Elaine Ort, band director for Western Wayne High School, will join band directors from across the country next January 1st in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses® Rose Parade.
A custom-designed animated float will lead a “marching band of band directors” up to 300 strong from across the country. The Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, based in Pickerington, Ohio, is the sponsoring organization behind the project. The foundation was created to recognize and carry on the work of the late Mike Sewell, who dedicated his life to the school and community music programs in Pickerington and the Central Ohio area for more than 38 years.
The parade entry will convey the theme, “We teach music. We teach life.” The extraordinary dedication and accomplishments of band directors are well known to their students, to parents and to school teachers and administrators. No matter where they teach and work—public and private schools, colleges and universities, the military, community bands—dedicated music educators and leaders work long hours to not only teach and direct music, but to teach life itself. Students’ lives in particular are positively changed by a motivational leader who taught, inspired and mentored them.
“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to march in the parade,” Ort said. “It is an honor to represent Western Wayne.”
Elaine Ort has devoted much of her life to the study and performance of music. A native of New England and graduate of Marywood University, Elaine is a member of the Scranton Brass Orchestra, the Providence Brass, the Schützengiggles Oompah Band, the Marywood University Wind Symphony, and performs often in musical pit orchestras throughout the region. As an educator, Elaine serves as the director of instrumental activities in the Western Wayne School District since 2014. At Western Wayne, her teaching responsibilities include sixth grade brass instruction, eighth grade band instruction, and the Pride of Western Wayne, the Wildcat High School Band. Under her direction and guidance the school continues to invest heavily in its music program, and was recently named a KHS America Academic Alliance Platinum school for its investment in instrumental education. It is the only school in Pennsylvania, and one of only 39 in the United States to have received that honor.
Complete details on the project are available on the Saluting America’s Band Directors website, BandDirectorSalute.org.

Online Survey:

The Department of Social Work at Kutztown University is conducting a statewide study titled “Access to Mental Health in Rural Pennsylvania” and is seeking parent of school age children to complete and online survey which should take about 15 min. The survey explores the demand for and access to mental health services. You can enter a random drawing to win a $25 Walmart or Target gift card by completing this survey. 

Anonymous Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dataentryParents

We are also seeking parents to speak more in-depth about their experiences.

Online Parent Interview:

We are also looking to interview parents of school-age children about their experiences seeking mental health or substance abuse treatment for their children. The interview will last about an hour and you are paid $10 for your time.

You are eligible to participate in the interview process if:
1) You are a parent of youth 18
2) You have experience accessing mental health services for your child
3) You live in rural Pennsylvania.

If you are interested in participating in an individual interview, please contact the Juliana Svistova at 610-683-4330 to schedule a date and time to complete the interview. 

For more information about the parent survey or the parent interview, please follow our Facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/accessmentalhealthPA

Saturday, March 27^th
10:30am-1:30pm
Pick Up at High School Band Doors

The Western Wayne Drama Club will host Cinderella’s Teatime Drive-Through Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, with a rain/ snow date of Sunday, March 28.  The public is invited to join the cast and crew of our upcoming spring production of Cinderella at this event by driving through to get their meals.

          Brunch will be served with a pick-up location of the high school band room doors.  All guests are asked to wear face masks for the entirety of their magical experience with our cast.

  Guests have their choice of three meals which include either a chicken-salad sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or ham and cheese sandwich.  Meal, also, includes fruit, chips, drink, a beautiful souvenir teacup, and other special Cinderella-themed souvenirs. Meals cost $8 dollars apiece with all proceeds benefiting the students of the Western Wayne Drama Club.  The Western Wayne Drama Parents Club are working to organize and run this event along with the students.

          Orders are being taken in advance by emailing Mrs. McLaughlin, musical director, at jmclau@wwsd.io . Include your name, number, type of meals needed, and phone number.  Please place orders by Friday, March 19.

          The students will be in costume at the event to give a socially distanced greeting to guests. Young students and their family members may also participate in a socially distanced parade around the high school parking lot with members of the cast starting at 11:30 a.m.  Students are encouraged to dress up as little princesses and princes. Cinderella will, of course, lead the parade! Following the parade, socially distanced pictures can be taken with cast members by a castle backdrop outside in the parking lot.

          In addition, handmade Cinderella-themed face masks will be available for purchase in the drive-through line.  There are beautiful sparkly blue and silver masks for ladies and royal blue masks for gentlemen.  There are child-sized masks for four dollars apiece and adult sized masks for five dollars apiece with all proceeds also benefiting the students of the Western Wayne Drama Club.

          The students have been in rehearsals for their production for several months and are excited to perform Cinderella later this spring.  The show will be live streamed for the public to view online.  More details regarding the date of our performances will be released at a later date.

          “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work on a production,” senior Rhonda Fenkner, who plays Cinderella, said.  “This is my fifth year participating in musical theater at school.  Although we have faced many challenges this year, we have adapted, and are very excited to have the opportunity to have our brunch and performance.”

          The Drama Club expresses their gratitude to the administration for allowing them to have the drive-through brunch event and to have the opportunity to stream their performance.

          From left, Rhonda Fenkner, Cinderella, student director, and Drama Club secretary; Alex Taylor, Prince Charming and Drama Club president; and Lily Visceglia, Fairy Godmother, student director, and Drama Club vice president.  Please note that all students are wearing face shields in photograph.

          In second photo: Rhonda and Alex model the handmade face masks that will be available for sale at the drive-through brunch.

Download the full flyer below for details.