The NEIU Scholar of the Year Ceremony took place at Lackawanna CTC on May 10. The recipient of the award for Western Wayne High School was Kylie Merring. Pictured below from left to right is Mr. Paul Gregorski, high school principal; Kylie Merring, Western Wayne NEIU Scholar of the Year, and Mr. Bill Gershey, who serves on the Western Wayne Board of Education and the NEIU Board of Directors.

Western Wayne Fashion students are thrilled to invite the community to their annual Catwalk Fashion Show on Tuesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This year the show titled “Fashion Flix” is a dedication to Western Wayne’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.  Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. The admission fee for adults is $2 dollars.  All proceeds will be donated to a local food pantry.  Students get in for free. The students will also host the show for an audience of their peers during the school day on Tuesday, May 23.

 Pieces made by students in grades 9 through 12 will be featured. The students also worked in teams led by senior fashion students Analise DeLeon-Bello, Angelina Salvatore, and Ava Daniels.  The feature fashions of the Catwalk came from an inspiration of movies from the 1970s to the present which honors the decades of Western Wayne’s 50 years.  The show will also feature some video clips of Western Wayne alumni who are working in the fashion industry.

The students worked on a set timeline to design a series of pieces for the competition portion of the show.  The winner of the competition will be announced at the show on the evening of Tuesday, May 23. 

 All students involved did an amazing job with this year’s theme Fashion Flix.  The student designers used popular decade flicks as inspiration for their garments.  The garments were designed to be street wear, not costumes, with the flicks providing the theme and music only for the competition. 

The decade themed flicks included Rocky to represent  1970-80; Dirty Dancing to represent 1980-90; Harry Potter to represent 1990- 2000; Avatar to represent 2000-2010; and Stranger Things to represent 2010-2020.

Colleen Carmody, show director and fashion teacher, feels proud of all of her students—especially her three seniors who have their collections featured in the show.

Senior Analise DeLeon-Bello’s collection has the theme EcoLeon which represents how sustainability in fashion is important.

“You can use materials and repurpose them for a variety of things,” Analise explained.

Her favorite garment from the collection is a transformation piece.

“It is symbolic to me,” Analise said. “It is a gray dress that represents industrialized pollution and then when it is released it turns into another green dress that represents how nature overcomes.”

Analise also headed up the competition team called Carmody’s Angels for the show.  She feels very proud of her team and especially enjoyed the dress inspired by Dirty Dancing that they made.  She described the dress as yellow with flower appliqués on it.

“It was the most fun dress out of every piece that we made,” she explained.  “We were able to have a lot of creativity in making it.”

Analise looks forward to continuing to grow her creative skills in college next year.  She will attend Albright College and major in fashion design.  She is interested in both the business and design aspects of a career in fashion.

Fellow senior Angelina Salvatore will also attend Albright College next year with a major in costume design.  She always enjoyed fashion from a young age when she would color designs in coloring books.  She remembers getting fabric for holiday gifts growing up and falling in love with her first sewing machine.

“I enjoy making pieces that are unique,” Angelina said.

Her senior collection has many such pieces. It is called Ang-Vant-Guard, a play on the words of the French term avant-garde.  As the title suggests, her collection features a lot of unconventional fashion.

“Since I want to major in costume design, I used this opportunity to experiment with different things,” she explained. 

One piece in her collection that stands out to her is her prom dress which she made from scratch. It is a floor-length gown with an olive green metallic underlay and a fully-boned corset top.

The piece is especially meaningful because it was the first project in her freshman design class that she drew and then was able to create in her senior year.

“I’m really proud of my prom dress,” she said.

Angelina also felt proud to work to lead her group Backstreet Girlies for the competition portion of the show.  She especially liked working on the team’s Stranger Things inspired piece because of the challenges it presented.

They created a garment made of vinyl and bubble wrap. Angelina described the challenges of sewing those types of materials together.

“It took some time to get the materials to go together on the sewing machine, but once we figured it out, we were really happy with the results.”

