2006 Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl
by
Donna Milner and Barbara Hallstrom
“We had a blast! “I can’t believe that you
can have this much fun reading!” “Please can I do
this again next year?” “Where’s the book list?
I have to start reading right now!” These are just a few
of the excited statements overheard from students following the
Regional Bowls this year.
Almost one hundred schools participated in the Helen Ruffin
Reading Bowl this year. Students eagerly read the twenty books
from the GA Children’s
Book Award Novels Nominee List and the Georgia Peach Teen
Book Award Nominees for high school students. They enjoyed mystery,
history, adventure, fantasy and just plain fun. Many schools
held competitions in their schools to determine who would be
on the team. Then five school districts held their own county
bowls to determine which school’s team would represent
the county at the regional bowl.
March 11, 2006 arrived with 18 schools participating in the
Southern Regional Bowl in Valdosta representing 10 counties.
There were 57 schools participating in the Northern Regional
Bowl in Carrolton representing 19 counties. The sealed envelopes
with the questions are opened as the game faces are set. The
Bowl is begun and the tension rises. In the end it is seen clearly
that every student participating is a winner for they have read
the books.
With the winners announced the teams prepare to go to the State
Finals on April 22 at the Georgia Continuing Education Center
in Athens. From the Southern Bowl there will be St. Marys Elementary
School of Camden County for the elementary division, Gray Station
Middle School of Jones County for the middle school division
and Jones County High School for the high school division. From
the Northern Bowl there will be Kittredge Elementary School of
DeKalb County for the elementary division, Mary McCleod Bethune
Middle School of DeKalb County for the middle school division
and North Gwinnett High School for the high school division.
We invite you to come observe and support these teams as they
compete.
We invite all schools, public and private, in Georgia to join
the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. Go to the website (http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/hrrb/georgia.html )
for more information concerning this year’s bowl. Then
check back during the summer for updated information on next
year’s bowl.