A special dedication ceremony took place June 12 at Kempsville Elementary School.
Two new benches will honor students I’lianah and I’lisiah Madison. The twin sisters passed away last year at the ages of 9 and 10, respectively.
Principal Heidi Rinehart-Richardson spoke to friends and staff members who gathered with their family for a touching memorial tribute.
I’lianah and I’lisiah Madison spread joy throughout the school, Rinehart-Richardson said.
“We have two benches to dedicate to our two sweethearts.”
The “buddy benches” in the school lobby are available for anyone who “needs a moment or a friend,” she said.
Each is in memory of a sister and includes a plaque and QR code linked to a slide show of happy memories.
Tears flowed as staff members shared heartfelt stories of the girls who began Kempsville Elementary as kindergarteners in 2022 after their family moved from Georgia.
They were enrolled in the VBCPS Academic Adaptive Foundations(AAF), a specialized special education program for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Both touched so many lives.
Each had a unique personality. I’lianah loved music, singing and dancing, while I’lisiah favored sports, including basketball, soccer and even wrestling.
School physical therapist Lucy Leyden said the girls were “a ray of sunshine.” Their mobility progress was amazing, she said. “They blew us away.”
Teacher Heather Eure applauded their determination and hard work. “I’ll never forget their sour patch kid energy,” she said. “They were so sweet to have in class.”
Teacher assistant Destiny Shepard remembered the twins’ great sense of humor.
“They made a difference around here,” she said.
Assistant principal Karen Lewis described them as “a gift” to the school and thanked their parents for entrusting them with their education.
“They have left a legacy,” she said.
Lewis fondly recalled how they’d dance when she played music on her phone while waiting with them for the school bus home some afternoons.
“And they never met a lanyard they didn’t like,” she said with a smile.
Rianna Connor said I’lianah and I’lisiah changed her life.
The special education teacher recently began a special needs ministry.
“Thank you for opening up your hearts to us,” she told the twins’ parents.
Tasheika and Reginald Madison received lots of hugs during their return to Kempsville Elementary for the gathering to honor their daughters.
They recalled being very nervous about sending them to school after moving to the area, but the feeling soon dissipated.
“From the first meeting, there was a connection,” Tasheika Madison said.
The Madisons thanked teachers and staff. “Every single one of them made an impact,” the twins’ mother said.
Rinehart-Richardson said the entire school community learned so much from the twins.
“We all matter,” she said. “We all belong here and have something to contribute.”
The Buddy Benches
NexTrex recycling challenge program. They collected 1,000 pounds of soft stretchy plastics during each of the past school years.
Kempsville Elementary’s benches were made possible by students and staff.
Volunteer and substitute teacher Sandra Jimenez, whose two children just finished second and fifth grade at the school, heard about another school’s “buddy bench.”
“If a student saw someone sitting on the buddy bench alone, they knew that person needed a friend,” she said. “I thought it was such a beautiful idea.”
She learned about the NexTrex recycling challenge program created by Trex, a composite decking manufacturer.
Schools, civic groups and organizations that collect 1,000 pounds of soft stretchy plastics within a year are awarded a composite bench made of recycled materials.
Kempsville Elementary students and staff rose to the challenge during the past two school years by bringing plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap and other acceptable items to school and placing them in the NexTrex bin.
Jimenez said the idea to dedicate the two benches to the Madison twins “was in everyone’s hearts and minds.”
For more information visit https://nextrex.com/view/programs.