Fellow senior team member Ava Daniels also worked to lead the Backstreet Girlies for the competition.  Ava was really happy with how her group excelled at working together.

“If someone was down in the group, then someone else would help out right away,” Ava explained.

Ava’s senior collection is called AvFall’n.  It is a play on words for her name and the fall tones that are featured in her ensemble of pieces.  All of her garments have fall tones of yellow, brown, etc.  She loved how all of her pieces turned out.  One piece that she really likes is a V-neck summer dress in yellow.  She used two different patterns for the dress including a top portion that she created herself.

Ava plans to attend Thomas Jefferson University for fashion design.

Carmody and her students feel so grateful to be able to invite the community to their evening show on Tuesday, May 23, and they look forward to creating more designs to share with the Western Wayne community in the future.

The Western Wayne  Scholastic Team performed very well this school year.  They  defeated Valley View at a Scholastic Scrimmage hosted by WVIA by a score of 245-110.   Team members are: Kylie Merring, Evan Peirce, Alex Chapman, Emily Brophy, and Bernie Roedel.  From left, in both photos:  Emily Brophy, Kylie Merring, Alex Chapman, and Evan Peirce.

Western Wayne Drama Club’s production this year is Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The cast, crew, and pit band are excited to perform the show for the community. Performances of Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid are at Western Wayne High School’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Friday, April 14, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, and Western Wayne students are free with a student ID.  
All tickets are sold at the door. We will also have basket raffles and refreshments available at the show for purchase.
DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.com Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater; Book by Doug Wright. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements. Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Orchestrations by Danny Troob; Incidental Music & Vocal Arrangements by Michael Kosarin; Dance Arrangements by David Chase.
All involved with the show are grateful to have the opportunity to perform for an audience and cordially invite you to their show.
“We have been working on some of the scenes since November and can’t wait to bring this classic story to life,” senior Amanda David, who plays Ariel, and serves as a student director, said.
Fellow senior Julia Phillips, who plays Sebastian, and serves as a student director, agrees, “There are a lot of scenes in the show that are not in the movie. One of my favorites is the scene with Chef Louis. I get to do a chase sequence in that one!”
Junior Nathan Conway is also excited for the performance. He will play the role of Prince Eric and serves as a student director. “I really got to explore my character this year,” Nate said. “I even learned how to waltz.”

Cast members include: Amanda David, Ariel, club secretary; Gabriel Treibley, Pilot; Nathan Conway, Prince Eric, club president; Robert Scramuzza, Grimsby, club PR officer; Owen Obloshny, Flounder; Colette Schmitt, Scuttle; Scott Kurent, Windward; Bradley Miehle, Leeward; Caden Wilson, King Triton; Julia Phillips, Sebastian, club vice president; Madison Trapanese, Aquata; Molly French, Andrina; Dakota Douglas, Arista; Jade Wetherington, Atina; Lillian Morcom, Adella; Stephanie Maxwell, Allana; Cassidy Levens, Flotsam; Emily Lescinski, Jetsam; Lillian Maros, Ursula, club historian; Makayla Moser, Head Maid; and Joseph Regalbuto, Chef Louis, club treasurer. Ensemble members include: Emma DeNunzio, Zachary Jordan, Mackenzie Kennedy, Brenna McGlone, Noah Sandifer, Kendall Murray, Jason Vass, Zachary Wilbur, Hayley Cordero, Chloe Gilpin,
Olivia Swingle, Abigayle Pavlicek, Melinda Kopcza, Isabella Hayden, Avery Ullner, Isabella O’Donnell, Mikayla Fullone, Ireland Parsons, and Lylah Bucksbee. Stage Crew members include:Emily Brophy (Head Stage Crew); Ash Mangieri (Head Stage Crew);
Madison Vinton, Raelyn Kellachow, Michael Olivo, Savanna Morrison, Roslyn Khecht, Emma McGowan, Jennifer Hall, Khoi Christopher, Kallie Wehrmann, Luis Appollonio, Katarina Shumski, Jocilyn Brungard, Damien Schaal, Aidan Thomas, Gabby Bryant, Koda DeNunzio, Luckas Balmer, Gideon Jezorwski, Hunter Reichling, Xavier Graham, Ireland Swingle, Ethan Rutkowski, and Sarah Quinones. Pit Orchestra students include: Lia Hartman, Makayla Walton, Aidan Donnini, Evan Peirce, Maggie Nagle, and Anthony Redmond.

