STEAM-ing It Up with Sound and Light!

STEAM It Up! 2025 continues to steam ahead at 10 RIF NOVA schools, thanks to an ongoing partnership with Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Communities. Three schools are participating in a new edition of the program -- building harmonicas and flashlights. Children in lower grades are using sticks, rubber bands, and straws to make instruments they can actually play! Older children are building flashlights with sticks, copper tape, and a small battery and LED light, with all experiencing the "glow" or "sounds" of success!

Other schools are building mazes and bridges. At the beginning of each STEAM session, children are asked if they see themselves as builders. Few do. At the end of the activity, when asked the same question, hands go up pretty much universally!!!

Check out this video from Polk Elementary's STEAM week, produced by librarian Mark Tierney. If you need a lift in your day, this is definitely IT! Click here or on the STEAM It Up! photo to watch!

Author Visits Create Excitement and Delight!

RIF NOVA's Authors in Our Schools program saw participation by two new authors -- Tracey Kyle and Sue Fliess. When authors and illustrators visit our schools, children see themselves as authors and illustrators, too! For details on these and other author visits to date, please click here! We are very grateful to the Arlington Community Foundation's 2024 Wish List and especially to David and Michelle Baldacci for a new financial gift to extend this amazing program.

"You are already a writer!" author Tracey Kyle told students at Randolph Elementary School. Such a confidence builder for students from Pre-K through 5th grade -- whether they got to know the author over lunch, yelled "Olé" as they read her book, Pepe and the Parade, interviewed her for the "Stars" newscast, or learned about the Spanish festival of Tomatina -- in action with crocheted tomatoes! As he walked in, one second grader said, "I already like you!" Each second grader was gifted an autographed copy of Pepe. That's an Olé for sure!

Sue Fliess is a children's author with more than 60 books to her credit -- and more on the way. Many of her books focus on STEM themes, as she told 3rd through 5th grade students at Bailey's Upper Elementary School. "STEM books can be exciting and fun," she said to the excited crowd. "You don't need to wait to start writing. Go for a walk and train your brain to see stories everywhere!" Students could not wait to ask questions, and each was gifted an autographed copy of Beatrice Bly's Rules for Spies 2: Mystery Goo.

Donated Book Program Updates

Donated books (both new and very gently used) are continuing to come in from the very generous NOVA community. If you would like to donate new or very gently used books, here's the link for more information. At this link, you can also find info to request books for deserving children at your school or organization. Here are some recent collections!

Giving...

Little Diversified Architectural Consulting held its third annual firm-wide book drive in honor of MLK Day. The DC office of this boutique firm chose RIF NOVA as its DC area nonprofit beneficiary! Firm members purchased 60 brand new books to be gifted to NOVA children!

-----

The Primrose School in Arlington held its 2025 book drive, too, bringing in over 600 books to regift to children supported by RIF NOVA. This is the second book drive led by this Primrose school. Needless to say, we are beyond grateful for all these collections!

-----

Ava Paparello (l) and Teagan Henry (r) are juniors at Paul VI High School. In between basketball and lacrosse practices and games, they led a book drive for RIF NOVA for their school's Future Business Leaders of America club -- collecting over 900 books! Everything from board books to middle grade novels will be loved by new owners in the RIF NOVA community. 

...and Receiving

Sarah Weinstein, NVFS Community & Volunteer Engagement Specialist wrote: On behalf of Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), I want to extend my appreciation to you and RIF NOVA. Thank you so much for your donation of over 150 picture books and 50 board books. What a great way to kick-off Read Across America Week! The books you donated will be shared with our Head Start and Early Head Start classroom teachers and families. For many of these children, having a book to take home as their own is a very big deal. Your generosity means everything to us and to the community we serve.

Your funds help with all these programs and MORE! Donate electronically by clicking here.

Send a check:

Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Inc. 

P.O. Box 7012

Arlington, VA 22207-0012

Thank you for any donation -- no matter how big or small!

Thank you for being part of the RIF NOVA community!

Books change lives!

RIF of NOVA | info@rifnova.org | www.rifnova.org

STAY CONNECTED