San Andreas, CA — A record-breaking 133 students from eight schools across Calaveras County gathered on Wednesday, Jan. 21, to compete in the 7th Annual Battle of the Books. This popular student event, offered by the Calaveras County Office of Education (CCOE), continues to grow each year and celebrates reading, teamwork, and academic competition.
4th/5th Grade Overall Winners – Mysterious Muggles from Albert Michelson Elementary
6th/7th/8th Grade Overall Winners (two way tie) – Bomb Squad from Avery Middle School
6th/7th/8th Grade Overall Winners (two way tie) – Bookwinners from Avery Middle School
Relay Challenge with Superintendent Hungerford
Family Feud with Superintendent Hungerford
The event featured 24 teams across two grade-level divisions, including 16 teams in the 4th/5th grade division and eight teams in the 6th/7th/8th grade division. Students prepared for months by reading a curated list of books and working collaboratively with their teammates to recall the titles and authors, based on each book’s content during the competition.
4th/5th grade teams represented Albert Michelson Elementary, Copperopolis Elementary, Hazel Fischer Elementary, Jenny Lind Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary, and Mountain Oaks School. The 6th/7th/8th grade teams hailed from Avery Middle School, Copperopolis Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, and Mountain Oaks School.
Students competed in two fast-paced challenges, the Relay Challenge and Family Feud. Both competitions were highly competitive this year, resulting in multiple ties across divisions and highlighting the impressive preparation and recall skills demonstrated by students.
In the 4th/5th grade division, the Relay Challenge resulted in a two-way tie for first place between Million Dollar Reader$ from Copperopolis Elementary and Mighty Oaks from Mountain Oaks School. The Family Feud competition also ended in a two-way tie for first place between Mysterious Muggles from Albert Michelson Elementary and The Bookvengers from Hazel Fischer Elementary.
The overall 4th/5th grade trophy winners, based on combined points from both competitions, were Mysterious Muggles from Albert Michelson Elementary. Team members included Dylan Shinn, Sienna Hill, Miriam Cook, Elliot Phelps, Savannah Guzzetta, and Donovan Hamanaka.
The 6th/7th/8th grade Relay Challenge produced a four-way tie for first place between The Bookwinners, Bomb Squad, and Special Circumstances from Avery Middle School, along with Soaring Eagles from Mountain Oaks School. In the Family Feud competition, The Bookwinners and Bomb Squad, both from Avery Middle School, tied for first place.
The overall 6th/7th/8th grade division trophy resulted in a two-way tie. Trophy-winning teams were The Bookwinners—Zain Jardine, Morgan Nelson, Lilly Beckman, Greta Christian, Drew Betts, and Madeline Kushner and Bomb Squad—Ada Moore, Ruby Hettema, Ruby Beckman, River Hessels, Anderson Christian, and Liam Hayward, both teams are from Avery Middle School.
Calaveras County Superintendent of Schools Jared Hungerford welcomed students to the event, led them in the Pledge of Allegiance, and remained actively involved throughout the day as both a Relay Challenge judge and a Family Feud reader and judge.
“Battle of the Books is a powerful reminder of what happens when students are excited about reading and learning,” said Hungerford. “The teamwork, preparation, and enthusiasm on display were outstanding, and it was an honor to be part of an event that celebrates academic achievement across our county.”
Student events such as Battle of the Books are made possible through the support of sponsors, volunteers, teachers/coaches, and families. Sponsors for this year’s event included the Calaveras County Office of Education, Adventist Health Sonora, Dignity Health Mark Twain Medical Center, Angels-Murphys Rotary Club, Bank of Stockton, Middletons, and Cal Waste Recovery Systems.
For more information about the Battle of the Books and to view photos from the event, please visit www.ccoe.k12.ca.us/battleofthebooks/.
4th/5th Grade Teams
Relay Challenge Winners Family Feud Winners
1st Place: Two Way Tie 1st Place: Two Way Tie
Million Dollar Reader$, Mysterious Muggles,
Copperopolis Elementary Albert Michelson Elementary
Mighty Oaks, The Bookvengers
Mountain Oaks School Hazel Fischer Elementary
2nd Place: 2nd Place:
The Last Light, Mighty Oaks,
Albert Michelson Elementary Mountain Oaks School
3rd Place: Two Way Tie 3rd Place: Five Way Tie
Mysterious Muggles, Million Dollar Reader$,
Albert Michelson Elementary Copperopolis Elementary
Reading Rebels, Hackers
Mark Twain Elementary Albert Michelson Elementary
Reading Rebels
Mark Twain Elementary
Book Badgers
Mark Twain Elementary
Book Warriors
Jenny Lind Elementary
The Trophy Winners (total combined points):
Mysterious Muggles, Albert Michelson Elementary:
Dylan Shinn, Sienna Hill, Miriam Cook, Elliot Phelps, Savannah Guzzetta,
and Donovan Hamanaka
6th/7th/8th Grade Teams
Relay Challenge Winners Family Feud Winners
1st Place: Four Way Tie 1st Place: Two Way Tie
The Bookwinners, The Bookwinners,
Avery Middle School Avery Middle School
Bomb Squad, Bomb Squad,
Avery Middle School Avery Middle School
Special Circumstances,
Avery Middle School
Soaring Eagles,
Mountain Oaks School
2nd Place: 2nd Place:
Plot Twisters Special Circumstances
Mark Twain Elementary Avery Middle School
3rd Place: 3rd Place:
MHE Rockstar Readers MHE Rockstar Readers
Mokelumne Hill Elementary Mokelumne Hill Elementary
The Trophy Winners (total combined points):
Two Way Tie –Avery Middle School
The Bookwinners: Bomb Squad:
Zain Jardine, Morgan Nelson, Lilly Ada Moore, Ruby Hettema, Ruby
Beckman, Greta Christian, Drew Betts, Beckman, River Hessels, Anderson
and Madeline Kushner Christian, and Liam Hayward
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Record Attendance Marks 7th Annual Battle of the Books in Calaveras County added by admin on
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