(Michaela
Crankshaw, Jemma Kasavan, Jaskaran Rajaruthnam & Sam Walker - on their way
to New Zealand to represent SA in the World Finals Lit Quiz Champs in July. Photo
by Sharlene Versfeld)
Manor Gardens Primary School, a small
public school tucked away behind the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, has
done it again by winning the National Kids Literature Championship this year,
and all going to plan, will represent South Africa in the World Finals in
Auckland, New Zealand in July this year.
The school’s first team comprising Michaela
Crankshaw, Jemma Kasavan, Jaskaran Rajaruthnam and Sam Walker took first
position in the national champs held at St David’s in Johannesburg on February
24, 2018.
“This is a wonderful result for our small
public school and we are all very proud of our Kids Lit Quiz champions who were
up against a number of bigger and more affluent schools,” says Carol Lottering,
the principal of Manor Gardens Primary. “We are extremely grateful for the
effort and energy that Isobel Sobey, the Media Centre teacher who co-ordinates
and coaches the teams, and other teachers at this school who work tirelessly at
constantly raising the bar in education, and their incredible ability to instil
a love for reading here.”
Kids Lit Quiz is the brain child of Wayne
Mills, a university lecturer from New Zealand, who came up with the concept 27
years ago. He calls it “The Sport of Reading”. He developed the quiz to promote
reading for pleasure and to reward good readers in the same way that sports
stars are rewarded by their schools and communities. The first quiz took place
in 1991. In that first year 14 teams took part. Today it has grown into a
hugely popular annual event spanning five continents with approximately 20,000
children participating in heats throughout the year.
“The team will be up against tough
competition from China, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Singapore, Australia, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia,” explains Isobel Sobey. “The
four members in our team are all on Grade 7 and are avid readers with deep
interest in books. They have read and worked hard for this since Grade 1 and
are deserving winners. They will have a wonderful time in New Zealand and soak
up all the lessons and experiences that come their way.
“Now we begin the hard work of intense
coaching for the international event, as well as fundraising to help the
children reach an amazing goal,” she explains. “The Kids Lit Quiz organization
in New Zealand covers accommodation, meals and activities for the teams but
transport to the World Final is not covered. So we are gratefully accepting any
and all donations or fundraising ideas to cover the travelling costs for the
four team members and two adult coaches. We estimate these costs to be in the
region of R100,000. As the school is a registered Public Benefit Organization
(tax reference 930000373) it can provide receipts for tax purposes for
donations of R1,000 or more.”
Manor Gardens Primary is appealing to individuals,
businesses, corporates and past pupils to help get their school to New Zealand
by making a small (or large) contribution. For more information contact Isobel
Sobey on 031 261 1401 or isobey@mgps.org.za
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