Lake View Elementary School students have added yet another chapter to their successful saga as champion readers.
The Cardinals recently captured their third consecutive Auburn School District and South Regional titles in the King County Library System’s 12th annual Global Reading Challenge.
Lake View’s crack seven-member team of fourth- and fifth-graders followed up with a second place finish in the Grand Challenge showdown at Issaquah on March 23.
It was Lake View’s fourth visit to the Grand Challenge since the competition began in 2001. Lake View won it all in 2005, joining Ilalko (2003) and Pioneer (2001) as Grand Challenge champions from Auburn.
Lake View also finished second in the finals a year ago.
“It’s great academics,” said Lake View Librarian Jan Millgard, catalyst of the school’s long-sustained success in the Global Reading Challenge. “They have trophies mostly for sports. But this one, the kids get to see it for academics. And maybe some of these kids are great athletes … and some of them maybe aren’t, but they get to be a part of a winning team.”
The growing Global Reading Challenge program is modeled after the popular “Battle of the Books.”
Teams must answer questions based on 10 books – all fiction – given to the school by the KCLS. Each student must read them all, retain and recall details of each book as they prepare for the judges.
“It’s basically a ‘Jeopardy’-style challenge … what did they know, what did they remember,” Millgard said.
With the volunteer support of parents Susan Foust and Tamara Whitehall-Gilkes, the students were grilled with questions leading up to the competition. They responded well to the volume of reading.
“The kids love it. We’ve put together several teams every year,” said Principal Mike Weibel. “They train each other, they create questions, they quiz each other and that seems to build a real strength of knowledge. And we do well, we do well every year, which is pretty cool.”
The booklist included “Shakespeare’s Secret” by Elise Broach; “The Gollywhopper Games” by Jody Feldman; and “Thin Wood Walls” by David Patneaude.
“It’s really fun and exciting. It was my first year doing it,” said Anita Korchemniy. “My favorite book? ‘Lemonade War’ (Jacqueline Davies). Read it twice.”
For students who enjoy literary travels, the number of books made for a great experience.
“It was fun because I got to read so many different books,” said Ryan Naff.
Students at the regional finals also got to meet other librarians, students and authors.
Lake View’s team was Korchemniy, Naff, Devinne Cullimore, Breann Hazel, Shelby Larson, Sean Bessette and Raven Walker, and alternates Gracie McCreary and Michael Knudsen.
Two schools and 42 students initiated the first Global Challenge in King County in 2001. This year the program involved 11 districts, more than 50 schools and about 1,900 students, generating enthusiasm and support among parents, peers and teachers.
The program attracted 10 schools, 51 teams and about 357 students from the Auburn School District this year. The King County Library System Foundation and KCLS sponsor the program. The program is a cooperative effort between the KLCS and local public school districts.
