Burgundy & Gold

A Wyoming Valley West Middle School Newsies Publication

Greetings from the Middle School Administration

As we begin the second quarter in a most unique school year, we hope all our students and families are well, and doing their best to get through this very difficult time. It is very evident that many of our families and students are struggling with virtual learning. The hybrid model certainly was a welcome return to school. It was so wonderful to have our students present in their classes! Our hope is that we will get back to this model very soon, more Chromebooks will be available, and eventually there can be a return to a regular school schedule. In the meantime, our teachers and guidance counselors are working very hard and making a concerted effort to stay in contact with their students using Google Meet. If you have not been present at one of these virtual meetings, you are missing out! There have been rave reviews by teachers, students and parents. Please reach out to your teachers, guidance counselors or administration via email, phone or Remind, for any remote learning issues.

On behalf of myself, Mr. DePrimo, and Mr. Needle we wish you a very safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!

Mrs. Troy, Principal

Eat, Sleep, and Play Soccer

This year's soccer season has been a crazy one. We’ve had several scares where we thought we weren't going to have a season at all. But our players and coaches pushed through all the struggles and I believe that we had a great season. Clearly this season has been different, in more ways than just COVID safety. This year was the first time in about 20+ years that the Junior High team was not co-ed. Most of the 8th graders who were on the team last year agree that we liked the team being co-ed better. There were 17 girls and 16 boys on each team, and combined we had 33 people on the team. For the entire season, we had Coach Chris Nelson coach us, and half way through the season we had Coaches Paul Shymanski and Coach Shawn Kelly (Coach Mr. Kelly). With them pushing us and the teams’ hard work, the boys team ended with a 9-2-1 record and the girls ended with a 4-6-2 record. This year's season will certainly be one to remember.

Abby Singer, 8th Grade

Spartan Field Hockey:

LET THEM PLAY

The junior high field hockey team had a season unlike any other due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic had a significant impact on our season, but we were grateful to have a season at all. Our amazing coaches, Ryleigh White and Ally Bresnahan, made sure to keep us safe by following Covid-19 guidelines. Here’s what Coach White had to say about our season, “Although it was anything but an ordinary season, 2020 challenged us both as a team and as individuals to be able to play a sport we all share the same passion for, and that would not have been possible without the drive and determination of every player and coach.” The team was led by two returning and experienced players Laila Zdancewicz and Madison Orrson, who were honored to be captains of this team. Every single player got to make new friends and learn from each other. This season taught us all not to take anything for granted, because during a global pandemic nothing is guaranteed. We ended the season with a record of 3-4-2. Good Job SPARTANS!

Madison Orrson, 8th Grade

Spartan Football: Delay of Game

The 2020 football season kicked off in August due to the delay of Covid-19. This year, the stadium looked uniquely different. Players needed to wear masks upon entry and on the sidelines. The coaching staff monitored temperature checks before practices and games. Players provided their own drinks and were not allowed access to the locker room. Fans and cheerleaders wore masks and maintained social distancing. Even with these precautions in place, the teams still scored a successful season. The freshman team carried a 3-2-1 record while the 7th/8th grade delivered a 3-2 record. The season was finally cut two weeks short, ending in October. Coach Jason Wall posted on the team’s Facebook page, “Thank you players, parents, fans and everyone else who made this season possible. Thank you for doing a great job following all guidelines and protocols.”

Tyler Ruddy, 8th Grade

We Are All in This Together 2020-2021

The Yearbook Club staff has been working very hard on this year's yearbook. The theme will be, “We are all in this together.” Since yearbook members are not able to take pictures at school right now, they would like students to submit photos from home. There are two main ways that pictures will be submitted. The first way is through a website called HJeShare.com, and more details will be announced on how to log in at a later date. The second way is through google forms which will be released soon. There will be different themes for the pictures that students will submit. The yearbook team hopes that many students will participate so that this year's yearbook will be amazing!

Kali Piczon, 8th Grade

NJHS Elections

On Wednesday, December 16, 2020 the WVW Middle School National Junior Honor Society held elections to select the organization's officers. It was an exciting election with 3 people running for treasurer, 2 running for secretary, 5 running for vice president, and 6 running for president. Each candidate presented his/her campaign speech during a Google Meet and then the votes were sent in through a Google Form. The winners were announced the following day after all votes were tabulated. The results were Adyson Kosakowsi as Treasurer, Kali Piczon as Secretary, Sarah Park as Vice-President, and Damon Iracki as President. Congratulations to all the new officers and everyone else who ran with amazing speeches.

Victoria O’Konski, 8th Grade

It's All About 6th Grade

This year has been a very confusing one for all grades; especially for 6th grade. These students came to a new building (some for about 5 days total) and went from having one teacher online to having seven different teachers, for seven different classes. To understand what they think about their 6th-grade year, we asked a couple of students to answer some questions about their year so far. When asked about what the hardest subject was, Meghan Singer said that she feels it is social studies because it is hard to remember everything. “Not being able to see the teachers online” is what Stella Wojciechowski said was the most challenging part of being online. Sophie Hosey replied, “I feel like I'm just reviewing everything from last year, because of the way this is all set up it’s hard to teach new things.” Most people had mixed answers about which subject was the easiest for them, but Maura Pick said that it was language arts. When questioned about the workload, Sadie Bond replied, “I feel like I am given enough work in one day. Not too much, and not too little.” Three out of the six students that we interviewed said that they like doing Google Meets or that they were helpful. Isla Carrozza said, “I like them because I feel like we can interact, but I wish they were during class period time.” The majority of the sixth graders we spoke with said that they like in person school better than online. If that’s their opinion, what’s yours?

