We are excited to announce that Wallenpaupack Area School District is kicking off Inclusion Week March 20th-24th. This is an important opportunity for faculty, students, and families to come together to celebrate students with all needs while embracing kindness and working toward a common goal of educating and including students with a range of needs. This weeklong celebration features daily Champion of Change Challenges along with a fun dress up theme.
We are excited to celebrate ALL students and staff members during this week of inclusion.
Kindergarten Registration Has Begun!
Attention parents of all Wallenpaupack Area School District children who will be five years of age on or before August 31, 2023 and will be attending Kindergarten during the 2023-2024 school year: Please refer to this page for registration instructions and to download the registration forms or request a registration packet from the Central Registrar's office by calling (570) 226-4557 ext. 3036.
Senior Ray Babyak Job Shadows at Wayne County Ford
Ray Babyak, WAHS Senior, participated in an automotive Job Shadow at Wayne County Ford in Honesdale recently. The Job Shadow was coordinated by Roger Kowalski, Sales Manager at Wayne County Ford. Ray was able to shadow one of the Technicians in the service area, gain hands-on experience during some of the repairs, take a look at the technology used to service vehicles, and observe the routine maintenance provided by the Quick Lane.
Students Prepare for HOSA Competition
Senior Alexandra Sherman provided the following information about the Sports Medicine Event: "I have been a HOSA member for 2 years, where I have competed in sports medicine. The requirement for this competition is a written test based around nutrition and exercise science, as well as a skills portion where I must do one of four tape jobs (inversion ankle, Achilles tendon, wrist, and shoulder). I have to learn all four, and I won't know which one I have to do until I compete. Another section of the skills portion is learning different anatomy of the body, as well as joint action and maximum range of motion. Again, I won't know which I have to do until the event.
My two years of HOSA have been an amazing experience, not only from competing, but also seeing how many people are passionate about healthcare. I have learned so much that has helped me through my classes, as well as meeting people who have pushed me to continue my career goals. Last year I won 3rd in states and had the opportunity to attend the international competition in Nashville, TN. It was an amazing experience, meeting people from all over the world who shared the passion that I have."
Logan LeMin, WAHS Junior discussed his upcoming event, Creative Problem-Solving, at the HOSA Competition: "We are presented with a problem 30 minutes before we must present to the judges. We have to use our knowledge of what we learned about creative problem solving and come up with a solution to the problem. I feel being involved and learning about creative problem solving has helped me keep an open mind and be able to think differently in different ways. This also helped me learn about leadership and what it takes to be a good teammate."
Junior Jaylin Gaston also shared her thoughts about the upcoming competition: "I really appreciate getting the opportunity to be involved in the creative problem-solving part of HOSA. This will broaden my horizons and be an experience that I will remember for life. It is truly a gift because few high schools are a part of HOSA and get the opportunity to do half the things we do."
Fil Am Palma provided the following comments about the project: "Creative Thinking and Problem Solving requires students to think outside the box to take on the challenges that a health professional may encounter in their career."
Karleigh Weist, WAHS Junior shared the following information about the event she is preparing for at the HOSA Competition: "My competition is pathophysiology. Pathophysiology is the processes associated with disease or injury. This is teaching me all about the different conditions and how you might be able to treat them."
WNPS Class Receives Visit from Hercules, the Therapy Dog
Students in Ms. Megan McGinnis' class welcomed Hercules, a recently trained therapy dog to their classroom. Students enjoyed interacting with Hercules and learned about therapy dogs. Hercules is owned by Mrs. Kelly Obermiller, Wallenpaupack Area School Board member. Much fun was had by all!
Students enjoying Hercules' visit include: Jackson Dix, Chloeann Bundschuh-Corcoran, Mercy Rosencrance, Anthony Favale, WenSheng Smith, Dillon Beskovoyne, Madeline Pepe, Kamoni Cudjoe, and Jonathan Padilla.
School Board Recognizes Three Seniors at March Board Meeting
As we look forward to the Spring season, the Wallenpaupack Area School Board took the opportunity to honor three outstanding Seniors at their March meeting.
