COLUMBIA, S.C. — Students at Carver-Lyon Elementary School had a special visit from the Columbia Richland Fire Department.
The visit wasn't about fire safety, this was just about fun.
“We get just as much out of it as they do because it’s just a joy to see the smiling faces on kids when they get something nice and when you can do something nice for them. So that’s what we’re all about,” Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said.
The Columbia Richland Fire Department delivered twelve bikes to students at the elementary school.
Students in grades three through five are studying hard for their reading and math STAR assessments and today they saw what all their hard work could lead to.
“We’re going to gift the bikes to students who showed the highest growth from September to January, because often times students who make the highest scores are always often awarded but we wanted to give an opportunity for our students who have shown the greatest improvement,” Principal Monica Adams said.
The STAR assessment is given to students three times a year and teachers use the results to guide learning inside the classroom.
"We want our students to realize that everyday that they come to school that they can be rewarded for growing and learning," Principal Adams said.
Chief Jenkins is a proud alumni of Carver-Lyon Elementary school and wanted to give back.
“Each one of these bikes I purchased myself. I didn’t use any kind of budgeted money, I just purchased them myself. I went to Walmart and I ordered them from Walmart, so this is a personal donation," he said. “I know how important it is to want to receive something that you just can’t get so it’s extra special for me because these are my roots.”
Chief Jenkins purchased 24 bikes in total and gifted the other 12 to Watkins-Nance Elementary School.
Twelve students at Carver-Lyon will receive their bikes in January after the completion of their STAR assessments