WCS BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
CHAMP CROWNED

Brentwood Middle School won the first WCS Middle School Battle of the Books May 11 in a close championship round against Sunset Middle School.  Seven middle school teams participated in the event, which is an academic competition based on reading selected books.

Middle school librarians and teachers met in December, 2008, to formulate plans for the competition, which is modeled after similar competitions in North Carolina and Florida.  Books were selected from the Volunteer School Board Award nominees for 2008-2009.

Shannon Meadows, the Brentwood Middle School coach and one of the teachers who suggested that Williamson County Schools initiate a battle of the books to encourage reading among middle school students, said she felt it was important to provide an outlet and recognition for those students who love reading and talking about books.  “Students have organized activities in the arts and sports; the Battle of the Books is another way to encourage students in a positive activity that has lifelong benefits," says Meadows.

"The Department of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment is happy to have been able to support the Battle of the Books and be part of the event,” said Pat Scruggs, WCS curriculum specialist for literacy.  “We want to promote reading and enjoyment of books in any way that we can.”

Members of the Brentwood Middle School Battle of the Books team show off their first place trophy.

Below is a list of the students who participated in this year's event:

Brentwood Middle School: Joyce King, Captain; Elizabeth Cowan, Luke Fox, Anna Cowan, Nisha Bhuva, Philip Ook; coached by Shannon Meadows.

Fairview Middle School: Taylor Daugherty, captain; Maddie Bell, Danielle Hylton, Caitlyn Midgett, Hunter Merryman, James Grayson, April Hudlow; coached by Suzanna DePalma.

Grassland Middle School: Sophia Saliby, captain; Katie Keilstead, Carson Cook, Ella Dermon, Khadijah Naeem, Jacob Dubin; coached by Cindy Pons.

Heritage Middle School: Hayley Rutchow, captain; Matt Strong, Alexandra Ryan, Carly Smith, Seth Hester, Alex Herman; coached by Paula Olander and Marion Moore.

Page Middle School: Rustin Suray, captain; Raquel, Miralles, Suzanne Richter, Michael Lee, Lizzy Kroeger, Emily McCabe; coached by Julie Caudle.

Sunset Middle School: Elizabeth Luke, captain; Quinn Avirom, Joshua Mucci, Ashling Jackson, Tyler Newsome, Chris Bridges; coached by Carol Hogue.

Woodland Middle School: Grace Xu, captain; Lydia Han, Eleanor Leffler, Tyler Shannon, Samuel Winsor, Maddie Rife; coached by Lindsay Anderson.

Dr. Jubal Yennie, Director of Middle Schools, served as quizmaster for the championship round and provided medals for each participant and an engraved plaque for the champions.

The books for the 2009 competition were:

All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall, Behind the Curtain:  An Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams, Blood on the River:  James Town in 1607 by Elisa Carbone, Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Heat by Mike Lupica, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan, Rules by Cynthia Lord, and Standing Against the Wind by Traci Jones.