Paige Geesey has been a member of the Choir, Chamber Choir, Show Choir, District Choir, WAHS Players, National Honor Society, Student Council, Swim Team, Color Guard, and the Prom Committee. She has also been a Gold Scholar Award recipient. After graduation, Paige plans to attend Millersville University to major in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology.
Elizabeth Higgins' High School activities have included Show Choir, Marching Band, WAHS Players, National Honor Society, Student Council Special Events Coordinator, Environmental Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). She has been a Gold Scholar Award recipient, and earned her Athletic Letters in Swimming, Track and Field, and Cross-Country, where she was also recipient of the Pack Award. Elizabeth plans to attend Slippery Rock Univeristy for a degree in Exercise Science. She also plans to continue competing in Cross-Country and Track.
Tyler Lofberg has served on the National Honor Society's Exectuive Council, been Captain of the Scholastics Team, and served as Student Council Special Events Coordinator. He has also been a member of the Engineering OAC, the Science Olympiad Team, the Chess Club, and the E-Sports Team, received the Gold Scholar Award, and served as a Student Ambassador. Tyler has lettered as a member of the Golf Team and competed in Track and Field. After graduation, Tyler plans to serve as an officer in the United States Armed Forces.
Best wishes to these students for continued success from the School Board, Administration, Faculty, and Staff of Wallenpaupack.
Logan LeMin Named CTE Student of the Month for February
Sophomore Logan LeMin of Hawley has been selected as the February Student of the Month by the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Department. Logan is currently a Level I student in the Allied Health program, and a member of the Paupack Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club. He is a conscientious student, always prepared, active in class discussions and groupwork, and exceeding expectations when completing projects. He is also a member of the Football Team and a Weightlifting Club member.
This year Logan will be competing at the HOSA State Leadership Conference in Valley Forge, PA in Creative Problem Solving, along with two other teammates. He hopes to place high enough at the state level competition so he may then go on to compete at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Texas.
Logan is considered a shining example of a future health professional who is going to make an impactful difference for the people in his care.
Culinary CTE Holds 'Chopped' MRE Challenge
In February, during Career and Technical Education month, the Senior Culinary Arts students participated in an MRE (Meals - Ready to Eat) Chopped Challenge!! Organized by SSG Kleppinger and SFC Riotta, the students were given a variety of MRE's used by soldiers in the field. The students worked in teams of 2 and had an hour total to prepare 3 plates each, consisting of an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
The "Double Beef" team of Elizabeth Kilpatrick and Jessica Mara won First Place. Team "AA" of Angelina Fitzgerald and Antonio Vasquez Morena won second place. Congratulations to all who participated!
WAHS Sophomores Create PSA for HOSA Competition
Wallenpaupack Sophomores Giada Blume, Julia Mrowka, and Lauren Peterman are competing March 29th - 31st in Valley Forge for HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). As part of their project, they were required to create a 30-second Public Service Announcement to promote a Mental Health Topic and Organization. They chose PTSD: School Shootings (Charlie Health). The name of the project is "I'm Fine" is Not the Answer and is presented below.
The girls shared the following information in terms of what they worked on and what they learned from the project:
"We got a better understanding of the trauma people experience from the school shootings. We wanted to spread awareness that people can go and reach out to Charlie Health. We got the full understanding that "I'm Fine" is not the answer."
School Board Spotlight - Mr. Paul Otway
The Wallenpaupack Area School District would like to take the time to honor our School Board members each month by providing a short video to let the public get to know them better. We would like to thank them for their time and devotion, as well as the knowledge and experience that they bring to enable us to have a district of which we can be proud.
This month's Spotlight is on School Board Vice-President Mr. Paul Otway. Please view the video below to learn a little bit more about Mr. Otway.
Please be sure to check out other School Board Spotlight videos on the School Board Members page.
WAHS Students Visit the University of Scranton
WAHS students visited the University of Scranton on March 8th and participated in the following activities: A tour of the campus with Student Ambassadors including residence halls and major academic buildings, a presentation with Admissions to learn about the programs of study offered and financial aid opportunities at the university, and lunch in the Dining Hall.
