Middle School Students Collaborate on Monster Project with Kindergarteners for Halloween

This fall semester Western Wayne 8th grade Family Consumer Science students worked on a sewing project called a “Monster Project” to be collaboratively created in a fun and creative way with Western Wayne students in Kindergarten classes at Evergreen Elementary School.

The Kindergarten students actually drew designs of a “monster” they wanted to see come to life, and the middle school students in Mrs. Jessica Gregorski’s Family Consumer Science classes recreated these designs in the form of a soft sculpture (stuffed animal).

Through this process, the middle school students learned how to do a running stitch, backstitch, overstitch, and blanket stitch to create a 3-D model of the elementary students’ monster questionnaire responses along with their own creativity and decorative elements such as favorite foods, colors, and facial features! Each monster even had a unique name, some of which included: Sparkle, Scary Larry, Shimmer, Happy Bestie, Snowflake, Kitty Monster, and Twinkle, among many others.

On Friday, Oct. 28, the middle schoolers presented their finished products to their kindergartners to keep and enjoy!

“We were so excited to create these special projects for elementary students,” Mrs. Gregorski said. “We hope the children and families enjoyed this collaborative project.”

Eighth grader MaKenzie Chearney really enjoyed making her monster called Spot for her kindergartner. Spot is half red and half black. Its eyes and tongue are pink. The mouth is black. The shape of the monster is a rectangle with arms, legs, and little ears on top.

“I used the back stitch for the red in the front and the eyes,” MaKenzie explained. “I then did the running stitch for the mouth and tongue. Lastly, I used the blanket stitch for the mouth and tongue. I changed the eyes and tongue to pink because it is my monster’s favorite color.”

MaKenzie was so happy to make a project to brighten the day of a younger student.

“When I look at my completed monster it makes me smile, when I know that I made a Kindergartner’s monster drawing into a stuffed animal that they get to have.”

Fellow eighth grade classmate Raegan Fox also had an enjoyable experience with this project.

“When I look at my completed monster, I am happy when I see it, because I didn’t expect for it to turn out better than expected.”

Raegan’s monster named Dinosaur is light blue and has bright neon orange pants, a red necklace, and four red eyes.

“His teeth remind me of a vampire, because they are sharp and red,” Raegan explained.

Raegan’s monster and the ones created by her middle school classmates were the perfect treat for the elementary students for the Halloween season.

A wonderful time was had by all involved when the middle schoolers and elementary students met and got to experience their collaborative projects together for the first time.

Picture One: Mrs. Tickner’s Kindergarten class

Front Row from Left to Right:

Celia Cawley, Skylar Davis, Emma Dennis, Lillian Dougherty, Case Carlson, Dennis Smith, Lincoln Salak, Anabella Rodas

Second Row from Left to Right:

Emma DeNunzio, Makenzie Chearney, Molly French, Wyatt Weist, Khale Black, Eleri Strocchia.

Third Row from Left to Right:

Matthew Patuto, Calista Gregorski, Dominick Esposito, Piper Fontana, Nolan Rock, Liana Proppe, Zara Levano, Arabella Propes, Amelia Kolodzieski

Back Row from Left to Right:

Aliyah Gregory, Mia Bentler, Lauren Geisheimer, Aubrey Bersch, Raegan Fox, Abby Bell

Picture Two: Mrs. Yedinak’s Kindergarten class

Front Row from Left to Right:

Rayanne Worzel, Alexis Freeman, Quinn Robeson, Gage Puckett, Brady Bozym, Dane Clowers, Kylie Hardwick, Daisy VanGorden, Mia Mahnke.

Middle / 2nd Row from Left to Right:

Owen Ackerman, Teagan Kraszewski, Thomas Cappozi, Kendall Natskakula, Madison Dalessandro, Katie Hertzog, Harley Pifcho.

Back Row from Left to Right:

Michael Kaminsky, Noah Hennessy, Michael Barna, Damian Glackin, Elisa Gallinot, Carl McCane, Corey Deitz, Jordyn Goebel

Award-winning Local Musician Visits Western Wayne Middle School

Award-winning local musician and music producer Carl Canedy was invited by teacher Mrs. Joyce Covaleski to speak to Western Wayne Middle School’s 7th Grade Performing Arts classes about careers in music and the music business. The students enjoyed the presentation which included concert tee shirts, albums, and CDs from Mr. Canedy’s bands.

