The Western Wayne Middle School continued their tradition on the last day of school which was Friday, June 10, this year. It is called the 8th Grade Final Walk. As a final activity before leaving the building to move on to the high school, 8th grade students took a walk through the hallways appropriately led by three teachers that are leaving the middle school this year Dawn Krautter, Evan Bahmer, and Brianna Vinton.
Krautter, Bahmer, and Vinton led the procession through the hallways of the middle school and received flowers from 6th and 7th grade students along the way. The two women ended up with bouquets at the end and Mr. Bahmer received a beautiful plant along with many well wishes from students, faculty, and staff who lined the hallways and met them outside of the building to celebrate.
Krautter has taught at the school for three and half years. She was the Middle School FCS teacher for two and half years and this past year she was a seventh grade ELA teacher.
“I have had a wonderful experience,” Krautter said. “Western Wayne will always be special to me.”
Krautter will be moving to Valdosta, Georgia. She will be the Lanier County High School FCS teacher next year.

Bahmer, who served as a substitute teacher in many different capacities at Western Wayne for the last two years, will be moving on to a full-time job at Summit Christian Academy in Clarks Summit, PA. He will be teaching math and Bible to middle school students in grades six through eight. Bahmer was born and raised in Michigan. He has a degree from Clarks Summit University in pastoral ministry.
“I am excited for this new teaching position and look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store,” Bahmer said.
Fellow co-worker Brianna Vinton, who was in as a substitute for FCS in the middle school this year, also looks forward to teaching more in the future. She studied at both Misericordia University and Keystone College. She is certified to teach social studies and FCS and will soon have a certification to teach business.
“I loved my experience teaching at my alma mater,” Vinton said.
Western Wayne faculty, administration, staff, and students wish Krautter, Bahmer, and Vinton the best in the future.

Western Wayne Middle School Principal Mrs. Jennifer Bradley praised eighth graders for “staying the course” through all of the unforeseen circumstances and regular academic and extra-curricular challenges they faced during their time in the middle school.

This class is particularly special to Bradley because when they began sixth grade, Bradley started her first year as the principal of the Western Wayne Middle School.

To conclude her speech, Bradley wished the students well and asked their audience of family and friends to applaud them.

Eighth grader Jade Wetherington, Middle School Student Council president, proudly led her classmates and all in attendance in the pledge of allegiance.

Jade said she truly enjoyed her time in the Western Wayne Middle School.  She looks forward to all she will learn in high school.  She aspires to either work in theater as an actor or to be a cosmetologist.

“I enjoyed making everyone smile this year at all of the events the student council was able to hold,” she said.

The featured event of the Moving-Up Ceremony was all 8^th 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 6^th through 8^th grade.  After all of the students received their initial awards, the class of 2026 stood up, and the entire stadium filled with their family and friends gave them another round of applause.

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 8^th grader Audrey Agnello.   

Audrey received the good citizenship medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution for being an outstanding student in the 8^th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor and honesty, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism. 

George Schaffer presented the American Legion Award to 8^th grader Logan Pauler.  

Logan received this annual award for being an outstanding student in the 8^th grade class who exhibits the qualities of honor, scholarship, Americanism, leadership, and courage. 

Both Audrey and Logan 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. 

Audrey is a hard-working young woman who especially loves to study science and is highly involved in activities and sports at Western Wayne.

In addition, she is a long-time competitive swimmer who is a member of the Pacers at Marywood University.  She also plays soccer, runs track, and plans to join the tennis team for her freshman year.  In addition, she is an honor roll student who also participates in the PJAS club and was the captain of the Middle School Reading Relay Team this year.

She looks forward to her high school science classes the most. In the future, she is thinking about studying genetics or epidemiology.

“My experiences in middle school have helped me to learn how to work and achieve many things independently,” Audrey explained.  

Fellow classmate Logan Pauler is also a hard-working individual and honor roll student. He most enjoys his math classes because he likes problem solving.  

