Gill Hall Kindergartners Observe Butterfly Life Cycle ; Learn of Local Student ’ s Mission to Save Monarchs
TJ Students Join Singers from Across County for Festival Performance
Gill Hall Kindergartners Observe Butterfly Life Cycle ; Learn of Local Student ’ s Mission to Save Monarchs
In the first few weeks of the school year , kindergarten students at Gill Hall Elementary in the West Jefferson Hills School District made some transformational discoveries about the natural world . At the start of the year , kindergarten students observed caterpillars and eagerly awaited them to form their chrysalis and become butterflies . The students recorded the life cycle of a butterfly by taking photos on their iPads . Then they created their very own iMovie on the life cycle , as part of the district ’ s initiative to integrate technology into learning .
As the metamorphosis took place , Gill Hall kindergartners were introduced to Trinity Middle School student Bristol Joseph . Bristol has launched her own business in an effort to save the monarch butterfly population in western Pennsylvania . Bristol ’ s “ Magical Milkweed Market ” sells milkweed , the plant monarchs lay eggs on , for residents to grow in their own gardens . The market has been so popular that Bristol was named an 18 Under Eighteen recipient by Junior Achievement and a 2024 International Young Eco-Hero by Action for Nature .
On September 16 , Bristol came to Gill Hall Elementary and spoke with the kindergarten students about the life cycle of butterflies and the role milkweed plays in the future of monarch butterflies . As all Pennsylvania schools prepare for the adoption of new science standards , West Jefferson Hills elementary teachers have been busy exploring curricula and enhancing science instruction . By facilitating the observation of the life cycle of a butterfly , teaching about preserving and growing plants , and providing the opportunity for students to learn about Bristol ’ s mission , WJH educators are instilling the new science standards into their students ’ core science foundation for learning future concepts . Bristol donated milkweed plants and seeds to the Gill Hall outdoor classroom . Now the young Jaguars can work to create their own monarch butterfly garden .
TJ Students Join Singers from Across County for Festival Performance
On Tuesday , October 15 – an off day for students in the West Jefferson Hills School District – 14 Thomas Jefferson High School students weren ’ t sleeping in . Instead , they joined nearly 300 high school students from Allegheny County for the second annual Allegheny County Chorus Festival .
The Allegheny County Chorus Festival provides singers the experience of chorus festivals held locally and throughout the state but does not require them to prepare an audition . Two different ensembles performed at the festival held at Gateway High School – a soprano-alto treble chorus and a mixed sopranoalto-tenor-baritone chorus . The students rehearsed during the day and then performed that evening .
The Thomas Jefferson members of the treble chorus were Chloe Bobak , Samantha Ditmore , Genna Fair , Evalynne Rowan , Marissa Trklja , and Isabelle Wills . The Thomas Jefferson members of the mixed chorus were Alexis Buglar , Gavin Hart , Bella Higdon , Vaughn Leccia , Ava Lucas , Ryan Lucas , Cole Trieste , and Natalya Turner . The students are led by Thomas Jefferson music educator Julie Lucci .
Choral directors from the participating schools shared rehearsing and conducting responsibilities .
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
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