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A message from our President
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Wow!! What a wonderful year
we have had at RIF. In order to have placed over 90,000 books
in the hands of nearly 30,000 children, it took a team effort.
Many thanks to each liaison, parent volunteer and school
personnel who helped make it all possible. Our board members
are also incredible and I appreciate all their hard work and
dedication. It is my privilege to serve all of you.
the word career means "to make wise
decisions and plans." In order to do that, you need as
much information as possible. That's exactly what we
received during our "Career Day" program, January
19th.
Our
third and final distribution was held April 3rd and 4th. We
emphasized sports and getting outside for fresh air. As each
class came to the library to choose their RIF book, one of our
guest readers read or recited a sports related poem to them.
Most of our guests were teacher-coaches from Sandburg and West
Potomac High School.
Our distributions were scheduled
for the whole year so that my teachers could plan around RIF.
The week of distribution near Dr. Seuss' birthday was a
great celebration. One class had their "cat in the
hat" style hats and bowties on when they came to select
their books.
Newsletter
Jefferson Houston School for Arts and Academics
"Read Across America"
and
"Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss"
We celebrated both themes for our RIF distribution in March. We created a RIF mobile and decorated it with the names of every state. The RIF mobile delivered our book selections to every grade level hallway. The students all signed a huge birthday card for Dr. Seuss and placed next to their names, the title of the RIF book they selected. "Drop Everything and Read" was announced and all the students read and ate a birthday chocolate chip cookie.
Falls Church/McLean Childrens Center
"Clifford Visits"
Clifford the Dog visited with the
children during our RIF distribution. He was a big hit, except for the
tiny boys and girls who were afraid. We were lucky to have Chris
McLaughlin visit our school and help out with reading and book
selection.
Elizabeth Vaughn Elementary
"Read Across America Day"
RIF distribution was held on
March 2nd. Students and teachers dressed as their favorite literature
character. RIF day was a day of reading with the Superintendent, school
board members, and others visiting as readers. During the latter part
of the day, our Garfield High School partnership students came to do
literature activities with the students.
George Mason Elementary
"In Love With Books"
Readers included an ESL
teacher, the ESL student teacher, a first grade teacher reading to 2nd
grade, a reading teacher an LD teacher and the school social worker. A
good time was had by all.
Dr. Seuss books with them. It was an exciting day.
The PTA followed the day with a book swap and coffee house with a guest storyteller, Sharon Gaston, that evening.
Yorkshire Elementary
"Read With George Washington and Abraham Lincoln"
In honor of President's Day, we
"Read with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln".
Our library door and surrounding hallway walls were decorated with red, white and blue banners and picture of both men. When the students entered the library, they went to activity tables that had centerpieces of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree and Abraham Lincoln standing in front of his log cabin.
Our lower grades listened to a story about either George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. K-1 had an alphabet activity using the alphabet code to fill in letters to reveal a secret message. Students then selected their RIF books.
Grades 2-3 listened to a story and then participated in two word search activities. The students were also able to reveal a secret message and choose their RIF book.
Our 4th and 5th grades worked on a timeline of either George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. The time line related to the SOL objectives that the students are learning and the students were to place their timeline in their Social studies folder. They also selected their RIF book following the completion of the activity.
Copies of the activities are in the 2005-2006 RIF scrapbook.
Community Healthcare Network South "Grow A Reader"
Grow a Reader was the theme of
our distribution on April 25th. In addition to reading stories and
providing refreshments, RIF volunteers took Polaroid pictures of each
child holding his or her new book. The children made picture frames and
each frame had a Reading is Fundamental sticker.
Volunteers also talked with parents about literacy and distributed RIF flyers in English and Spanish. Hopefully, the framed photos, which the children took home, will be a reminder to children and parents of the importance of literacy.
In addition to the celebration, the Friends of the Sherwood Regional Library, the South County RIF partner, provided a waiting room reading collection of adult and children's materials in English and Spanish.
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Community Health Care Network, South "Fall in Love With Books"
February 7th was our RIF distribution. In
addition to picking out a book to take home, children enjoyed stories,
valentine cookies and a chance to make their very own book. The
children decorated the book covers and then either wrote, drew or
dictated stories.
Meanwhile, our RIF team also made contact with each parent, giving one of the RIF reading brochures to them and stressing the importance of reading in their child's development. Several parents who spoke both English and Spanish joined in to help explain the program to parents who spoke only Spanish. The clinic serves low-income families who do not have health insurance, and staff members promote reading as an integral part of the development of a healthy child.
Kilby Elementary School
"The Wreck of the Ethie"
Kilby's second RIF
distribution was held during the last week of January. Each student
selected their RIF book.
RIF week culminated with a wonderful assembly. We had the author, Hilary Hyland and her dog, Teddy, a Newfoundland come to our school. Mrs. Hyland is the author of The Wreck of the Ethie, a fictionalized account of a dramatic true story that happened in 1919. A Newfoundland dog, like Teddy, is credited with helping to save the lives of 92 passengers on a ship wrecked in stormy waters off of Newfoundland, Canada.
This was such a special occasion. Not only did we have our wonderful guest author, but also we had many of the supervisors of Prince William County schools, newspaper reporters, our local education television station, parents and other guests attend our assembly.
The boys and girls were so attentive to what Mrs. Hyland shared with them about her book and her dog. Each child was able to pet Teddy as they left the assembly.
Now, our second Reading Is Fundamental week is a wonderful memory in each student's memory bank. Their RIF book plus a copy of The Wreck of the Ethie now has a place in their own personal library.
Barcroft Elementary
"Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss"
Our school celebrated RIF
in conjunction with Dr. Seuss's birthday. We had a week of excerpts
from books written by Dr. Seuss read on the Morning News program.
Children dressed as their favorite character on March 2nd. Parents and
teachers brought in cupcakes so that every class had a birthday party
for Dr. Seuss. RIF books were distributed in the morning.
Samuel W. Tucker
"Critters and Creatures:
Reading Sparks the Imagination"
Imaginary animals,
fantastic creatures and critters were everywhere at Tucker on March
13th. The mini-auditorium was decorated with original art critters,
stuffed animals, and poems about Scranimals.
During RIF distribution, students decorated huge animal cutouts with colorful geometric shapes. Throughout the day, a tiger, butterfly, fish, snake and peacock grew and blossomed as kids added shapes for scales, stripes, wing colors and tail feathers to these gigantic collages.
Then students found a favorite stuffed animal to curl up with and share the book they selected until their classmates finished making their choices and it was time for the next group to spark their imagination.
Mosby Woods
"Spring into Books"
For our third and final RIF
distribution of the school year began by choosing a free book.
Students were involved in creating decorations for the library. They were asked to write their name and the title of the book they chose on a spring animal or flower. The small pastel shapes were taped to the walls of our library space and add a wonderful spring touch.
The children now have a visual reminder of their book choices and their part in celebrating our Reading Is Fundamental program.
Our parent volunteers were directly involved in stamping and organizing books. They helped younger students write the information and they assisted all students in taping their animals and flowers to the walls of the library.
RIF is such an important part of our school year. All of the students at Mosby Woods wait eagerly for the next school year and the first book distribution in the fall.
Donations to RIF of NOVA
America's Charities
Bonnie Thomson
Dorothy Beck
Lynda Robb
Lynn Urbanski
Mitretek
Nora Moseby
Patricia Myers
Samuel J. Butler
Shirley Eaton
The Not-Necessarily-A-Club Club
Washington Farm United Methodist Church
Women's Club of Arlington
Memorials
In memory of:
Jimmy Martino by Judi Martino
Laura Tremonte
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