Rotary Club provides dictionaries to Parkway, Meadowbrook students

In October, representatives from the Rotary Club of Westbury-Carle Place visited Parkway and Meadowbrook to provide third-grade students with their own personal dictionaries that can be used throughout their school career.

The Rotary Club’s Dictionary Project is an opportunity for students to expand their vocabulary, while aiding third-grade teachers in their goal to see all of their students finish the school year as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers. 

A dictionary is perhaps the first and most powerful reference tool a student should own. Students benefit from an increased self-reliance and resourcefulness inspired by the maxim “look it up in the dictionary.” Teachers benefit by knowing that their students will have consistent access to a tool for homework and in-class exploration. 

Rotarians Cathy Handy and Deb Smith were thanked for bringing the project to East Meadow. 

The world of rope jumping

McVey students kicked off Red Ribbon Week with an assembly by professional athlete, role model, entertainer and educator Mark Rothstein of “World of Rope Jumping,” a movement-based wellness and character education program. It challenged students to engage in fitness, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. 

Rothstein’s interactive presentation reinforced character building elements such as kindness, respect, trying one’s best, positive choices, drug-free living, politeness, teamwork, and honesty through the sport of rope jumping, a favorite among many children. 

Students volunteered for various types of rope jumping challenges, including a short jump rope and a five-pound jump rope, while their fellow schoolmates cheered them on.