River City Science Academy campuses across Jacksonville recently celebrated Read Across America Week, bringing together students, educators, community leaders, and local organizations to promote the joy of reading and lifelong literacy. This year’s celebration also embraced the patriotic theme “Read, White, and Blue: Celebrating 250 Chapters of America,” honoring the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States while encouraging students to write the next chapters of their own stories.

Across the RCSA network, students experienced a week filled with guest readers, author visits, themed activities, and community engagement designed to reinforce the importance of literacy both inside and outside the classroom

RCSA Southeast Welcomes Community Leaders and Special Guests

At River City Science Academy Southeast, students had the opportunity to hear stories read by an impressive group of community leaders representing public service, media, education, business, and law enforcement.

Guest readers included Chief Jake Blanton of Jacksonville Fire & Rescue, Pete Behringer of Sweet Pete’s Candy, Michelle McCormick of News4Jax, Ryan Banning of Baggett Law, and representatives from Duval County Public Schools including Melody Bolduc, Cindy Pearson, and Anthony Richardo. Students also welcomed Councilmembers Jimmy Peluso, Raul Arias, Rahman Johnson, and Ken Amaro, along with Stephen Klem of Jacksonville Parks, Catherine Coennen of the FBI, and members of the Jacksonville Icemen hockey team.

Adding to the excitement of the day, students were also visited by Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, who spoke with students about perseverance, leadership, and the power of education.

These visits helped students see how reading connects to careers in public service, leadership, media, and community engagement.

RCSA Intracoastal Brings Together Families and Community Readers

At River City Science Academy Intracoastal, the celebration highlighted the strong partnership between schools, families, and community organizations. Guest readers included David Benfield from First Coast Living, Benjamin LaMasters of Underground Fitness and Self Defense, Danny Dunn of the FBI, representatives from Jacksonville Fire & Rescue, and Councilman Raul Arias.

Parents, staff members, and literacy advocates also joined the celebration, including representatives from The Literacy Alliance, who helped reinforce the importance of reading development for young learners. Their participation demonstrated how literacy thrives when schools and communities work together to support students.

RCSA Innovation Celebrates “Read, White and Blue”

At River City Science Academy Innovation, the campus embraced the “Read, White and Blue” theme throughout the week, celebrating literacy while connecting it to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

Students welcomed local author Jessica Singer, who read to second-grade classes and signed copies of her books for the school’s media center. A military parent, proudly wearing their uniform, visited to read to fourth-grade students, while middle school athletes shared stories with kindergarten and first-grade classes, modeling leadership and mentorship through reading.

Additional special guests included Anthony Austin of First Coast News, who read to first-grade students, and representatives from the Jacksonville Humane Society, who visited fifth-grade classrooms for a special reading session.

Students also enjoyed a visit from Rocket, the school mascot, who joined the literacy celebration by reading to first graders. Later in the week, members of the UNF Dental Club visited to read to third-grade students.

Throughout the week, school administrators also visited classrooms to read to younger students and donated Read Across America-themed books to accompany classroom activities. Although acclaimed Florida author Carl Hiaasen was unable to attend due to an emergency, he will be sending a special video greeting to fifth-grade students next week to answer questions they submitted.

RCSA Mandarin Welcomes Visiting Authors

At River City Science Academy Mandarin, students had the opportunity to meet visiting authors and participate in scheduled reading sessions throughout the week. Authors Evan Hall, Heather Marie, and Jennifer Nestor visited the campus to read with students and discuss the storytelling process, giving young readers a chance to connect directly with writers and explore the creative side of literacy.

RCSA Middle-High Hosts Literacy Week and Community Literacy Fair

At River City Science Academy Middle-High, students participated in a full week of literacy-focused activities designed to make reading engaging and interactive. The week began with Book Character Day, where students dressed as their favorite literary characters, followed by Book Trivia and a “Cozy Up & Read” session where students gathered with books and blankets to enjoy dedicated reading time.

The highlight of the week was the RCSA Middle-High Literacy Fair, which welcomed local authors, community organizations, theaters, colleges, and media partners to campus. Students were able to explore new books, meet literacy advocates, and discover how reading and storytelling connect to careers, creativity, and community engagement.

The week concluded with a campus-wide “Find a Good Book” challenge, encouraging students to explore hidden book treasures throughout the school.

Across all River City Science Academy campuses, Read Across America Week served as a reminder that reading is more than a classroom activity – it is a foundation for creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.

By welcoming community leaders, authors, parents, and local organizations into their schools, RCSA continues to build strong connections between literacy, civic engagement, and student success.

As the nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of American history, River City Science Academy students are already writing the next chapters – one book at a time.