School News

Last Updated on Friday, 12 August 2022 01:12

Students who earned local, state and national accolades and recent retirees with a combined 164 years in the district were recognized by the West Jefferson Hills School District Board during their recent monthly meeting.

A total of 16 students from Jefferson Hills Intermediate School earned honors for their PTA Reflections submissions and were recognized by the Board. Ava Flood won a National PTA Award of Excellence for her Dance Choreography entry in the Intermediate grade division. She will receive a $200 Young Artist Scholarship in addition to a silver medal and a plaque. Alex Lauver, Danielle Parsons and Flood were selected Pennsylvania honorees for their PTA Reflections and received a medal and a plaque.

Jefferson Hills Intermediate School PTA Reflections honorees (students with certificates).

Members of the cast, crew and musicians with Thomas Jefferson High School's "Legally Blonde," production, which earned Best Musical at the Gene Kelly Awards in May.

The cast, crew and musicians from Thomas Jefferson High School’s spring musical, “Legally Blonde,” were lauded by the Board. TJ’s Legally Blonde won five of the seven awards it was nominated for, including its first Best Musical recognition, at the 31^st Annual Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater.

Thomas Jefferson’s Legally Blonde was one of two finalists for Best Musical in Budget Level III, competing against North Hills’ production of Once Upon a Mattress for the top honor. In addition to Best Musical, TJ’s Legally Blonde also won Best Scenic Design, Best Vocal Ensemble, Best Dance Ensemble and Best Crew/Technical Execution in its budget level.

Thomas Jefferson’s five awards were tied for second highest among all the Allegheny County high schools that were Gene Kelly Award nominees across four budget categories. The Westinghouse Arts Academy won six awards in Level I and TJ was tied with Woodland Hills High School with five honorees in Level IV.

Additionally, TJ’s Rachael Parsons was a Gene Kelly Awards semifinalist for Best Actress and Hayden Krupp was a semifinalist for Best Supporting Actor. Nearly 250 TJ students and staff were involved in the musical between the cast, crew, musicians, students who built the sets and helped design promotional materials.

Retirees Honored

Ten WJH staff members with a combined 164 years in the district were recognized by the Board, including three teachers –Julie Funa (11 years, McClellan Elementary), Dave Hiller (33 years, PHMS) and Lori Nadle (11 years, Gill Hall Elementary). Also among the retirees is Karen Maple, who served 32 years as a teacher and counselor and Gerry Dawson, Director of Technology. The 2021-22 retirees are: Linda Burnside; Diane Crevar; Gerry Dawson; Julie Funa; Valerie Grese; Dave Hiller; Karen Maple; Lori Nadle; Lisa Verbanes; and Lisa Wood.