Annual presentation of dictionaries to third-grade students

In 2007 the members of the Caldwell County Republican Women initiated a dictionary project as a part of its community service Literacy Program. The primary purpose of this project is to present a personal dictonary to all Caldwell County third-grade students each school year. A dictionary is a powerful learning and resource tool. Its usefulness exceeds the correct spelling, pronunciation and definition of words. A dictionary can enhance a child’s reading, writing and creative thinking abilities, and provides an essential tool for a quality education. The Dictionary Project is a non-profit organization based in Charleston, South Carolina. It provides the dictionaries that Caldwell County Republican Women and many other community service organizations distribute to third-grade students throughout America’s fifty states.
Peggy Duda, chairwoman of this project, with the assistance of Terry Black, Bill and Annette Lacy, Justin Smith, Betty Hodges, and Brother Cale of Faith Chapel recently completed the 2010 distribution of 456 dictionaries throughout 22 third-grade classrooms in Caldwell County’s six elementary schools. The gift of these dictionaries was made possible by donations from Mr. Taco, Bruce Germer Insurance Agency, Lockhart Kiwanis Club, Mike Tate, Lew White, DDS, and Patricia White, Black’s Barbecue, Plum Creek Inn, Smitty’s Market, Kreuz Market, Inc., Chisholm Trail Bar-B-Q and Faith Chapel. Bill and Annette Lacy also gave each of the third-grade classrooms an English-to-Spanish/Spanish-to-English dictionary.
This year as an added incentive, Caldwell County Republican Women are inviting all third-grade students to write an essay on "A Time That I Have Done Something With A Friend." Two sets of cash awards will be made. Students in the four Lockhart elementary schools with winning essays will receive First Place $50, Second Place $25, and Third Place $15. Students in the Luling and Prairie Lea elementary schools with the winning essays will receive First Place $50, Second Place $25, and Third Place $15. Two panels of teachers–one from Lockhart, and the other from Luling and Prairie Lea–will grade the essays and determine the winners. Two awards ceremonies are being planned. Details to be announced.
Caldwell County Republican Women have distributed a total of 2,895 dictionaries since the project’s inception in 2006-2007. President Carol Martin and Literacy Chairwoman Peggy Duda will soon begin seeking donations to sponsor the dictionary project in 2011.