Western Wayne Middle School 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Chorus students enjoyed their annual field trips on some beautiful days in May. The 6th Grade Chorus went on the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour and enjoyed singing mining songs that they had prepared as they learned about our area’s rich coal mining history. The 7th Grade Chorus learned about the music and history of the 1960s and went to Bethel Woods where they performed a song on the grounds where Woodstock took place. The 8th Grade Chorus enjoyed a day of fun and friendship at Knoebels as they prepare to move up from the Middle School to the High School.

Western Wayne’s Select Chorus, under the direction of Middle School Chorus Director Joyce Covaleski, performed at the 30th Annual Generations Sing! Concert in November. The concert opened the 75th Season for the Catholic Choral Society. This uniquely beautiful concert, featuring choirs ranging from elementary age to university students, was performed in the stunning Houlihan-McLean Center at the University of Scranton. The finale featured the five participating choirs singing moving renditions of “Bonse Aba” and “Why We Sing.”

In March, Middle School Band Director Maria Arneil and Middle School Chorus Director Joyce Covaleski hosted the annual Middle Grades Music and Art Festival here at Western Wayne. Middle School Chorus students who participated were (front row, L-R) Johnathon Maxwell, Sophia Johns, Hailey Bain, Jozlin Gonzalez, Kenna Steinmetz, Annalise Hapersberger, Makayla Franckowiak, Sophia Shehadi, and Haylee McCollum-Fitzpatrick. (Back row, L-R) Owen Rutkowski, Maria Shemanski, Haley Dougal, Jessalynn Carbone, Kenzie Gregory, Emilia Janusz, Rachel Erb, Gage Roberts, Nathan Peterson, and Gavin Zeiler.

Western Wayne Middle School was represented well at the annual PMEA Chorus Fest hosted at Honesdale High School in March.

Sadie Booths, winner of The Daughters of the American Revolution Award, and  Kyle Matthews, winner of the American Legion Award.

At the annual 8th Grade Moving-Up Ceremony, held in the high school auditorium on Tuesday, June 4, Western Wayne Middle School Principal Mrs. Jennifer Bradley
reminded eighth grade students that the older you get the faster time passes. She encouraged students to do their best in every step they will take in high school.
“Your legacy is just as important at the beginning of an adventure as it is at the end,” Bradley said.
Mrs. Covaleski then led the 8th grade chorus in their part of the program which included them performing “Seize the Day” from the Broadway musical Newsies which further inspired the students on a day about preparing for their upcoming high school journey.
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 Sadie Booths.
Sadie 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 Kyle Matthews.
Kyle 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 Sadie and Kyle 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.
Sadie, an honor roll student, is a hard-working young woman who especially loves to study math and participates in track, basketball, and soccer at Western Wayne.
She aspires to be an Algebra teacher one day.
“It is my favorite subject, and I want to be like the math teachers I have had in school.”
Fellow classmate Kyle Matthews is also a hard-working individual and honor roll student. He enjoys studying math the most as well. Kyle is a member of the track team and aspires to be an engineer when he grows up.
“I am most looking forward to experiencing new classes and learning new things next year,” Kyle said.
To close the ceremony, students were treated to a beautiful slideshow of memories from their childhood, time in middle school, and special times spent with their families.
Western Wayne faculty, administration, and staff wish the class of 2028 the best on their new journey to the high school.