Photo: Pagosa Peak Open School’s Battle of the Books team won Finalist Reading Medals at this year’s competition in Durango.
“In which book does a doctor take a dog home?”
This answer would determine additional points, or stolen points, for one of the 33 Battle of the Books teams who attended the quiz-bowl event in Durango this month.
Students in grades 3-5 from across Southwest Colorado traveled to Durango to compete, after reading 12 pre-determined books.
Pagosa Peak Open School’s team, the Pika Paragons, earned the most points in the first round and did not miss a single question: earning them Finalist medals and a spot in the semi-finals.
“We had a dream team,” fifth-grader Simone said.
“We worked together and encouraged each other,” third-grader Cora Jean said. “Instead of having one person know all the answers, we helped each other.”
Battle of the Books is a national reading competition meant to incentivize students to read a variety of books. PPOS students agreed that within the 12 books they were required to read, some of them not only became their favorites, but were also ones they would have otherwise never read.
“I really liked all the books I read,” fifth-grader Tenzin said. “I know I wouldn’t have read some of them if I didn’t participate.”
Books included in their list were “Orphan Train Girl,” “We’re Not from Here,” “Kite Fighters,” and “The Last Mapmaker.”
“My favorite was ‘Orphan Train Girl,” Simone said. “It’s a historical fiction book, and so it made learning fun.”
The PPOS participants agreed they want to compete next year: when the competition will be open to grades 2-12… and the teams will need to read 24 books.
“I’m a little anxious about it because 24 books is a lot,” Cora Jean said. “But our team can be bigger, too.”
The students have already begun recruiting, and are looking forward to getting their hands on the book list as soon as possible.
“It was so fun, and Ms. Corbett told us this year was like a practice since it was the first time we did it,” Simone said. “Next year, I think we’ll get the trophy.”
Exceptional Student Services Director Katy Corbett organized, encouraged and brought the PPOS team to the competition.
“Some teams had practice rounds and our kids didn’t,” Corbett said. “Our kids had poise, were thoughtful, and respectful. Their teamwork was amazing and I was very proud of them.”
Pagosa Peak Open School is a free, K-8 district charter school focused on implementing a project-based learning (PBL) curriculum in a Restorative Practices environment. To learn more about PPOS and to enroll your student for the 2025-26 school year, visit pagosapeakopenschool.org
Emily Murphy is School Director at Pagosa Peak Open School, the first District-authorized charter school in Archuleta County. Prior to her appointment as School Director, Emily filled various roles at PPOS including Project-Based Learning advisor, instructional coach, and assistant director.