ESTEVAN - Grade 5 and 6 students gathered at Westview School on Thursday for the latest edition of the Estevan Area Literacy Group's (EALG) Battle of the Books.
Seventeen teams entered, with a total of about 75 students involved. In the weeks prior to the competition, they were tasked with reading eight different books. Literacy co-ordinator Grace Caputo asked them several questions about each novel. The students jotted down an answer and were awarded points for having the right response.
"I think the students had a great time," said Caputo. "They were quite excited."
Bippity Boppity Books, competing out of Pleasantdale School, won this year's competition with 38 of a possible 40 points. Three teams finished tied for second with 34 points each. The award for best team banner, creativity and costumes went to the Four Book Nerds, also out of Pleasantdale, while the Smarties from Spruce Ridge School earned the best team name distinction.
The members of Bippity Boppity Books received a variety of gifts, and Pleasantdale School will host next year's Grade 5 and 6 Battle of the Books.
Teams from Westview, Hillcrest School and Sacred Heart School/École Sacré Coeur also competed.
One change for this year's challenge was to have teams read eight books instead of 10.
"I think it made it a little bit easier for them, in the sense that if they couldn't read all eight books, then at least they could read maybe two each. It helps them to work as a team and work together and practise. I had met with the students and let them know to write down questions as they read the books," said Caputo.
"Sometimes it's different to read different genres of books, so it gives them that opportunity to explore … and not stick to just one kind that they like, and to keep an open mind to different books."
She marvelled at how the students were able to remember all of the details for all of the books.
Caputo thanked the teachers who helped get the students involved and prepare them for the competition. Volunteers helped out during the competition. She noted a lot more parents and other family members turned out to watch than in past years, and Westview did a good job as the host school, too.
She also credited the United Way Estevan, the Community Initiatives Fund and the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation for the support by allowing them to purchase the books, prizes and food. The Estevan Public Library partnered with the EALG.
The Grades 7 and 8 Battle of the Books was March at Spruce Ridge School. Caputo noted it was supposed to happen last Tuesday, but had to be delayed when teachers withheld extra-curricular activities as part of the ongoing labour dispute with the provincial government. She didn't want to cancel the competition for Grades 7 and 8 because of the amount of time the participating kids put in to prepare.
Spruce Ridge and the Half-Read Chapters from Spruce Ridge School finished first. You Wouldn't Pirate a Book from Westview School was picked for best team name and banner.
