Students at Wayne Central High School celebrated Earth Day by taking part in their first Earth day tree planting and dedication.

The tree was dedicated to Special Education teacher, Georgia LoCicero, who recently retired from the high school.

Georgia worked at Wayne Central for 24 years and touched the lives of many students. “She is someone who tirelessly took care of her students and school, who always thinks of others before herself, and who has inspired so many at this school, students and faculty alike,” stated the High School Assistant Principal, Derek DeMass at the dedication ceremony.

In addition, to the tree dedication ceremony the high school officially became a member of the Arbor Day Foundation. The school also has a small-scale composting system and garden.

Newark High School English teacher Molly Fleckenstein recently was one of four area teachers to be the recipient of the FLCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Distinguished Educator award.

The recipient from Wayne County, Fleckenstein and the other three Distinguished Educator award winners from Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties received the awards as part of the program for the induction ceremony for new Phi Theta Kappa members. Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society for two-year colleges and Alpha Epsilon Chi is its chapter at FLCC in Canandaigua.

Fleckenstein has taught secondary English in the Newark school district for 23 years, teaching at both the middle and high school levels. She has also been the NHS English department supervisor for 7 years.

She was nominated for the Distinguished Educator award by Rebecca Deline, who noted in her nominating letter that when she was Fleckenstein’s student at NHS in 2003, she always pushed her to do better.

Students attending Freewill Elementary School participated in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart event.

These events are held at schools nationwide and not only help students learn about the benefits of regular physical activity and heart health, but also raise funds to support vital heart and stroke research. Money raised this year will help our local community.

Children and their families were able to raise $2,200 this year.