Abby Singer, Isabel Carrozza, Lola Wojciechowski - 8th Grade

New Year New Officers

This year’s WVW MS Student Council officers include Lola Wojciechowski as President, Isabel Carrozza as Vice President, Abigail Singer as Secretary, and Adison Marcin as Treasurer. Our Executive Board members include Adyson Kosakowski, Anna Novrocki, Victoria O'Konski, Madison Orrson, Kali Piczon, Lily Romanowski, Tyler Ruddy, and Lily Shymanski. The newly elected officers and executive board members have been hard at work. They worked tirelessly to give the school spirit by planning a holiday spirit week and handing out prizes for the winners of each day. The winners were Aaron Girvin, William Bell, Larissa Derr, Tyler Ruddy, Isabel Carrozza, Kingston Meyer, and Mrs. Drako won as the most spirited teacher. Not only is the Student Council helping the school, but also the community. The Student Council in conjunction with the National Junior Honor Society held a canned food drive in the front of the school that helped stock the Holy Family Food Pantry in Luzerne. Members of both organizations also hand made over 200 holiday cards and distributed them to people in nursing homes and senior living facilities in an effort to brighten up their day, since they couldn’t see anyone for the holidays. These were just a few of the things that your WVWMS student leaders did to help out for the holidays. Join the Student Council next year to be a part of these exciting events!

Abby Singer and Isabel Carrozza- 8th Grade

How the Covid-19 pandemic has affected theater and Broadway rising star/ WVW graduate: Celia Hottenstein

The covid-19 pandemic caused a national lockdown and forced theaters and other beloved public areas to close. Movies were pushed back months at a time and the majority have moved to 2021 releases or later. Video on Demand streaming has been the biggest source of films still being available to watch such as Troll’s World Tour and Disney’s Mulan. Theaters are facing major reopening problems with some saying they might never reopen due to financial troubles and the new customs and procedures. The thought of not being able to experience a film in the theater has some movie fans shaken. The future of film is still in the air as the pandemic still threatens the country.

Similarly, Performing Arts Theaters have also faced trouble from the pandemic. Broadway, arguably the most famous of musical theater locations, was forced to stop all shows mid-run. A stand still for careers and productions have made some question their future in dreamland. Former Wyoming Valley West student and now star of Broadway’s Wicked, Celia Hottenstein, answered some of my questions as to how the pandemic has affected her and her future on Broadway.

Q: What was it like to work on Broadway and how did the pandemic affect you?

A: It’s been my dream since I was a little girl to work on Broadway. I made my Broadway debut on July 1, 2019 in the ensemble of Wicked. I also understudy the role of Glinda and on Saturday, March 7, I made my debut as Glinda with many of my hometown supporters there to see the performance. It was a dream come true. I have been dreaming about living in New York City and working on Broadway since I was a little girl. I still am giddy every time I walk into the stage door and sign in before our show. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away for me. I am so lucky to work in a job that I love so much and I am so lucky to have a job as a working actor. It is not easy. I left New York City on Friday, March 13, the day after the Broadway League announced the 1 month Broadway shut down. I haven’t been back to Manhattan for more than a couple days since then. I have spent time with my family and my boyfriend, explored the outdoors, took a five week cross country road trip, and have been trying to do everything that I wouldn’t be able to do if I was working every day. I also really miss performing. I loved being in Wicked. I loved being able to live in New York City and go to my job on Broadway every day.

Q: Will you be reprising the part when you can have shows again?

A: Yes. When Broadway, and Wicked, returns I will be rejoining the Broadway cast of Wicked in the ensemble and understudying Glinda. In October, the Broadway League announced that Broadway will remain closed through May 30, 2021.

Q: How vocally challenging is the part?

A: I do not find this to be super vocally challenging. I love singing the music from this show and it fits really well with my voice range. What is very challenging for me is the amount of dance that I have to do when I am in my ensemble track in the show. I am on stage with some of the best dancers I’ve ever met. Trying to blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb has been the biggest challenge for me!

Q: How has the pandemic affected your views on the future of your career?

A: It has been a little scary. Live entertainment is going to be the very last thing to come back, and there does not seem to be much support from those who matter in government. The heart of Manhattan is the theater district. It’s Broadway and Off-Broadway. If you look at the 2012-2013 Broadway's Economic Contribution to New York City report, released by the Broadway League, you can see that Broadway contributed $11.9 billion to the economy of New York City. $9.6 billion of that was from tourist spending and $2.2 billion of that was from show expenses. The report states that, “Broadway supports 87,000 jobs and generates $500 million in taxes to NYC.” The New York City economy benefits greatly from Broadway, yet it seems Broadway has been forgotten in all of this. TV and film productions have resumed filming, with a 2 week quarantine before filming begins. But Broadway, and live entertainment in general, has yet to resume. This is a scary thing. Being an actor is pretty unstable to begin with, add to this a pandemic, and it’s down right frightening. I am very lucky to have a job to go back to. Many actors have lost their jobs due to Broadway shows closing permanently during the pandemic.

Q: Are you looking forward to continuing the demanding number of shows a week?

A: We have 8 shows a week, one show a day on Tuesday-Friday, and two shows on both Saturday and Sunday. I cannot wait to get back to work and perform this show 8 times a week again.

Q: What is another Broadway play you’d like to be in?

A: If I could be in any production I would love to be in Hamilton. The show is not right for me, for many reasons, but it is an unbelievable show. Another show that I would like to be in is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as Moaning Myrtle. What an epic show!

Christian Cardona, 8th Grade