Western Wayne Middle School students are part of a unique learning experience for a second time. Created by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in Allentown, PA in 2013, the “What’s So cool About Manufacturing?” contests draw entries from more than 200 teams across Pennsylvania. The teams of students and teacher coaches receive camera equipment, software, and professional guidance as they learn to script, record, and edit their video stories of what it’s like to work in the manufacturing industry. Students learn about the manufacturing career field and complete their projects at various local manufacturing businesses.
The contest’s objective is to change students’ perceptions about manufacturing careers by sending them to local places where manufacturing is done to complete their submissions for “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?”. The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contests are supported regionally by their sponsors and partners.
The 2019 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Contest for Northeast PA is produced by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center in Hanover Township, PA. Participating schools are from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. Western Wayne is one of eleven schools participating in the Northeast PA Contest.
For the second year, Western Wayne Middle School students had the opportunity to explore Boyce Products Ltd., a manufacturing facility located in Damascus, for their project. This winter the students toured Boyce to learn about the manufacturing career field and gather information for their submission.
In an article featured on USAtoday.com, at least 35 people reported seizures after using electronic cigarettes over the past decade, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency is investigating the incidents, which primarily involved youth and young adults and were discovered in its “adverse event” reporting system.
Seizures or convulsions are known to be possible side effects of nicotine poisoning. They have reportedly occurred after users swallow vaping liquid containing nicotine.
This is like a Broadway show on a basketball court. Our team will feature tricks, music dunks, comedy, dancing, and audience participation. It is an awe-inspiring, two-hour basketball show including an autograph session! See them take on the WW Ballers (WW faculty). Benefits the WW Football program.
Pictured are some of the Western Wayne Middle School students involved in the 2019 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Northeast PA Contest. From left: Trinity Foulds, Alaina Maiocco, Ella Pavlovich, Kailey Tickner, Julie Bryan, Skylar Long, and Evan Peirce. Team members not pictured: Bernie Roedel and Ivan Knecht.
Voting for the second-annual “What’s So Cool About
Manufacturing Contest?” will be open from March 27th through March
29th at https://www.whatssocool.org/contests/northeast-pa/
The public can support Western Wayne Middle School students by going on
and voting for their video submission as many times as they would like.
Western
Wayne Middle School students are part of this unique learning experience for
the second time. Created by the
Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in Allentown, PA in 2013, the “What’s So
cool About Manufacturing?” contests draw entries from more than 200 teams
across Pennsylvania. The teams of
students and teacher coaches receive camera equipment, software, and
professional guidance as they learn to script, record, and edit their video
stories of what it’s like to work in the manufacturing industry. Students learn
about the manufacturing career field and complete their projects at various
local manufacturing businesses.
The contest’s objective
is to change students’ perceptions about manufacturing careers by sending them
to local places where manufacturing is done to complete their submissions for
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?”. The
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contests are supported regionally by
their sponsors and partners.
The 2019 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Contest for Northeast PA
is produced by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial
Resource Center in Hanover Township, PA. Participating schools are from
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. Western Wayne is one of eleven schools
participating in the Northeast PA Contest.
For the second year, Western Wayne Middle
School students had the opportunity to explore Boyce Products Ltd., a
manufacturing facility located in Damascus, for their project. This winter the students toured Boyce to
learn about the manufacturing career field and gather information for their
submission.
The group of Western
Wayne students consisting of Bernie Roedel, Ella Pavlovich, Alaina Maiocco,
Skylar Long, Trinity Foulds, Evan Peirce, Ivan Knecht, Julie Bryan, and Kailey
Tickner felt rewarded and fulfilled after their experiences at Boyce and in
creating their video submission.
The students were
surprised to learn that Boyce makes a variety of products used in the national
spotlight. For example, the students
learned Boyce creates set pieces for CNN News, the tables used for interviews
in the NFL, along with different props used in popular movies, and the call
boxes used in New York City subways.
