More than 3,200 students are receiving the gift of words. After Rotarians visit Kelly Mill Elementary School on Dec. 19, third-graders at all 20 of the Forsyth County school system’s elementary schools will have received a free dictionary from one of the five local Rotary Clubs.“The first thing we did was have them write their names in it so when they come home, big brother or big sister couldn’t take it away from them, because it is their dictionary and they were really pleased with that,” said George Pirkle, a member of the Rotary Club of Forsyth County.The dictionary giveaway, which is in its fifth year, is part of a combined effort between Pirkle’s club and the Rotary Clubs of North Forsyth 400, Johns Creek, South Forsyth and Lanier-Forsyth.The cost of 1,000 dictionaries is about $15,000. And with more than 3,000 being distributed, “all the clubs really had to be involved because it wound up being too much for any one club to do,” Pirkle said.Valery Hall, the local school system’s governance and career development coordinator, said one of the district’s initiatives is “infusing literacy skills throughout our curriculum.”“So this project is somewhat of a tradition now for our students and schools to help leverage this focus,” she said.
Rotarians share words with young friends
Dictionary project reinforces literacy