The first season of Girls on the Run at Western Wayne Middle School has been declared a success by students, coaches, and parents! Sixteen of our students joined hundreds of girls at Keystone College for a celebratory 5k event on November 15th.

Girls on the Run/Heart and Sole is a nationwide after school activity which offers a 10 week curriculum based program based around running. Western Wayne has been awarded full scholarships to make the program accessible to all. Each week’s activities have a different theme, like friendships, emotions and building connections in our community. The students play games, have discussions and then tackle a strength training and running workout as a team.

Coach Rachel Fitzmorris said, “We are grateful for the support of parents in our District, and also to the coaches, Rachel Dennis, Amanda Steinmetz, and Bernadette Metschulat for their time. We are already planning a Spring season, this time on a Saturday morning. We are also planning to offer the program to the Elementary grades 3-5. Parents have reached out to tell us the program helped their students develop confidence and make friends, as well as becoming more interested in fitness.”

For more information, or to volunteer as a coach, please email rachelcartland@yahoo.com.

Western Wayne Middle School students learned about the time and effort it takes to have a career as a published author on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when award-winning author J. E. Thompson spoke to them. 

Upon graduation from Middlebury College with a major in English and minor in finance, Thompson had wanted to pursue a career in writing but couldn’t figure out how to make money in such a venture.  Therefore, first, his life’s path took him to a 25 year career working on Wall Street instead. 

Thompson greatly enjoyed the many years he spent working in finance but came to a turning point in his life in 1994 when he realized he wanted to return to his dream of becoming a writer.

“I realized that I had to find the courage to do it,” he explained.  Not only did Thompson find the courage to pursue this dream, but also he has now been a successful writer for about 25 years with one of his most well-known books being Buccaneer’s Spit.

 Thompson told the students about this best-selling book. In the novel,  two teenagers work to save a spit of land in South Carolina from a developer who wants to take it over.

Thompson explained that his books are mystery, thriller stories.  He told the students about the process he goes through to write a novel.  He explained that he likes to start by creating characters that readers will care about.  Then he creates a large problem for those characters to overcome, and, as he writes, he discovers how his characters will overcome the obstacles they face.  Thompson explained to the students the many times a writer has to edit, revise, and rewrite a story before it is finally published.

“If you think what you have written as a first draft is the best way to express yourself, you are wrong,” Thompson explained when discussing how he would advise students to go about the process of writing good quality work.  “If I were ever to enter a first draft to my agent or publishers, they would surely ‘cancel’ it.” He quipped thinking about the youth of today’s connection to the word ‘canceled.’  

Thompson further explained how when he discusses the writing process with young aspiring writers he tries to relate it to how athletes  spend a lot of time working on their craft.

“The first time you throw a pass it might not be as good as how the throw will be after a lot of practice,” he said.  “The same is true for your writing.  Practice through the form of revision and editing is what makes the writing better.”

The students had the chance to purchase a signed copy of one of Thompson’s novels after the presentation. Many of them are excited to read a book from an author they have met.  Two of Thompson’s other published novels are The Girl From Felony Bay and its sequel Disappearance at Hangman’s Bluff.   Both of these books have recently been republished with Pelican Publishing.  

Western Wayne Middle School is excited to announce that the popular national Girls on the Run program is now ‘up and running’ on our campus!
Girls on the Run is a non Profit organization which offers a running based after school program to Elementary and Middle School students. The 6th to 8th grade program is called Heart and Sole. Each week our students play team building games, followed by a strength workout AND a running workout…phew!
Our Fall season is underway, and there will be a Spring season too…both lasting 10 weeks. At the end of each season, students will take part in a celebratory, non-competitive 5k with hundreds of other GOTR members. Girls on the Run has awarded Western Wayne 15 full scholarships, so there is no charge for our students.
The program is coached by Rachel Fitzmorris, who is a Paraprofessional at the MS and by Rachel Dennis, MS secretary. They are assisted by Amanda Steinmetz from our District Office and parent coach Bernadette Metschalut. Mrs Fitzmorris said “This program offers students who may not be in organized sports a chance to participate and discover the joy of movement. It also helps them build connections and self confidence.”
Mrs Jennifer Bradley, Principal, said “I am very excited about the opportunities that the Girls on the Run will provide for our Middle School students. GOTR empowers Middle School girls to lace up their sneakers, chase their dreams, and build resilience, proving that the journey to self -confidence and success begins every step they take together😊”
Any parents or staff interested in volunteering with Girls on the Run, or helping as ‘Running Buddies’ for our students in the 5k on November 18th are invited to email rfitzmorris@westernwayne.org

5th and 6th grade parents – Attend this FREE program to help your youth navigate the pressures
and expectations of life during their teen years to succeed and achieve a brighter future

Five sessions will be held on Tuesdays,
October 3– November 7, 2023, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
(No program on October 31.)

