Photo: Roosevelt 5 th graders Vega Priem, Bridget Duarte, Izzy Ford and Elsie Brodbeck following their first-place win at the Southern Oregon Battle of the Books regional competition on March 8, 2025 at Central Point Elementary School.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2025
Contact: Jennifer Laitinen
Roosevelt Elementary School
(541) 883-4750
Four Roosevelt Elementary School students, known as the Super Smart Serpents, took first place at the Southern Oregon Regional Battle of the Books Competition for the 3 rd – 5 th grade division on March 8 at Central Point Elementary School. Team members include Roosevelt 5 th graders Elsie Brodbeck, Bridget Duarte, Izzy Ford and Vega Priem. The Roosevelt team is coached by 5 th grade teacher Jennifer Laitinen and parent Katherine Duarte.
Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is a statewide voluntary reading motivation and comprehension program designed for students in grades 3 through 12. It is sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) and the Oregon Library Association (OLA), with support from a Library Services and Technology Act grant through the Oregon State Library.
Students form teams of four or five members, with only four participating in each reading “battle”. Teams read books from an annually selected list, and compete in quiz-style tournaments at local, regional, and state levels. The competition format includes pool play and bracket-style tournaments.
OBOB holds significant educational and social value. Through the program, students read more books with greater intensity, enhancing their comprehension and critical thinking skills. By working in teams, participants learn cooperation, communication, and problem-solving skills. The competitive format motivates students to engage deeply with literature, promoting a love for learning. Open to all students regardless of ability, OBOB fosters a sense of community through shared literary experiences. Parents are encouraged to engage with their children’s reading, further enriching the experience. Through its focus on collaboration, competition, and literary appreciation, OBOB has become a beloved tradition at Roosevelt Elementary and across Oregon.
The Super Smart Serpents advance to the OBOB state competition at Chemeketa Community College in Salem on April 12.
For more information, please visit www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org.