Elks and Rotarians Distribute Dictionaries

Members of Newark Elks Lodge No. 1249 and the Newark Rotary Club partnered in distributing dictionaries to 153 third graders at Kelley Intermediate School. Following a welcoming statement to all of the students and guests by Principal Theresa Prinzi, [Newark Elks Exalted Ruler James Sadler] explained to the students how his organization supports a variety of youth programs within the community, state and nation. He went on to elaborate on the Annual Hoop Shoot Competition, the Drug Awareness Program, which includes alcohol and tobacco as well as illegal drugs[,] and the Elks Scholarship Program which awards over two million dollars nationally and three hundred thousand just in New York State. [Rotary President John Zornow] pointed out to the students that they could keep their new dictionaries at their desk or in their backpacks to be [used at any time and in any place]. They could even mark newly discovered words in their books and watch their vocabulary grow over the years. Zornow emphasized that, “The goal is that all students would leave school as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers[.”] The assembly ended with each of the third graders receiving a new dictionary.