A MESSAGE FROM
Dr . William Henderson , Assistant Superintendent
West Jefferson Hills Families :
The first three full months of the 2024-2025 school year have flown by . As we enter the holiday season and prepare for a new calendar year , now is a great time to take a look back at the progress the West Jefferson Hills School District has made recently and celebrate some of the district ’ s incredible accomplishments .
On October 14 and 15 , while students were off , West Jefferson Hills educators were working hard during professional development to focus on , update , and align our K-12 curriculum . Every school district ’ s curriculum serves as the blueprint for providing a rigorous , wellrounded education that meets the needs of every learner in the 21st century . To ensure success for all 3,500 Jaguars we serve , it is essential that our curriculum continues to align from grade-level to grade-level and from school building to school building . I ’ m thankful for the time our educators have already invested and for the work they will continue to do as we remain focused on an academic program that stands out locally , regionally , and across the state .
Additionally during the professional development time in October , educators learned about enhancing our communication and support strategies for our English Language Learners from experts at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit . The district also provided educators with opportunities to learn about behavior management strategies . Middle school educators got in-depth training on how to further integrate iPads into their everyday instruction . This year , the district expanded its one-toone iPad initiative to include seventh and eighth grades .
We also remain committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for every Jaguar . School safety discussions and activities took place during our October staff in-service days . Fire drills , bus evacuation drills , and ALICE drills have happened in every school . The district has enhanced its security cameras throughout the district to improve both their reliability and coverage . And the district is working to secure a $ 161,000 state grant focused on safety , security , and mental health .
While we ’ re several months into the 2024-2025 school year , the state of Pennsylvania has started to release information on the district ’ s achievement and growth from last school year . I ’ m proud to share that WJH schools continue to demonstrate growth . This is proof of the experience , commitment , and dedication of the educators and staff in every district school . The measure of a school ’ s success goes beyond test scores , of course . However , they provide us with a data-driven overview of the district ’ s academic programs .
Personally , I am thrilled to be part of the district . My first six months here have been highlighted by interactions with talented students , passionate educators and staff , and supportive community members . Students come first in the West Jefferson Hills School District . And I am energized by and excited for the collective efforts ahead of us to continue that good work .
Sincerely , Dr . William Henderson Assistant Superintendent West Jefferson Hills School District
est Jefferson Hills WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
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