Pictured are (front row left to right): Shaynina Ribou; May Bowman; Nery Matias; Samuel Lwa Ka¬muanga; Kareem Kitmitto. Second row (left to right): Melixsa Merino; Kayla Milano; Alyssa Bessler; Selena Quintanilla Castro; Jonathan Torres; Matej Jan McNally; Tyler Murphy; Armani Vickers. Third row (left to right): Standley Duceus; Raquel Dasilva; Isadora Andrade; Jasmine Portillo; An¬gel Montano Velasco; Edgar Perez; John Lewis; Joanne Charles; Kylen Grace and Christian Olivar. Back row (left to right): Ed Volta, Past Grand Lodge Officer; Pat Volta; Charlie Savage, Past Exalted Ruler; Carlos Orozco, Past Exalted Ruler and Chairman of the Dictionaries for Third Graders Pro¬gram; Mrs. Janice Gauthier, Director of Curriculum; Mr. Frederick F. Foresteire, Superintendent; Mr. Charles Obremski, Assistant Superintendent; Ms. Michelle Massa, Principal; Ms. Krystal Golden, teacher; Mr. David Brady, Assistant Principal and Ms. Kelly Gaziano, teacher.
Following the tradition of several years, the Everett/Saugus Lodge #642 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks recently donated 400 English dictionaries to every third grade student in the public school district.
The presentation ceremony was held at the Madeline English School, with students from third grade classes taught by Ms. Golden, Ms. Gramolini and Ms. Gaziano attending. On hand to distribute the dictionaries were Carlos Orozco, Elks Past Exalted Ruler and Chairman of the Dictionaries for Third Graders program, Pat and Ed Volta, Elks Past Grand Lodge Officer and Charlie Savage, Elks Past Exalted Ruler.
Superintendent of the Everett Public Schools Frederick F. Foresteire said that he wanted “to personally thank the elks for their great generosity to our young students.”
Superintendent Foresteire said that many third graders in the school district did not have English dictionaries at home for reference when they did their homework. “Having their own dictionaries to use at school and at home makes it easier for them to learn about the language that identifies their environment” Foresteire said.
Principals from elementary schools in Everett also thanked the organization for their gifts and said the dictionaries would be put to good use. One student commented having his own dictionary was “awesome!” and that he would use it to “learn new things and new words.”
The elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868 with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the leading fraternal orders in America, claiming nearly one million members, and has a mission to help build stronger, drug-free communities through a variety of programs including state association grants and scholarships for students.
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