Senior Emily Kangal provided the following feedback about the trip to the University of Scranton: "I loved the visit so much. It gave me a really good idea of what my future career will look like and what it will take to get there. Dr. Kraus was an amazing person to talk to and he gave me so much insight into being an English professor. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to talk to someone who has the job I aspire to have."
Juliana Olver, Junior, also shared her thoughts about the visit: "Scranton has a very large and beautiful campus, and they have top tier academics. I could really see myself going there one day."
WAHS Students Attend Biomedical Science Internship
Several Wallenpaupack Area High School students attended a Biomedical Science Internship at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine on March 9th. The topic for the day was Orthopedics.
Caitlyn Mulcahy, WAHS Junior, shared the following thoughts about the activities she participated in at the medical college:
"We looked at x-rays to determine the severity and treatment plan of a person's scoliosis. We practiced suturing to repair torn ligaments. We learned about different types of fractures and we also learned how fractures are repaired using rods. I loved the hands-on activities! I think it's great that they give us an opportunity to learn by doing, instead of just lecturing about a topic. My favorite activity was suturing the torn ligament. After we did some basic stitches, we did pressure tests to see how well our work would hold up over time. I think it's cool that we were able to get a basic view of what a doctor would do to repair a torn ACL or something similar."
WAHS Therapy Dog Featured in Social Media Campaign for HOSA Competition
Savvy May, WAHS Therapy Dog, is featured in a Mental Health Promotion for the upcoming HOSA (Health Occupations Student Association) Competition at the end of March in Valley Forge, PA. The Mental Health Promo includes a social media campaign with a focus on prevention and ways to support others encountering mental health issues. Michelle Bronstein, Elyssa Lin, and Audrey Hawley met with Savvy May to get to know her and film her in action for their social media campaign. Many thanks go out to Mrs. Catherine Zultewicz, WAHS Freshman Academy School Counselor and Savvy's owner, who briefed the girls about Savvy's training as a Therapy Dog, as well as ways she assists students struggling with Mental Health Issues.
WAHS Students Tour Northampton Community College
On February 16, Wallenpaupack students ventured to Northampton Community College in Bethlehem. The agenda for the day included several presentations, starting with the Admissions process, Financial Aid, and Student Support Services. Students then explored the campus and had the opportunity to visit such programs as Automotive Technology, Sonography, Childcare and Theater. To conclude the tour, students were able to check out residence life by viewing the dorms and dining hall.
Several students expressed that they liked the fact that there are so many resources available at the college. Commenting on his experience, Wallenpaupack student Seth Beavers reflected, "I plan on attending in the fall and really got a good a good vibe from the tour."
Sophomore Marlana Horvay Job Shadows Local Tattoo Studio
Sophomore Marlana Horvay has always been fascinated by the art of tattooing. When presented with an opportunity to shadow at a local tattoo shop, she was very excited, so off she went to the American House in Hawley. Once there she met with the owner, the talented Dan Santoro, whose style is traditional American tattoo work. Dan spoke about how he got started in the business and told her all about his journey. Marlana learned about proper terminology, sanitation procedures, and learning through an apprenticeship. She also was able to check out Dan's extensive historical library. Marlana was ecstatic and learned so much about this creative career. She appreciates all the time and effort Dan put into making the experience sensational!
WAHS Junior Keegan Boehm Shadows Land Surveyor
Keegan Boehm is considering land surveying as a possible career. His grandfather was a surveyor, so he put it on his list of careers to explore.
Keegan had the opportunity to shadow Jamie Rutherford, owner of Rutherford Surveying in Honesdale. It was a busy day observing and hustling and bustling around the town of Honesdale in order to get a feel of what surveyors do daily. They started at the office where Jamie talked about various software programs, equipment used, and examples of office tasks and fieldwork tasks. Another part of the experience was going to the courthouse to look up old maps and lastly to the job site. Jamie was very passionate about the history of surveying and sharing how the industry has changed. He gave Keegan advice on how to get started and spoke of postsecondary schools that offered 2-year and 4-year programs.
