LIVERMORE — Last week, students in grades K through 3 at the Livermore Elementary School (LES) were given a great gift. Each student selected four books that were theirs to take home and read over the summer through the Summer Books For Kids program.

Each student was challenged to read the books, read them again and read other books. A 2015 LES Summer Reading Challenge was also sent home. For this, the student records the number of minutes spent reading each day. Additional points will be earned each time the child visits a library.

The child is also asked to list the favorite book read in each month, draw a picture of the favorite part of that book and also write about the favorite part. The completed forms will be turned in next fall and all participants will be honored in September.

The program began three years ago when the students were given two books. Title 1 teacher Maggie Davis said this was the first year that any major fundraising was held for the program. Previous funding came from money received internally at the school. She plans to expand fundraising efforts next year. Davis’ goal is to be able to provide 10-12 books for each student in grades K-3.

There are over 200 students in those grades at LES, which is the only school in RSU #73 that offers this program. Davis said, “I would love to be able to provide books for all students in the school.” She noted giving 10-12 books to each student would come with a cost of about $25-30 per student.

Davis was especially encouraged with two things that she saw following the book give away last week. “Students from all grades said thank you so much and some students had already started reading the books,” she said.

Parents will be polled in the fall. Davis said she wants to see how the program worked for the parents and their children.

The Summer Books For Kids program came about after funding evaporated for summer school programs. The program is modeled on research that has been developed since then.

Anyone who wishes to donate to this program may send a check, made out to the school denoting it is for the Summer Books For Kids program, and mail it to the school at 107 Gibbs Mill Rd., Livermore, ME, 04253. For more information about the program, call Davis at 207-897-3355 or email her at [email protected].

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