Makenna Gartner and D'Ajah Kelly attended the Middle Peninsula Summer Regional Governor’s School (MPSRGS), themed "Touching Tomorrow Today," held from June 24-28, 2024. The program serves gifted students from nine school divisions and focuses on solving real-world problems through research, field studies, guest speakers, and labs. This one-week program equips students with the skills to identify and propose solutions to various issues, preparing them to face tomorrow’s challenges.
Makenna Gartner, a 3rd grader from Tappahannock Elementary, and D'Ajah Kelly, a 5th grader from James H. Cary Intermediate, participated in the Sign, Sing, and Speak with Me! course. Both students enthusiastically learned American Sign Language (ASL), acquiring the skills to spell their names, introduce themselves, and engage in casual conversations. By the end of the week, they could communicate through various silent gestures and even perform a song using ASL, highlighting their impressive progress and new-found love for this unique language.