Rotarians donate dictionaries to Boardman schools

Friday, February 17, 2012

By SARAH FOOR

sfoor@vindy.com

The Boardman Rotary capped Right To Read Week activities by offering a gift to every third-grader in the Boardman school district that will keep the power of words alive.

Throughout the week, the Rotarians donated dictionaries at Stadium Drive, West Boulevard and Robinwood Lane, and ended their donations with a visit to Market Street on Feb. 10.

Deborah Liptak, Boardman Rotarian and developing director for Mahoning County Libraries, talked to each third-grade classroom about the Rotary Club.

Liptak explained that the Rotary’s membership includes Boardman business owners and professionals, but that its ranks also include Jocko the Clown and karate teacher Master Park. Liptak said Rotary hosts fun events in the community to provide funding for projects like the dictionary donations.

“We believe in the power of reading and words, and we’re giving you these dictionaries in hopes that you’ll use them for many years. Maybe we’ll be seeing you in spelling bees after learning from your new dictionaries,” said Liptak.

Third-grade teacher Carolyn Nordgren said the donation couldn’t have come at a better time for her students.

“Right now, we’re learning about different reading and writing skills, and dictionaries are central to those lessons. These will be a really great resource for the students,” Nordgren told the Rotarians.

Rotary International has long held a mission to spread literacy throughout the world. On the local level, the Boardman Rotarians are happy that the dictionaries are particularly useful to third-graders in the district.

“Third-grade is when the students begin to understand and use dictionaries and many teachers review a unit on using them after we donate. It’s wonderful to provide for the students and it is truly one of our favorite projects,” Liptak explained.