Fall Sports Physicals

Western Wayne Hosts 50th Anniversary Parade

The entire Western Wayne Community joined together on Saturday, September 24, for a parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the school. A number of groups marched some of which included the Western Wayne faculty and staff, members of the chorus in the middle school, high school, and chorus alumni, the Wildcat Marching Band, some local fire house companies, the members of the 2022 Homecoming Court, the Wildcat Cheerleaders, members of Wildcat sports teams, the Spanish Club, and others.
It was a beautiful day and community members lined up at the Western Wayne Middle and High School campuses to watch the parade that went around the school grounds.
“It was awesome to be back to celebrate this event with my friends in the music community at school,” Nick DeCandis, Class of 2022, said.
Western Wayne has a variety of other alumni events planned throughout the year and look forward to hosting more of our past students for these activities.

Western Wayne Cheer, Football, and Band Host Young Wildcats

It’s never too early to try out a future Wildcat activity. Western Wayne cheerleaders, football players, and the band showed their Wildcat Pride through hosting young Wildcats at the home game on Friday, Sept. 16, versus Abington Heights at the Sharkey Rosetti Stadium. Junior Wildcat players and cheerleaders got a taste of what it is like to play and perform under the Friday night lights. In addition, the band hosted students from 8th grade considering joining the high school marching band. They got to play stand tune music with their assigned band buddies during the game. All of the young cheerleaders, football players, and band students had an excellent experience and look forward to possibly participating in their respective activities in high school.

Student Body PBIS Drone Photograph

On Homecoming Day, September 30, 2022, we are planning a school-wide event to assemble students at the Sharkey Rossetti Stadium to form the letters “WWHS” on the field. We will use a drone to take a photograph of the student body in formation as a fundraiser for our high school PBIS team. PBIS is a nation-wide evidence-based program that is used in all Western Wayne buildings. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and it is a team of students and teachers that function to support our student body by rewarding good behaviors to improve the climate of the school.

The cost of the photo will be $15.00 for an 8×10 image. All checks can be made out to WWHS PBIS. Cash will also be accepted. Please send your cash or check to the high school Guidance Office to complete your purchase. Checks can be mailed to: WWHS Guidance 1970A Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, PA 18436.

If you are interested in purchasing an image, please pre-order it using the Google form: https://forms.gle/tvoUckBg6Bi6rHvE6

All money is due prior to your order being placed. Orders will be accepted and money collected until November 1, 2022. An email will be sent to the address you provide when the orders have arrived. Orders are expected to be fulfilled in November.

Western Wayne Students Attend Junior National Youth Leadership Conference

Makayla, Madelyn, and Hannah look forward to using the skills they learned at the conference as they begin their new journey in high school. From left: Makayla Moser, Hannah DeStefano, and Madelyn Vinton.

Western Wayne students attended the Junior National Youth Leadership Conference held this past July in Washington, D.C. Freshmen Makayla Moser, Madelyn Vinton, and Hannah DeStefano were recommended to attend the conference by their middle school guidance counselor Mr. Totsky. The outstanding students did a lot of fundraising to be able to have this experience including selling handmade blanket baskets, having a small basket raffle, and reaching out to the local community and businesses like The Grim Foundation which helped tremendously. All three students greatly enjoyed their experience at the conference.

Madelyn explained how her favorite part was a museum called Planet World that they saw. She was also thrilled to meet many new friends from across the country.

“I think what I learned at this conference will help strengthen my leadership qualities by making me work hard and fast while working with everyone,” Madelyn said. “It made me realize I’m not by myself, and I could never do it by myself.” Madelyn intends to pursue either law or pediatric audiology in the future.

Makayla agreed that getting to tour the monuments and historic places in Washington, D.C. was her favorite part of the experience along with meeting new people.

“I especially liked visiting Arlington National Cemetery and learning about its history,” Makayla explained. “We even got to see the changing of the guard. Another enjoyable part was how the new friends I made helped push me to achieve my goals at the conference.” Makayla aspires to study forensic psychology and criminal profiling in college.

Fellow classmate Hannah’s favorite part of the experience was the guest speakers. Her favorite was a speech given by Anthony Robles, a NCAA wrestler who was born with one leg.

“ We got to speak with him, and his speech was very moving,” Hannah explained. I learned that there are no excuses for things you can or cannot do.” Hannah is interested in a career in the medical field and has been researching careers like a travel nurse and anesthesiologist.