‘Dictionary Project’ returns to Johnson City Elementary School.

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WBNG) — A yearly tradition returned to Johnson City Elementary School once again. The yearly tradition began in the school in 2004. The Johnson City Rotary Club and the Elks Lodge handed out 170 free dictionaries to third graders as part of a nationwide campaign called “The Dictionary Project.” The project aims to promote literacy among young students. Once the students received their dictionaries, they could find resources such as the periodic table, American sign language, and even the longest word in the American language. “It helps with their reading,” said Rocky Martinez for Johnson City Rotary. “If they see a word that they don’t understand in their books, they can look it up in their dictionary. So they really enjoy it. There is a lot of information in that book.” In addition to providing free dictionaries, the Johnson City Rotary and Elks give scholarships to graduating seniors each year. Copyright 2025 WBNG. All rights reserved.