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School News | Wednesday, May 18, 2022

'Enchanted Book Fair' celebrates reading

Archbishop Wenski among other local 'celebrities' who read to students at Blessed Trinity School

Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski reads "The Gift That I Can Give," written by Kathy Lee Gifford, to students from Blessed Trinity School in Miami Springs on April 29, 2022. The reading concluded the Enchanted Book Fair, a week-long literary celebration at the school.

Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC

Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski reads "The Gift That I Can Give," written by Kathy Lee Gifford, to students from Blessed Trinity School in Miami Springs on April 29, 2022. The reading concluded the Enchanted Book Fair, a week-long literary celebration at the school.

Archdiocese of Miami Superintendent of Schools Jim Rigg holds up "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister, which he read to students from Blessed Trinity School in Miami Springs on April 29, 2022. His visit and reading concluded the Enchanted Book Fair, a week-long literary celebration at the school.

Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC

Archdiocese of Miami Superintendent of Schools Jim Rigg holds up "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister, which he read to students from Blessed Trinity School in Miami Springs on April 29, 2022. His visit and reading concluded the Enchanted Book Fair, a week-long literary celebration at the school.

MIAMI SPRINGS | Local “celebrities” reading from illustrated books to various groups of students capped a week-long Enchanted Book Fair at Blessed Trinity School.

Father Matias Hualpa, administrator of Blessed Trinity Church, Detective Darwin Villavicencio, from the Virginia Gardens Police Department, Maria Mitchell, mayor of Miami Springs, Jim Rigg, superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of Miami, and Archbishop Thomas Wenski all participated in the event.

The date of the readings, April 29, 2022, also coincided with Vocabulary Word Day at the school, with some costumes notably more original and creative than those worn on Halloween.

A student portrayed the word “relax” by wearing a robe and a Styrofoam cutout bubble-bath-filled tub. There was also a “courageous” SWAT cop, and a “creative” with a colorful canvas handy and paint splattered all over her clothes. Even religious terminology was present with students representing “Jesus Christ,” “nun,” “priest,” “sacrament” and even a “bishop,” though the kind on a chess board and not in church.

“Are these your usual uniforms?” Archbishop Wenski jokingly asked.

Students and teachers burst into laughter and quickly replied with “nos.”

After the group settled down, the archbishop read “The Gift That I Can Give,” an illustrated book written by Kathie Lee Gifford about kids making a difference today, instead of waiting to do so when they grow up. After the reading, the archbishop reminded students that “God’s gift is the gift that we can give,” no matter one’s age.

Blessed Trinity students, teachers, and faculty thanked the archbishop, and gifted him the book he read from.

In another part of the school’s cafetorium, Superintendent Rigg read students the picture book “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister. Speaking with the Florida Catholic afterwards, he shared that as a child, his favorite book was “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. Now, “Founding Brothers” by Joseph Ellis is included in his favorites.

Blessed Trinity’s Enchanted Book Fair ran from April 25-29, and included dress-up opportunities for Fairy Tale Character Monday, Dr. Seuss Day Tuesday, Hero versus Villain Wednesday, Favorite Story Book Character Thursday, and Vocabulary Word Day Friday.

Daily events also included a schoolwide Read-A-Thon, a Book War (over 800 donated books were collected for individual classroom libraries in the school), and the Good News! Book Fair which allowed parents and students to purchase inspiring and entertaining Christian books, movies and gifts.

Second grade teacher Nataly Davila, one of the coordinators of the Enchanted Book Fair, said seeing students engrossed in a book, whether on a smart device or a printed copy, brings her much joy. “Just to see them so interested in reading is what inspires me to do something like this. To make it fun.”

Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski poses with Blessed Trinity School's Principal Susy Del Riego and Father Matias Hualpa, administrator of Blessed Trinity Church, in front of one of the posters designed for the Enchanted Book Fair, the week-long literary celebration at Blessed Trinity School that ran from April 25-29, 2022. Archbishop Wenski and Father Hualpa both read to students on April 29.

Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC

Archbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski poses with Blessed Trinity School's Principal Susy Del Riego and Father Matias Hualpa, administrator of Blessed Trinity Church, in front of one of the posters designed for the Enchanted Book Fair, the week-long literary celebration at Blessed Trinity School that ran from April 25-29, 2022. Archbishop Wenski and Father Hualpa both read to students on April 29.


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