Reading...It's Hot, Hot, Hot! | | |
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With the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in mind, RIF of NOVA is getting into the act, too! The theme of our 2024 fund- and fun-raiser is: Book Olympics! Letters will be sent to our supporters to help us raise the funds we need to supply new books to 20,000+ deserving children in Northern Virginia in early fall, (but please feel free to give NOW!)
Some of the fun-raising activities have already begun! Check out the pics below!!! And more may be found by clicking here!
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Several of our schools have held Olympics-related book distributions -- complete with flags, games, medals, an Olympics photo booth, and, of course, books galore! | |
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Olympic Magic at Polk Elementary
(P.S. Don't miss the video!)
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Alexandria's Polk Elementary School held a Book Olympics distribution during its end-of-school field day. With the Olympics theme music playing, children entered the library excited to hear the familiar tune and delighted to be festooned with a gold medal around every neck. How fun was that to get a GOLD medal -- just check out those happy faces!!! Polk librarian Mark Tierney had his camera rolling and created a video that is a "must watch" for sure! Click here or on either of the Polk photos below to find Mark's video. Special thanks to Mark, liaisons Kathy Harrington and Catie Brownback, and the Polk PTA for a Book Olympics to remember! | |
Vaughan Elementary Ups its Game(s)! | |
Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School's Book Olympics was a celebration to remember! Children in grades 3-5 at this Prince William County school entered the library to hear the Olympics theme song playing and to see the space draped with flags of every country -- with an exhortation to "Go For Gold"! Then, it was games galore as the children competed in teams representing five continents of the world. Librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Donna McDonald and library assistant Emily Addinall directed the kids to four game stations and kept track of team points. Winning teams received a gold, silver, or bronze medal after the points were tallied, along with two new books-to-keep provided by a RIF of NOVA/National RIF grant. Fun? Yep! In spades! | |
Olympic Fun at Crestwood Elementary | |
Crestwood Elementary's librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Vicki Spino offered several fun Book Olympics book distribution options for children at this Fairfax County school. First, the children watched a video about the history of the Olympics. Then, they were offered a word search or color by numbers activity -- both about the Olympic games. After that, it was time to pick a NOVA RIF book for keeps to take home for the summer, with even more fun if you made it a matchy-matchy event! | | |
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As part of our Book Olympics celebration, we have curated a resource list of children's books about the Olympics and the broader world of sports. In these books, children can learn about skills such as teamwork and perseverance, "meet" athletes and find out what makes them successful (and sometimes not!), as well as delve into some of the different sports that are played around the world! Find lists of ideas to get your sports reading started by clicking here. And if you have more ideas to add to this page (because there are many more!), please let us know your favorites at rifnova@gmail.com. | |
Groveton's Little Free Library Gets a Facelift! | |
As noted in our April RIF RAP, NOVA RIF Young Ambassador Marley Clift went on a mission -- to raise the funds to replace a Little Free Library at Groveton Elementary School, one of the schools served by RIF of NOVA. | |
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Marley reached her funding goal, and with help from her family, replaced the LFL, which had totally fallen apart. When the new library box arrived, she painted it in the school's colors, black and white. Her mom made a stencil of the school slogan 'Every Tiger, Every Day!' and changed it to “Every Tiger READS Every Day.'" Marley filled the box with fifty gently used books from RIF of NOVA.
(l-r) Marley joined librarian and NOVA RIF liaison Eileen Findley, principal James Swoger, and library assistant Maria Meeks in front of the new Groveton Little Free Library! Read Marley's blog about the experience on our Books & Blogs page by clicking here.
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Bradley Vineyard (l) was sworn in as NOVA RIF's president, taking the helm as of July 2024. Bradley led NOVA RIF's extremely successful 50th anniversary Gala in 2022. She succeeds Justina Johnson (r), who has served as president for several consecutive terms and will continue to serve as co-chair of the Gently Used Book Program and in many other capacities. | |
Paul Brandus has signed on as one of NOVA RIF's newest board members. He brings a wealth of experience to the board, as an author, columnist, keynote speaker, broadcaster, and podcaster. He has written five books on presidential and military history and a biography of Jacqueline Kennedy. He is currently working on a new book about the renaissance of America's so-called "Rust Belt." Paul is passionate about improving literacy statistics by providing books to children in our community. | |
Also joining the NOVA RIF board is Jennifer Held, a marketing and communications professional, who for 25 years has led federal marketing and executive programs at Amazon Web Services (AWS). She is the founding president of YMSL, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mother-son relationships through community service. She plans to use her skills, background, and love of books to further RIF of NOVA’s mission of bringing the joy of reading to children. | |
Would YOU like to join us? We are an all-volunteer board that works very hard to put books into the hands of children who need them the most! Please help us to provide books to kids in the Northern Virginia community! Click here to learn more! | |
Contribute online by Paypal or credit card at: https://donorbox.org/donate-to-rif-of-nova. Donate links can be found on every page of our website, too. Every $4 = one book for one child! | |
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Send a check:
Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc.
P.O. Box 7012
Arlington, VA 22207-0012
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Thank you for any donation -- no matter how big or small! And thank you again for being part of the RIF of NOVA community! Books change lives! | |
Please share the RAP! Forward our newsletter to your friends and anyone interested in providing books to children who need them!
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