Renton Rotary members donate dictionaries to local third graders

The tradition of handing out dictionaries to third graders began in 2005.

By Reporter Staff • February 23, 2023 8:30 am
Renton third graders await dictionaries donated by Renton Rotary Club. Photo courtesy of Renton Rotary Club
Renton third graders await dictionaries donated by Renton Rotary Club. Photo courtesy of Renton Rotary Club

More than 1,000 Renton third-graders have received the gift of dictionaries, thanks to members of the Rotary Club of Renton.

For more than a decade, the Renton Rotary Club has provided a free student dictionary to every 3rd-grader in the district to take the book home to use for homework, learn new words and facts, and share with family members.

This year, Rotary members, including former Renton School District Superintendent Dr. Dolores Gibbons, incoming President Al Ralston, and Renton City Councilmember Ruth Pérez are helping distribute the books.

The total cost for the books is more than $12,000 and represents the community’s commitment to early childhood education and the importance of having students read at grade level by third grade.

According to the Renton Rotary Club, students who previously received the dictionaries say they use the books with their siblings and, in some cases, to help teach English to family members.