On Dec. 15, representatives from the Rotary Club of Southern Pines, the Rotary Club of the Sandhills and the Rotary Club of Pinehurst teamed up to deliver 900 dictionaries to third-graders in 11 schools across Moore County. The program is called “Look It Up.”
Donn Saunders, headmaster at Episcopal Day School and chairman of the Vocational Committee of the Rotary Club of Southern Pines, said the ideal goal would be to reach every third-grader at every school in Moore County, but that it’s not possible yet.
“We knew we couldn’t do all the schools,” said Otto Lange, president of the Rotary Club of Southern Pines.
Cynthia Kent-Mills was a key player in getting the “Look It Up” program started in Moore County, according to Saunders and Lange.
Kent-Mills, who moved to Moore County in 2000, said the area program is related to one she worked with in Sonoma County in California.
“It began as a tiny project with very few books,” Kent-Mills said. This year, the program distributed 13,000 books.
“She was able to get a hold of the California group and was able to hitchhike our order on theirs so we got a better price on the dictionaries,” Saunders said.
Third-graders were chosen for the program for a reason.
“Third grade is a real pivotal time in learning to read,” Kent-Mills said. “Children need to know how to read by the end of the third grade.”
Kent-Mills said there are several reasons why dictionaries are given rather than novels or storybooks.
“A dictionary is a tool that has a bigger shelf life,” Kent-Mills said. “More than one person can use it and you can go back over it again and again. We’re giving them high quality hardback books they can share with their siblings.”
Lange said some Rotarians were skeptical about the program when they first heard of it, but that Kent-Mills made sure it happened.
“She had the enthusiasm and the go-get-it attitude so we committed to it,” Lange said.
Saunders said responses from the third-graders are flowing in. He read a letter received by the Southern Pines Rotary Club.
“Dear Rotary Club members,” Saunders read. “Thank you for the dictionary. I use it a lot for my homework. I looked up Piranha in the dictionary. It is very handy. I wish I could be a part of your club and help other children.”
