Southampton Rotary Club Empowers Young Learners with Dictionary Project
The Southampton Rotary Club continued its longstanding commitment to literacy by distributing dictionaries to every Grade 3 student in Saugeen Shores on November 6th, reinforcing the critical role of language skills in children's educational development.
This annual initiative saw Rotarians visiting local elementary schools at GC Huston, Northport, St. Joseph's, and École Port Elgin-Saugeen Central. They presented 229 dictionaries to eager young learners - with 52 dictionaries provided in French to support bilingual education. Each dictionary has a place where students can add their name to personalize it. Beyond simply handing out books, the Rotarians engaged students with an interactive session, including a video demonstration on effectively using dictionaries.
Dictionaries are more than just reference books; they are powerful learning tools that help children:
- Expand their vocabulary
- Improve reading comprehension
- Develop independent learning skills
- Boost confidence in language exploration
Mary Ellen Harrigan, the Club's Vocational and Youth Service Chair, said: "We believe that providing students with their own dictionary is an investment in their future."
The project underscores the Rotary Club's ongoing dedication to community education and literacy development.
The graphic shows students from each school.