By K.J. HASCALL / Hungry Horse News
They must have been perched on armchairs and snuggled up under the covers day and night to read that many books.
The students of Canyon, Glacier Gateway and Ruder elementary schools read more than 7,500 books during the 2009-2010 school year in an effort to win a bike.
The Masons' Books for Bikes program, in its sixth year, encourages youth to read more books, because every time a student reads a book, he or she may enter a drawing to win a brand new bicycle.
This year, Columbia Falls Masonic Lodge No. 89 provided those readers with 26 bikes Friday, March 26.
"The money we raise comes out of members' pockets," said Dwight Robins, master of the Columbia Falls lodge. "Everybody understands how important this program is."
The money members raise is matched by the Grand Lodge of Montana, which started the outreach program.
In 2005, the local masons presented students with six bikes. That year, the kids collectively read 1,706 books. In 2006, the students increased their reading to 2,400 books, and the masons responded with 10 bikes. Each year the numbers of books read and bikes donated have grown.
Since the program's inception, the students in the three elementary schools have read a total of 27,447 books.
"From last year to this year, students read 1,000 more books than last year," Robins said. "The teachers are telling us they're getting a bleed-over affect, that students are working harder in other subjects. The teachers tell us they love the program."
For Robins, the best part of the "hugely popular" program is watching the faces of the children light up when their names are announced to come forward and accept a new bike.
"Last year a little girl was so excited she couldn't even come up to get her bike," he said. "They are so grateful at this age. The kids as a group are so happy for each other."
At Canyon Elementary, the bike recipients were overwhelmed at their good fortune.
"This is cool," said Alex Bell, a fifth grader. He said his favorite of the books he read was "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling.
"It's awesome," said fourth-grader Isaac Forest, who read 10 books. His favorite of those was "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen.
Later Friday afternoon, the masons presented bikes at Glacier Gateway. The gym floor was covered in squirming youngsters, each eagerly anticipating the announcement of winners.
One after another lucky kid bounded forward to accept their new bike.
"I feel awesome," said fifth-grader Paige Dunlock. "A lot of kids could have one. It was me out of all the fifth-grade girls."
Daniel Carr, a fourth grade student, gambled by only reading one, albeit thick, book — "Redwall" by Brian Jacques.
"I didn't think I would win," he proclaimed.
One of the 26 bikes was presented not for reading, but for attitude. Each year, a student at Glacier Gateway is given the Noble bike for showing respect and kindness toward others. Roughly 40 Glacier Gateway students were nominated for the award. The bike is named for Krystal and Franklin Noble, who were killed in a car accident two years ago. Their mother, Mary Noble, is a kindergarten teacher at Gateway.
The Noble bike recipient, first-grader Jayden Nelson, seemed the most excited of all.
When Jayden's name was announced, he ran to the front of the gym, took a flying leap and landed squarely on his new bicycle, beaming for all the world to see.
Bikes For Books Winners 2010
Canyon Elementary
Mason Foster, kindergarten
Lucas Stanton, first grade
Jade Hoosier, second grade
Katherine Pastian, third grade
Isaac Walker, fourth grade
Alex Bell, fifth grade
Ruder Elementary
Hailie Holm, kindergarten
Tanner Stowe, first grade
Anna Pickard, second grade
Dakota Reeves, second grade
Lovestiny Stephens, third grade
Andrew Allen, third grade
Sam Hovde, third grade
Taressa Sandlin, fourth grade
Haylie Peacock, fifth grade
Molly Schmitt, fifth grade
Glacier Gateway
Veronica Thrasher, kindergarten
Ayden Jarvis, first grade
Ashley Hilton, second grade
Lilly Briney, third grade
Tayor Jarrett, third grade
Daniel Carr, fourth grade
Shayne Williams, fourth grade
Paige Dunluck, fifth grade
Lucas Coleman, fifth grade
Noble Bike
Jayden Nelson, first grade