Grand Rapids Kiwanis Clubs team up to help students
Three Kiwanis Clubs of the Grand Rapids area make up the sponsoring team: Grand Rapids Golden K Kiwanis, Grand Rapids North Kiwanis, and Grand Valley State University Circle K Kiwanis. This year is the fourth year this Kiwanis team has presented every 3rd grader in the Grand Rapids Public Schools with their own individual dictionary/gazetteer. Dr. Bernard Taylor, who spoke to the Golden K Kiwanis Club shortly after becoming Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public School District, felt the project would be a real plus for students and schools.
The project gives an opportunity for Kiwanians to support the Superintendent and the Grand Rapids Public Schools in building a strong Grand Rapids community by helping with the education of the next generation. It may also be beneficial in the Race to the Top. The Golden K Kiwanis Club of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids North Kiwanis Club have teamed together to raise the funds. Each third grade student receives a dictionary with his or her name on a personalized bookplate mounted on the inside of the front cover. The students of the Circle K Club of Grand Valley State
University provide the volunteers for the mounting of the bookplates with the assistance of the Office of Elementary Schools, Ms. Carolyn Evans, and Media personnel of GRPS. Ms. Kathy Roguszka, administrative assistant to Dr. Mayda Gunnell, provides special help and assistance in the project, along with Mr. Fred Finn and Steve from GRPS Supply Deptartment who assists the Kiwanis Clubs with the distribution to the GRPS schools having 3rd graders.
It is anticipated that President Ron Beuker of Golden K Kiwanis, President John Laporte of North Kiwanis, and President Holly Yee of GVSU Circle K Club will be representing their respective clubs for the Celebration portion of the Grand Rapids School Board meeting at 6:30 PM on December 14, 2009 at the Franklin Campus.
Over 1400 copies of A Student`s Dictionary will be provided for
the third grade students plus teachers this year in the GRPS system.
The goal of The Dictionary Project is to assist all students in completing the school year as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers by providing students with their own personal dictionary. `Serving the Children of the World` is the motto of all Kiwanians and `Young Children Priority One` is the theme of
Kiwanis International. Many thanks go to Mrs. Mary French of The Dictionary Project for this truly wonderful way to touch the future so positively.
