It is never too early to learn the value of community, character and hard work. That lesson was on full display last week in St. Clairsville, where members of the St. Clairsville Noon Rotary Club took time from their professional lives to visit second graders at St. Clairsville Elementary School.

Through a simple but powerful story — “Andy and Elmer’s Apple Dumpling Adventure” — Rotarians shared an enduring message: honesty, fairness, friendship and service are the foundation of both good business and good citizenship.

Those four principles, embodied in Rotary’s Four-Way Test, are not just slogans. They are a moral compass that has guided generations of civic leaders, business owners and public servants.

It is commendable that local Rotarians are taking these values beyond their weekly meetings and into the classroom. By introducing children to entrepreneurship and civic responsibility at such a young age, they are helping to build stronger communities tomorrow. Just as importantly, they are showing students that leadership and service come in many forms — from teachers and judges to small business owners and volunteers.

Rotary’s presence in the classroom is more than a kind gesture. It is an investment in the future for these students and also the local community.

We applaud the St. Clairsville Noon Rotary Club for living out its mission and inspiring the next generation of community leaders. This is how strong communities are built — one story, one lesson, one child at a time.