Norwayne wins title in Battle of the Books
By From staff reports
Published in News on March 18, 2011 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL K. DAKOTA
The Goldsboro High School gym became a battlefield for area school children participating in Battle of the Books. The contest pits readers against each other, trying to identify correctly passages and trivia from literature. The team from Mount Olive confers before answering a question.
Norwayne Middle School students had their reading and comprehension skills put to the test during the Battle of the Books on Thursday, coming up a winner for the second year in a row.
Last year, they also went on to place second at the regional competition.
This is the 25th year the contest has been held for Wayne County Public Schools. Sponsored by the N.C. School Library Media Association, it is a quiz bowl-type competition designed for students in grades six through eight. Students read books from a list established by the state Battle of the Books committee, and then compete to test their knowledge of the books. Sixty students from seven area middle schools participated in this year's event, which was held at Goldsboro High School.
The Norwayne Cobras will now compete against teams from other school districts that qualified for the regional event, scheduled for April 7 at Topsail High School in Hampstead.
Members of the first place team include Jacob Ballance, Amanda Hancock, Carleigh Magee, Lyndsey Parnell, George Silvey, Julia Stamper, Veah Velasco, and Alexa Vincent. Their coaches were Rhonda Nichols, media coordinator, and Sara Ruhl, teacher.
School media coordinators organize the Battle of the Books program at participating schools. Administrators state that Battle of the Books competition is a great way to motivate students to read and be exposed to quality literature.
"With the help of their coaches, parents and volunteers, these students work to remember minute details from 27 books," said Olivia Pierce, the district's executive director for information and technology services. "Recognizing that the Battle of the Book competition is highly competitive and requires students to respond under pressure, it is always rewarding to see how hard the participating students work to be successful in the competition."
Second place went to Rosewood Middle School. Team members included Waverlea Brown, Anna Cooke, Sidney Cox, Kayleon Dortch, Keelin Hunter, Sara Lewis, Matti Rose Lyon, Madison Mooring, Evan Reiss and Charleigh Smith. Their coaches were Kathy Lawson and Angie Lewis.
Other middle schools that participated were Brogden, Dillard, Greenwood, Mount Olive and Spring Creek.