“A book is a gift you can open again and again” using this quote by author, storyteller, humorist and radio personality, Garrison Keillor as a backdrop, the 2016 Bladen County Schools Elementary School Battle of the Books Competition will be held on Tuesday, April 12, in the auditorium of Bladen Community College. Team registration and pictures start at 8:30 am and the competition begins promptly at 9 a.m.
Booker T. Washington, Bladen Lakes Primary, Bladenboro Primary, Dublin Primary, East Arcadia Elementary, Elizabethtown Primary and Plain View Primary will be competing in the annual Elementary Battle of the Books. The winner of last year’s competition was Dublin Primary School. Each team is comprised of up to 12 members who have been preparing to compete in a quiz-bowl format throughout the entire school year. These students have been reading books from the state list which is distributed at the beginning of each school year. This year’s titles include; A Dog’s Life, Because of Winn-Dixie, Becoming Naomi Leon, Blood on the River, Found, How to Steal a Dog, Lawn Boy, Ruby Holler, Runaway Twin, Scumble, The Lemonade War, Tuck Everlasting, The One and Only Ivan, The Old Willis Place, School of Charm, Stella by Starlight, A Snicker of Magic and The Fourteenth Goldfish.
Coordinators for this year’s event are Jason Atkinson, Chief Technology Officer for Bladen County Schools, Stacey Regan-Murphy, and the entire Technology Services staff. Volunteers from several departments within the Bladen County Schools District Office serve in many capacities during this event. The judges for this year’s competition are Media Coordinators, Sharon Anderson of West Bladen High School, Megan Kirby of East Bladen High School, and Dennis Rigans retired Bladen County Schools Educator. The alternate judge will be Carla Grimes from Technology Services. The Moderator for this event will be Karei Swift of Follett Resources. The Technology Department purchased each elementary school a copy of needed books to help prepare for this competition. Each team member will receive a certificate of participation. In addition, the winning school team members will receive individual medallions and the winning school will receive a plaque noting their accomplishment.
The philosophy of the Elementary Battle of the Books program is “to encourage reading by all students at the elementary school level. Students, regardless of ability, are exposed to quality literature representing a variety of literary styles and viewpoints by prominent authors in the area of young adult literature. The game format creates interest and excitement in reading. Through the fun and excitement of the competition, students improve reading skills, mature in their choices of reading materials, and acquire a broader knowledge base. Even during the height of the competition, students and coaches should remember that the goal is to read, not necessarily to win”!
Parents are encouraged to attend this competition. Please be reminded that no videotaping, live streaming, recordings or photographs are to be taken inside the competition area!
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