North Penn Distributes Books, Aims To Help Improve Students' Personal Libraries

LANSDALE, PA -- The North Penn School District is celebrating its 26th year with the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program, they announced in a statement Wednesday.

There are many activities that take place throughout the year through RIF for all of the first grade students in the district. A districtwide parent committee coordinates the efforts of the district RIF program. This committee meets in the beginning of the year with building reading specialists to share successes, resolve challenges and make suggestions that offer continuous improvement to the program, a press release states.

There are three book distributions throughout the year at the first grade level: one in the fall, one in the spring and the final one in May or June, North Penn said.

These book distributions are for the students’ personal libraries. Each first grade student has the opportunity to select and own a book three times per year at no cost. Each school selects a character or theme for the distributions and then plans special activities to promote reading in their school, according to North Penn. Oftentimes the themes and activities are tied directly to the curriculum.

Activities include scavenger hunts, carnivals and skits with themes that often include book characters, the press release states.

Book distributions are organized at each of the 13 elementary schools, with the help of parent volunteers and the building reading specialist. To kick off our RIF program off, a district-wide play entitled, “Alice Takes North Penn to Storyland.” is presented to all first grade students, teachers, reading specialists and principals at North Penn High School celebrating the importance of reading and literacy, the district said.

Actors are comprised of community members, teachers, administrators, high school students and parents. This year, the show will be held in the North Penn High School Auditorium on Friday, October 21st from 10 to 11 a.m.

Requirements of the program include:

• Minimum of 3 book distributions
• Provide reading motivation activities
• Inform and involve parents
• Form a book selection team
• Serve all students equally
• Let children have some choice when choosing books
• Provide a variety of books
• Keep within price limits
• Order books only from qualified RIF suppliers
• Submit book distribution reports/ performance reports

Patch file photo.