Western Wayne Middle School Hosts First Entrepreneurship Day

Pictured is Mindy Maros owner of LLC Lake Wallenpaupack Marine Storage and Repair.
Pictured is business owner Lenny Wargo of Heads Up Flooring with his son Landon Wargo, a sixth grader at Western Wayne Middle School.
Pictured is Joyce Keen DeBastiani owner of the Wallflower for 34 years.
Pictured are business partners Jordan Hayden and Melissa Morgan of Salon Jam.
Pictured is Jeff Gogolski of Beck, Gogolski, Poska & Co.
Pictured is Katharine Brown owner of Fox Hill Farm.

Good leadership skills, a positive attitude, willingness to put in long hours, and a passion for your work are all qualities that many of the local business owners at Western Wayne Middle School’s first Entrepreneurship Day discussed with students.

The eighth grade class was treated to presentations by a dozen local business owners on the afternoon of Thursday, June 6. The students signed up to hear about businesses in fields of their interests prior to the experience. They then had the opportunity to listen to some of the working professionals in three half-hour sessions.

Business owners who participated included: Katharine Brown, owner of Fox Hill Farm; Joyce Keen DeBastiani, owner of the Wallflower and the Lodge at Keen Lake; Jordan Hayden, owner of Salon Jam; Rick Hoch, owner of Hoch Oil and Heat; Mindy Maros, owner of LLC Lake Wallenpaupack Marine Storage and Repair; Lenny Wargo, owner of Head Up Flooring; Attorney Michael Farley; Ron Augelli, owner of Augelli Printing; Jeff Gogolski, of Beck, Gogolski, Poska & Co.; Carl Lutkowski, owner of C&S Athletic Club, Dr. Cathy Salak, dentist; and Mike Walsh, of Guide Light Counseling.

Eighth grader Alyson Buchinski said she enjoyed Walsh’s presentation and learned about the qualities that good counselors must have in order to succeed.

“I learned you have to be able to speak well for that career,” Alyson said.

Another presenter who spoke about good communication skills was Joyce Keen DeBastiani of the Wallflower and the Lodge at Keen Lake.

DeBastiani said she learned how to stand her ground in business operations at a young age. She explained to the students how when she was eight years old she would place candy orders for her father’s business.

“The candy man was afraid of me because I knew how to say no,” DeBastiani explained to the students. “He would try to sell me anything and everything, but I made sure we got what was best for our customers.”

DeBastiani’s family has owned and run the Lodge at Keen Lake for many years. In addition, she has owned and operated the Wallflower for 34 years. She explained how the Wallflower, located in downtown Honesdale, sells a variety of unique clothing and jewelry among many other items.

She told students that to be successful in business you have to wear many hats.

“I’m a buyer, seller, manager, merchandiser, and even sometimes a janitor,” DeBastiani explained.

Above all else, she told students her favorite part about owning her business is loving what she does every day.

“I don’t mind working hard because I love what I do,” DeBastiani said.

Another business owner at the event, who equally loves what she does, is Katharine Brown, owner of the wedding venue Fox Hill Farm.

Brown felt especially thrilled to speak to Western Wayne Middle School students since she taught at Western Wayne Middle School for four years in the early 2000s.

“Any chance to speak in front of young people is a favorite day for me,” Brown said. “It is good to expose kids to different possibilities through events like this. I want them to know that you never know where life will take you and that the college track isn’t for everyone.”

Brown explained that her business started as an operation where she made floral arrangements for a variety of events until one day a bride asked if she could have her actual wedding at the venue Brown was creating the flowers.

“It was a very organic start to our event venue business,” Brown explained.

In addition, Brown said that in recent times she opened a second venue called 6^th & River that is a restored brick warehouse. She explained that this venue is very helpful because of the unpredictable weather we have been experiencing.

Another business owner who is just as ambitious as Brown is Jordan Hayden, 2015 Western Wayne graduate, and her business partner Melissa Morgan, 2015 North Pocono graduate, who own Salon Jam in Covington Township. Salon Jam has been in business since 2012.

Hayden and Morgan were glad to be asked to share their experiences with Western Wayne students.

“I loved to see how excited they were,” Morgan said. “Hearing our story helped them to understand how businesses work in real life.”

Hayden was glad to have the chance to represent the beauty industry at the event.

“Our industry isn’t always taken seriously,” Hayden explained. “It’s good to let the students know that they have creative options for careers.”

