BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer
Most people know what RIF stands for: Reading Is Fundamental. What they may not know is how important it is to Allentown students.
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit children’s literacy organization. Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School is one of three New Jersey schools privileged to be an RIF school for 27 years, according to Linda Marsh, the school’s RIF organizer.
Through the RIF program, students in the elementary and middle school in grades prekindergarten through eighth grade receive three free books per year. Marsh said the school distributes approximately 4,000 RIF books per year.
Dee Burek, an RIF volunteer who teaches fifth grade, said the RIF program helps get quality literature in the hands of children.
“In this day and age when you can’t drag kids away from the television or computer, it’s important to have this opportunity to give them books,” Burek said.
During an RIF book selection, students have the opportunity to choose a book that suits their reading level.
“The students choose one book for recreational reading,” Burek said. “Many of my students don’t frequent the library or the bookstore as often as they should, so with RIF they have the opportunity to see a shiny new book with a topic of interest to them that could start them reading.”
RIF books range from stories about Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia character to Lemony Snicket’s story titled “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Students can select from a wide range of genres, including biographies, mysteries, science fiction and poetry, as well as joke books.
Hayley O’Rourke, 10, a fifth-grader who loves to read mysteries and adventure books, said reading RIF books helps improve her vocabulary.
“I think reading is important because it helps kids expand their vocabulary,” O’Rourke said. “When you read a book, you’re always going to come across at least one word you don’t know. You look it up, and that’s how you learn.”
The RIF program works through volunteers, who range from those who donate funds, to those who organize the shipments, to students who unpack boxes of books and sort them for book selection day.
“This program is the result of the efforts of so many people,” Burek said. “This year, my fifth-grade class has been unpacking and sorting the books.
“They love it,” Burek said, “because they know that they have a part in helping make this school work.”
Marsh, a secretary at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School, has remained influential in keeping the RIF program successful for more than 27 years.
“Before taking charge of the RIF program about 25 years ago, I volunteered to help with it for a couple of years,” Marsh said.
Mary Runner, a former teacher at the school, implemented the RIF program in the Upper Freehold Regional School District in 1978, according to Marsh.
“Prior to that,” Marsh said, “we had a Right to Read program, but when Washington [D.C.] came out with RIF, we took that on and implemented it with the help of a lot of volunteers.”
RIF, funded in part by the federal government and in part by the school, costs approximately $7,000 per year to run.
The federal government covers 25 percent of the costs, Marsh said, leaving the remainder of the bill for payment by the school district.
Marsh said donations from local individuals and businesses, together with money collected in various school fund-raisers, help offset the program costs.
“Our Reading Is Fundamental program is a huge success because of the wonderful contributors,” Marsh said. “If it were not for their generous donations, our school would not be involved in this worthwhile program.”
Burek said RIF books are important for students who need to learn about topics not regularly discussed in school.
“Reading helps students feel good about dealing with situations such as a new baby or divorce,” Burek said. “Books help students feel like they’re not all alone.”
Burek said the RIF program encourages students to read in their spare time to increase their knowledge.
“Reading takes students to places they normally wouldn’t go to, and it prepares them for living,” Burek said. “To get through life, you have to be able to read.”
RIF also sponsors an annual, national poster contest.
This year, Andrea Heidman was the school’s first-place winner. Her poster, depicting a young girl smiling and curled up against her mother, who is reading, was sent to RIF headquarters in Washington, D.C., where it was judged nationally and won an Honorary Mention Award.
Heidman received a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble bookstore and a letter of congratulations from New Jersey’s Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey.
Although the school has participated in the contest for 20 years, students may not have the opportunity to next year.
“We just don’t have the money,” Marsh said. “This may be the last year.”
Marsh said as the school’s population grows, RIF requires more funding.
“With the increased enrollment. I have to write more of what I call my begging letters to parents and local businesses,” Marsh said. “We encourage parents to donate to the RIF program instead of giving teachers holiday or thank-you gifts.”
The government has reduced funding for the program in the past, according to Marsh.
“The government cuts these kinds of programs often,” Marsh said. “We hope we can continue with it well into the future because reading is so important.”
Fund-raisers help Marsh offset the costs of the program. She said the school’s Parent Teacher Organization volunteers to help.
“This year, they’re holding a book fair, and for every three books they sell, we’ll get money for one of them,” Marsh said.
The book fair will take place at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School on High Street during school hours on May 10-12.
When asked why she thought it is important to support the RIF program, 11-year-old Jolie Cowan said, “It’s important for students to read because it’s good to expand the mind.
“Playing video games or sports helps expand the mind,” Jolie said, “but reading helps the mind grow in ways no other activity can.”