Rotary Recognizes Readers

 The array of educators made an impressive sight.  On one side of the podium Wendy Doty, the retiring Superintendant of Education and John Garcia, the new Superintendant, were lined up, and at the podium was Leslie Johns, Assistant Superintendant,  reading with enthusiasm the carefully written and personalized certificates of merit. And between them in succession came one student from each elementary school accompanied by his or her principal.  Watching this parade of effort and excellence were the Rotarians, who are proud to sponsor one of our favorite events with the Downey Unified School District.By the way, this reporter asked John Garcia if he intended to honor the custom of the Superintendant of the DUSD becoming a Rotarian, and he said with a smile, “That was part of the job description.”

  Leslie Johns, Assistant Superintendant, read the citations, Superintendant Garcia shook each winner’s hand.  What an exciting moment for all.

  Note: a sign of the times: the certificates used to be, as a reward for improved readership, good for buying books at a bookstore, but there are no more local bookstores.

  Several students also had improved their handwriting too, which is important for good students.  Some students have raised their reading levels by 5 units so far this year.  And one outstanding reader had raised hers by 11 levels.

  These students have also become proficient in using dictionaries and other tools to help them understand what they read, and to do research.  They have put considerable time and effort into improving their reading comprehension. They know reading is an essential building block to reach any of life’s goals. 

  Girls wore their best dresses or blouses and some boys had jackets. We learned that Arturo, for example, used to prefer not to do reading. But now he is the first to begin and the last one to put down his book.

  Jasmine came to Downey in the first grade and had to learn English but now she is in the fourth grade and up to grade level.  A Willams School new student raised his scores by more than one entire grade level this year.

  And these students excel on the playground as well as in the classroom.  With good reading skills, they have an excellent start in life.

At the end of the presentation, retiring superintendant Wendy thanked Downey Rotary for supporting reading, and then she was asked to sign the book which is donated to the children’s section of the library, in her honor.