Highland wins East Valley Battle of the Books
Highland Elementary's Sammy Hermosillo, Myra Norton and Anne Perkinson answered every question correctly to capture the team championship trophy for their school. The voluntary program for fifth- and sixth-graders promotes reading through team competition.
Highland, Johnson and Salk elementary students represented Mesa Public Schools in the East Valley Battle of the Books championship round.
They competed with top teams from Chandler, Gilbert, Higley, Combs and Queen Creek school districts.
Highland fifth-graders won first place. Sammy Hermosillo, Myra Norton and Anne Perkinson answered every question correctly.
This year, more than 1,400 students at 45 Mesa elementary schools participated in Battle of the Books.
Each school conducted three preliminary rounds. Each round featured questions from four different Battle of the Books titles. When all the points were tallied, each school's top team advanced to district semifinals.
Then the top 12 teams faced off at district finals to determine which three would represent Mesa at the East Valley championship. Semifinal, final and championship rounds included questions about all 12 books.
Brimhall Junior High hosted the championship competition. Amy Karbula, fifth-grade teacher, coordinates Highland's Battle of the Books program. Lisa Bowen and Michelle Aron of the district's Library Services Department coordinate the program districtwide.