Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

4/12/06

NEWS RELEASE
Dick Scobee Elementary Star Readers Win Bronze
in King County Library System's Global Reading Challenge

Four teams of fourth and fifth graders from the Auburn, Tukwila, Mercer Island and Lake Washington School Districts competed for the title of Grand Champions in King County Library System’s sixth annual Global Reading Challenge on March 31. Dick Scobee Elementary School’s Star Readers team took home the bronze medal.

Each team represented a region of King County and advanced through school, school district and regional challenges. All teams demonstrated knowledge of ten books chosen by KCLS librarians. Students met Lensey Namioka, the author of Half and Half, one of the books from this year’s booklist. She signed one of her books for each team member. Other teams competing were the Potato Team from Lakeridge, the Mercer Island School District; The Super Readers from Cascade View, Tukwila School District; and the Book Blasterz from Elizabeth Blackwell, Lake Washington School District.

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 over 1,300 students and generates enormous enthusiasm among participants, as well as their parents, peers and teachers. This collaborative effort was born primarily to promote the love of reading and to have fun while doing it. It has also provided a recreational outlet for readers, promoted teamwork and introduced children to a wide variety of multicultural reading materials.

For additional information, contact Terry Hendershott, children’s librarian for the Auburn, Algona Pacific and Muckleshoot Libraries, at (253) 931-3018 ext. 110.