Students from across Lincoln County gathered at the Newport Public Library on February for a day filled with teamwork, strategy, and a shared love of reading during the Lincoln County School District’s third annual Oregon Battle of the Books District Tournament.
A total of 103 students competed in this year’s event, representing schools from across the county. In the Grades 3–5 division, teams participated from Taft Elementary, Sam Case Elementary, Crestview Heights Elementary, and Siletz Valley Charter School. Middle school teams in Grades 6–8 represented Taft Elementary, Newport Middle School, Waldport Middle School, and Siletz Valley Charter School.
Oregon Battle of the Books, commonly known as OBOB, is a statewide reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries. Students form teams, read a selected list of books, and compete by answering detailed questions about characters, plots, and themes. The program promotes close reading, collaboration, and a lifelong appreciation of literature.
“It was incredible to see students from all over the district come together to celebrate reading,” said Michelle Cottrell, LCSD District Media Specialist. “The energy in the room was focused, positive, and full of excitement.”
Teams competed for first- and second-place trophies in each division. In the Grades 3–5 championship round, Crestview Elementary’s Better with Libraries defeated Taft Elementary’s The Book Nerdz to claim the elementary title.
In the Grades 6–8 division, the championship round featured Newport Middle School’s Red Team and Waldport Middle School’s Avengers 3.0. NMS’s Red Team claimed the middle school title after a strong final round.
Twelve members of the Newport High School Honor Society played a key role in supporting the event, assisting with planning, setup, scorekeeping, and cleanup. Additional support came from LCSD Superintendent Majalise Tolan; Vanessa Clausing, Children and Teen Librarian at the Newport Public Library; Alison McGrath, Director of the Waldport Public Library; and Bryan Miyagishima, Lincoln County Library Director.
“We could not host an event like this without our community partners and volunteers,” Cottrell said. “The Newport Public Library continues to be an incredible partner, and we are so grateful for their willingness to open their space to our students.”
Beyond the trophies and final rounds, the day highlighted the dedication students showed in preparing for this year’s reading list.
“OBOB pushes students to read deeply, remember details, and work as a team,” Cottrell said. “Watching them support one another and celebrate each other’s successes is what makes this event so special.”
Photo: The Red Team from NMS won the OBO middle school trophy.