The Shelby County School District held its annual Battle of the Books competition April 15-17 at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center. Teams have been practicing weekly before and after school to hone their skills for this scholars-bowl style competition, where competitors answer questions based on pre-selected books they are assigned to read.  Congratulations to the following teams and individual winners.
 INTERMEDIATE
 1st Place Team – Helena Intermediate School
Team Members: Sarah LaGrone, Isabella Toole, Ryne Berry, Jacob Ritondo, Alex Franklin, and Richard Oehrlein. Coach – Tami Genry
2nd Place Team – Oak Mountain Intermediate School
Team Members – Shivani Hargunani, Myles Kendrick, Sarah Grace Vines, Will Stone, Mina Webster, and Caitlyn White. Coach – Linda Sears
Top Individual Point Earners – Shivani Hargunani (Oak Mountain Intermediate)
School Level Top Point Earners – Calera Intermediate – Mac Turner; Chelsea Park Elementary – Molly LaHue; Elvin Hill Elementary – Dave Kearley; Forest Oaks Elementary – Maddie Cargile; Helena Intermediate – Richard Oehrlein; Montevallo Elementary – Will Landers; Mt Laurel Elementary – Caroline Parisher; Oak Mountain Intermediate – Shivani Hargunani; Shelby Elementary – Madelyn Guy; Valley Intermediate – Azwad Ziad; and Wilsonville Elementary – Abby Walton
MIDDLE
1st Place Team – Riverchase Middle School
Team Members: Savannah Dodson, Shae Hopwood, Jose Jaramillo, Arshnoor Grewal, Emily Pizzitola, and Kylie Snyder. Coach – Kathy Collins
2nd Place Team – Oak Mountain Middle School
Team Members: Jamie Harry, Bryce Keefover, Patrick Guffey, Krishna Josyula, Gregory McCallum, and Akhila Maruvada. Coach – Kim Piper
Top Individual Point Earner – Morgan Garrett (Chelsea Middle School)
School Level Top Point Earners – Calera Middle – Ryann Howard; Chelsea Middle – Morgan Garrett; Columbiana Middle – Billy Fryer; Helena Middle – Sam Pearce; Montevallo Middle – John David Haws; Oak Mountain Middle – Akhila Maruvada; Riverchase Middle – Savannah Dodson; and Vincent Middle – Shannon Montgomery.
 HIGH
1st Place Team —Â Chelsea High School
Team Members: Hannah Bergert, Madison Bowles, Elijah Garrett, Alemma James, Juliet Lewis, and Kara Shaddix. Coach – Ami Wicks
2nd Place Team — Pelham High School
Team Members: Alexandra Abernathy, Whitney Bennett, Alysa Durham, Kimmi Lange, Steeley Martin, and Courtney Cole. Coach – Rebecca Burnett
Top Individual Point Earner – Mindy Bailey (Shelby County High)
 School Level Top Point Earners – Calera High – Marina Dimas; Chelsea High- Elijah Garrett & Juliet Lewis; Montevallo High – Kayla Snuggs; Oak Mountain High – Armeen Barghi; Pelham High- Alysa Durham; Shelby County High – Mindy Bailey; and Vincent High – Hannah Crowder
Are thoughts Garrett kids from intermediate, middle, and high all brothers? With 2 of them top scorers? If so awesome.
Oh and their all from chelsea
Thank you James Byke! Yes Joseph, Morgan and Elijah Garrett are brothers and go to Chelsea schools. They are great encouragers, supporters of one another and challenge each other. All three were Top Point Earners for their teams last year and Morgan’s Chelsea Middle School team won 1st place last year. Morgan has been Top Point Earner for 4years now and he was Overall Top Point Earner for the Middle School division this year. Joseph, Morgan and Elijah were also Captains of their teams this year. Elijah’s High School team won 1st Place this year! We are so proud not only of their academic achievements but of their character, determination and teamwork. They are good students and great sons!