Piedmont Academy’s elementary and middle school reading bowl teams competed in the regional Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl at Warner Robins High School on February 6, 2016.

There were seventeen titles for the elementary students from the Georgia Book Award nominee list and twenty titles at the middle school level. The teams were challenged to read most of the books on their assigned list. During the event, teams were asked literal questions about the books. The team with the most points at the end of the seven rounds took home 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies.

Reading team coordinator and coach Traci Brady noted, “We were so close this year. This was some of the team member’s first experience but they are a very competitive group.” The elementary team finished 5th out of 11 teams. “I am proud of them for reading so many of the books on the list.”

Other elementary schools participating included Mattie Wells, Dames Ferry, Putnam, Montgomery County, KB Sutton, Hubbard, Macon Co., St. Joseph’s, Morgan Co., Blandy Hills, and Eagle Ridge.

Elementary team members were Maggie Johnson, Ridge Stroud, Haiden Crews, Savannah Stanton, and Sean Davis. They were coached by Traci Brady.

The middle school team also competed on Saturday. Middle school coach Elizabeth Davis commended her group on “a noticed improvement from last year and a greater accumulation of overall points”. Students were asked from several Houston County teachers to share their favorite novels from the list, and middle school students particularly like the humorous novels and those based on historical fiction.

Middle school team members included Cassidy Burrell, Andrew Parish, Clara Sorrow, Mallory Boyd, and Jessica McEwen. They were coached by Elizabeth Davis.