She went on to explain how much she enjoys working in a close- knit community.

“It’s such a close circle, and it’s really great to get to have so many customers who are connected to each other in different ways,” Hayden explained. “It’s like working with customers who are all part of a big extended family.”

Another business owner at the event who knows about working with family was Lenny Wargo owner of Head Up Flooring. Wargo explained how he has worked in his family’s business for 28 years and took over running operations twelve years ago.

Much like the other business owners, Wargo told the students about the commitment it takes to run a business and the commitment he is looking for from his employees and future employees.

“In order to be successful, you schedule your life around your work not the other way around,” Wargo said.

A 1997 Western Wayne graduate, Wargo was glad to give back to his school community by speaking to the students.

“It was neat to interact with them,” Wargo said. “They had a lot of questions about the money aspect of business.”

This isn’t the first time Wargo has worked in some respect at the school he graduated from. Wargo explained how in recent years his company did the flooring in parts of the middle school and high school along with redoing the flooring in the high school and middle school gyms among other Western Wayne campus remodeling projects.

“I remember I helped my dad put the original flooring in the high school gym as well about twenty years ago,” Wargo said. “Now that is really full circle.”

Wargo’s son Landon, who is a sixth grader at Western Wayne Middle School, is keeping the tradition of working in the family business alive. He said he is learning a lot from working with his dad on different projects and was proud his father got to speak to his older classmates at the event.

Overall the eighth grade class felt very inspired by their experiences at the first Western Wayne Middle School Entrepreneurship Day.

“I got out of the presentations that the owners really love their jobs,” eighth grader Isabella O’Donnell said. “I learned how important it is to find something that you really love, because then you’ll be really happy to go to work each day.”

Free Summer Lunch Program @The Cooperage Starts June 17th

Starting June 17, 2019, The Cooperage Project, in collaboration with the Wayne Highlands School District, will open its doors Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm to kids ages 0-18 to receive FREE lunch. No income requirements or sign ups. The program will continue Monday through Friday through August 6, with the exception of July 4 & 5. Join in the fun with arts and crafts, story time, music and more!

For more information call 570.253.2020 or email info@thecooperageproject.org

Basic Info:

Kids Lunch Party

at The Cooperage — 1030 Main Street, Honesdale, PA

Monday through Friday | 11:00am to 1:00pm

June 17 through August 6 (No lunch July 4 & 5)

Free Lunch for ages 0 – 18

Games, activities, workshops, no income requirements, just summer fun!

Western Wayne Alumni Graduate from Prestigious Schools Prepared to Serve in Military

The Western Wayne School District is very proud of two of its 2015 alumni who soon will serve our country in the military.

Timothy Shaffer has been attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida and participating in Air Force ROTC Detachment 157 for the last four years. He recently graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics. He earned a pilot slot in his junior year and will be stationed at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, next year to begin pilot training. Upon graduation of pilot training, he intends to fly an F-35.

His former classmate Kyle Coons attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) for 4 years, graduating as a Second Lieutenant in the Army with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at VMI, he marched in President Trump’s Inauguration Parade in Washington, DC along with the Governor of Virginia’s inaugural parade in Richmond, VA. He presented the colors at Martinsville Speedway for a NASCAR race and was part of a committee within the corps of cadets named the RDC, this group helps freshmen get accustomed to the VMI system. He will be first stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for training. His first duty station will be Fort Drum, New York.

Pictured is 2015 Western Wayne alumni Timothy Shaffer, who recently graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics.

Both recent graduates credit their time at Western Wayne as one of the reasons they found success in their four years at their respective institutions.

“All of my teachers were great at Western Wayne,” Tim said. “The math and science departments in the high school especially prepared me for school. I have done really well in math and science in college.”

Kyle agrees that his time at Western Wayne helped to prepare him for his time at VMI.

“I learned leadership skills from serving as the captain of both the football team and volleyball team,” Kyle explained. “Also, my AP classes taught me good study habits.”

Tim and Kyle had different collegiate experiences but each have the same end result of being prepared and ready to enter the military in their respective branches.

Tim’s experience at Embry-Riddle allowed him to have a normal university experience of attending his classes and being involved in other on-campus school activities along with his military training three days a week. He explained how it was a very equal blend.

Kyle’s experience was different in the respect that his college experience was immersed in military training every day in various ways. He explained how the students dressed in military attire at all times while on campus along with training each day and going to their college classes.

