Mateo Turner had a hard time deciding which book he wanted to select during last week’s Reading is Fundamental (RIF) book distribution. That’s not surprising considering how extensive was the selection of books available to students at Hollin Meadows Elementary School.
RIF is a book distribution program provided to several of the Cluster IV schools, including Bucknell, Hollin Meadows and Woodlawn Elementary.
Before the book distribution at Hollin Meadows, Principal Jon Gates and some of the teachers went around to the classrooms with pumpkin satchels full of books to read to get the students excited about the new books. In addition to the book distributions, some of the classes made scarecrows, while others wrote stories and poems.
Each class then gathered with Glenna Orr, reading specialist, while she explained the program, telling the children not to worry if they didn’t find the book they were looking for, because it would most likely be there during the next two distributions, scheduled for January and March. After children browsed and selected books, she helped them enter their name in the stamped box. Some children found a title they were looking for right away, while others took a little longer, she said.
Funding for the program comes from both the RIF organization and the PTA, Orr said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the community and RIF to hold hands,” Orr said.
At Woodlawn Elementary, special guests Kris Amundson, Gerry Hyland, Dan Storck and Isis Castro came to read to the children. The students dressed as their favorite book characters and at the end of the day, took part in a book character parade and assembly.