“It was neat to see how
much work goes into each piece they create,” Evan Peirce, 8th grader
from Western Wayne, said.
Evan’s fellow classmate
Julie Bryan said she was excited to see the different equipment in use at
Boyce.
“We got to see laser
cutters going through metal,” Julie explained.
After their trip, the
students worked on creating their video submission about their experience. Eighth grader Bernie Roedel acted as a
student leader for this effort. The film
is now finalized and can be viewed on the Western Wayne website at https://ww3.westernwayne.org/western-wayne-manufacturing-video-submission/
The Western Wayne School
Community invites the public to vote for Western Wayne Middle School’s video
submission to “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” at https://www.whatssocool.org/contests/northeast-pa/
The students have the chance to win for a variety of categories. Your vote can help them win the Northeast PA
Viewer’s Choice Award.
These annual video contests excite students across Pennsylvania to explore cool manufacturing careers and produce profiles of companies. Each contest features an online vote for its Viewers Choice Award. The contest format also has been adopted in 11 additional states. Below is Western Wayne Middle School’s Submission.
Select Western Wayne Middle School students
participated in the 2019 Middle Grades Music & Art Festival held on Friday,
March 1, at the Wayne Highlands School District. Some students had art work on display and
others participated by singing or playing musical instruments in a concert held
that evening.
Students
from a number of area schools participated.
Some of the pieces performed by the band students included: music from West Side Story, “West Side Blues,” and “Jupiter”. Some of the pieces performed by the chorus
included: music from The Greatest Showman, “Praise His Holy
Name,” and “Stars I Shall Find.”
Many of the students from
Western Wayne greatly enjoyed the experience of working with different students
who share their same interest in the arts.
Eighth grader Evan Peirce,
who participated with the band, said he had the most fun learning about a new
instrument. Evan plays the tenor saxophone
and met a student from Wallenpaupack who plays the baritone saxophone.
“I really want to play
the baritone saxophone in the high school band,” Evan said. “The student I met showed me some ways to
play and it was really fun.”
Evan’s fellow band
classmate Ashley Small Bermudez said she also enjoyed learning from the
students in her section at Middle Grades.
Ashley plays the mallets.
“A lot of the kids in my
section showed different techniques and were helping each other to play.”
The same musical
camaraderie was a special part of the Middle Grades experience for students
that participated in the chorus as well.
Eighth grader Kylie
Merring, a soprano, said the most meaningful part of the experience was her
interactions with other vocal performance students.
“It was great to be able
to interact with other kids, to hear them sing, and to take notes off of how
they do it.”
All of the Western Wayne
students in attendance also thought one of the best parts of the festival was
the positive and encouraging atmosphere that the directors created at the
event.
“Even when we were
corrected, we were still told we were doing well,” eighth grade trombone player
Elizabeth Wasylyk said.
In the end, all of the
students who participated in Middle Grades were thrilled with the outcome.
“At the start of our
rehearsals everything wasn’t set to go, but by the time we got on stage for the
show we could see a really big change,” tenor Adam Kellogg explained.
Many of the students from
Western Wayne who participated at Middle Grades plan to continue their study of
the arts in high school whether it be in visual art classes, chorus class, the
musical theater program, or in band.
Eighth graders Jake
Larsen, Evan Peirce, and Elizabeth Wasylyk think their experience at Middle
Grades along with their experiences in middle school band classes are better
preparing them to be a part of Western Wayne’s prestigious marching band.
“Experience at events
like Middle Grades are better preparing me for upcoming performances at Friday
night games,” Elizabeth explained.
National School Counseling Week 2019, “School Counselors: Providing Lessons for Life,” is celebrated from Feb. 4-8, 2019, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.
Western Wayne Middle School Special Education Teacher Mrs. Nadine Taylor Prutzman had the honor of being inducted into the Wilkes Athletic Hall of Fame for 2018-2019 in the 26th class of inductees. Wilkes recognized Prutzman and five other sports alumni on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the men’s basketball game on campus.
