West Jeff council honors students

By Kevin Dye

Kevin Dye

West Jefferson High School cheerleaders were among those honored by West Jefferson Village Council on Monday night.

West Jefferson Village Council recognized the achievements of several West Jefferson High School (WJHS) student groups during its meeting Monday night.

Council recognized the West Jefferson High School cheerleaders and their coach Melissa Jester for winning the Division III state championship in cheerleading at St. John Arena in March. Mayor Darlene Steele and the rest of council congratulated the team on their accomplishment.

“I know you girls work hard and if anyone thinks that cheerleading is not a sport, they should come out and watch these girls,” Steele said. “They are very athletic. If you girls work half as hard as you have on cheerleading on the rest of your school work and college, you will all go far in life.”

The WJHS Show Choir was also invited to visit council to be recognized for their achievements. The all-girls show choir excelled at the Teays Valley 2012 Classic Competition, which featured more than 20 show choirs throughout the U.S. The group won the Ladies Division Grand Champion trophy, Best Vocal Performance trophy, Best Choreography trophy, Best Instrumental Combo trophy, Best Crew trophy, Best Costume trophy, Best Show Concept trophy and Best Soloist in show trophy.

Another group of West Jefferson High School students was recognized for a different type of performance, one that helped give back to local community. The high school’s seniors who are involved in teacher Jenny Siddiqi’s history and government classes were recognized for their series of community service projects. Each year Siddiqi’s students invite local leaders to the school where they present ideas for possible community service projects. They ask the panel to help select ones that are most needed or will have the most impact.

This year’s projects included getting a “spirit rock” donated and delivered for the high school, replacing the old school direction sign at Garfield Street and Lilly Chapel Road, holiday cards sent to residents at Arbors West nursing facility, planting flowers and painting the baseball dugouts at Converse Park and painting large murals for the new home of the Humane Society of Madison County.

Their leader Jenny Siddiqi praised not only the students, but the community who reached out to assist the students with their projects.

“As people found out about the projects, people stepped up and donated things for our projects,” Siddiqi said.

“People have said, what do you need and we will donate it. The students planned all of these projects and they did all the work.”