Renton Rotary Gives The Gift Of Words To District's Third-Grade Students

More than 1,200 third-grade students in the Renton School District are receiving the gift of words thanks to members of the Rotary Club of Renton. This marks the seventh year Rotarians have presented dictionaries to third-graders. 

Rotary members are visiting schools throughout the district over the next two weeks to personally present the dictionaries to students who will write their names in the books on a special sticker inside the front cover, and take the book home to use and share with family members. Cost for the books is more than $10,000 and will ensure each student has a personal dictionary to use at home. 

Rotary members are committed to early childhood education and understand the importance of having students read at grade level by third grade. Students who received the dictionaries in the past reported using the books with their siblings and, in some cases, to help teach English to family members. 

Other Renton Rotary initiatives include providing children with new coats in the winter and offering family’s free healthcare screening and treatment as part of the RotaCare project.

*Editor's Note: Information provided by the Renton School District.