News in a Minute – Planet Wildcat

Principal Paul Gregorski congratulates senior Alyssa Iovacchini on receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award.

Senior Earns President’s Volunteer Service Award

March 4, 2020

Western Wayne senior Alyssa Iovacchini has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of time to service their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Western Wayne nominated Alyssa for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service. Throughout Alyssa’s four years in high school she volunteered at Arrowhead Bible Camp in Brackney, PA. She found out about this opportunity...

Drama Club students were excited to promote reading. From left, seated: Alex Fullone, wizard; Honour Shaffer, Prince Dauntless; Rhonda Fenkner, Lady Larken; Alex Taylor, Sir Harry; and Joe McNeill, King.
From left, standing: Lily Visceglia, jester; Becca Boots, student director/ ensemble; Jenna Frable, ensemble; and Rebeccah King, ensemble.

Drama Club Students Promote Reading in honor of’ Read across America Night’

March 4, 2020

Kids of all ages enjoyed a night of entertainment to include the reading of children’s books, performances from the upcoming Western Wayne Drama Club’s production of Once Upon a Mattress, and even a performance by local magician David Black. Western Wayne’s Robert D. Wilson Elementary School PTA hosted Read Across America Night on Thursday, March 5, free of charge to the public. There were be tours of the RDW building and opportunities to stop in classrooms to hear stories read by RDW staff and friend. Western Wayne Drama Club students performed excerpts from their upcoming spring s...

From left: Jennifer Bradley, middle school principal; Nicholas Fisichella, Antonio Fisichella, and Officer Robert Robbins, school resource office.

Students Earn School Police Exemplary Citizenship Awards

February 5, 2020

Western Wayne students Antonio Mwaura Fisichella, Nicholas Gathama Fisichella, and Paityn Lynn Duprey received individual Western Wayne School Police Exemplary Citizenship Awards at the January, 2020, Western Wayne School Board meeting. The Western Wayne School District Police Department takes pleasure in presenting these awards to students who have done an outstanding job helping others. School resource Officer Robert Robbins explained that the award was first created in May of 2019 after a high school student did an exemplary job helping a classmate during a medical emergency. “We...

Pictured are the members of the Western Wayne Student Ambassador Program. Row 1 (l to r): Celeste Orchard, Madison McGlone, Jamie Bryan, Kaeli Romanowski, Skylar Long, Cyrah Bihler, McKenzie Laity, Miranda Montijo, Cassidy Asinski, Angelia Reggie, Trina Barcarola, Landon Firmstone, Zane Janiszewski, and Alex Amorine. Row 2 (l to r): Asia Nichols, Sinclaire Ogof, Brendan Fitzsimmons, Zachary Rovinsky, Jack McAllister, Parker Howell, James Fryzel, Derek Mason. Absent from photo: Lenny Maiocco, Alaina Maiocco, Abby Black, Sinaea Buford, Ashton Fitzsimmons, Morgan Coccodrilli, Sydney Peet, and Ezra Tetreault.

New Ambassador Program Awards Grants

February 4, 2020

This year Western Wayne High School has begun a student ambassador program. Ambassadors greet visitors to the high school and escort them to their destination in the building among participating in other school events. In November, the ambassadors went through a training with Julie Bialkowski from Penn State Scranton. Senior Lenny Maiocco explained how students learned a variety of skills at the training like how properly to shake hands, how to introduce themselves, how to speak at an accurate volume, and how to be open in speaking to others along with how to dress in a presentable manner. ...

Senior YCA member Trina Barcarola presents the grant to adviser/teacher Mrs. Laura Wojnar, grant recipient junior Sydney Hutchinson, adviser/teacher Annette Fox, and senior YCA member Brendan Fitzsimmons.

Students Receive Grants for Senior Projects

February 4, 2020

Wayne County Community Foundation, Youth Advisory Committee presented two separate grants to Western Wayne High School students Rachel Hoch and Sydney Hutchinson on Friday, January 24. Ryanne Jennings and William Gershey, representing the Wayne County Community Foundation, presented the grants to the students. Rachel Hoch, sophomore, received a grant to use for her senior project. The project involves her work with Western Wayne High School’s annual spring Catwalk fashion show themed “Tune into Fashion”. Rachel will work to plan decorations for the show along with sewing...

