Four BGM Elementary students read books, win new bicycles

​      BGM Elementary School students, from left, Daelya Fuchs, Zeke McClenathan, Natalya Turk and Alex Andrew, are shown with their new bicycles they won for participating in the Bikes for Books reading incentive program sponsored by the Poweshiek Lodge No. 174 in connection with the school. The program is for second and third graders at BGM. Presenting the bicycles to the students are Bill Dayton, back left, lodge secretary and Jim Mills, back right, worshipful master at the lodge.

By J.O. Parker
 
     Thanks to a reading program and the generosity of the Poweshiek Lodge No. 174 in Malcom, four BGM Elementary School students received new bicycles.
      This is the third year the lodge has sponsored the Bikes for Books, a reading incentive program for second and third graders at the school. Recipients of new bicycles are second graders, Daelya Fuchs and Zeke McClenathan, and third graders, Natalya Turk and Alex Andrew.
     BGM second grade teacher, Eric Pavey, said the number of books the students read depends on what grade reading level they have reached. Students reading at lower levels read more books because the books are shorter and students reading at a higher level read multiple chapter books.
     “Basically, we set goals based on the student abilities so that they are challenged,” Pavey said.
     “We feel so fortunate to have this partnership with the Poweshiek Lodge as an incentive for reading and also provide them an opportunity to win a bike,” said BGM Elementary Principal Mary Sherwood. “It not only encourages reading, but also teaches them to set goals, work towards those goals, and the satisfaction of reaching those goals.”
      Bill Dayton, lodge secretary, and Jim Mills, worshipful master at the lodge, presented the new bicycles to the winners at the school last month.
     “It’s a good program that gets the kids interested in reading,” noted Dayton. “One teacher commented that the program encourages kids who would not read to pick up a book and get interested in reading.”
       “They are so excited for the drawing and even if they don't win the bike, they are happy for their classmates that did win,” added Sherwood. “We hope the students realize they are all winners for doing the extra reading and reaching goals.”