For Their Expanding Vocabularies, Newtown Rotary Presents Dictionaries To Every Fourth Grade Student In Newtown

Newtown Rotary members visited all four of Newtown’s elementary schools as well as St Rose School during the month of January to present a personal dictionary to every fourth grade student in town.

“By the fourth grade students are beginning to expand their vocabulary and reading levels very rapidly and are constantly encountering new words and expressions,” explained Rotary member Ed Osterman. “What better gift can be given to a student than a personal dictionary inscribed with their name.”

As many as 450 personal dictionaries were distributed. Heading the project was Rotarian Brian Amey and Rotary President Paul Lux. Reed Intermediate Assistant Principal Tony Salvatore assisted with the project.

“Judging from the teachers and kids reaction, it’s a great project,” said Mr Salvatore. “I know they are using them in class because I have seen some of the big words they have used when I  read some of the many thank you notes sent to the Rotary Club by the students. The kids were so excited to receive the dictionaries and couldn’t believe they were theirs to keep.”

Fifth grader Sally Martinelli, who is vice president of the Rotary-sponsored Interact Club at Reed School, took on the job of organizing Interact Club members to attach labels inside the cover of each book with the name of the recipient of each dictionary.

Mr Osterman stated that the community response to the project, from Superintendent Evan Pitkoff to principals, teachers and students, has been very positive.

“This is strongly proven by the fact that already; over 120 thank you notes have been received by the Newtown Rotary from fourth grade students,” Mr Osterman said.