In October, Kelso Rotary members Dave Houten and John Byers visited Barnes Elementary School to continue one of our club’s annual traditions: donating dictionaries to every third-grade student.
The project focuses specifically on third graders because this is a pivotal year in a child’s education—when they shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Having their own dictionary helps students build vocabulary, strengthen reading comprehension, and gain confidence as independent learners.
The visit was met with enthusiasm and curiosity from the students, who were excited to explore their new dictionaries. In the weeks that followed, our club received a heartwarming bundle of handwritten thank-you notes from the classes. Their messages of appreciation remind us why this program matters and how a simple gift can make a lasting impact on a child’s learning journey.
Kelso Rotary is proud to support local literacy and invest in the success of young learners in our community.