Following this event, an induction ceremony and
reception took place in the Hall of Fame room in the Marts Center on campus.
Prutzman, who graduated in 2007, played softball for Wilkes. Prutzman helped lead the Colonels to 83 wins and the 2006 Freedom Conference championship and NCAA tournament. She was named All-Freedom Conference three times including Player of the Year as a junior in 2005.
In addition, she was
named First Team All-ECAC South, First Team All-Region and Second Team
All-American in the same season. Also, she was recognized on the Middle
Atlantic Conference All-Century Team in 2013.
Prutzman ranks seventh in runs scored (79), seventh in hits (131),
eighth in doubles (25), third in triples (8) and fifth in stolen bases (38) all
while playing in the Colonel outfield.
Prutzman has many fond
memories of her time playing softball for Wilkes University.
“I enjoyed everything about Wilkes Softball! Yes, even the
5:30 am practices! I will forever cherish the friendships made with my
teammates and coaches both on and off the diamond. I enjoyed the Martz
Bus rides, Spring Break trips, making diving catches, being in the batter’s box
with a 3-2 count, screaming to cheer my teammates on and getting lightheaded
from it, the 20 second chats in the outfield before each inning, the
superstitious rituals, and the list goes on and on,” she explained. “It is difficult to name just one memorable
and favorite moment playing softball for Wilkes. Being selected as an
All-American as an outfielder and winning the MAC Championship my senior year
would definitely be ranked high as a favorite memory.”
Prutzman felt honored to
be recognized in such a way by her collegiate alma mater.
“It hard to describe the
feeling being inducted into the Wilkes University’s Athletics Hall of Fame. The
feeling came to me when they announced all my accomplishments and statistics,”
Prutzman said. “After I heard them, I
couldn’t help but to feel very proud and honored.”
Sharing the entire
experience with her family and friends made it all the more special for
Prutzman.
“The induction event was
amazing! I had the chance to meet other athletes being induced into the Hall of
Fame who graduated college ahead of me.
I also got to connect with my former coaches, teammates, friends, and
family. There are many things that I
will remember about the event, in particular, seeing my picture in a plaque
located in the Hall of Fame room at Wilkes University,” Prutzman explained. “Just knowing that it will be displayed and
viewed by generations of athletes makes me take a breath. Having my children point to their mommy, made
me smile big.”
ALL NEWS
Western Wayne and Honesdale High Schools Robotics Team FRC 4285 Places 8th at Hatboro-Horsham District EventMarch 11, 2025The robotics team FRC 4285 Camobots (composed of Honesdale HS and Western Wayne HS students) competed at the Hatboro-Horsham District Event and placed 8th. We are very proud of the performance for the team took on a tough engineering challenge of designing, building, testing, and competing in 6 weeks a 140lb robot to autonomously and human driven the task to pick up and place a 12” long piece of Sch40 4” pvc and 16” diameter rubber ball in specific locations. The team chose to design, build, and compete utilizing a 3 piece telescoping crane arm with manipulator, this took all of their time up and had minimal drive and interaction time with the robot prior to the event. The team learned, adapted, problem-solved, presented to CEO’s and engineers of major companies, and persevered to compete in the playoff round and place 8th. Congratulations to the robotics and engineering members.
Western Wayne team members are: Ethan Gillott, Grace Owens, Kyle Matthews, Aiden Matthews, Paul Borowski, Logan Pauler, Liam Pauler, Jake Obloshny, and Alexis Bartels.
Pictures are from the Hatboro-Horsham District Event. [...]
Local Students Explore Real-World Environmental SolutionsMarch 11, 2025Local Students Explore Real-World Environmental Solutions
Students from several local schools are participating in an educational program focused on environmental science and collaboration throughout the 2024-25 school year.
Each school has a team of five students and a teacher-advisor. The program includes hands-on field trips and investigations, allowing students to explore real-world environmental issues.
