DICTIONARIES FOR KIDZ

The Oceanside Pacific Kiwanis Club (OPK) started The Dictionaries For Kidz Project in 2002, which originated in Charleston, South Carolina, through the efforts of Mary French. The idea of the program is to present every third grade student in the Oceanside Unified School District Elementary Schools their own Websters Dictionary. These pocket-sized, English only, dictionaries are geared toward third grade students. We have added a special touch by placing a personalized book plate on the inside front cover of each of the dictionaries. By doing this, the students know that the dictionary belongs to them. They are free to take it home with them and to take it with them when they move on to higher grade levels or to another School District. The actual presentation of the dictionaries takes place in the individual classrooms. These presentations are publicized by the local press. It is OPK’s intention to give full credit to individuals or organization(s) that lend financial assistance to this project. Currently, the project is fully funded through the 2010 school year. It should be noted that this project has had the full support of former Superintendent Ken Noonan, a member of our Kiwanis Club, and the Oceanside Unified School District Board of Trustees. A team of OPK members is making the contact with each of the 17 Elementary Schools in Oceanside to arrange to make these presentations to the third grade students.