The Dictionary Project

September 16, 2011 was “Sky Polega Gift of Knowledge” Day for members of the Rotary Club of Hendersonville. Every September club members distribute dictionaries to all third graders in Henderson County in memory of Sky Polega. (Ms. Polega was a graduate of Hendersonville High School and Duke University’s School of Engineering. She died at 25 of a brain hemorrhage while on an educational trip to Alaska.) This is the 10th year for the project. Rotarians Todd Webb, Patrick Kennedy, and John Orolin joined HCPS Superintendent David L. Jones and School Board Chairperson Ervin W. Bazzle at Mills River Elementary School to distribute dictionaries to 78 third graders. Mills River Elementary Principal Todd Murphy and the third grade teachers – Ms. Jennifer Hobbie, Ms. Kelly Lamb, Ms. Paula McLelland, and Ms. Mary Montross – welcomed their special guests. The students were excited with their gift and eagerly searched the contents of the book. Mr. Kennedy asked the students to look at the last page of the dictionary on which is the longest word in the dictionary. In each class he asked a volunteer to read the word. After looking at the word, the students decided to leave the pronunciation to their teacher or principal. Approximately 1,100 third grade students in the Henderson County Public Schools received a dictionary.