This has been a passionate program for the Rotary Club-Denton Morning for many years, to get a dictionary in the hands of every public school third grader in the Denton school district. For some students it the first book they own and their excitement is evident at every elementary school presentation we make. In the past, the money raised for this project has come from our club fundraising.
Last year, we added the Lake Dallas school district third graders to the list. With the cost of the dictionaries increasing this past year, we felt that receiving a matching grant for this project would help with the increased cost from the growth in both school districts.
Our goal is to have the dictionaries available by October so we can get them out to the students before their December holiday break, which we were able to meet with the exception of one elementary school scheduling the presentation in January. We've been able to achieve 100% club participation in the past when presenting and handing out the dictionaries and we were able to do this again this year. The group of four to five Rotarians meet with the third graders and their teachers, reviewing the dictionary use by using some of the words from the four-way test. We've also solicited one of the local banks to help place the book presentation badge on the first page where the student can put his/her name. This badge also includes the four-way test and our club name. Many of the students speak of older siblings who still use their dictionary they received years ago and I believe this year, the first group of third graders graduate from high school this spring. The students learn about dictionaries as part of their classroom in the spring of the year, so this way, each has a book to use for their schooling.
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