Thomas Jefferson HS students and WJHSD School Board recognized

More than 30 Thomas Jefferson High School students were lauded by the West Jefferson Hills School District Board during its January meeting. Superintendent Dr. Janet Sardon also recognized the Board for their efforts throughout the year during School Director Recognition Month.

First Unified Bocce Team Introduced
Thomas Jefferson launched a Unified Bocce team this year in conjunction with Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Directed by coaches Emily Leininger and Mike Rose, the squad was introduced at the Board meeting. The Jaguars will play their first home Unified Bocce match vs. Baldwin HS on January 31 at 3:30 p.m. in TJ Gymnasium and the public is invited to attend.

TJ’s Unified Bocce team: Kaitlin Anderson, Lily Bradford, Noah Carlins, Ariann Downer, Abby Kauffman, Emma Pritchard, Gary Pritchard, Charlotte Rockwell, Cameron Skalos, Noah Skalos, Sydney Shelpman and
Grace Vogtsberger.

Bowling Teams Honored
The Jaguars’ boys and girls bowling teams were honored for their outstanding seasons that are underway. Heading into Wednesday’s match against Steel Valley HS, the girls squad was 8-0 and the boys were 7-1, both with two matches to play before post-season. Led by head coach John Kuzniar, both squads were Section champions during the 2021-22 season and the boys team finished No. 10 in the state championships.

TJ Girls bowling team: Sydney Bagnell, Madison Heiser, Lillian Olson, Lily Pierce, Josephine Rae, Lyvia Stephenson and Lynsee Wehring.

TJ Boys bowling team: John Andreola, Aaron DeNardo, Nicholas Horgan, Gregory Hritz, Joseph Kalafatis, Dylan Lautner, Joseph Nix, Dylan Roberts and Aidan Williams.

TJ Students Lauded
Several more TJ students were recognized during the Board meeting:

-Olivia Hall and Liz Pierce created and implemented Mental Health Mondays, which they run every Monday during PLT (Personal Learning Time). They have partnered with TJ’s CHILL Project staff and teachers throughout the building to host sessions that focus on mindfulness, ways to de-stress, and other ways to positively impact mental health.

-Josi Moore was honored for capturing first place in the Steel Center CTE Baking/Pastry Chef Program’s Gingerbread House competition in late December.

-Camryn Dailey, Nicholas Horgan and Grace Bauman-Miller were recognized for their efforts as student interns in the district’s Public Relations office.

Students Create Placemats, Centerpieces and Video to Recognize School Board
Prior to the monthly meeting, a small dinner was held for the School Board members with district principals, administrators and staff. Students at Gill Hall and McClellan Elementary Schools created laminated placemats and Pleasant Hills Middle School students produced table centerpieces for the Board. Thomas Jefferson student musician Violet Spang played the violin during dinner.

During the meeting, a video produced by Jefferson Hills Intermediate School students thanking the Board for all their dedicated efforts for WJHSD students was shown to the audience.

Kimberley Finnerty is president of the nine-member WJHSD Board. Suzanne Downer is the first Vice President and Christopher Zacur is second Vice President. The other Board members are: Chelsea Campolongo, Dave Dominick, Brian Fernandes, Denise Kahler, Anthony Rash and Kristin Shoemaker.