Wickersham Elementary School proudly made its debut in the Lancaster-Lebanon Reading Olympics, showcasing our students’ dedication to teamwork, literacy, and academic excellence. Competing against schools from across the region, Wickersham’s team, the Lancaster Literary Legends, earned an impressive red ribbon, accumulating 45 points during the event.
The Reading Olympics is a countywide initiative designed to foster a love of reading while promoting independent learning and collaboration. The event encourages students to explore a diverse selection of literature and develop a deeper understanding of various genres and themes. Teams of 8-12 students diligently read from a curated list of books, preparing to answer quiz-style questions that assess their comprehension of plot, themes, characters, and other literary elements.
Jessica Sherman, Assistant Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for English Language Arts and Social Studies, praised the students’ achievement:
“The district is thrilled to share the success of Wickersham Elementary’s inaugural participation in the Reading Olympics! This event, which brought together students and teachers, showcased the power of hard work, collaboration, and a shared love of reading. We are incredibly proud of our students—congratulations to all our participants!”
The competition provided students with an opportunity to explore diverse literature and engage in a meaningful academic challenge. Amy Miller, Lead Teacher for the Reading Olympics, highlighted the lasting impact of the experience:
“The Reading Olympics allowed students to use hard work, collaboration, and determination to support each other in an unknown task. Students were able to read new books featuring diverse characters and developed new favorites. I heard kids talking about these books outside of our club time! I think this experience is something that all the students will look back on as an example of learning being fun and engaging!”
The students met regularly to discuss and analyze their assigned books, strengthening their critical thinking skills and fostering meaningful discussions. As the event date approached, the team practiced answering potential competition questions and developed strategies to ensure success in the three-round competition.
Heidi Lotz, another lead teacher, emphasized the strong sense of community fostered by the competition:
“Hosting Wickersham’s first-ever Reading Olympics team was such an amazing and memorable experience. It gave our students in the intermediate grades a chance to collaborate and share their common love of reading as well as compete against other schools within the county. Watching students explore new genres, read alongside classmates from different classes, and make new connections was fabulous to witness. Our Wickersham family has grown even stronger with the addition of the Lancaster Literary Legends.”
Fifth-grade student and team captain, Lillian Roosevelt, expressed her excitement:
“Reading Olympics allowed all the Wickersham students who participated to connect over something we all had a common interest in. Reading books is entertaining, but the competition made it even more fun and exciting!”
The Lancaster-Lebanon Reading Olympics is structured as a celebration of reading rather than a traditional competition, encouraging students to challenge themselves academically while working collaboratively with their peers. Teams can earn up to 60 points across three rounds of questioning, with red ribbons awarded to teams scoring between 40 and 49 points. With 45 points, Wickersham’s Lancaster Literary Legends demonstrated remarkable teamwork, analytical skills, and a deep appreciation for literature in their first year of participation.
Wickersham Elementary Principal Abby Rivera commended the students for their dedication and perseverance:
“The hard work and determination of the students who participated in the Reading Olympics is truly inspiring. We are so incredibly proud of what our students accomplished.”
The Reading Olympics provides a unique opportunity for students to engage with literature in a fun, competitive, and collaborative way. The event highlights the importance of literacy and academic engagement while promoting teamwork and a love of storytelling.
Congratulations to the Wickersham Wildcats for an outstanding debut performance in the Reading Olympics! Their success exemplifies the power of literacy, perseverance, and school spirit, setting the stage for even greater achievements in the years to come.