OMS Students Participate In Battle Of The Books
by Patricia ErkenBrack
Saturday April 7 saw 6 sleepy-eyed middle school students climb into a suburban headed to Winterset at 6:30 am—all for the love of books!
This marked our first year participating in the Battle of the Books competition hosted by the Winterset Middle School librarian, Oskaloosa native Rebecca Foster Bock.
Students read and studied 20 books to prepare for the battle. The format of the tournament was a single-elimination championship bracket following pool play. One winner from each pool advanced to the championship tournament. It was truly amazing to see so many students and their parents dedicating their Saturday to celebrate books and the freedom we enjoy in our country to read whatever we please.
Participants from OMS included Abby Lindgren, Addison Beane, Anderson Keough, Brianna Hunt, Elliot Nelson, and Lily Vernooy.
Four of these six students also participated in a second competition, reading a total of 50 books when OMS sent a six-member team to compete in the Great Prairie Area Education Agency (GPAEA) Battle of the Books competition at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center on Thursday, April 26.
Both teams were coached by Patricia ErkenBrack, Middle School librarian, and Molly McCaulley, Middle School TAG teacher.
The GPAEA team members read and studied 30 books to prepare for the contest. Team members included Anderson Keough, Brianna Hunt, Elliot Nelson, Lily Vernooy, Morgan Drost, and Reese Milburn-Van Wyk.
Teams were allowed one hour to complete an 80-question, short answer test. While the tests were being scored, students enjoyed an engaging presentation by Iowa author, Delia Ray. Students were able to purchase books by the author and have them autographed.
Five teams qualified to advance to the oral round, where teams were challenged with additional questions. Competition was tough at both
battles, and although the GPAEA team just missed qualifying for the oral round, everyone came home a winner for having taken on a daunting task and working hard to accomplish it.
We are truly proud of each of these amazing young people who have already proven they have what it takes to be successful!
Congratulations to them all.
