From Kiwanis
Rhoda Hacker has been a Kiwanis member for over five years and of all the projects she has participated in, perhaps “the dictionaries” is her favorite. This year she has served as chair of the project which involves the distribution of a personal dictionary to every third grade student in the St. Johns Public Schools District and the private St. Peters Lutheran School.
Kiwanians Rhoda Hacker, center and Greg Teichman are joined by teacher Michelle Smiley as students at Oakview Elementary await their books of words. Teichman is President of St. Johns Kiwanis.
Ms Hacker and Kiwanis President Greg Teichman recently delivered their allotment of paperback lexicons to students at Oakview Elementary school while Kiwanis counterparts visited groups of third-graders at other buildings. Assisting in deliveries were Hal Rice, St. Peters; Rod Fuller, Riley; Sue Lounds, East Olive and Marilyn Thelen, Gateway and Eureka.
“I love to see the expressions on the children’s faces and the excitement they display as we hand out the books,” commented Ms Hacker. “One mother, Lindsey Holden, explained that her children use their dictionaries as a primary tool for spelling, pronunciation and store of information which appears in the back of the book.”
The program has been an annual event with St. Johns Kiwanis for several years, providing students with a viable resource as they advance through the grades. Dictionaries are delivered by Kiwanians. A presentation at each class visit involves a brief explanation of the project and the purpose and role of Kiwanis and the club’s community involvement.
“The responses of the children make the visits inspiring,” commented Ms Hacker. “They are not only excited about receiving the dictionaries, but ask questions about Kiwanis and community service as well.”