A month filled with the wonder of books during March is Reading Month paid off for six Oxford Elementary students on March 23, when they were presented with brand new bicycles and helmets donated by the Oxford Masonic Lodge #84.

Rewarded that day were third-graders Esmerelda Cornado, Raylin Knotts, Isaac Hughes and Cameron Butkiewicz, fourth-grader Issy Ley and fifth-grader Domeon Carpenter.

The goal of the Bikes for Books program is to establish a love for reading early in life.

Third, fourth, and fifth grade students throughout the school were invited to participate in the event by turning in reading logs throughout the month of March. Students in the program are encouraged to read age-appropriate books.

Each reading log served as a raffle ticket to increase the students’ chances of winning one of the bicycles.

“March is Reading month is one of those great elementary pieces. We really want our kids to read and it helps to hold this contest,” said Principal Jeff Brown.

This was the second year the Oxford Masonic Lodge #84 headed the program at OES.

“We’re just trying to promote reading with the kids and, to do that, we donated these bikes,” said Fred Clack, Secretary of Oxford Masonic Lodge #84. “We hope, for as many minutes as they read, they get a ticket, go in the drawing and luck of the draw they get a bike as a reward.”