By Molly Seales

On Wednesday, March 1, students from Riverdale Academy traveled to Northeast Baptist School in West Monroe for the District V reading fair. The Rebels faced some tough competition, and 10 projects, with 18 students advanced to the Overall Reading Fair Competition in Pearl, MS, on March 30.

The first awards given were for best presentation of character. This is based on costume and presentation of book. These awards do not advance to overall, but they recognize the students who were in character for their book. 1^st graders Jillie Shaver and Alexis Yount got 2^nd place in character, and 2^nd graders Annelise Cason and PJ Guidry also received 2^nd place in character. 4^th graders Kylee Davis and Makenzie Harper won 3^rd place in character, and 5^th grader Sam Murray also won 3^rd place in character. 9^th grader Alaina Boyd received 2^nd place in character, and 7^th graders Hayden Cason and Kaden McNeely received 3^rd place in character.

Project awards were then given, with 10 projects and 18 students advancing to overall. All 1^st and 2^nd place projects in each category advance. Our projects that received 3^rd place were fabulous, but they fell just short of advancing. 3^rdgraders Lindsey McCrory and Avery Tingle placed 3^rd and 5^th grader Trevor Bell also placed 3^rd. 1^st graders Jillie Shaver and Alexis Yount placed 1^st in group fiction, and 2^nd graders Annelise Cason and PJ Guidry placed 1^st in group non-fiction. 4^th graders Dally Bell and Avery Longino placed 2^nd in group fiction, and 5^th grader Sam Murray placed 2^nd in individual fiction. 6^th grader Ryder Shaver placed 1^st in individual non-fiction, and 9^th grader Alaina Boyd placed 1^st in non-fiction. 7^th graders Hayden Cason and Kaden McNeely placed 1^st in group non-fiction, and 8^th graders Ally Kate Hillman and Kynnedi Taylor placed 2^nd in group fiction.

Reading Fair sponsor Bethany Seales said, “I’m so proud of all of our students who advanced to district and then to overall. These students are all winners because they are involved in reading, which has become sort of a lost art in the days of technology. It does my heart good to see students who still enjoy the thrill of using their imagination to go places. They may not all have come away with wins at the reading fair, but they all came away with wins in life. They represented Riverdale Academy well, and I want to wish them good luck as they advance to overall. Thanks to the parents and everyone who makes this possible each year.”

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