ESTEVAN – The Estevan Area Literacy Group (EALG) hosted its annual Battle of the Books competitions, with Spruce Ridge teams securing victories in both age groups.
The Grades 5-6 event took place at Pleasantdale School on March 11, while the Grades 7-8 contest was held March 13 at Spruce Ridge. With Spruce Ridge emerging as champions in both categories, the school will host next year’s competitions.
EALG board member Louise Schnare praised the students’ commitment and enthusiasm.
“The undefeated champions, the Golden Pages team, crushed it this year,” she said of the Grades 7-8 winners. “They were only two or three points away from getting all the answers correct.”
In the Grades 5-6 division, the Ghost of Spruce Ridge team took the top spot.
“Spruce won both of those,” Schnare said. “Pleasantdale was the previous year’s winner for five and six, so Spruce Ridge hasn’t won in the fives and sixes for a couple years. It was a big shake-up.”
This year saw a record number of participants, with 15 teams competing in the Grades 5-6 division and seven in the Grades 7-8 category – the highest turnout for the older grades since before the pandemic. Schools involved in the older category included Pleasantdale, Spruce Ridge, Westview and Sacred Heart, though St. Mary’s was unable to attend. For Grades 5-6, all Estevan schools partook.
Students also competed in categories recognizing creativity and team spirit.
“The Chapter Champions were our winners for Grades 7-8 best costume,” Schnare said. “And then our Best Banner was The Book Buccaneers.”
The competition for these awards was intense, she added.
“Our judges had such a hard time picking between the costumes because the kids really went all out.”
In Grades 5-6, Goldilocks and the Three Bears won Best Costume, and The Clayson Bookworms created the best banner.
The event requires months of preparation, Schnare said, as students read and study multiple books beginning in December.
“A shoutout to all the teachers and the EAs, and the libraries, and the schools,” Schnare said. “During recesses, the teachers and the kids will do flash cards. After they’ve read the books, they’ll write up questions and they’ll quiz each other.”
There were nine books selected for the competition for Grades 7-8, and eight for Grades 5-6.
Schnare highlighted the significance of the competition beyond just reading.
“What we find is once a kid starts to like a book, and we can start getting them to like a series, that keeps them engaged,” she said.
She also noted that some of the books tackled important themes, such as autism, racism, Indigenous culture and more.
The event was made possible through support from sponsors, including United Way Estevan, Estevan Kinettes, the Community Initiatives Fund and the Estevan Public Library.
Schnare also emphasized the importance of volunteers and educators.
“Without all of our volunteers and our teachers and everyone else, we wouldn’t be able to have these events.”
