Photo Gallery: 2022-2023 School Year

BOOKS ARE HAPPENING FOR RIF OF NOVA CHILDREN THIS SCHOOL YEAR!

RIF of NOVA schools and sites began book distributions for Academic Year 2022-2023 in October 2022. Below, please find photos as they are added from throughout the school year. Our cover photo (above) features children from ACCA Child Development Center...eager to read their brand new books!

Bubbles and Books at Arlington's Teen Parenting Program -- March 17, 2023

Arlington's Teen Parenting Program held a NOVA RIF book distribution on March 17. Before the gathered babies and toddlers could get their books, they had to catch bubbles -- an activity that they thoroughly enjoyed! The teen moms and one dad helped their babies pick out two books, and each parent could choose a book for themselves as well. In addition, the Kiwanis Club was there to give a few awards to recognize the hard work involved in being a student-parent.

Thanks to Yvonne Pettiford and Nicole Boatright of Arlington Public Schools for such a joyous morning!

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Read Around the Campfire -- Groveton Elementary, March 10, 13, 2023

Groveton Elementary School students found the library darkened, but they were not scared because they knew they were in for some Reading Around the Campfire fun. After warming up at the campfire and listening to directions from librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Eileen Findley and library aide Priscilla Karau, they browsed the tables covered with books.

After making their book selections, they picked out a beanie baby and flashlight and settled around the campfire to read to their little beanie buddies. Some sat, some stretched out on their tummies and some laid down on their backs. A few snuggled under the covers for a darker atmosphere. All began some serious reading, with the beams of the flashlights moving over the words and beanie buddies raptly listening. Way too soon, the library visit was over and the students reluctantly turned in their flashlights and beanie buddies before returning to their classrooms, carefully holding their new NOVA RIF books!

Read Across America Day -- Randolph Elementary, March 2, 2023

Stickers, bookmarks, and a new NOVA RIF book marked Read Across America Day, March 2, at Randolph Elementary School in Arlington. And just look at these faces! With the leadership of librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Carolyn Fleming and assistant Toby Peabody, the kids had a ball!

At Ashlawn, Books, Puzzles, and Lollipops! -- February 15, 2023

At the Ashlawn Elementary Language Arts Program in Arlington, teachers Megan Bransford (l) and Alison Gordon read students a Valentine's Day book, followed by a valentine creation project. Each child received a lollipop and a baggie containing a heart puzzle with his or her name on it. After picking a book of their very own, the children posed with signs saying, We love books and Thank you RIF!

LOVE of Reading at Dumfries Elementary -- February 14, 2023

PWC's Dumfries Elementary celebrated Valentine's Day with a RIF of NOVA Love of Reading event that included a whole bunch of heartfelt fun, thanks to reading specialist and NOVA RIF liaison Emily Decarolis. In addition to choosing two NOVA RIF books, students made valentine bookmarks and decorated paper hearts with images of their favorite books. Students also participated in a grade-appropriate STEAM activity connected to a valentine text. K-2 children read The Biggest Valentine Ever. Grades 3-5 read Valentine's Day Jitters and built hearts out of building blocks. Way fun for all!

"SNOW Many Great Books" at Hutchison Elementary School -- Feb. 6-10, 2023

The lack of snow this year did not deter a RIF of NOVA book distribution at Hutchison Elementary School in Fairfax County. Librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Marci Hoyt cleverly set the scene with penguin posters and displays to create excitement for reading. A special grant from the Vineyard Family Foundation meant that each child could pick TWO books to take home forever!

Yorkshire Elementary's "Warm up with a Good Book" -- December 16, 2022

Finding the ideal read and enjoying hot cocoa was the perfect activity on December 16 for fourth grade students at PWC's Yorkshire Elementary School. It was the last day of school before winter break ... and it was also pajama day! In their comfy clothes, the students carefully selected their NOVA RIF books, wrote their names in the front covers, and then enjoyed hot cocoa, chatting happily with each other about their new reads and the winter break to come.

Yorkshire reading teacher and RIF of NOVA liaison Bethany Drake led the week-long book celebration. Principal Lyn Marsilio found funds for the hot chocolate, and some volunteers joined in to help with the libations. What a wonderful way to begin the holidays!

