Boothbay Region Elementary School wrapped up the school year with free bicycles, an educational dance routine and the now annual “sliming”  of select members of the faculty. In all, 29 new Huffy bicycles were given to deserving students for their reading and fundraising achievements through the Bikes for Books campaign, sponsored locally by Bay View Masonic Lodge of East Boothbay.

During the school year, each time a student read an age-appropriate book, their name was placed into a drawing; thus, the more they read, the better their chances of earning a bike and safety helmet. In total, the program had 52 readers who read 50,000 pages among a variety of different types of books, said school officials. In fact, 20 students read over 1,000 pages. 

This year, some 90 Masonic Lodges throughout Maine will present nearly 1,000 bicycles to children participating in reading programs in local schools and public libraries. Evidence shows that schools participating in the program are witnessing improved reading scores among their students.

On hand to announce the winners was Stuart Smith of the Bay View Masonic Lodge.

“No matter how many pages anyone read, it’s about the effort,” said Smith. “It’s also about working with your teachers to achieve reading goals.”

In addition to the bicycle awards, the top fundraisers for BRES teacher Lauren Brown’s Jump Rope for Heart initiative had the enviable task of covering BRES faculty with “slime” as a reward for their efforts. The chosen slimees were Principal Mark Tess, music teacher Mark Phillips and Vice Principal Trish Campbell.

Each year, Bay View Masonic Lodge pledges to fund the purchase of bicycles; Crescent Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star is helping to purchase safety helmets for students earning bikes. The Lodge and Eastern Star Chapter welcome contributions to purchase additional bikes and helmets. Two helmets can be purchased for $25 and a brand new Huffy bicycle can be purchased for $50, plus shipping.