Teachers and students at Maury Elementary School are the recipients of $3,500 from the Rotary Club of Alexandria and District 7610 Rotary International to help improve the school’s scores in the Standards of Learning exams.
Of the total grant, $1,500 from the local club will “help pay for teacher training and related curriculum books” while $2,000 “will go toward purchasing books selected to assist students in taking and improving their scores in the exams,” according to Charles Collum, Rotary Club member and Chairman of the Board, Burke and Herbert Bank and Trust Company.
During a recent check presentation ceremony to Maury Principal Lucretia Jackson, Rotary President-elect William Jarrett, accompanied by Rotarians Collum and William Kirkpatrick, said, “This is only the beginning. We look forward to a continuing partnership with you, your librarian, your teachers and your students.”
Collum, who serves as head of the Alexandria club’s Literary Improvement Assistance Project, pointed out, “This money will not only enable teacher’s to buy the books they need to assist in their teaching but also will enable each student to purchase between four and eight books at the June Book Fair to take home and help them improve their knowledge.” The Book Fair is scheduled for June 12 through 14 at Maury, 600 Russell Road.
“On behalf of the parents, teachers and students, the school is very grateful for this generous gift from the Rotary. It will be a great help to us,” said Jackson.
Rotary members have been invited to participate in the Book Fair where they will assist students in selecting books to be purchased with Rotary chits. The school has been working with Dinah M. Paul, owner, “A Likely Story” children’s bookstore, 1555 King St., to select appropriate titles to fulfill the grant’s goal.
“Maury got in touch with us for advise on what books would be appropriate. They wanted curriculum books that brought stories to life,” Paul said.
“We did the research, took the books to Maury, met with the teachers, set up the tables for each grade level, and explained the plots. There were about 800 titles,” she said. Her store carries approximately 45,000 books covering a myriad subjects, according to Paul.
On June 20, the Alexandria Rotary Club will present financial aid gifts to a number of organizations during their regular meeting at
the Old Town Radisson Hotel. Jackson is scheduled to be among those present.