PORT TOWNSEND — A contest at Blue Heron Middle School that awards bicycles to students who do the most reading gained an unprecedented high level of participation this year.
A bowl containing slips of paper, each with a student’s name and a book the student had read, was filled to the brim by the time of an assembly Friday.
“I don’t know why it got such a large response this year,” said librarian Cheryl Brady, who estimated the bowl held about 10,000 slips.
“Maybe the teachers are promoting it more. For some reason they are exceptionally into it this year.”
Five bicycles donated by the Port Townsend Masonic Lodge were awarded to students during Friday’s assembly. The awards connected two important activities, according to the school’s principal.
Great incentive
“This is a great incentive for kids to read, and participate in physical exercise,” Matt Holshouser said after the assembly.
“It provides the perfect combination of academics and physical skills that will be with them all their lives.”
Receiving bicycles were seventh-graders Skyler Zabranski, 13, and Sorina Johnston, 12; sixth-grader Payton Clanton, 11; fifth-grader Adriana Wright, 11, and fourth-grader Indigo Gould, 10.
Throughout the school year, each student dropped a piece of paper with the title of each book read into a large bowl.
The more books a student had read, the better the chance of winning a bicycle.
It took some time to wrestle all the slips out of the bowl and into a plastic container for the drawing.
This is the sixth time the Port Townsend Masonic Lodge has donated the bikes and sponsored the event.
“This makes the kids smile,” said Gary Zambor, the lodge’s worshipful master.
“There is no greater joy than giving to the community, and it’s gratifying to get kids to read and to be happy about reading,” he said.
David Engel, Port Townsend School District superintendent, said students are using bicycles in higher numbers than when he arrived in 2012.
“There has been a lot more bike riding and walking over the past few years,” he said.
“I think that kids are starting to get the message.”
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
