COVID Can't Mask the Love of Books

Buncombe students put their knowledge to the test in this year's virtual Battle of the Books showdown.

Featured Photos (Collage): The winning Battle of the Books teams of Enka Intermediate School, and BCS staff facilitate the virtual competition.

By: Benjamin Rickert
BCS Communications Dept.

“COVID can’t mask our love of books!”

Enka Intermediate School students proudly wore shirts displaying these words during this year’s virtual Battle of the Books competition held on March 31 and April 1. Students across Buncombe County put their knowledge to the test, answering quiz-bowl styled questions that tested knowledge of a preselected list of books. Teams spent the past year preparing for the competition, holding virtual meetings to discuss their reading and deepen comprehension.

“We started reading all of the books last March at the beginning of COVID,” said sixth grade Enka Intermediate student Etta Dezio. “I think most of us read them two or three times.”

In the middle school Battle of the Books competition, Enka Intermediate’s sixth-graders claimed first place. North Windy Ridge Intermediate earned second place, followed by Enka Middle School in third.

Enka Intermediate’s fifth-graders took first place in the elementary school competition, followed by a second place tie between Joe P. Eblen Intermediate and North Windy Ridge Intermediate. A combined team from Black Mountain Elementary and W.D. Williams Elementary earned third place.

“I’m so proud of all of them,” said Emily Greene, media coordinator at Enka Intermediate. “They practiced, practiced, and practiced on their own. They wanted to do their best and they worked hard.”

This year’s virtual competition was facilitated by a Library Media Services team and volunteers from across the district.

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Buncombe County Schools