by Lisa Miller, Teacher Librarian, Lakeside Campus -

This year, CIS Lakeside was proud to host the annual International School Library Network’s (ISLN) Readers Cup on 19 May. The competition was initiated some years ago by the ISLN to promote excitement around reading and to provide a venue for students to participate in a friendly (but fierce) competition. At CIS, we take every opportunity to foster a passion for literature, and participating in the Readers Cup is one way we can encourage a powerful love of reading.

This year’s competition was by far the largest ever, with all the major international schools represented. We hosted 19 Younger Reader teams (Grades 2-4), 18 Older Reader teams (Grades 4-6) and 8 Mature Reader teams (Grades 7-8). In total, over 250 students participated in the high-energy event, with their teachers and parents cheering them on!

Our students, who had to study up to six novels, qualified in a CIS Readers Cup in April. They then met as teams weekly, and eventually daily, to study the competition’s nominated books and quiz each other. Developing students’ abilities as independent learners is key to our curriculum and our CIS Readers Cup teams differed from most of the other school teams in that they were student driven and led. On this basis, CIS students deserve double congratulations - they were Commitment and Knowledge in action!

In the face of strong competition, and with the stressful nature of the timed rounds, our amazing students made us extremely proud by bringing home bronze medals in both the Older Reader and Mature Reader categories.

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Mature Reader Bronze Medal Winners (Grades 7-8)

• Mechelle Wu
• Sophia Calle Moreno
• Emma Gibbons
• Anahita (Ana) Roy

Older Reader Bronze Medal Winners (Grades 4-6)

• Reese Sliworsky
• Gabriel Chia
• Aria Fafat
• Jemima Shortell
• Amanda Evangilista
• Leonor Mengoli Lopes de Mendonca
• Shiqin Ong

A huge thank you to all the parents, teachers and administrators who helped mentor and supervise: Karen McWiggins, Priya Fafat, Camille Seah, Tracy Potter, Katherine Hallam, Jennifer Ryner, Melanie Killens, Megan Castro Driver, Rachel Heller, Lita Norman, Celeste Krochak, Chris Keller, Andrea Strachan. This success would have been impossible without you!