Students showcase genealogy, Pack Horse Librarian and hands-on projects during gifted-and-talented presentation

Students from Rockcastle County schools presented project-based work during the board's school showcase, describing multi-week projects, community partnerships and student-created materials.

The gifted and talented coordinator (presenting teacher, speaker 3 as introduced) outlined five new projects this year: a genealogy research project using school internet access to Ancestry, a Kentucky Pack Horse Librarian history project, a pioneer cabin build, broom-making and food preservation (in partnership with the Rockcastle extension office). The coordinator said the genealogy project encouraged respectful family conversations and fact-checking and that the Pack Horse project resulted in student podcasts, book boxes for elementary schools and community scrapbooks.

Students explained how the genealogy work prompted intergenerational conversations and how the Pack Horse project connected local history to literacy outreach. One student described using archival resources and online tools, and another explained they produced a podcast and a wish list for community book donations. A student who attended a science field trip to the Oak Ridge American Museum for Science and Energy described seeing the graphite reactor and supercomputer exhibits and called the experience "informative" and inspiring.

The coordinator said several projects will be repeated at grade-specific levels going forward and noted that professional partnerships (extension office, local historical groups) supported the work. The presentation included student artifacts, podcasts and plans to place book boxes around elementary schools to expand access to reading materials.

No formal board action was required for the showcase segment.