On Thursday, January 22, members of the Gananda Rotary Club (Patti Holdraker, Wanda Arnold, and Juan Alfaro) were on hand to present a special set of books to every Gananda third grader in recognition of “Literacy Month”.

In the past, Rotary always celebrated Literacy Month by handing out dictionaries to all of the third graders in Gananda. With the advent of internet word searches and spell check on computers, the time had come to initiate a new learning tool….and this one was lots of fun!

With each student’s name printed inside, the school’s “Book of the Year” PUNKY ALOHA, was given, with the addition of a book called “Becky and Lin’s Apple Orchard Picture Book, and an accompanying activity and coloring book.  The “Becky and Lin’s” book is a fun story of community service and involvement, which is the main motto of Rotary (“Service Above Self”). 

PUNKY ALOHA is a beautiful Polynesian Picture Book about friendship and bravery for Children  by Shar Tuiasoa. Punky Alohais a shy girl who uses the power of saying “aloha” to experience exciting and unexpected adventures!

A special thank you to each of the third grade teachers, and the Elementary School Library staff, who encourage students to love reading. Each of them also received a PUNKY ALOHA book. Thank you to Ms.  Brice, Ms. Koehler,  Ms. Casler and Mr. Flansburg.