Masons’ Bikes for Books program returns

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    This year, members of the Monument Lodge No. 96 are giving away 16 bicycles at three schools during its Bikes for Books program.
    The Masons decided to sponsor the program for the second year because of the reception received by the children a year ago.
    “They look forward to it,” said Lee Oliver, Monument Lodge No. 96 secretary. “It is awesome. Teachers said it increased reading last year.”
    The books read by the children have to meet individual school criteria.
    “Some schools consider 100 pages a book,” said Oliver. “Others it depends on the grade level and what the teachers want to tie into their curriculum.”
    Oliver said the group was working with teacher Rachel Carmichael at Houlton Southside School, Principal Loreen Wiley at Hodgdon Mill Pond School and Headmaster John Bishop of Greater Houlton Christian Academy.
    “I would say it has increased motivation in all three grade levels (4-6), but our students already read a lot,” said Carmichael. “Students at Southside read daily in class, at home and at the After-School program in order to achieve their goal of possibly winning a bike.”
    “This is the first time working with Greater Houlton Christian Academy,” said Oliver. “It’s a phenomenal program, which started a few years ago in other states. Last year, we began the program and went into it with blinders on.”
    But, this year, the Masons coordinated with Huffy and were able to purchase the bikes at a reduced rate.
    A year ago, the Masons presented six bicycles — three to Mill Pond and three to Southside. Before the school year ends in June, they will have awarded 15 bicycles — six to Mill Pond, six to Southside and three to GHCA — and they are hoping to add another school and present six more bicycles next year.
    “This year, we are tracking what the children read,” said Oliver. “We will have a record to review to show where there is places for improvement.”
    As each child reads a book, his or her name is entered into a drawing. If a child reads six books, his or her name goes into the box for the drawing six times.
    “The more you read, the better your chance of winning,” said Oliver. “The program is designed to encourage children to read. We will hold an assembly at the end of the school year, draw the children’s names and present the bicycles.”
    Monument Lodge No. 96 has taken the lead, but encourages other organizations to climb aboard to encourage reading.
    The Masons also sponsor the CHIPS (Child Identification Protection Service) and DARE (Drugs Alcohol Resistance Education) programs through the school systems.
    Monument Lodge No. 96 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge in Market Square.