Lake View Elementary School recently finished third in the King County Global Reading Grand Challenge, held at the King County Library System Service Center in Issaquah.

Katie Ackerman, Kerry Grant, Haley Hunsaker, Aidan Oehler, Derrick Howlett, Leila Lewis and Gavin Strojan performed for Lake View, which reached the Grand Challenge by winning its school, district and regional challenges.

Teams at all levels of competition must demonstrate knowledge of 10 books chosen by King County Library System librarians.

The Lake View team was accompanied by its parent volunteer coach, Nancy Ackerman, and Lake View’s school librarian and assistant coach, Jan Millgard.

The Global Reading Challenge is modeled after the popular Battle of the Books and has been well received by students in nine school districts around King County. In 2001, the first Global Challenge in King County was initiated in Auburn with two schools and 42 students. This year the program highlights 43 schools and more than 1,300 students and generates enormous enthusiasm among participants, as well as their parents, peers and teachers.

Elsewhere

Olympic Middle School and its community partner, LifeWay, will kick off a six-week series of free “Together We Win” family workshops on Wednesday, April 14. Every Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m., families in the community are invited to come together to share a meal and learn valuable skills related to family finances and budgets, parenting, communication in marriage and healing from divorce. Adults will break into small groups and select the workshops that best fit their interests. All children will participate in free, kid-friendly activities. Free dinner will be provided to all participants. The event is open to Olympic Middle School and area families. …

The school district’s third, fourth and fifth grade students participated in the district’s second annual district-wide math competition at Auburn High School. Teams of four students tested their math skills in three rounds of competition. The winners were: • Third grade – fact fluency: Israel Melaku, Lakeland Hills; word problems: Dylan Grenz, Lakeland Hills; challenge problem: Hazelwood; overall champion: Lakeland Hills; • Fourth Grade – fact fluency: Peter Pham, Arthur Jacobsen’ word problems: Alex Harlen, Hazelwood; challenge problem: Ilalko; overall champion: Lakeland Hills; • Fifth Grade – fact fluency: Anthony Stokes, Jacobsen; word problems: Jerena Layacan, Lakeland Hills; challenge problem: Lakeland Hills; overall champion: Lakeland Hills. …

The following Auburn students made Seattle Pacific University’s winter quarter dean’s list. Students on the list have completed at least 12 credits and attained a 3.50 or higher GPA. The students are: Mark Ableidinger, Amy Birk, Kaela Botz, Karie Chamberlain, Peter Clyde, Nathanael Corley, Aaron Dunham, Denise Filley, Shauna Free, Kristi Meyers, Emily Peterson, Brooke Reed, Robin Serquinia, and Traci Wolfe.