Pictured is 2015 Western Wayne alumni Kyle Coons, who recently graduated from the Virginia Military Institute as a Second Lieutenant in the Army with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

These two, very accomplished, Western Wayne alumni have a great mutual respect for one another and are proud of each other’s college achievements. They explained how they chose to pursue becoming service men through different avenues but that they both learned so much already and feel prepared to continue their military training.

Tim feels excited to start his journey at Columbus Air Force Base this spring.

“I am really proud to be able to do what I’m doing,” Tim said. “I know a lot of other people would want to be doing it.”

He is eager to learn more about aviation and explained that the feeling he gets on a flight is incredibly exciting.

“I remember one solo flight I did in college that was special,” Tim explained. “It was right before the sun came up. I was flying from Daytona Beach south past Kennedy Space Center.”

In addition, Tim feels very excited to be able to use the skills he learned in college when he starts his pilot training for the Air Force.

“I have always had a love for aviation that I couldn’t explain,” Tim said. “I have also always been fascinated, from when I was younger, with American history and events such as Pearl Harbor.”

Kyle also is eager to begin his field artillery training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His first duty station will be in Fort Drum, New York. He feels he has learned a lot about leadership from his time at VMI that he will use in the future.

“VMI taught me that good leaders are confident with their decisions,” Kyle explained. “I have also learned to lead by example.”

Western Wayne, faculty, administration, and staff wish Tim and Kyle the best with their future endeavors along with thanking them for serving our country.

Western Wayne Middle School Holds Annual Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game

As the school year is quickly coming to a close, Western Wayne Middle School’s faculty and students took the time to have fun and have some friendly competition on the court at the annual Student vs. Faculty Basketball Game held on Friday, May 24, in the Middle School gym.
All Middle School students in grades 6 through 8 participated as spectators at this morale-building, end-of-year event. Also, middle school principal Kristen Donohue served as D.J., middle school assistant principal Elizabeth Watson played on the faculty team, James Moro, special education teacher, served as referee, and many students were able to try their luck at throwing a shot at half-court.
As the main event, a team of 8th grade students, who volunteered, played against some of their middle school teachers.
The student team consisted of: Laynee Nugent, Dustin Ferraro, Kyle Guarino, Luke Janiszewski, Lucius Richner, Owen Warren, Tim Montijo, Skylar Long, Jacquelyn Morris, Cyrah Bihler, Ella Pavlovich, Julie Bryan, and Tarena Strausburger.
The faculty team consisted of: Grace Piconi-Augelli, Stacey Lutkowski, Nadine Prutzman, Eric Olsommer, Shane Grodack, Todd Pauler, Joshua Rowe, Darren Thorpe, Dave Rupp, Vince Tomassoni, Randy Wolff, Joe Totsky, and Elizabeth Watson, middle school principal.
This year’s game was planned by 8th grade students Cyrah Bihler, Kyle Guarino, and Ella Pavlovich. All three of these students play basketball for Western Wayne. Cyrah, Kyle, and Ella had always enjoyed this event in the past and wanted to ensure the traditional game would continue for their 8th grade year.
“It’s an annual event that usually happens that we really enjoy,” Kyle, who aspires to play varsity football next year, explained. “We got permission from the principal to plan the event and worked to get teachers to play in the game, worked out a time frame of events for the game, and worked to choose music as well. I was surprised by how much we had to get together. I really learned that it is always good to be prepared.”
His classmates Ella and Cyrah worked together with Kyle to plan and organize the event.
“It was good to have a fun event to give us a break from all of the testing,” Cyrah, who looks forward to participating in soccer, basketball, and track in high school, explained. “It was great to see everyone come together so nicely and to see everyone have fun.”
Kyle agreed.
“My favorite part was seeing that everyone enjoyed the work we put into planning the game,” he said.

the cooperage – KIDS FREE Lunch Party

Free Lunch for ages 0 – 18
Monday thru Friday (11 am – 1 pm)
June 17th thru August 6th
(No lunch July 4th and 5th)

Held at
the Cooperage
1030 Main Street
Honesdale, PA

Western Wayne Hosts Annual Art Exhibit and Spring Concert Saturday, May 18

Pictured is featured Western Wayne senior artist Kat Moore.
Pictured is featured Western Wayne senior artist Dayla Jones.
Pictured is featured Western Wayne senior artist Melody Gershey.
Pictured is Western Wayne featured senior artist Rachel Butler.

