SARASOTA COUNTY,
September 26, 2018 – Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce that the
Rotary Club of Sarasota’s “Rotary Reading Project” will
soon be launching district-wide for all first and fourth grade students.
Sponsored
by the Rotary Club of Sarasota Foundation, the Mote Scientific Foundation and all other Area Rotary Clubs, the Rotary Club of Sarasota will be
presenting every first grader in Sarasota County will receive the book The Magic Fish and every fourth grader will receive the book Wonder.
Teachers will also be receiving specialized toolkits full of interactive
lessons and engaging content to teach the students overarching concepts of greed, kindness, tolerance and civility, among others. Classes will be encouraged to
share their thoughts and will participate in themed learning activities
throughout the year.
“We are
very thankful to have this multi-level learning and character building opportunity
for our approximately 2,700 first graders and 2,800 fourth graders,” said Todd
Bowden, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. “Now more than ever, it is
important for us to model kindness and promote understanding in our community. Students
will benefit academically and civically from this program, and we hope they will
be excited to share these stories with their family and friends. We encourage
families to engage in the provided discussions and activities to deepen their
child’s understanding of the story concepts.”
“We
appreciate the Rotary Club of Sarasota for their continued commitment to
supporting our focus on literacy, character and citizenship,” commented Chris
Renouf, executive director of Elementary Schools. “This common literacy
learning experience will create opportunities for rich conversation and
collaboration amongst teams of teachers, thousands of our students and their
families. What a phenomenal partnership for our school communities.”
“It is
important to our organization to be useful in critical areas of need in the
community, and we feel literacy and citizenship are core skills children should
have,” noted Ben Bates, current area governor for all Sarasota Rotary clubs. “These principles directly correlate to the values
of the Rotary Club. We wanted to support the positive measures Sarasota County
Schools is already piloting relating to civility and academics and help them
expand their efforts. We hope momentum continues to build as the kids connect
with their classmates and family members about these stories.”
The book The Magic Fish was selected for first
graders because it emphasizes the danger of greed and the importance of being
grateful. The novel Wonder, selected
for fourth graders, is about a boy with Treacher Collins Syndrome and sheds
light on the social difficulties that can come with looking “different”.
About Sarasota Rotary Clubs
Started by the Rotary Club of Sarasota 1926, Rotary in Sarasota is one of this community’s oldest active community leadership organization(s). Over 300 members across six clubs, Rotary in Sarasota has supported Sarasota County Schools in many ways including; the One Book Initiative, Kindergarten Readiness Bags, Food Pantries, Dictionaries, & Josh The Otter.
About Sarasota County Schools
Sarasota County Schools is committed to
providing unrivaled academic, emotional and civic growth to every student,
every day. As one of the leading employers on the Suncoast, Sarasota County
Schools boasts 53 schools that expertly cater to the diverse needs of over
43,000 students. We are one of two Florida school districts to consistently
earn an A-grade every year since 2004. Our passionate educators empower
students to take charge of their academic and personal success, a practice we
believe fosters lifelong growth and achievement. We actively maintain the
district’s tradition of excellence and ensure that tradition extends to all
students. Our commitment to our students extends beyond graduation to make sure
they not only graduate on time, but do so college and career ready. Want to
take your student’s education to the next level? Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or visit www.SarasotaCountySchools.net.
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