SummerQuest!
SummerQuest! is a state funded Summer Regional Governor's School with Fauquier, Rappahannock, Orange, Culpeper, and Madison as participating school systems. Fauquier County is the fiscal agent and Tiffany Richtarski is the school's Director.
Identified gifted students in grades 5, 6, and 7 in all of the participating counties are mailed application packets mid-late February each year. Acceptance is highly competitive with Fauquier County being allotted 35 slots and historically receiving almost 90 applications each year. Students are chosen to attend based on standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, and an essay. Students must commit to attending the full two weeks of the program if chosen.
SummerQuest! is held in Culpeper County at Emerald Hill Elementary. Transportation for Fauquier County students is provided from Warrenton Middle. Other school systems handle their own transportation arrangements.
The Governor's School (We try to avoid calling it a "camp" due to the academic nature of the program) runs M-Th for two weeks every July. A different theme is presented each year, with talented staff creating classes that fit the theme. Students are given class descriptions at the time of application and are asked to choose three of their favorites. Accepted students will be assigned to one of their three choices and will attend that class daily. Every day, students will rotate to one of the other classes to get a taste of what their peers are experiencing.
The SQ day begins at 8:30am with dismissal at 2:45 each day. A field trip is usually planned for the first Thursday with a parent visitation day on the afternoon of the last day.
When students "age out" of SummerQuest!, they are invited to apply to be one of about a dozen student interns. Interns are a valuable part of the Summer Regional Governor's School.
The following are SummerQuest! themes from the last few years:
- SuperQuest!
- SummerQuest! School of Rock
- Adventures in Time and Space (Dr. Who theme)
- SummerQuest! and the Rings of Fire.
- Law and Order
- Stuck in the Middle with You!
- Extra, Extra, Read All About it!
- It's a Small Word After All
- A Galaxy Far, Far Away
- Once Upon a Time