Constitution Books

CHESTERTON-PORTER ROTARY CLUB DONATES
CONSTITUTION BOOKLETS TO AREA 5TH GRADE STUDENTS

#1 Liberty Intermediate School Book Presentation: Front row students Josie Hanner (left) and Andie Kollar (right). Back row left to right - teachers Mrs. Cris Petro and Mrs. Michelle Olson and Rotarian Bob Kollar.

#2 Westchester Intermediate School Book Presentation: Back row Rotarian Mary Kay Jeselnick, Tricia Lahey, Rotary Club Foundation Chair and Shawn Longacre, Westchester Intermediate School Principal. Front Row Peyton Hicks 5th grade student, Susan Calvert Dept. Chair & 5th Grade teacher, and Cooper Huwig 5th grade student.

#3 St. Patrick School Book Presentation: 5th Grade Class – pictured with students far left teacher Laura Bingham and Rotarian Barbara Black; far right back row is Principal Richard Rupcich.

#4 Rotarian Jim Jeselnick presents a plaque to Dr. Chip Petit, Duneland School Superintendent in appreciation for allowing the Rotary Club to provide Constitution booklets to 5th grade students.

The Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club recently distributed U.S. Constitution booklets containing not only a full copy of the Constitution, but also the Declaration of Independence and a quiz section to 5th grade students in Duneland. Local Rotarian Jim Jeselnick discovered the booklets while visiting a Rotary Club in Naples, Florida where he met Joseph Cofield, the founder of the “Constitution For The People, Inc.”, a non-profit project that has delivered copies of booklets to more than 200,000 5th graders. Mr. Cofield’s goal to provide one for each 5th grade student in Florida.

Jeselnick thought this was a very worthwhile endeavor for Duneland students, so upon his return he worked with the Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club to submit an application for grant funding from Rotary District #6540, and the project proceeded. Rotary Club members visited Liberty and Westchester Intermediate Schools and St. Pat’s Elementary School with copies to distribute to students. Copies were also mailed to Duneland School Corporation 5th grade students who were learning from home. Assisting Jim Jeselnick with the project were Tricia Lahey, Rotary Club Foundation Chair, and Rotarians Mary Kay Jeselnick, Martha Brubaker, Glenn Yerby, Barbara Black, Bob Kollar and Jane Delligatti.

At Liberty Intermediate School, 5th grade teachers Chris Petro and Michelle Olson said “Thanks to the Rotary Club for the gift of Constitution booklets. A significant portion of curriculum centered around the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The pocket Constitution booklets will be a great follow-up for the students to use.”

St. Patrick’s teacher Laura Bingham created questions and the class had a scavenger hunt to search for the answers in the booklet. She said, "The students loved looking through the booklets, and it made such an important American document easier for them to read and understand. Of course, their favorite page was the list of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence and what states they were from."

“On behalf of our Club, we are pleased to be able to provide valuable learning tools to community students,” Jeselnick said. The Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club has been serving the Duneland communities since 1960, providing scholarships for graduating Chesterton High School Seniors and support for community projects. The Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at noon at the Boys & Girls Club. If you are interested in attending a Rotary Club meeting or becoming a member, please contact Alison Williams, Membership Chair at awilliams@genins.com.