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DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The room is anything but quiet with squealing students running and preparing for their gymnastics class at Walker Hall on the Kentucky School for the Deaf campus.
But no one minds, least of all the leaders — sophomore Ellie Begley and junior Maddi Karsner, students at Boyle County High School.
"It's definitely been fun and interesting," said Maddi.
"It's just awesome — everything about it," said Ellie. "They are always so happy."
Ellie is the daughter of School for the Deaf principal Will Begley and his wife Allison, who owns Allison's Cheer Nastics in Harrodsburg. Maddi is the daughter of Boyle County Middle School principal Steve Karsner and his wife Ramona, who leads the kindergarten through eighth-grade program at Kentucky School for the Deaf.
"We were looking for a community service project to do, and both of our parents work at KSD so we thought it would be a really good idea to work with some of the deaf children," said Ellie. "We thought it would be awesome to do a gymnastics class here."
They haven't regretted it.
"It's really amazing," she said.
The teens are experienced in gymnastics. Both are Boyle County High School cheerleaders and have been in gymnastics since they were very young — Maddi since she was 3 years old and Ellie since she was 18 months old. The two teens also work at Allison's Cheer Nastics.
The program began in September and has continued once a week for elementary-age boys and girls at KSD. The youngest participant is 6.
The teens rely heavily on the help of interpreters, parents and teachers to communicate with the children.
It's not only the youngsters learning. Ellie and Maddi also have learned some words and phrases in American Sign Language.
"It's really cool being able to communicate with them," Ellie said. While the girls have only learned a few words in sign, they find it's been easier to pick it up in the context of the class. "We really wanted to learn sign language. Actually being able to interact helps us to learn more."
The kids are good teachers, too.
"If we do something wrong, they (sign) 'no'," Maddi said, signing "no" as she spoke. "In sign language, there are different words, but the phrase will be key."
"It's a great opportunity for the Boyle County students to work with our students — it's a cultural exchange," said Sarah Williams, a KDS staff interpreter.
The girls were given sign names by their students.
"It's pretty cool. They picked ours out," said Ellie.
For the teens' parents, watching Ellie and Maddi work with the children has been a great experience.
"These girls get to help carry on their love for gymnastics and cheer and build that into the kids," said Ramona Karsner.
The program is also helping the KSD students gain confidence, stamina and more, she said.
"It's really a win-win situation," Karsner said.
Will Begley said it is neat how the teens have taken on the role. "They're getting as much out of it as the kids are," Begley said.
The after-school program will continue through the summer. It will be offered twice a week as part of KSD's summer school. The teens hope to continue the class in the fall.
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Information from: The (Danville, Ky.) Advocate-Messenger, http://www.centralkynews.com/amnews
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