Rotarians donate books to Pine Street
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
ROTARY READING WEEK was held the week of April 11 at Pine Street Elementary School.
Members of the Presque Isle Rotary Club read a book of the teachers’ choosing to students in each of the school’s 18 classrooms and then the books were donated to the library. Pictured with some of the books are, from left: Sharon Campbell, chair of the Presque Isle Rotary Club’s literacy committee; and Jane Foster, reading teacher/librarian at Pine Street.
PRESQUE ISLE — Keeping with its mission to promote literacy — a foundation of Rotary International — 18 members of the Presque Isle Rotary Club read to students at Pine Street Elementary School prior to April vacation.
“We chose a week to have Rotarians come in every day to the 18 classes — including morning and afternoon kindergarten classes — and read a book of the teachers’ choosing,” said Sharon Campbell, chair of the Presque Isle Rotary Club’s literacy committee. “Once the Rotarians came in, told the class a little about Rotary and read the book, the children got to keep the book and donate it to their school library.”
Money to purchase the books came from a matching grant through District 7810, an international district comprising 28 Rotary Clubs in New Brunswick, one in Quebec, and 12 clubs in Maine, including Presque Isle.
“Because literacy is important throughout Rotary, we could apply for a matching grant through District 7810. It had to be a new project, and this is what we decided to do,” Campbell said. “District 7810 gave $250 and the Presque Isle Rotary Club gave $250. We ended up buying $475 worth of bookmarks which each child received, as well as some 30 books that were donated to the library.”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
LEIGH SMITH, a member of the Presque Isle Rotary Club, reads “Splat the Cat” to first-graders in Carmen Underwood’s class at Pine Street Elementary School as part of Rotary Reading Week. Prior to April vacation, Rotarians read books chosen by the teachers to students in all 18 classrooms and then the books were donated to the school’s library.
Campbell said since third-graders at Zippel Elementary School receive thesauruses each year, it was logical to design a project for the younger students in the community.
“Kids really need to learn to read and understand the importance of reading in grades K-2,” said Campbell. “We really felt that the little ones need to be excited and understand that people in the community think it’s exciting for them to read, as well.”
Leigh Smith read “Splat the Cat” to first-graders in Carmen Underwood’s class.
“I love kids and I know that a large part of my education growing up was due to my parents reading to me and having a pretty intensive reading program at Mapleton Elementary School,” said Smith, who has been a Rotarian for the last two years. “An important part of education is to be read to and to learn to read and have that as part of your life. I really believe in literacy.
“Both myself and the kids had a good time,” he said. “They even asked me to come back if I ever wanted to. I’d come back in a heartbeat. It was great; I want to do it again.”
Campbell said she was pleased with how well Rotary Reading Week went.
“I love every effort we do with the kids,” she said. “This one really brought Rotary into the schools and engaged the club which is more and more important … it’s not just the club’s literacy team that got involved, but regular Rotarians who said they wanted to come in and participate. Some Rotarians even asked if they could remain a reader at school and have set up opportunities to come in and read with kids. That’s what it’s all about.”
Pine Street Principal Loretta Clark had high praise for the Rotarians and their commitment to literacy.
“The children have been delighted with your visits. You have put a smile on every child’s face and have certainly made such a valuable impact for our children in more ways than you realize. Books are the gateway to a life full of experiences that many of our children may not actually get to personally experience,” she wrote in an e-mail to the Rotary Readers. “Thank you for all the time, thought, and effort your club has provided to our precious little ones at Pine. Your club continues to amaze me with what you graciously do for us at Pine, as well as all the other community endeavors. Keep up the great work and know that you do make a huge difference for our children and community!”
Rotarians who read to the Pine Street students included Campbell, Mark Putnam, Lehrle Kieffer, Mary Lawrence, Jason Parent, Jeff Pangburn, Ginny Joles, Ellen Schneider, Joy Barresi Saucier, Scott Violette, Bob Grove-Markwood, Lisa Miles, Derik Smith, June Gallant, Theresa Fowler, Leigh Smith, Joe Clukey and Rachel Rice.