Thank you, Rutherford Surveying, for a truly AMAZING shadow day!!
Lilliana Hapke's Work, A Curious Alliance, Chosen for National Exhibition
Congratulations to Senior Lilliana Hapke for her inclusion in the 25th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition! Lilli's sculpture was selected by one of the foremost leaders in the visual arts and was chosen for its excellence, originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Her work, A Curious Alliance, will be seen by thousands of visitors from all over the world, many of whom will be in town (Cincinatti, OH) for this year's NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts) conference. Only 152 works (out of over 1,400 submissions) were accepted, and we are so proud of her accomplishments!
No matter what path Lilliana chooses to pursue, we hope this recognition will open doors for her and inspire her to achieve new heights.
WAHS Allied Health CTE Visits Wilkes University Nursing Labs
WAHS Allied Health CTE students visited the Nursing Program at Wilkes University on March 1st. During the course of the visit, students were engaged in multiple hands-on activities including the proper procedure to apply sterile gloves to prevent infection, as well as simulated activities to practice injection skills and wound care techniques. In addition, students were able to interact with "HAL" a patient simulation mannequin to assess his presenting issues and monitor oxygen levels and heart rate.
Some of the students who attended the campus visit to the Wilkes Nursing Program provided the following feedback:
Clara Babyak, Sophomore: "I thought the Wilkes trip was very interesting and I liked how we were able to participate in activities instead of just watching them."
Jaylin Gaston, Junior: "It was so exciting to see and experience an advanced hands-on scenario. I would love to participate in more things at Wilkes like what I did. I appreciated it all!"
Juliana Olver, Junior: "At the Wilkes trip I found it very educational with all the hands-on activities we did, such as sterile gloving and working with needles. Overall, the trip was very good and worth it!"
Nevaeh Garrett-Abram, Senior: "We were able to do a lot of interactive activities that were super fun and educational. It was a worthwhile trip."
Molly Dickerman Named March Fine Arts Student of the Month
Molly Dickerman of Greentown, is being recognized for her achievements in instrumental music, vocal music, and dance. Molly has been a member of the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Student Ambassadors, Science Olympiad, Scholastics Team, Student Council, National Honor Society, and the Track and Field Team. She has also performed with the Northeastern Youth Wind and String Ensembles, the Marywood Wind Symphony, the Northeast Tri-County Band, the Marywood University Junior and Senior Wind Band Celebrations, the PMEA District 9 Choir/Band/Orchestra, and the PMEA Region IV Band/Orchestra. She has also received the Girl Scout Silver Award, and the Marywood University Senior Wind Band Celebration Conductor's Award.
Molly plans to attend a four year university to student radiography, and to continue playing in bands in college.
Softball Clinic Held for 3rd - 6th Graders
Wallenpaupack Softball would like to thank all the 3rd-6th grade students for attending this year's clinics! We hope everyone learned from the high school girls and the coaches within the program. These girls had a lot of fun and were great to work with! Good luck to everyone in their upcoming seasons and GO BUCKHORNS!!
King's College Hosts Health Sciences Career Fair at WAHS
80 WAHS students attended the Health Sciences Career Fair at the High School on February 17th, sponsored by King's College in Wilkes-Barre. Students rotated among four centers which included hands-on activities in Nursing, Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, and Dietetics and Nutrition.
Senior Alexandra Sherman described some of the activities in which she participated. "At the Athletic Training Station, we practiced 'Stop the Bleed' techniques by making tourniquets and packing simulated wounds with gauze. At the center for Occupational Therapy, we were able to try out fidgets and other sensory items to help with concentration and sensory overload. We also learned how to assist mothers who have suffered an injury, care for their babies safely, and we had an opportunity to try on simulation goggles to see how a person's vision is impacted by different medical conditions, such as cataracts, diabetes, or glaucoma." Alexandra said she learned a lot and had fun in the process!
