Bookworms refuse to miss out on Readers’ Cup

Highlands Christian College recreated their own version of the CBCA Readers’ Cup after the event was cancelled.

KEEN READERS: Enjoying the Highlands Christian College readers' cup are (from left) Anna-Lucia Jutsum, Maddie Holmes, Lily-Anne Smart and Zoe Wessling.

AFTER the 2020 Queensland CBCA Readers’ Cup competition was cancelled due to the impacts of coronavirus, Highlands Christian College students decided to recreate their own version of one of their favourite events of the year.

Primary and high school students from Highlands Christian College have been participating in the Darling Downs regional Readers’ Cup competitions for four years, so teacher librarian Shez Morris decided they would hold their own competition so students didn’t have to miss out.

“There was no way we could let our eager readers miss out on one of the highlights of their school year,” Miss Morris said.

Members of the secondary book club joined forces with the initial 2020 Readers’ Cup participants to create two inter-year teams for a primary-focused competition, a boys and girls team to face off in a secondary competition, and a panel of judges to write questions, score answers, and assist in the running of the event.

Teams were required to read four books previously used by CBCA Darling Downs Readers’ Cup.

The competition was organised while students were learning from home, which Year 10 student Ellie Muller said was a challenge.

“While I did miss our regular face-to-face meetings immensely, I found the Zoom meetings were still a lot of fun and a highlight of my week,” Miss Muller said.

The competition was held on June 16, in front of an audience of socially distanced parents and teachers.

Twenty students from Years 5-10 competed, including Year 7 student, Noah Hockey.

“It was fun to be part of a team and to share the experience with my other teammates,” Mr Hockey said.

“Without them I would have been lost.”

Highlands Christian College is looking forward to the return of the inter-school CBCA Readers Cup, and defending their Secondary Darling Downs 2019 regional title.