Wenonah Elementary students, teachers declare ‘Genius Hour’ a success

Students at Wenonah Elementary are wrapping up another successful year of their year-long Genius Hour initiative, which included exploration, creativity, hands-on learning and community collaboration.

“Genius Hour gives our students an opportunity to explore their interests and passions. One goal of the program is for students to leave elementary school knowing what they might be interested in pursuing as electives and/or career readiness as they enter the secondary phase of their school career. Genius Hour experiences have also enabled many of our students to get plugged into extracurricular activities outside of school hours. We are so grateful for our community partners and the many, many volunteers that provide the support to make the programming possible,” Wenonah Elementary School Principal Abby Arey said.

Throughout the school year, Genius Hour provided students with opportunities to pursue their passions, explore new interests, and engage in real-world learning experiences. The initiative brought together a variety of community partners and showcased the powerful impact of collaboration between schools and local organizations.

Highlights from Genius Hour in the 2024-2025 school year included:
● Birdwatching with nature experts
● Gardening with a local beekeeper and exploration at the Waynesboro Educational Farm
● Woodworking with Waynesboro High School Valley Career and Technical Center
carpentry students, who built tool boxes for younger students to take home
● A partnership with Home Depot, which provided supplies for DIY projects all year
● Karate workshop
● A presentation from Girls Who Code
● Golf at Ironwood Golf Course with support from First Tee
● Crochet with a friend of Wenonah
● A community service trip to a local dog rescue
● Theater with The Wayne Theatre

Genius Hour has become a signature program at Wenonah Elementary, empowering students to take ownership of their learning and build confidence, creativity and collaboration skills that will serve them beyond the classroom.