Madison Third-Graders Receive Free Dictionaries From Rotary

Madison third-graders received free dictionaries from the Madison Rotary this school year as part of an annual program meant to help students expand their vocabularies and reading skills.

The dictionary project is part of the Rotary club's literacy program. The free dictionaries/gazetteers were given to to all third-graders in the Madison Public Schools and St. Vincent Martyr School, according to a Rotary news release.

The 524-page books contain maps and facts. Each book was personalized with the student's name on a Rotary bookplate on the inside front cover.

"The goal of the project is to assist the students in completing their school year as good writers and creative thinkers by expanding their vocabulary and reading skills," the Rotary announcement.

Mary Beth Cooney chaired the project, which previously was led by the late Rosemarie McCauley.

The Rotarian volunteers who participated in this program were: Nancy Adamczyk, Lois Bhatt, Tom Bintinger, Mayor Bob Conley, Cathie Coultas, George Hayman, Rev. Clarissa South Holland, Radika Lutchman, Carmela Moeller, Bob Rocco, Brigitte Richter-Hajduk,Fran Ryan, Joe Smith, Deb Starker, and MarshaAnn Zimmerman.

In addition to providing dictionaries to borough students, Madison Rotary participates in an international Rotary project called "Children of the World Dictionary Project," which donates dictionaries to countries including Kenya, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Sierra Leone.