In addition, he is a triple-sport athlete who plays basketball, soccer, and track. 

“I am most looking forward to the seriousness of my high school classes,” Logan, who aspires to be an architect, said.

For the second year in a row, students and their families made poster boards of pictures of favorite memories of their students to add a personal touch of their memories throughout the year to the ceremony.  

Western Wayne faculty, administration, and staff wish the class of 2026 the best on their new journey to the high school.

On May 26, 2022, Western Wayne 9th grade High School Students visited the Varden Conservation Area and participated in ecology activities presented by Lacawac Sanctuary. Students participated in three different activities, which involved the topics of macroinvertebrates in a pond environment, topographic mapping, and chemical water testing and pollution.
Students also released rainbow trout as a conclusion of the Pennsylvania Trout in the classroom (PA-TIC) program. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission provided rainbow trout eggs that were hatched and raised by Dr. Mark Nebzydoski and his classes this school year. The trout release was assisted by the Pike – Wayne Chapter #462 Trout Unlimited, President, Paul Ranello and Youth Advisor, Don Stathy.
Lacawac Sanctuary instructors included, Jamie Reeger, Environmental Educational Manager, who explained water quality health through identification of macroinvertebrates found at the pond. Natalie Wasilchek, Environmental Educator, explained topographic mapping and orienteering with compasses and maps of the area. Jamie Bryan, Environmental Educator, explained chemical testing and water quality at the stream.
Prior to the field trip students engaged in a classroom presentation on water quality and the environment. Students participated in activities that model ground water and surface water and how they fit into a concept of a water shed. These activities lead to discussions about the local area and incorporate the concept of a water table and common water resources shared by all.
Funding for the Varden classroom education as well the field trip was provided through an Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) grant from the nonprofit Western Wayne Education Foundation. Christine McClure, President, 1970C Easton Turnpike, Western Wayne School District, Lake Ariel, PA 18436
Accompanying the students were instructors Dr. Mark Nebzydoski and Mrs. Maria Phillips, Helene Tscheschlog, and Michael Bershefsky. For more information on
Varden Conservation area
http://www.vardenconservationarea.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofVCA/
http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/VardenConservationArea/Pages/default.aspx
Lacawac Sanctuary
https://www.lacawac.org/
https://www.facebook.com/Lacawac/
Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom (PA-TIC)
https://www.patroutintheclassroom.org/
Pike – Wayne Chapter #462 Trout Unlimited
https://pwtu.org/

Western Wayne Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Joyce Covaleski, performed in the Catholic Choral Society’s annual Spring Concert in Scranton on May 22, 2022. Students received a standing ovation for their performance!

Western Wayne students in 7th Grade Chorus enjoyed a beautiful day at Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center as they learned about Woodstock and the music of the 1960’s.

Western Wayne students in 8th Grade Chorus enjoyed a day of fun and team building at Knoebels Amusement Resort in May. 

Western Wayne Middle School students couldn’t hide that Wildcat Pride during the week of May 9 through May 13.  They had a variety of dress-up days such as character day and Rockstar day to show their school spirit throughout the week ending with the school’s traditional spirit games celebration for students in grades 6 through 12.  Students enjoyed playing a variety of games including dodgeball, minute-to-win-it games, and musical chairs, among others.  All of the students enjoyed this bonding exercise with their classmates and look forward to the rest of their end-of-year activities.

Western Wayne Middle School Select Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Joyce Covaleski, will be performing at the 73rd Annual Spring Concert of Scranton’s Catholic Choral Society at Holy Rosary Church, 316 William Street in Scranton, on Sunday, May 22, at 7 p.m. All are invited to this FREE concert! Please note that in spite of the Chorale’s name and the venue, this is not a religious concert but an eclectic concert of spring and patriotic music. Pictured are members of the Western Wayne Middle School Select Chorus.