Parents and caregivers can enhance their parenting skills by learning how to:
➢Promote health and well-being during the teen years.
➢Develop healthy beliefs and clear standards for behavior.
➢Deal with anger in a positive way and manage family
conflict to strengthen bonds with youth.
➢Protect their children from substance abuse and other
problematic behaviors.
➢Strengthen family bonds and increase youth’s involvement in
the family through the teen years.
Youth attend session 4 with parents and caregivers and will learn skills they
can use to avoid peer pressure.
The program is open to all parents and caregivers and their 5th and 6th grade
children in the Western Wayne and Lake Ariel community. It includes a FREE dinner
for the entire family and childcare for younger family members

For more information or to register, contact by September 25: E-mail: prosper@westernwayne.org;
Call: (570)878-2385; Or return registration form below to your principal.

5th and 6th grade parents – Attend this FREE program to help
your youth navigate the pressures and expectations of life during
their teen years to succeed and achieve a brighter future.

Parents and caregivers can enhance their parenting skills by learning how to:

-Promote health and well-being during the teen years.

-Develop healthy beliefs and clear standards for behavior.

-Deal with anger in a positive way and manage family
conflict to strengthen bonds with youth.

-Protect their children from substance abuse and other
problematic behaviors.

-Strengthen family bonds and increase youth’s involvement in
the family through the teen years.

See the full flyer below.

Western Wayne Middle School Principal Mrs. Jennifer Bradley
reminded eighth grade students of the importance of completing small tasks so as not to become overwhelmed by large tasks as they prepare to head to high school. Bradley reflected on a speech that retired United States Navy Four-Star Admiral William Harry McRaven made by suggesting students “make their bed” in the morning to be able to then start a day with already one task accomplished.
Bradley reminisced about how middle schoolers, when they first enter sixth grade, have many anxieties about the small task of opening their lockers. She reminded the students about how far they have come and told them to continue to rely on their family and friends for support and guidance as they prepare to move on to high school.
Eighth grader Dakota Douglas, Middle School Student Council president, proudly led her classmates and all in attendance in the pledge of allegiance.
Dakota said she truly enjoyed her time in the Western Wayne Middle School. She looks forward to all she will learn in high school. She is especially excited for her high school chorus class and aspires to become a chorus teacher.
“I love singing and working together with my classmates,” she said.
The featured event of the Moving-Up Ceremony was all 8th grade students receiving awards in various categories for excellence or improvement in all academic and unified arts classes. In addition, students received awards for good citizenship, excellent work habits, and for a variety of high academic achievements such as making the honor roll for 11 quarters in middle school from 6th through 8th grade.
It is also a Western Wayne Middle School tradition for many years that two outstanding students, one male and one female, are recognized for their patriotism and leadership among other qualities. The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the local American Legion present these awards.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Award was presented to 8th grader Madelyn McClure.
Madelyn received the good citizenship medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution for being an outstanding student in the 8th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor and honesty, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.
George Schaffer presented the American Legion Award to 8th grader Grady Farley.
Grady received this annual award for being an outstanding student in the 8th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor, scholarship, Americanism, leadership, and courage.
Both Madelyn and Grady felt extremely honored to receive their respective awards. They also both, at first, felt shocked to learn the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Legion had chosen them for these high honors.
Madelyn is a hard-working young woman who especially loves to study science and who loves to work with her horses in her spare time.
She has done excellent work for her Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competitions throughout her middle school career and plans to continue her involvement in high school.
In addition, she is an avid member of her local 4-H Club and Pony Club having rode horses since she was a young girl.
She is an honor roll student who looks forward to her academic experiences in high school. “I am excited for my upper level math classes,” Madelyn said.
Fellow classmate Grady is also a hard-working individual and honor roll student. He most enjoys his science classes in middle school. In addition, he enjoys sporting activities in his free time including both boating and skiing.
“I am most looking forward to experiencing new classes and learning new things next year,” Grady said.
Another special part of this year’s Moving-Up Ceremony was a special recognition given by Mrs. Bradley to retiring secretaries Bridgit Erb and Michele Rosko, who both work in the middle school office. Between the two of them, they have a combined 51 years of service to the district. Both Erb and Rosko have worked for many years to plan and organize the moving up ceremony among doing so many other tasks. Bradley had the community, faculty, staff, and students give the ladies a well-deserved round of applause.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Bradley reminded students again to not forget “to make their bed” as they get ready to enter high school letting them know that taking the first step in a new journey is quite an accomplishment in itself.
On the way out and into the stadium, guests and others in attendance were treated to seeing a gallery of posters that students and their families made of favorite memories of their students to add a personal touch of their memories throughout the year to the event.
Western Wayne faculty, administration, and staff wish the class of 2027 best wishes for their high school experience.