From Barry Villamil: The RC of Pearlridge Foundation annually sponsors free dictionaries to over 650 third grade students and their teachers representing 12 Aiea and Pearl City elementary schools.
Their Foundation also financially supports two students from each school with Good Citizen Awards that consists of a Good Citizen Award certificate and a $50.00 check. The students are selected by their teachers at the end of the school year for best exemplifying the Principles of Rotary International’s Four Way Test.
Neil Blomberg, Principal, Kanoelani Elementary School said, “It’s always nice when a group like the Rotary Club of Pearlridge comes and supports the local schools and seeing the kids and their excitement looking at the dictionaries and using them. It’s a great tool for them for the rest of the year, so we’re really grateful for the help and partnership with the Rotary Club of Pearlridge. The students are always motivated to do well, but I think the Good Citizen Award might take them to the next level. That’s an exciting opportunity for them as well. Thank you!
By donating free dictionaries, as well as introducing the third graders and their teachers to Rotary International’s “Four Way Test” and following up at the end of the school year with the Good Citizen Awards presentations, it serves as the foundation for our efforts to support literacy and positive, productive, and thoughtful characters in our schools and communities beginning at the third-grade level. The lucky elementary schools that received dictionaries were: Lehua, Waiau, Pearl City, Our Savior Luther, Palisades, St. Elizabeth, Momilani Elementary, Pearl City Highlands, Manana, Alvah Scott, Kanoelani, Pearlridge.
Rotary Clubs using District grant funds to distribute dictionaries are: Ala Moana, Kauai, Lahaina Sunset, Pahoa Sunset, Upcountry Maui, Volcano, and Waianae.
