The contributions the Rotary Club of Murrieta has made to the Murrieta Valley Unified School District’s Read 180 program were highlighted in a presentation at the District’s Board of Education meeting on Thursday, June 18th.
Starting in the 2013/14 school year, the Rotary Club of Murrieta donated funds for reading and other materials for five elementary schools in the District. In the past year, the Club increased its donation to provide materials for all of the District’s 11 elementary schools, with a focus on expanding the program for second graders. READ 180 is an intensive supplemental reading program that replaces the basic curriculum with engaging, interactive books and materials that help accelerate the reading skills of struggling readers who are two or more years below grade level.
In total, the local Rotary Club has donated some $12,000 worth of materials for the program. “We are very excited that we were able to help expand the program this year and to know we are playing a role in helping our youngsters get a good start on reading skills,” Roxanne Scheuniger, Rotary’s Community Services chair, said. “We understand that in the year just completed 500 second grade students finished the program, and that 89 percent of them were either proficient or advanced in their reading abilities. “Murrieta Rotary is so pleased with the direction that we have gotten from District staff in guiding us to place funds where they are most needed,” she added. “It makes serving our community even more valuable.”
Supporting education is one of the key focuses of Rotary International, and improving literacy in countries around the world, as well as in the United States, is an important project for Rotarians. In addition to the Read 180 donations, the Murrieta Club chose Murrieta educators this year to receive Teacher Grants and the Club sponsors Interact Clubs (Rotary for high schoolers) in three of the local high schools.
Murrieta Rotary raises funds to support its educational and other community projects through an annual fund-raiser, now called the Patriots Ball. The 2015 Patriots Ball is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, at the conclusion of the Murrieta Field of Honor which is presented each year in partnership with the City of Murrieta.
The Rotary Club of Murrieta was chartered on April 28, 1992. The club is involved in many community and international activities and programs, in cooperation with Rotary International, which has as its theme “Service Above Self.” Club meetings are held Mondays (excepting holidays) at noon at Richie’s Diner, 40651 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, in Murrieta. For information regarding the club or membership, visit www.murrietarotary.org or call President Craig Carper, 951-541-3814.
