Enrichment Seminars

Shenandoah County teachers and administrators may submit proposals for appropriately differentiated activities which bring together GATE students of a particular level from all three campuses in the County. GATE Enrichment Seminars have included such activities as ecology studies, rocketry, humor, languages, ethnic lore, humanities, and the arts. 

Mentorships are opportunities for students to spend time with a professional in a career or interest area of their choice.

The GATE Mentorship Program currently serves students at three levels:

• A Shadowing Component, projected to begin at grade 5, is currently being implemented at the Central Campus beginning at grade 8.

• The Mentorship component serves students in grades 10-12 by placing them with a community professional for twenty hours or more during a semester. Students maintain a mentorship log to document their experiences.

• The Internship elective course for high school juniors and seniors provides a combination of research, independent study, and time with a community professional and a faculty advisor in their field of study. The one-semester course culminates in a final presentation by the student of his/her research findings and internship experiences.

Gifted students Shenandoah County are eligible to apply to attend the Virginia Governor's Schools, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education, Programs for the Gifted. These schools include:

• Summer Residential Schools, serving rising high school seniors, held on university campuses during four weeks each summer, in the areas of :
  • Humanities (University of Richmond, Richmond VA);
  • Math/Science/Technology (Lynchburg College, Lynchburg VA);
  • Visual and Performing Arts (University of Richmond);
  • Governor's Foreign Language Academies (various campuses);
  • Governor's School applicants may be selected for individual mentorships at NASA(Langley), the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), or the Medical College of Virginia (MCV).

• Summer Regional Governor's School

Middle-school GATE students are eligible to apply to attend the Blue Ridge Environmental Studies Regional Summer Governor's School, a cooperative effort among the school divisions of Clarke, Page, Shenandoah, and Warren and the Virginia Department of Education. This rigorous two-week summer day program focuses on field biology and ecology.

• Academic-Year Governor's School

The Massanutten Regional Governor's School is now open and serves grades 11-12. Click here for their web site.

Shenandoah County Public Schools sponsors the Summer Scholars Program usually during the month of July.  The program is held at a local county school and is open to gifted and highly motivated students who have completed grades 3 - 8 during the previous school year. Students meet daily from approximately 9:00 am to 2:30 noon. There are extended days for field trip experiences for some groups. There is no cost for the one-week program and transportation is provided.  Thanks to SCPS for providing this wonderful opportunity for our young students. Click here to view last year's Summer Scholars Program.