Western Wayne Drama Club seniors Amanda David and Julia Phillips will be promoting Western Wayne’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid on the PA Live show at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 3. Tune in to watch them live that day on channel WBRE.
DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.com Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater; Book by Doug Wright. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements. Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Orchestrations by Danny Troob; Incidental Music & Vocal Arrangements by Michael Kosarin; Dance Arrangements by David Chase.
Also, mark your calendar with the dates for our performances of The Little Mermaid at the Western Wayne High School’s Veterans Memorial Auditorium on Friday, April 14, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 15 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, and Western Wayne students are free with a student ID.  

Community members who purchased tickets IN ADVANCE for our Little Mermaid Character Breakfast to be held TOMORROW, APRIL 1, at 10 a.m. in the High School Cafeteria do not need tickets to show at the door to confirm your reservation. We have a master list of everyone who reserved tickets. If you owe a balance, you may pay at the door.
The entire cast is excited to greet and interact with you and your children. We encourage our little princes and princesses in attendance to dress up for the event. Any questions, email jmclau@wwsd.io
From left: Colette Schmitt, Scuttle; Amanda David, Ariel; Owen Obloshny, Flounder; and Julia Phillips, Sebastian.
DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.com Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater; Book by Doug Wright. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements. Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Orchestrations by Danny Troob; Incidental Music & Vocal Arrangements by Michael Kosarin; Dance Arrangements by David Chase.

Amanda Miehle, a student who attends New Story School and is a part of the Western Wayne School District, is a 16 year old untrained artist who has created an extensive amount of outside art for her young age. This Saturday, March 25, Amanda will open her “Fashion Passion Magic” art display at The Ruffed Grouse Gallery. It is her first gallery exhibition. Over 200 of Miehle’s color drawings showcasing her exuberant take on fashion, color, and abstraction will be presented.
Amanda began creating art at age four with her first drawings of figures in what has become her signature “A” style. Through the years as her figures evolved stylistically, yet consistently retaining the “A” simplicity, she began referring to them as her fashion. In 2017, along with her “A” fashion girls, Amanda expanded her work to include her new style of abstract art. At 16 years old, Amanda has created well over 300 works of art, consisting mostly of her fashion girls and abstracts.
Discovered in 2021 by Paul Plumadore and Jim Tindell, local artists and curators for the Great Wall of Honesdale, Amanda’s work was selected to be recreated as a mural to appear on The Great Wall for the year. Her art won the People’s Choice Award and was featured in several publications. This exposure caught the eye of photographer Bill Westmoreland who became her liaison into the art world. He introduced her to magazine editor Edward Gomez leading to a feature in the inaugural edition of BrutJournal, as well as to gallery owners for her first showings.
Born June 5, 2006 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the doctors immediately diagnosed her as having Trisomy 21, better known as Down Syndrome. Through early therapeutic intervention and the Head Start program, along with her parents’ and brother’s dedication to helping her reach her fullest potential, Amanda thrived as a child.
Throughout her childhood, Amanda has enjoyed swimming, soccer, cheerleading, karate, gymnastics, cooking, music, singing and dancing. She is also an avid ATV motorcycle rider, having learned to drive an ATV independently at age 12. She has a keen interest in fashion, hair and makeup, and dreams of being a fashion designer and stylist. She plans on designing clothes and accessories as well as owning a salon to style clients from head to toe. Her passion for fashion and beauty is illustrated throughout her artwork. Amanda is a strong, passionate, creative soul. When asked she has said she creates her art to express her fashion and make everybody happy. The unique style and joy represented in her work reflects who Amanda truly is as a person. She is a joy; she is clever; she is unique and there is no doubt that this is just the beginning of her contribution to the art world.