A trip around the world, a mystical forest, an animal kingdom, and the 60s era are just a few of the adventures you can take through the senior art displays at Western Wayne’s Annual Art Exhibit starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the high school gym. The event is open to the public free of charge along with a free concert performed by the high school chorus and band at 3 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

The entire gym will be transformed into an art gallery featuring 13 senior art portfolios among many other pieces created by students in the high school program. The portfolios will be judged and winners will be posted along with awards given for best overall displays.

One senior excited to have her portfolio displayed at the exhibit is Rachel Butler. Her portfolio has the theme of traveling around the world.

“My fascination with nature and cultures around the world has been my inspiration for my senior art display,” Rachel, who plans to study engineering at Penn State University next year, explained. “I want to convey the feelings I get observing animals all over the world, along with each unique place. For my senior display, I incorporated the places I have visited and the many destinations I hope to experience.”

Her family has greatly influenced Rachel’s journey as an artist.

“As I was growing up, my mother was always using her photographic and artistic skills around me. This is where my inspiration to create arts had stemmed from,” Rachel explained. “Over the years, I’ve realized I can use my creative side to bring happiness and joy to brighten someone’s day just by doing something I love. My grandfather is one of my main supports of my art, he is always wondering what I’m working on and asking when the next art exhibition is so he can attend.”

Rachel’s family members will be sure to enjoy her display along with that of many other talented seniors including Dayla Jones whose display features animals.

“From domesticated to exotic, I have chosen a range of different animals for my portfolio. My love for animals does not just stop at your average pet,” Dayla, who plans to study conservation and wildlife management and minor in zoology at Delaware Valley College next year, explained. “I wanted to bring my dream of becoming a wildlife rehabilitator and conservationist into each one of my pieces. Whether it be a regular, smelly skunk or the endangered snow leopard, all animals deserve the same compassion and care. I put this compassion and care into each of my works of art.”

Dayla’s classmate, fellow senior, Kat Moore also puts a lot of passion into her love for the arts at Western Wayne. She is an accomplished musician who served as one of this year’s Wildcat Marching Band drum majors and has won many awards for her music along with playing in music groups at Marywood University.

Kat explained that she likes to incorporate music into all of her artwork in some way or another.

“It can be a song title, an instrument, or a musician,” Kat explained. “My senior display revolves around music focused on the 60s era which I really enjoy.”

Kat furthered described her inspirations for her artwork.

“I wish to live a very colorful life, traveling and experiencing as much as I can. This is reflected in my art as I enjoy incorporating lots of vibrant colors into my pieces and/or focus on using a dominant color,” Kat, who plans to study music education at Ithaca College in the fall, said. “When deciding the theme of my display, I immediately thought of the heavy impact music has in my life. Music and art have the ability to convey a wide range of ideas and bring out a variety of emotions in everyone. This realization has forced me to continue to create art as it has the capability to bring out the best in me.”

Another featured senior who believes that art has brought out the best of her in her life is Melody Gershey. Melody’s senior display can be described as a mystical forest. Her mural which the display features is a mystical waterfall with a unicorn by it.

“Ever since I was little, I have had a mystical view of the world. I have always wanted to believe that anything is possible, but as I grew older reality hit me, along with lots of working and bills,” Melody, who plans to study cosmetology at Empire Beauty School next year, explained. “With art, I am able to keep my childish beliefs alive because with art, anything is possible. My portfolio consists of landscapes from summer, fall, and winter, then split into daytime and nighttime pieces. My daytime pieces are realistic. These pieces represent people who have drifted away from their imagination or artists who have lost their inspiration. Through my nighttime pieces, I explore surrealism. These pieces are for those few who still believe that anything is possible and haven’t been sucked into the drab of reality.”

The entire Western Wayne community cordially invites the community to their annual Art Exhibit and Spring Concert. It’s the perfect place to take your mind off reality for a bit and enjoy the work of these talented student artists starting at 1 p.m. in the high school gym along with enjoying music sung and played by our excellent chorus and band with a concert starting at 3 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Both events are free of charge.

Western Wayne School District Participates in Area P Special Olympics

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.”

Annual Art Exhibit Spring Concert – May 18th

Annual Art Exhibit Spring Concert
May 18, 2019
Exhibit at 1 p.m. in the high school’s gym
Concert at 3 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Western Wayne School District Hosts Annual Reading Competition

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.