General
26 June, 2025
Inglewood students enjoy Reader’s Cup challenge
On a cold but sunny Tuesday morning, five excited readers, Mrs Croft and Mrs Osborne drove out of Inglewood in the Inglewood State School P&C sponsored minibus off to Toowoomba to participate in the Darling Downs Regional Reader’s Cup Competition for Years 5 and 6.
As we all know, those who travel the furthest usually arrive first, and this was the case again.
The Inglewood group were extremely fortunate to be in a central position (not warm but not in a doorway, so they were a way from the Toowoomba winds!) and they quickly spotted the special guest, author Katrina Nannestad!
Ms Nannestad was also the quizmaster for the competition, so they wanted to make sure she knew who was competing for the Cup! Being well prepared, Matilda had the school’s copy of ‘Silver Linings’ by Ms Nannestad to be autographed. Matilda, Oliver, Ella, Sienna and Ewan cautiously approached Katrina Nannestad and asked if s he would mind autographing the book and imagine the student’s surprise when Katrina recognised some of the team! Last year, in Goondiwindi, Katrina had hosted a writing workshop a n d remembered the wonderful Inglewood students, complementing them on their enthusiasm and creativity. She signed the book “lovely to see you again” and wished the team good luck.
It was a huge competition with nearly 40 teams from across the Darling Downs region competing for a place in the State Finals. There were five rounds of questions, ten questions in each round, and two questions on each of the five books every round. After a question was asked, students had 30 seconds to discuss and write down their answers, before a signal for silence and the next question.
Inglewood had a team of five students, but only four were permitted to compete in each round, so the fabulous five subbed themselves in and out during the competition. Despite intense concentration, whispered conversations, frantic writing and scrunched up faces trying to recall the topic at hand, the students were gracious in defeat.
It was a wonderful experience and Ewan is already thinking how to improve for next year’s competition.
The best thing about competing in the Reader’s Cup competition is to see how many kids really love reading. Everyone who read the books looked into the lives of others, and experienced emotions and events beyond their own. What a joy it is to have a book
Read More: Inglewood