Hackettstown Rotary Club Donates Dictionaries

October 25, 2007 3:03 pm

Willow Grove Street School principal John Sarcone, second from left in rear, is flanked by Rotarians Dr. Bryon Grigsby of Centenary College, Robyn Jensen of Edward Jones Investments, Prof. Robert Quade of Centenary College, and Jane and Chuck Abbate.
Willow Grove Street School principal John Sarcone, second from left in rear, is flanked by Rotarians Dr. Bryon Grigsby of Centenary College, Robyn Jensen of Edward Jones Investments, Prof. Robert Quade of Centenary College, and Jane and Chuck Abbate.

Hackettstown's third graders received a gift of words this week when members of the Hackettstown Rotary Club donated more than 100 dictionaries to students in the Hatchery Hills and Willow Grove Street Schools.

Dictionaries for Kids program chairs Chuck and Jane Abbate of Hackettstown spearheaded the project, which is part of Rotary International's worldwide program to increase literacy among our youngest scholars. Mr. Abbate began his presentation at each school by asking students if they knew how many letters are in the longest word in the dictionary. When he told them the word, a chemical formula, contained 1,909 letters, he also informed them the word could be found in their new dictionaries, along with atlas and other reference information. Students may keep the new books for use in future grades.

Plans are made to present dictionaries to third graders in St. Mary's School, as well.

The Dictionaries for Kids program is part of the Hackettstown Rotary Club's service mission to benefit its local community. For more information about the Hackettstown Rotary Club, please contact Norman Worth of WRNJ Oldies 1510 at 908.850.1000 or club president Kevin Guyette of The Arc of Warren County at 908.689.7525.