Participating Schools
Lackawanna County: Carbondale, Forest City, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, Mountain View, Old Forge, Riverside, Western Wayne, and Wayne Highlands.
Luzerne County: Crestwood, Hanover, HAAS, HACC, Hazleton, Northwest, Tunkhannock, and Wyoming Area.
Western Wayne High School students have already taken part in trips to Lackawanna State Park, Keystone College, the Old Forge borehole, and the Alliance Landfill. These experiences helped them learn about healthy watersheds, how to monitor their conditions, and ways to maintain water quality. The program is supported by Pennsylvania American Water Company, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and DCNR’s Watershed Education Program.
March Field Trip: Water Treatment in Action
In March, students visited Pennsylvania American Water’s Lake Scranton Water Treatment Plant and its Sewage Treatment Plant.
At the Lake Scranton Water Treatment Facility, Sr. Superintendent Daniel Baratta led a tour, explaining how the system provides clean drinking water to about 160,000 people in 14 communities. The facility draws water from Lake Scranton and other reservoirs, processing an average of 19.5 million gallons daily.
Students also toured the sewage treatment plant, where they learned how wastewater is treated before being safely returned to the Lackawanna River.
Looking Ahead
The program will conclude on May 6, 2025, with a student presentation banquet at Montage Mountain. Western Wayne students will showcase their project: planning an ecology-based field trip for fourth graders at the Varden Conservation Area. Inspired by their own experiences, they designed activities to teach younger students about the environment in a fun and engaging way.
Through these hands-on experiences, students are gaining valuable knowledge about environmental conservation while working together to find real-world solutions.
“I really enjoy learning about the science field through these hands-on real-world experiences,” Western Wayne sophomore Dakota Douglas said.
Picture One, from left : Dakota Douglas, Giuliana Velazquez, Aliyah Gregory, Kyleigh Turner, and Jerrah-Ann DeBree.
Picture Two, from left : Kyleigh Turner, , Jerrah-Ann DeBree, Dakota Douglas, Aliyah Gregory, Giuliana Velazquez, and Water Treatment Facility, Sr. Superintendent Daniel Baratta. [...]
Students Take Top Three Places in Rotary Essay ContestMarch 11, 2025The Hamlin Lake Ariel Rotary Club recently had their Rotary District 7410 Essay Contest giving students the prompt: Rotary’s Four Way Test, which guides all Rotary projects, including this question: “Is it fair to all concerned?”. Students were asked to write about the statement, “we use empathy to see other points of view, in the context of problems to be solved.” How can we use teamwork, inclusion, empathy, acceptance, belonging, and accountability to solve problems or achieve goals we set?
Rotary District 7410 offers this Essay Contest as an incentive for young people to develop their skills of self-expression, and as evidence of a sincere desire to demonstrate service above self, which is Rotary’s consistent motto.
Western Wayne High School students placed in the competition. Mercedes Pedersen, senior, took first place; Kennedy Scott, senior, placed second; and Anthony Redmond, senior, placed third.
Mercedes along with writing is involved in a variety of activities at Western Wayne including: color guard, stage crew, and Spanish Club. She is also the president of Western Wayne’s Chapter of the National Honor Society. She plans to study veterinary medicine with an emphasis on exotic and domestic animals.
Mercedes discussed how she focussed on how a problem can be solved using the pillars named by the Rotary Club.
“I discussed how the different aspects work together when solving a problem,” she said. “This was a rich topic, and I was able to get four pages out of it.”
Her work earned her a club-level first prize of 100 dollars in the contest, and she is excited to see her essay move on the district level where she will be in competition to win a 1,000 dollar prize for her excellent writing.
The second prize winner was Kennedy Scott. Her essay focussed on solving conflict through the use of the Rotary pillars.
