacturing. Josh became interested in
engineering through his work with Western Wayne’s Robotics Team.
“I
really want a career where I can work hands on rather than sitting in an office
and was glad to learn about this from a former Western Wayne student,” Josh
said.
Josh
referenced Western Wayne graduate Carly Swingle who spoke to the students about
her work at Lockheed Martin as an engineer.
“My job
is constantly changing,” Swingle, who recently graduated from Robert Morris
University in Pittsburgh, explained.
“Each day is never the same as the last.
I get to design things some days and work with power tools to do
building tests the next.”
Juniors
Jake Shepherd and Cody Aleckna aspire to do engineering work in the
military. Both Jake and Cody wish to
become mechanical engineers in the Air Force.
“I
think it is easier to concentrate on hands on work,” Jake explained. He hopes to follow in his grandfather’s
footsteps in joining the military.
Cody wishes
to follow the path of his father and cousin who each served in the
military.
“It was
good to gain more knowledge on a field that I am going into to know what’s to
come,” Cody explained.
Freshmen
Richie Reed and Ryan Vinton both went into the experience highly interested in
the engineering field and were also thrilled to gain more knowledge on their
future career paths. Richie enjoys
working with cars and welding in his metal shop class at school. Ryan became interested in the civil
engineering field after having the opportunity, through a friend, to visit a
job site where a bridge was being built across the Delaware River last year.
Students
like Richie and Ryan and all of the others in attendance at the first
Engineering Day at Western Wayne are why Mr. Landry hopes to make this a yearly
tradition that grows with time. He
wishes to get other Wayne County schools involved next year and eventually to
work with schools in Lackawanna County on giving students the opportunity to
explore the engineering field.
“I
think it’s worthwhile for our students to learn about such a developing career
field,” Landry said.
Tickets will available to purchase in the Athletic Department located in the high school. Anybody can
pre-purchase tickets from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Adults $6.00 and Students
$3.00. There will be a fan bus for High School students only, there
are 42 seats, ticket & bus $8.00, first come first serve. When the
bus is filled, it’s filled! See Mrs. Rizzi for more details and the
required paperwork..
Three years……that’s how long it took for Head Boys Basketball coach Al Semenza (career wins of 444) to turn the program around! The kids, the parents, the whole community has bought into it too. Everybody you talk to is all excited about the upcoming State Playoff game, which will be on Friday, March 8th, so mark you calendars! We will post all of the information as soon as it becomes available to us.
The Wildcats played Tunkhannock on Tuesday night at Scranton High school and beat them 53-39 to move on to the next round. They were up the whole game and never looked back.
The support of fans at the games has been amazing, lots of friendly faces both old and new. Our fans have definitely been coming out and supporting the team, that’s for sure!
“Owl Pellets”
lyrics from the song by MC Paul Barman will forever be remembered by Western
Wayne Science students in Dr. Mark Nebzydoski’s classes. The song goes, “Owls/ Scoop prey in their jowels/ Bones and fur stay in the gullet/ Meat goes to the bowels/ Comes out like a bullet/ After six hours.”
Nebzydoski’s students spent some time in their February
lessons learning about ecology through a lab in which they had to dissect owl
waste pellets to then reconstruct the animals and organisms the owls had eaten.
Students first read about different
types of owls and owl pellets. Then they
studied pictures of what gopher, weasel, rabbit, vole, mole, bird, and rabbit
skeletons would look like when they got the bones to put them together from the
owl regurgitate pellets.
Overall students enjoyed learning
about ecology in this very hands-on lab despite some of the dirty work they had
to do to get the animal bones.
“I feel I learn better when I am doing
something instead of writing it down all the time,” freshman Joanna Regalbuto
said.
Fellow classmate Gavin Henwood
agrees. “A lab like this is more
interesting because you can get into it easier when you are dissecting the owl
pellets.”
Gavin’s lab partner Nick DeCandis said
once he got over the mental struggle of thinking about what he was picking
apart that he really liked the lab.
“It was like putting together a
dinosaur set,” Nick explained. “I
thought it was surprising that once we started pulling the bones out that we
seemed to find them in the order of what the owl had eaten for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner. I had thought the
bones would be more scattered in the pellets.”
The main challenge the students said
they faced from the lab was not breaking the bones when pulling apart the
pellets to find them.
“Everything was very compacted inside
the pellets,” Carleigh Galliford explained.
“You had to be gentle.”
Fellow student Gabby Velez explained
how she took on the challenge of handling the delicate animal bones.
“We used tweezers to take the
different bones out and to get the fur and other hair off of them.”
Freshman Sarah McAndrew thought the
best part of the lab was learning about all of the animal bones.
“It was interesting to see what all of
the different bones look like,” she said.
Nebzydoski is pleased that his
students did well accepting the challenge of dissecting the not physically
appealing pellets for the greater benefit of furthering their knowledge of
ecology.
“I think the students appreciate
getting to do hands on work that is a change of pace from some of their other
studies.”
Taylor will represent WW at Regionals in Williamsport this weekend, along with 3 others.
Along with Taylor, Western Wayne will also have 3 more wrestlers headed to Williamsport. Congratulations goes out also to Matt Leslie (145 lbs), Alex Hollister (170 lbs) and Jack McAllister (285 lbs), all 3rd place winners, they have earned the right to continue on to Williamsport for Regionals this weekend (March 1 & 2, 2019) at Williamsport High School. Good luck to all 4 gentleman.
Junior indoor track athlete Trina Barcarola took home a 7th place
medal in the pole vault at the PTFCA Indoor Track and Field State
Championships which was held at Penn State University this weekend.
Trina cleared 11’ 6” and had two fantastic attempts at 12’ to close out a
great indoor season.
Junior indoor track athlete Trina Barcarola took home a 7th place
medal in the pole vault at the PTFCA Indoor Track and Field State
Championships which was held at Penn State University this weekend.
Trina cleared 11’ 6” and had two fantastic attempts at 12’ to close out a
great indoor season.
There was 113 schools from across Pennsylvania who were represented at the meet. Our last PTFCA State Medalist was Alex Long (Who is currently competing at Duquesne University) who finished fourth overall in the boys triple jump to earn Honorable Mention All-State honors.
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. [...]
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.