Students were treated to lunch and a basket raffle to cap off the program. A special thanks goes out to Dr. Christopher O'Brien, Dean of Health Sciences at King's College, and Christine Stevens, Director of Graduate Admissions at King's College, for their hard work in making the Health Sciences Career Fair a great success! As a follow up to the Health Sciences Career Fair, students will be invited to visit King's College in the Spring to check out the labs on campus and learn more about each health sciences program.
Junior Gunnar Myers Wins District II Wrestling Medal
Congratulations to Junior Gunnar Myers for winning the District II Individual Wrestling Championship in the 133 lb weight class. Gunnar pinned Santino Casarella of Crestwood in 56 seconds in the Quarterfinal round, then pinned Lucas Tirpak of Dallas in 5:50 in the Semifinal round, and defeated Dom Moyer of Delaware Valley by decision to take the gold. Congratulations again to Gunnar for his championship achievement!
Career and Technical Education Month at WAHS
February is Career and Technical Education Month and Wallenpaupack is proud to show off our programs. A partnership with Johnson College of Technology provides us the opportunity to offer college credits to our CTE students. These programs are offered on the Wallenpaupack campus after normal school hours.
Two of the programs that are offered by this partnership include Contact Drawing and Shielded Metal Arc Welding. Students in the Contact Drawing course will earn 3 college credits upon successful completion of the requirements. Students currently enrolled in the course are John Sasscer, Colin Hertz, and Derek Burckes. The course meets on Monday Nights for 3 hours per session.
Damien Reider, Alicia Zboyan, Bobby Fortuna and Eric Rupp are taking the Shielded Metal Arc Welding Courses which is held Mondays 4 -9, Tuesdays, 6-9 and Wednesdays 4-9. These students are eligible for the American Welding Society Certificate and will earn 6 college credits after successfully completing the required classroom work and the hands-on task welding projects.
Wallenpaupack is extremely proud to be able to provide the opportunity for our CTE students to gain experience and college credits towards career goals in their chosen trades.
WAHS Art Club Students Tour the Art Department at Marywood
On Friday, February 10, Mrs. Peet and Mrs. McGinnis took students from the Art Club and those with a strong interest in art to Marywood to take a tour of the Art Department and discuss careers in the art industry. A huge thank you to Marywood University and Sue Jenkins!
Senior Alexandra Sherman Sees the Day of a Physical Therapist at WNPS
Alexandra Sherman, a WAHS Senior who is enrolled in the Exercise Science Sports Medicine Career and Technical Education Program, shadowed the Physical Therapists at the North Primary School, since she said she has a strong interest in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Ally provided the following comments about the job shadow:
"I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to observe amazing physical therapists and work with some incredible kids. I learned a lot about pediatrics, and it has made me more confident for continuing in my career path."
Senior Morgan Nilsen Shadows Wayne County Sheriff
Morgan Nilsen, WAHS Senior, shadowed Sheriff Christopher Rosler and Chief Deputy Ron Kominski (K9 Unit) to learn about their roles at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Morgan provided the following feedback about her recent Job Shadow at the Wayne County Courthouse:
"Next year I hope to major in Criminal Justice with hopes to pursue a K9 career. This job shadow with Sheriff Rosler gave me the opportunity to experience the real life of a sheriff, deputy, and K9 handler. I was able to talk to Deputy Kominski about the pathways I can take with K9 and how each is different from the other. He told me the steps he took to get Manfred (K9 Unit), and how it has influenced his life. I really enjoyed this experience and am so thankful for it."
WAHS Artists Recognized by Scholastic Art Awards
Several WAHS students received recognition for the Northeastern PA Region Scholastic Art Awards. The Gold Key winner is the painting Alcatune by Senior Eris Rhodes.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, established in 1923, is the nation's longest-running and most prestigious art and writing recognition program for students Grades 7 through 12. The Everhart Museum has hosted the competition for the Northeastern PA Region since 2018. This year, the Museum received over 400 submissions of artwork from junior and senior high school students from 24 schools within a 15 county area.
