Des Moines Students Recieve The Gift of Words!

Each year, the Rotary Club of Des Moines hands out dictionaries to all of the 3rd grade students in the city of Des Moines, as a part of a larger Rotary International program called Dictionaries by The Dozen.  This year was no exception. Over 360 third graders across Des Moines recently received a hard bound copy of the Scholastic Children's Dictionary.  The dictionary is full of illustrations and photographs which help increase children's vocabulary and language skills.

North Hill Elementary

Parkside Elementary

The members of the Rotary Club of Des Moines have found this project to be one of the most rewarding experiences, particularly when they see the excited expressions on the students faces as they write their names in their very own dictionary.  Each year the club receives dozens of letters and thank yous from students, parents and teachers for the dictionaries.  From time to time, the club members will also encounter past 3rd grade students who remember the experience and still own the dictionary! 

Des Moines Elementary

"Supporting education is one of the most important ways we can make our community strong. Early reading skills are closely linked to success in school all the way through high school. Giving a dictionary to a third grader not only supports their reading skills, but tells them there are people in their community who want to help them do well in school", said Catherine Carbone-Rogers, the Rotary club's New Generations Committee Chair and the Director of Communications and Community Relations for Highline Public Schools.

For more information about this program, please contact Catherine Carbone-Rogers at Catherine.Carbone@highlineschools.org.