Wyalusing Area School District

Welcome to the next edition of RAM eNews, a product of the Wyalusing Area School District. This publication will be produced quarterly during the school year to keep community stakeholders engaged in our schools.

Summer break is officially upon us and I would like to thank you for a great year! This year was the most “normal” school year that we’ve had in a number of years and it was filled with many days of celebration as we recognized the successes of our talented students, faculty, and staff.

I am proud of our Wyalusing Community for the support and care they provided to our students on a daily basis. I am also proud of our students who made it through another school year and are ready for the next chapter, especially our graduates.

Summer will once again be full of robust expanded learning opportunities for all students, and I encourage students to take full advantage of the many options this summer for acceleration, remediation/recovery, and connection. Please be sure to contact your child’s school for specific program offerings. This summer should also be a time for a well-deserved break. Enjoy some time for self-care, go on an adventure, or simply take some downtime and be sure to spend it with family and friends.

I wish you a relaxing, fun-filled summer break and look forward to welcoming our students back in August.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jason Bottiglieri

Superintendent of Schools

The Bradford County Regional Arts Council (BCRAC) partnered with the Children's House to present the "Hands and Hearts" project for April's Child Abuse Prevention month. According to their mission statement, this craft "provides a visual of community awareness, support, and recognition of child survivors."

All of the second grade classrooms in Bradford County participated in this craft, and our 2nd graders at WVES were proud to join the other schools in this mission for awareness.

On Friday, May 13, 2022, Wyalusing hosted the first annual Exceptional Athletes' Day and it was INCREDIBLE!! Students in grades K-6 from Wyalusing, Northeast Bradford, Towanda, and Troy came together to celebrate their diverse abilities. 42 student-athletes spent the day at the track participating in running events, field events, and fun lawn games. They were also treated to a Touch-a-Truck event, balloon animals, face painting, and ice cream sandwiches thanks to local individuals and businesses. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day a success!

We were finally able to have the art show back and displayed in our Community Board room after a few years of it being virtual due to COVID. The district art show showcased the work of elementary and high school artists from throughout the school year. Some pieces were done by individual artists and others were collaborative pieces of art with many students contributing. There was also a very large piece that illustrated how "Art Connects Us" that included pieces completed by students and staff at both buildings during the month of March.

During the Senior Prom, Brian Arnold and Tiffany Newton were crowned Prom King and Queen and passed on their royalties onto two very deserving classmates, Ashlee Auer and Zachary Cook. This sweet gesture made the entire night and speaks to the incredible kindness our students show to one another. We could not be more proud of Tiffany and Brian!

Students in Mrs. Felker's 2nd grade class attended a field trip to the Electric City Aquarium in Scranton. The students loved seeing the different species of fish and their favorite part of the aquarium was the touch tank!

Our students did a fantastic job representing Wyalusing throughout the series of FBLA events this year! Taylor Spencer (left) placed 3rd in Social Media Strategies and Erin Salsman (right) placed 6th in UX Design at the State Conference in Hershey in April.

Taylor will attend the National Leadership Conference in Chicago in June.

Congratulations to these ladies and the entire FBLA team for their success this year!

Our WVHS art department was one of the 250 schools chosen to participate in the Vans High School Custom Culture Contest. This is the second year students in Ms. Case's class have participated in the contest where students customize blank Vans shoes around a specific theme. This year's themes included "Hometown Pride" and "VanDoren Legacy'," in memory of Vans' co-founder, Paul Van Doren. Ms. Case's elective art classes brainstormed ideas for each pair and then individual students brought the ideas to life. Natasha Kelly designed the "Hometown Pride" shoes and Miles Fox designed the "Vandoren Legacy" shoes. We are absolutely amazed at the level of detail and creativity these students expressed through their work!!

This spring marked the first time since 2005 that both our Varsity Baseball and Varsity Softball teams have won NTL League Titles in the same year.

Baseball: Our Varsity Baseball team started the season 15-0 and is currently a top 2 seed in District IV AA. The Baseball team will be looking to win their first District IV Title in school history.

Softball: Our Varsity Softball team in also in the top 3 in District IV AA and will be seeking yet another trip to states and another District IV AA Title.

Track & Field: Our Varsity Girls Track and Field team placed 2nd at the NTL League Meet on Friday, 5/13 at Athens. The Girls team was led by Olivia Haley who won the 200 and the 400, while also finishing 2nd in the 100. Our Boys team took 4th, with Kashawn Cameron winning the long jump and Grady Cobb winning the high jump.

We are extremely proud of our student athletes that were recognized this year!

Stay up-to-date with all sports by following Wyalusing Rams Sports and Northern Tier Sports Report.

***Photos provided courtesy of Northern Tier Sports Report and Pete Hardenstine***

On May 25th, 2022, we were proud to celebrate our graduating seniors. The ceremony was held outdoors and included inspiring remarks from student leaders and administration, as well as musical performances by the Early Morning Jazz, Senior Choir Ensemble, and the High School Band.

We are extremely proud of our seniors' accomplishments and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors! Thank you to all of the faculty and staff the volunteered to help with this event!

A link to watch the video recording of the 2022 graduation ceremony will be posted to our website in the coming weeks!

***Photo credit: Warren Howeler, Rocket-Courier

Cynthia is a familiar face to everyone as she worked in our Elementary Main Office as the Principal’s Secretary, and ALWAYS greeted people with a smile. Prior to working in the main office, Cynthia also served as a personal care aide in both the Elementary and High School, and she also worked as a secretary in our district office. After 25 wonderful years and countless memories of our students, staff, and teachers, Cynthia is looking forward to traveling, volunteering, and playing golf with her husband, Jeff, who also retired this year. Congratulations, Cynthia!

Nancy has supported our district for the last 22 years. She started her career with Wyalusing as the Transportation and Taxes secretary in the business office and then in 2011, she moved to the Payroll and Benefits Secretary position that she still holds today. Her favorite memories include not only getting acquainted with our staff but also now counting many of them as dear friends. Nancy is also the creative mind behind the bulletin boards in the elementary school lobby (across from the cafeteria). She has taken a lot of pride in supporting our students and staff and it has certainly been appreciated. Thank you, Nancy!

In 1994, a friend of Mary’s called her and told her that a substitute would be needed for Wyalusing. The 8th grade English teacher had fallen ill and requested sick leave for the first semester. Twenty-nine years later, she is still here! Mary describes her 8th grade students as fascinating beings who embody boldness, fear, anxiety, and hilarity all in one. She has made a significant impact on the lives she has touched and is looking forward to traveling in her retirement, beginning with a long awaited trip to Ireland this summer. Congratulations, Mary!

Jude started working with our district in 2007 as an assistant coach for the Boys Soccer team. He also held a few long-term subbing jobs before accepting the position as a traveling special education teacher. He would go to one of the four elementary schools in New Albany, Laceyville, Camptown and Wyalusing, and then eventually was moved into the high school as a special education resource teacher. During the Summer of 2017, Jude was volunteered to become the Emotional Support Teacher at the high school, which has been one of the most rewarding parts of his career. Jude has enjoyed watching his students’ progress and their success and is now ready to retire (for the 2nd time in his life). Congratulations, Jude!

The mission of the Wyalusing Area Education Foundation (WAEF) is to provide additional funding and support to the Wyalusing Area School District to enrich, maintain, and expand innovative educational improvement. The tremendous support of the WAEF and community has helped to enhance learning experiences and make a positive impact in the lives of our students and faculty members.

Stay up-to-date with all WEAF events by following them on social media!

Website: www.wyalusingrams.com
Phone: 570-746-1600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wyalusing-Area-School-District-950147475073863