Forget S. Korea, Olympics Are Here in Pottstown

Pottstown readers discuss their team answer before providing it at the recent Reading Olympics competition at Pottstown Middle School.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District
More than 100 elementary students in the Pottstown School District took part in the Olympics. 

Unlike the athletes representing the United States, they did not have to travel to South Korea. Their competition took place in the Pottstown Middle School Auditorium.

Students participated in the 18th annual Pottstown School District’s Reading Olympics Competition. 

Diamond Credit Union has devoted 13 years and more than $30,000 

to supporting the Reading Olympics Program in Pottstown Schools.

The Reading Olympics requires teams of students to read 45 books in preparation for the event. Each round of competition sees two opposing teams attempt to answer 20 questions given in rapid-fire fashion from the moderators.

After a question is asked about a book, teams huddle to determine the correct answer. One point is awarded for each correct answer and Olympic ribbons are awarded for overall performance.

The district teams qualify to compete in the annual Montgomery County Intermediate Unit competition which annually attracts over 500 teams and 7,000 participants.

The Pottstown School District program is organized by Reading Specialist Karen Neitz. The goals of the Reading Olympics are to increase students' reading for enjoyment and promote reading skills that increase achievement and academic success.

“I am always excited to see our youngsters actively engaged in reading. This event is an opportunity for students to experience teamwork and the satisfaction that comes from hard work,” said Neitz.

For the 13th consecutive year, the Pottstown School District’s Reading Olympics program has received financial support from the local Diamond Credit Union.


Branch Manager Andrea Sawchuk-Moyer said, “we are proud to partner with the Pottstown School District in their efforts to promote the skills of reading so that students may learn to read and then read to learn. It is extremely rewarding to see the glow in students’ eyes when they correctly answer one of the questions. As an organization, Diamond Credit Union is committed to being a contributing member to our community.”

John Armato, Director of Community Relations, noted, “Diamond Credit Union has been a longstanding partner of the Pottstown School District. Their financial support for the Reading Olympics Program throughout the years has totaled more than a $30,000 investment on their part in the development of educational opportunities for our students. Their programming for students also includes Diamond Credit Union representatives presenting financial literacy lessons to high school business classes. Diamond Credit Union’s continued support of the Pottstown School District is one of the reasons we say Proud to be from Pottstown.”

Ribbon award winning teams included:

Franklin Elementary Reading Rebels SILVER	Lincoln Elementary Reading Lions SILVER	Barth Elementary Reading Rockets BRONZE	Rupert Elementary Rocking Readers BRONZE
Olivia Ash Alivia Boyer Mairelys Concepcion Erika Heller Megan McGinn Justina Nhim Lindsay Quintero Brighton Scott Natalie Shope Emely Villegas Gemma Wise-Macchioni	Leah Blackwell Emily Careme Lily Garber Gaige Harsh Lauryn Kutsch Amelia Lepage Joey Levengood Nevaeh Peaco Carice Peart Jaylen Quarles Mason Sims Ethan Ung Donovan Williams	Ava Alessi Jahliyah Allen Aubrey Andrews-Watkins Ayanna Cox Janylah Etienne Savante Johnson Rachel Kauffman Kendyll King Isiah Perez Sajjadah Pew-Phillips Zaila Redden Rowan Stauffer Tymir Wallace Syncere Whitehurst	Andrew Alessi Patience Cole Hugo Costa Evan Egleston Wesam Elgendy Andrew Fulmer Arianna Gatlin Jayanna Hill Colin Plank Kanijah Turlington Cianne Wells Desiyah Wilson

Pottstown Middle School Maniacs GOLD	Pottstown Middle School Masterminds SILVER	Pottstown Middle School Reading Radicals SILVER
Madison Beard Olivia Chin Macyahna Dalton Lunna Davilla MaiJheda Ellison Taylor Maguire Fatima Mohamed-Eck Nyel Thompson Emma Tidball Aniyah Wells Jadon Wiszumerski	Zarreea Brown Daniela Castillo Aniyah Crump Shyloh Dugan Lili Freese Gabriella Horne Gianni Mahario Avallina Orfield Josh Sargent	Adam Alaoui Kaitlyn Alessi Layla Bearden Zhon Bell Peyton Benfield Tyler Broughton Emily Castillo Makenna Franey Daisy Hilbert Mehki Jenkins-Glover	Alyssa Pearson Najae Perez Katerine Reina Sophia Russo Angelica Shifflette Devon Smith Makayla Smith Austin Sundstrom Chloe Weiss Rosalee Wilson

JJA\PR\PSD Reading Olympics 3-8-18