Elementary, middle and high school students from
Duval Virtual Instruction Academy (DVIA) took part in their first Barnes & Noble Book Fair and fundraiser at the Mandarin Barnes & Noble last Wednesday. The book fair was an all-day inclusive event that combined the efforts of all students and families grades kindergarten through 12.
Elementary students enjoyed an interactive read aloud from guest author Hank Racer and illustrator Jan Racer. Mr. Racer is a local author of the award-winning books Marky the Barking Bullfrog and The River Rats. He spoke to the students about how his personal experiences have inspired him to write. Also, DVIA elementary teachers, Mrs. Alpha McDowell and Mrs. Jamie Evans, read aloud Dear Mr. Rosenwald by author Carole B. Weatherford and If a Bus Could Talk by author Faith Ringgold, respectively.
Middle school students participated in a Black History Month-themed scavenger hunt, which allowed students and teachers to navigate the bookstore for various books, music, and other items centered on prominent African Americans past and present. Grace Lewis, a seventh-grader, won first-place and received a digital Rubik’s cube after working diligently to find each historical figure during the scavenger hunt.
High school students showcased their hidden talents by performing in the Barnes & Noble Cafe’ through song, poetry, artwork and magic. Mr. Tom O’Bryan, DVIA’s middle/high school English teacher, was delighted to have the following students perform:
- Victor Constantini, seventh-grade, performed magic tricks;
- Brian Dreher, 12th-grade, read Langston Hughes and Robert Frost poems;
- Kaneswa Finnie, 12th-grade, sang “A Change is Gonna Come,” by Sam Cooke;
- Grace Lewis, seventh-grade, submitted original artwork for display;
- Anna Reilly, seventh-grade, submitted original artwork for display;
- Samantha Usoff, 12th-grade, read poems about horses; and
- Tatiana Vargas, 11th-grade, read an original poem she wrote for her English class.
For more pictures from the Duval Virtual Instruction Academy book fair, visit the
DCPS’ flickr photstream.
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