Summary: Thousands of books will be purchased to encourage families to read together and promote literacy.
In collaboration with Idaho Falls School District 91, the Idaho Falls Rotary Club is working to support efforts to increase children's literacy skills in our community through ongoing support and development of the One District, One Book program. The goal of the program is to highlight the importance of literacy in our community because it is such a critical skill for lifelong academic success.
In recent years, the district has seen a decline in the learning readiness of its students. Many kindergartners come to school without knowing their shapes, their letters and sometimes their colors. We believe this community-wide One District, One Book program helps to highlight the importance of reading aloud to children, and serves to encourage our community to work together to ensure our children develop these skills that are so critical to long-term success.
Research shows that reading aloud to children for just 15 minutes a day can change a life. The simple act of reading together can help children develop positive attitudes about reading and books. It can help increase their vocabulary, comprehension and their understanding of literature. It also can sharpen their imaginations and open up whole new worlds.
The money from this grant, as well as matching funds donated by parents and patrons in Idaho Falls School District 91 and raised through the Idaho Falls Rotary Club's Lighting The Way to Literacy project, will be used to help purchase books for the One District, One Book program. Purchasing the books is a challenge since at least 50 percent of the district's students qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. In addition, more than 70% of the students at four of the district's elementary schools qualify for the free-and-reduced lunch program. But, it's an investment, and a way to help families build libraries of children's books in their homes.
Through the One District, One Book program, every family with a child in one of the district's elementary schools receives a paperback copy of a children's classic. Last year, almost 4,000 books were purchased for families, and books also were purchased for teachers, bus drivers and other school staff interested in being part of the program. During the month-long reading event, families read together in the evening following a calendar with daily reading assignments. At school, students take part in discussions and daily quizzes about that evening's reading assignments. The questions are also posted on the district website so the community at large can participate, too. These activities promote the importance of reading together and help children develop a love of reading.
Our club members have been involved in this literacy project since its inception four years ago. The club has collaborated with local artists to create lampshades that are auctioned off to raise money for the project. They also have helped hand out books to the children, and have actively promoted the program in the community.
Completed
This project is "Completed". This means the project has been implemented and the report was accepted by the district leadership. The project will stay listed on this website as a testimony of the achievements of the project partners.
Pledge of $7,000 by Margaret Wimborne of the Rotary Club of Idaho Falls, District 5400.
28-May-15
System Entry
Pledge of $7,000 with $7,000 DDF by Margaret Wimborne of the Rotary Club of Idaho Falls, District 5400.
28-May-15
System Entry
Pledge of $3,500 by Margaret Wimborne of the Rotary Club of Idaho Falls, District 5400.
29-May-15
System Entry
Project reverted to "Published".
29-May-15
System Entry
Project is now "Fully Pledged".
29-May-15
System Entry
Project sent for club signatures.
29-May-15
System Entry
Project signed by Susan Hulse.
29-May-15
System Entry
Project signed by Bruce Turner.
16-Jul-15
by Marianne Barker
Your grant application for the children's book project has received preliminary approval with a reduced DDF contribution of $2,500. If you wish to go forward with your project, please change the financing to reflect this, also adjusting cash contributions or the total. To do this, cancel the signature process (description tab – admin.) and adjust your financing to reflect the changes, and then send again for signatures. YOU MUST DO THIS BY AUG. 30, 2015, OR WE WILL ASSUME YOU NO LONGER WANT THIS GRANT, and the money will be given to another club. Your revised project will be reviewed by the district for final approval. If you have questions or need help, call Cari Kaster at (208) 539-1519 or Marianne Barker (208) 308-5617.
25-Aug-15
System Entry
Signature Process cancelled by user.
25-Aug-15
System Entry
Project sent for club signatures.
25-Aug-15
System Entry
Project signed by Susan Hulse.
31-Aug-15
System Entry
Project signed by Bruce Turner.
31-Aug-15
System Entry
Project approved by the District Approval Committee.
15-Sep-15
System Entry
Check for DDF payment issued by Foundation Treasurer.
3-Apr-16
by Susan Hulse
3/31/2016 $2,500 grant received from Idaho National Laboratories
3/2/2016 Lighting the Way to Literacy Event Held
12-May-16
System Entry
Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.
16-May-16
by Marianne Barker
Your final report and receipts for expenditures have not been uploaded to the website. (It's better to use a PC than a Mac when doing this). Your project has been returned to "paid" status to allow you to do this. Call me if you have questions or problems. 208 308-5617
17-May-16
System Entry
Project reverted to 'Paid' status.
6-May-17
by Marianne Barker
Hi Susan, We spoke at the Foundation seminar in November about what you needed to finalize your report for this grant. This project was completed over a year ago, and the final report is way overdue. Please do not jeopardize your club's ability to get a 2017-18 grant by failing to complete your report by May 15, 2017. Thanks! Call me if you need assistance (208) 308-5617
14-May-17
by Susan Hulse
This grant final report is still in need of revision. The documents need to be updated into .pdf and the amount of the grant needs to be updated to match the funds used toward the project from our Rotarian efforts and not include all of the funds for the project.
30-May-17
by Susan Hulse
I have uploaded documents in a .pdf version in the Documents tab
4-Oct-17
by Susan Hulse
System Entry: Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.
24-Oct-17
by Jedd Thomas
System Entry: Project reverted to 'Paid' status.
24-Oct-17
by Susan Hulse
System Entry: Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.
8-Dec-17
by Jedd Thomas
System Entry: Project reverted to 'Paid' status.
3-Jan-18
by Jedd Thomas
Per the letter from IF School District and the vendor receipt for the book purchase, the project total was $16,375.25. That's the figure that should be entered into "expenses" in your report. On the revenue side of the report, you just need to change the amount contributed by IFSD #91 to $8309.25, for a total revenue of $16,375.25. The income/outgo of the report will then balance, providing equivalency to the documentation. Please make these adjustments to your report. When that step is completed, the project will be able to be audited.
4-Jan-18
by Susan Hulse
I have updated the report to total $16,375.25 for the Income and Expense of the project. Susan Hulse
4-Jan-18
by Susan Hulse
Reported 1/4/2018
4-Jan-18
by Jedd Thomas
Information has been updated on the final report, and this grant is recommended to be audited so it can be closed.
4-Jan-18
by Susan Hulse
System Entry: Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.
16-Jan-18
by Bob Rose
I have audited this project and approve the Final Report.
6-Feb-18
by Jedd Thomas
System Entry: Final report approved by the District Approval Committee.
