Readers Rally to Attract Sporting-Event Sized Crowd

Organizers of the sixth annual Gwinnett Readers Rally expect a sporting event-sized crowd Saturday (Feb. 12) at Berkmar High School in Lilburn.

Around 2,800 spectators are expected to watch the quiz-bowl style competition for students in grades 4 to 12 representing 62 elementary schools, 23 middle schools and 12 high schools. Each Gwinnett County school competing sends a team of up to 10 players. The competitors include Duluth schools.

In all, 97 teams will compete in the rally.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Berkmar High at 405 Pleasant Hill Road.

Students answer questions about books they have read from a predetermined list. High-schoolers read books that have been nominated for the Georgia Peach Award for Teen Readers, middle-school students read books nominated for the Georgia Children’s Book Award and elementary-school students read from a list of books selected by a committee.

At the end of the day, four elementary school teams, two middle-school teams and two high-school teams will advance to the championship round to be held Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Gwinnett County Public Schools TV Broadcast Center. The show will air on GCPS TV at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 22-27.

Last year’s winners were Mulberry Elementary School, Sweetwater Middle School and Berkmar High School.