NOVA RIF liaison Bethany Drake (m) served up winter cocoa with staff members Amy Simpson (l) and Megan Hoover.

Arlington Language Arts at Campbell ES -- Literacy Bingo -- December 16, 2022

How about a game where everyone wins ... a NOVA RIF book! As part of the Language Arts Program in Arlington, Campbell Elementary School staged a bingo game where the prize was a book! Special thanks to Language Arts liaison and supervisor of Library Services Amy Hailey and Campbell reading specialist and NOVA RIF liaison Virginia Montminty for organizing this special event for Campbell kindergartners -- who had a blast "winning" a book at this very fun event!

Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School's "Escape Room" -- December 12, 2022

Donna McDonald, Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School (PWC) librarian and NOVA RIF liaison, and Kelcie Conroy, Gifted Education teacher, led third graders on an elaborate quest. Kids worked in groups rotating through five activity stations hunting for code words to uncover the ultimate prize. Once all five activities were successfully completed, the code phrase “Reading is Fundamental” was revealed. The prize? Free books from RIF of NOVA! Above, girls at Station 5 collaborated to determine the right clues in their quest; boys (below) worked in teams as well. These junior sleuths never had so much fun to earn a new NOVA RIF book!

A Winter Wonderland at Barcroft Elementary School -- December 12, 2022

With a "roaring" fire as a backdrop, children at Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington picked out NOVA RIF books and made bookmarks in celebration of the season. As the soundtrack from Frozen played, the children waited in line to stamp their books and write in their this-book-belongs-to-me name. NOVA RIF liaison and librarian Jackie Pippins played "Anna" from the movie as her assistant, Teresa Do, played the character "Olaf" to add to the fun!

"It's SNOW Secret: We Love Books!" -- Sinclair Elementary, December 5-12, 2022

Sinclair Elementary School in Prince William County held a December-to-remember NOVA RIF book distribution, during which students colored a snowperson to indicate their reading preferences! For example, the children could color their snowperson's eyes brown if they prefer to read books alone; blue if they prefer to read with a buddy. If they like fiction best, they colored a 2-snowball snowperson; nonfiction a 3-snowball snowperson.

Coloring was done, books were chosen, and fun was had, thanks to NOVA RIF liaison and Title 1 reading teacher Gina Centamore and librarian Rebecca Kronthal, who read a book to each class using "Novel Effect" -- an app that adds music and sound as the story is read. How cool is that!

"Winter Wonderland, Chillin' with Books" -- Marumsco Hills, December 6 - 8, 2022

What could be better than a NOVA RIF book distribution in a winter wonderland? Children at PWC's Marumsco Hills Elementary School learned how fun picking a book of their own could be as they visited their school's library for three "snow magical" days in December. They found not only tables and tables of books but cut-out snow people on the walls, paper icicles hanging from the rafters, and a snack of hot chocolate with marshmallows and cookies! Even Principal Julie Cuocci got into the act to read to the kids, as did NOVA RIF board member and PWC Area Chair Sheila Adams Gardner (herself an author of three children's books).

Special thanks to Reading Specialist and NOVA RIF liaison Sharon Nottingham, librarian Jessica Nelson, media assistant Karen Fallah, first grade teacher Sarah Mikula, and a host of other teachers and parent volunteers for organizing such winter reading fun!

Principal Julie Cuocci read to a group of enthusiastic Marumsco Hills kids

NOVA RIF board member and PWC Area Chair Sheila Adams Gardner read one of her books

Falls Church McLean Children's Center (FCMLCC) -- November 8, 2022

Can a RIF of NOVA book distribution be any more fun? And can showing off your new chosen-by-you book be any cuter? These faces tell the story!

ACCA Child Development Center, October 31, 2022

Halloween is always a special day at the ACCA Child Development Center, and October 2022's celebration was quite in keeping with all the fun. The excitement was palpable as children (and teachers!) sported costumes, listened to a not-very-scary Halloween story read by NOVA RIF board member and Fairfax County West Area Chair Chris McLaughlin, walked from classroom to classroom in a Halloween parade, and, of course, picked out a RIF of NOVA book to take home!