Rotary donates $2,300 for literacy at Davis

Rotary donates $2,300 for literacy at Davis
Posted on 05/02/2023
This is the image for the news article titled Rotary donates $2,300 for literacy at DavisMembers of the Vernal Rotary Club's Literacy Committee presented Davis Elementary with a $2,300 donation Tuesday morning. The money will be used to purchase books for the school's book vending machine.

"We asked the Uintah School District for a wish list and loved the idea of the book vending machine at Davis Elementary," committee member and Rotary Club Treasurer Cheri McCurdy. "We loved the idea of students being rewarded for their dedication to reading with a book of their very own."

Davis Dragons receive a small prize each Monday from school media specialist Chalyce Johnson when they turn in a paper signed by their parent or guardian that certifies they read for at least 100 minutes during the previous week. Every Tuesday morning, Johnson draws 25 names from a large bin filled with the names of every student who has met the reading goal since the start of the school year. Those 25 students receive a token for the vending machine so that they can get a free book of their own.

"The more weeks a student reads 100 minutes, the more chances they have to win," Johnson said. "It's fun to see the kids who do it every week, but it's also fun to see the kids who don't but maybe one week they do it and win and it gets them excited to keep reading.

"The students love the novelty of choosing a book from the vending machine and there's new books in there every week," she said.

Davis Elementary Principal Cris Labrum said more than 1,000 books have been given away this school year. She expressed the school's appreciation for the Rotary Club donation.

"Our number one student learning goal is to increase the literacy of our kids," Labrum said. "Putting a book in a kid's hands and making reading fun is a key part of reaching this goal. Thanks to the Vernal Rotary Club for helping us make this happen."

Supporting education is one of Rotary International's seven areas of focus. Each year, the Vernal Rotary Club puts an emphasis on supporting education locally and internationally. The club raises money to support this work through member dues, local fundraising events, and often through grants from various Rotary sources.

"We couldn’t do this without the support of the community," McCurdy said.

In addition to McCurdy, the members of the Vernal Rotary Club Literacy Committee are Julie Curry (chair), Michael Harrington, and Marjorie Goodman.
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

No district employee or student shall be subjected to discrimination in employment or any district program or activity on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The district is committed to providing equal access and equal opportunity in its programs, services and employment including its policies, complaint processes, program accessibility, district facility use, accommodations and other Equal Employment Opportunity matters. The district also provides equal access to district facilities for all youth groups. The following persons have been designated as Title IX coordinators to handle inquires and complaints regarding unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: Dr. Mistalyn Leis, Human Resources Director (435) 781-3100. You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, Denver, CO, at (303) 844-5695.