The overall project also represented a joint effort between past and present TJ students . 2012 TJ graduates Quinten O ’ Dea and Anthony Pack own and operate Q & A Landscaping and graciously donated their services for excavation , clearing and planting of the 10 apple trees for the new orchard . Q & A Landscaping also provides work study opportunities for our students and employs TJ graduates . Nate Krutules , a current TJHS senior , works after school during the school year and during the summer months at Q & A . “ Working with Q and A has been great .” according to Giger . “ When I first contacted Quinten about the project he jumped on the opportunity to help . I am extremely happy to see how he and Anthony have become so successful ; it ’ s one of the things that makes teaching so satisfying , seeing former students succeed .”
Besides supporting the bees , the orchard and surrounding area will provide valuable educational opportunities and cross-curricular enrichment for our
students studying environmental sciences , beekeeping , and Construction Technology . Phase two of the Apple Orchard project includes the development and implementation of a gravity flow irrigation system which Giger hopes to have installed sometime in early November . “ None of this could have happened without the overwhelming support of Dr . Ghilani and the school board whom I sincerely thank . Most others would probably consider some of these projects as crazy but they have embraced and supported them without question . I think that it goes a long way toward showing a more eco-friendly vision for the future within our district .”
Dr . Ghilani , superintendent of schools , is proud of the innovative and collaborative efforts put forth by staff members . “ Dan and Laurie have done a tremendous job providing our kids with hands-on learning experiences in gardening , beekeeping , construction and conservation efforts that students would not get inside a traditional
classroom setting . Their focus on building environmental science educational opportunities is just the next step in our journey of providing these valuable , realworld experiences for our students .”
Four Thomas Jefferson High School student athletes have signed letters of intent on November 11 , 2020 to learn and compete at the college level . Congratulations and best wishes to all !
est Jefferson Hills
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS — THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL
Seated L-R : Claire Whalen - Softball at Colgate University and Erin Gruber - Acro Tumbling at West Virginia Wesleyan College Standing L-R : Paige Truax - Softball at IUP and Lily Rockwell - Softball at Ashland University
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS ❘ WINTER 2020 45