Several West Hawaii students tested their knowledge during the 23rd annual Newbery Quiz Bowl.
Several West Hawaii students tested their knowledge during the 23rd annual Newbery Quiz Bowl.
Open to fourth- through sixth-graders, five-student teams from 12 Big Island schools competed recently in the annual event held at the William Charles Lunalilo Integrated Facility on the Kamehameha Schools campus.
Holualoa Elementary School placed first, while Kahakai and Kealakehe Elementary schools tied for second and Konawaena Elementary came in third. Waiakea Intermediate took home fourth place. Other participating schools included Hawaii Island Christian Home Educators, Hilo Union Kalanianaole, Kamehameha, Kaumana, St. Joseph and Waiakea Elementary.
The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Medal winners include Clare Vanderpool’s “Moon over Manifest;” Louis Sachar’s “Holes;” Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” and “Number the Stars;” Sid Fleischman’s “The Whipping Boy;” Beverly Cleary’s “Dear Mr. Henshaw;” and more.
The Newbery Quiz Bowl is the only reading contest of its kind in the state. Students read and study the books all year; it is then determined, per school level, which students will actually compete in the bowl. But it’s not just about reading books and paying attention; students also need to understand what they are reading. The competition consists of 30 questions on content, theme, setting, author or book title.
The purpose of the quiz bowl is to promote the reading of Newbery Medal books, celebrate the joy of reading and provide a day of fun and games for the readers, said Paula Kamiya and Julia Tao, event co-coordinators.
West Hawaii teams members:
c Holualoa — Micah Brackett, Hayley Emmons, Vyas Hale, Tia Lurbiecki and Noa Roth
c Kahakai — Kaya Goosby, Makana Ioh, Haley Wilkes, Rhiannon Wright and Hailey Yessis
c Kealakehe — Alexus Agard, Sierra Ameduri, Caleb Barville, Olivia McClure and Dyllan Rodriques
c Konawaena — Jake Basque, Boaz Ayers, Kekoa Kolman, Zachary Vermeulan, Nanea Wall