The Everhart is hosting the Gold Key Awards Exhibition, which displays the work of all Gold Key and American Vision Award recipients February 2 - 26.
Our Kids Food Pantry Featured on BRC News 13
Arrival and Departure Procedures for the North Campus - 2022-23
Information Regarding Robo-Calls and Robo-Texts
As inclement weather approaches, Wallenpaupack will continue to utilize the SwiftK12 messaging system to notify families of school delays and cancellations. Please note that as parents/guardians, you can maintain the contact phone numbers used by the system by using the PowerSchool Parent Portal. These phone numbers are maintained separately from the student database by design and are not automatically updated when you inform the school of a changed phone number. Information regarding setting up and configuring your account through the Parent Portal can be found in this document.
It is our intent to begin sending SMS text messages regarding delays and cancellations to families in addition to our normal communication avenues of TV, radio, website, Facebook, etc. We will not robo-call families in the morning except in unusual or unexpected circumstances. We ask that you maintain accurate contact numbers in the SwiftK12 system to facilitate this.
If clicking on the SwiftReach SwiftK12 link causes a 'Log in. Your session may have expired.' message, please follow these instructions.
Cafeteria Information - Updated for 2022-2023
For updated information about the Cafeteria for the 2022-2023 school year, including the online payment program, please read this document.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application Now Available!
The USDA-funded free breakfast and lunch waivers that were in effect for the 2021-22 school year have expired as of June 30, 2022. Therefore, parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to apply for the federally assisted Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program for the 2022-2023 school year. This confidential information is used by both WASD and state agencies to determine funding for a variety of programs. Failure to apply for benefits could disqualify your student/family from additional benefits that may be available. Please view this video for further information.
Please read this important message from Mrs. Simons, Athletic Director, regarding steps you must take to prepare for the 2022-2023 school year.
Notice Regarding Student Insurance - Revised for 2022-2023 School Year
Please be advised that it is the responsibility of the parents/guardians, in the event of a student accident, to provide for accidental injury expenses either through insurance or cash payment to health care providers. For this reason, the School District would like to make you aware of the availability of a low cost, standard school approved insurance policy.
The School District does not provide insurance coverage for students. If you do not have insurance or the financial ability to cover potential injury expenses, we encourage you to review this Student Accident Insurance document.
If you choose to purchase insurance through this program, please have your child return the completed insurance form with your payment to their school and it will be forwarded to the insurance company to process.
We hope this program can be a valuable service for you and your family.
On-line Learning Resources and Information for Students and Parents
In 2018, the General Assembly passed Act 44 mandating the establishment and use of the "Safe2Say Something" (S2SS) anonymous reporting system by every Pennsylvania school entity by January 14, 2019.
S2SS is a life-saving and life-changing school safety program that teaches students, educators, and administrators how: (1) to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others, and (2) to anonymously report this information through the S2SS app, website, or 24/7 Crisis Center Hotline.
For further information, please refer to the following documents:
Vaccination Requirements for 2018-2019 School Year Onward
In the 2018-2019 school year, there are requirements that students in 7th and 12th grade must adhere to. On the First Day of School in the fall of 2018, unless the child has a medical or religious/philosophical exemption, a child must have had the vaccinations as described in this pamphlet, or risk exclusion from school.
Students at any grade, Kindergarten through 12th, including all public, private, parochial or nonpublic school in this Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must show proof of immunization before they can attend school. This pertains to vocational schools, alternative education programs, intermediate units, special education, home education programs, charter and cyber charter schools.
For more information, please refer to this pamphlet.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. This new benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application.
You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575.
Please note that the Wallenpaupack Area School District is providing this information as a courtesy, and is not involved in the operation of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Any and all questions should be directed to the contact information above, and NOT to the School District.
Highmark Insurance - Transparency in Coverage Compliance
The Transparency in Coverage Rule issued by the federal government requires health insurers and group health plans to provide detailed pricing data for all covered items and services to the public in the form of Machine Readable Files (MRFs).
Highmark Insurance has provided the following documents to explain and comply with this rule.
Athletics