Kennedy feels she will use the strong pillar qualities in her daily life more than ever next year when she takes on the unique opportunity of doing a gap year abroad through Colorado State University. She will earn twelve credits and get to travel the world going to destinations such as France, Spain, the Netherlands, Ghana, Japan, Thailand, and many other locations. She first learned of this academic opportunity through TikTok in her sophomore year, and she chose to pursue it and gained acceptance into the program. She will study media marketing at Colorado State University and aspires to do promotions for businesses after she graduates.
Finally our third prize winner is Anthony Redmond. He is a four year member of the Western Wayne High School Marching Band serving as the percussion section leader for two years. He also participated in Pep Band and Pit Band. He wishes to pursue a degree in music education to be a high school band director. Anthony focussed on the aspects of teamwork, inclusion, empathy, acceptance, and accountability in his essay all of which he knows make for a good working team in a high school marching band.
“I discussed both how these aspects can help make people work as a good team and how they can bring people apart as well at times,” he explained.
The Western Wayne School District and especially their English teacher Mrs. Carrie Wittenbrader congratulates these students on their award-winning efforts and wishes them the best in their bright futures.
From left: Mercedes Pedersen, Kennedy Scott, Anthony Redmond, and Mrs. Carrie Wittenbrader. [...]
Students Attend World Language Day at The University of ScrantonMarch 7, 2025On Tuesday, March 4th, The University of Scranton held their second World Language Day in which they hosted over 100 high school students to experience lessons in Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, German, and Arabic. Some Western Wayne High School students were in attendance and loved their experience.
“It was very interesting to be immersed in so many different languages,” Kallie Wehrmann, Western Wayne senior, said. “I really loved making new friends and learning about different cultures. I am so excited to go to college next year and feel this experience makes me even more prepared for the future.”
From left: Mrs. Sara Orloski, Jack Sepelyak, Lance Hauenstein, Kaitlin Wargo, Leah Reeger, Loucy Allen, Julia Wehrmann, Katie Skirpan, Lily Kieva, Kallie Wehrmann, Chloe Gilpin, Maria Gadoua, and Mrs. Sandrowicz. [...]
High School February Students of the MonthMarch 5, 2025The following students were recognized by the Student Council as students of the month for February. Their teachers and administrators weighed in on the decisions. All of the students chosen hold a high standard of academic and personal excellence. They are true examples of the P.R.I.D.E. standards for PBIS at our school.
First, Leah Reeger is our selected freshman. Leah is an all-around excellent student who has a passion for art. In addition, she is involved in Envirothon, Student Council, and Ultimate Frisbee. One of her favorite classes is her Honors English class. She feels as though her writing is growing in strength this year, especially her poetry and literary analysis work.
She also is greatly enjoying her Introduction to Ceramics class this year.
“We are learning how to make basic items like bowls,” Leah explained. “I really like coming up with new items to create and then making them a reality through my art.”
Leah aspires to own a coffee shop with an art theme that focuses on nature.
Next, Eric McGrath is our chosen sophomore this month. Eric is an enthusiastic student who gives his best effort in all he does. His sports and activities include soccer, track, and Envirothon. His favorite class this year is English.
“I like writing best, especially fiction analysis,” he said. Eric plans to attend college after graduation with an undecided major at the moment.
In addition, Loucynthia Allen is this month’s featured junior. She is another very dedicated student who enjoys art. Her clubs and activities include Spanish Club, National Art Honor Society, and Envirothon.
Her favorite class this year is ceramics.
“I really like being in my own world when I create art,” she said.
She aspires to become a dentist or dental hygienist for her future career.
Finally, David Elias is our senior spotlight this month. David is an exceptional academic student and talented student athlete. His sports and activities include basketball, track and FBLA.
His favorite class is calculus.
“I enjoy problem solving and working with numbers,” he said.
David plans to attend a four-year university upon graduation with an undecided major.
The Western Wayne School District congratulates these February students of the month and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.
From left: Leah Reeger, Eric McGrath, Mr. Robert Black, high school assistant principal; Loucynthia Allen, and David Elias. [...]
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.
