By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — It’s said that reading can take you anywhere, well, maybe as far as your legs can pedal …
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Second-grade students of Kristie Adam’s class couldn’t scramble to their bikes fast enough on May 27. The students got rained on a little bit by slight showers while receiving their new bikes, but it didn’t dampen their spirits.
Second-graders at the Limestone Community School were gifted brand-new bikes on Friday, May 27 after completing a reading challenge put forth by members of Freemason Lodge 214; participating in the Bikes for Books challenge, second-graders read for 1,000 minutes between April 4 and May 27.
“[This challenge] gets them excited to read and it gives them a goal,” said second grade teacher Kristie Adams said. “This class has really shown a big interest in reading and they’ve really enjoyed their time.”
Organized by Worshipful Master Jon Poitras of Lodge 214, Limestone’s Freemasons purchased and assembled 18 bikes (and helmets to match); they even fit each bike with a custom nameplate so the students knew which bike was theirs.
If you’ve ever seen those commercials that air around Christmas time where the kids run downstairs on Christmas morning to find exactly what they’ve always wanted waiting for them under the tree and excitedly let loose joyous shouts and celebratory squeals accompanied by fist-pumps and stationary jumping — multiply that by 18.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Once the helmet was facing the right direction, Lodge 214 Secretary John Irovando and second-grader Dylan Smith worked together to make sure the protective gear was fastened correctly.
Even after Freemasons helped each of the 18 students pick out a helmet, fit it correctly, and fill out bicycle registration cards with the Limestone Police Department (to help officers return the bikes if lost or stolen), a student or two was still devoted to their new mantra of “I-love-this-bike-I-love-this-bike I-love-this-bike” a solid 20 minutes after the prizes were distributed.
“We do this for the kids — the look on their faces when they come out of the school, it just makes them happy,” Poitras said. His favorite moment of Bikes for Books came after he asked a couple of second-graders if it all that reading was worth it. With huge smiles, students told Poitras it was worth every minute, and “that’s what made it worth it for me,” he said.
This is the second year that the Freemasons of Limestone have issued the reading challenge to LCS second-graders of Adam’s class.
The Bikes for Books program has been embraced by Freemason Lodges nationwide, but the small class numbers in Limestone made it possible for every student to be rewarded for their achievements. Limestone Freemasons raised approximately $500 to sponsor the Bikes for Books program, which was matched by the Grand Lodge of Maine.
