Each October, representatives from the Wallkill East Rotary pay a visit to each of our four elementary schools here in the Pine Bush Central School District and distribute dictionaries to every third-grade student in the district.

 

 

 

Have a look at our slide show from the dictionary presentations.

 

Dr. William Bassett, a member of the Rotary and a former superintendent of Pine Bush schools, explained to the students in each group that the Rotary is a service organization and one area it focuses on is the youth of the community. Giving out the dictionaries each year to third-graders is a way to service our youth by contributing to their education. Third grade is also when students learn dictionary skills.

 

 

Dr. Bassett gave the students some homework. They were to write their names in the dictionaries because they belong to them, and they were to look up the word “service” and determine which definition met the goals of Rotary.
Superintendent Joseph Lenz said he is grateful to Rotary for their commitment to our students, year after year.

 

 

 

“The Wallkill East Rotary has been gifting dictionaries to our students since 2008,” said Mr. Lenz. “They have impacted the lives of more than 6,000 third-graders in our district. We hear of kids who have those dictionaries many years later. We are grateful for Dr. Bassett, who spearheads this project, and the Rotary for all they do for our community.”

 

Each class thanked the Rotary members, some with letters written collaboratively, others with oversized thank you cards.

We are so grateful to the Rotary!