Girls Lead Dedicated to the Community

December 6, 2019

The Girls Lead Club, under the direction of adviser Mrs. Marianne Morgan, once again came to the aid of women and families in need in both Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. The group fundraisied more than $500 and collected donations as well in order to create gift bags and purchase supplies for women and families at New Baby Pantry in Dunmore, PA and Victims Intervention in Honesdale.

Caleb’s Pennies Raises Funds for Families with Sick Child

Nicholas Kassen, Staff Reporter

December 6, 2019

Caleb's Pennies is a Foundation that has been providing financial assistance to families with a critically child since May 2010. The Foundation has supported more than 650 families by paying mortgage, rent, electric, medical bills and more, so parents can concentrate on their child's recovery. Annually, Caleb's Pennies holds an event entitled Caleb's Pennies Tricky Tray Fundraiser, which raffles over 175 themed baskets. Caleb's legacy lives on through this foundation and the effort to honor his name. Caleb's Pennies was started in the loving memory of Nicole Granville's son, Caleb. Twelve years ago, Caleb was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He was only two years old. Throughout his brief stay at the hospital, family and friends were able to be there to provide love and support. Over the past nine years...

Western Wayne Sophomores Chosen to Attend HOBY Leadership Seminar

Western Wayne High School Hosts Second Annual College Fair

October 23, 2019

Representatives for twenty-four colleges and universities in Pennsylvania were available to Western Wayne High School students in grades nine through twelve on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the high school gym. High School guidance counselor Mrs. Rachael Palko coordinated this second annual event that so many high school students benefited from. “The event has grown from last year,” Palko explained. “We have schools from further out like Villanova University and Slippery Rock University. We tried to expand our reach.” Palko believes that students in different grades took away information...

Senior Katherine Moore Wins First Chair

Pictured are Mrs. Elaine Ort, Western Wayne Band Director and her star student Kristen Moore who has won first chair at District Orchestra.

January 22, 2019

Senior Katherine Moore has earned first chair at the PMEA District 9 Orchestra Festival held on Thursday, Jan. 10 and Friday, Jan. 11 at Marywood University. Katherine performs under the direction of Mrs. Elaine Ort.

The geometry class's annual ornament project was both fun and informative for students. Picture are front row: Caitlyn Burdick, Mrs. Sledzinski, Kendra Oliver, Nick Kassen, Alex Taylor, Trinity Solivan, Madison Weinczyk, Allison McCarthy, and Brandon Kellogg. From left, second row: Duane Myers, Delaney Valinski, Jorge Correa, Hunter Schmitt, Daniel Kassen, Jackson Press, T.J. Pope, Rachel Tuman, Julien Walck, and Mrs. Wojnar. From left, front row: Bridgette Flannery, Miesha Cunningham, Betty Klim, Justina Rastello, Kaitlyn McDermott, and Vivian Sloss.

Western Wayne High School Math Students Share Knowledge and Cheer at Julia Ribaudo

January 22, 2019

Geometry students learn about many precise elements that comprise shapes and figures in their classroom studies like points, line segments, and angles. This holiday season Western Wayne High School geometry students had the opportunity to extend their education by sharing their knowledge of math with senior citizens and in return learned a lesson about elements that make the holiday season special like compassion, friendship, and the joy of giving to others. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, in Ann Sledzinkski and Laura Wojnar’s geometry classes had the opportunity to ...

Western Wayne High School Receives 2018 ExxonMobil Grant

January 22, 2019

The Western Wayne High School received a 500 dollar 2018 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant for their math and science departments. ExxonMobil and Liberty Petroleum present these grants to various area schools each year. The check was presented to Western Wayne on Thursday, Dec. 13. Western Wayne Administration and staff are excited to use these funds to better the educational experiences of their students. From left: Mr. Paul Gregorski, high school principal; Mrs. Christine McClure, co-science department chairperson; Mr. Leo Kerylovicz, general manager of Liberty Petroleum; and Mr....

Hamlin/ Lake Ariel Rotary Donates Coats for Western Wayne Students

January 22, 2019

All four Western Wayne Schools (EverGreen Elementary, R.D. Wilson Elementary, the High School, and Middle School) benefited from a coat drive done by the Hamlin/ Lake Ariel Rotary. The Rotary donated several cases of coats to the schools. All of the schools received a variety of coats in different colors and sizes. The district is so grateful for this donation and knows its students will greatly benefit from these much needed coats. From left, Sue Schlasta, EverGreen Elementary social worker; and Tatiana Black, from the Rotary.