RIS holds 13th annual Oral Reading Contest

by Marelle Morgan
Ramstein Intermediate School


After weeks of preparation and classroom presentations, 22 fifth-graders from Ramstein Intermediate School read in front of the school as part of the the 13th annual Oral Reading Contest.

The audience of students, parents and teachers gathered in the multi-purpose room and were treated to a range of reading selections from the humorous to the suspenseful.

“The oral readers were fabulous this year. I would have hated to have the job of picking out the district representatives,” said Alison King, parent and Parent Teacher Association member. 

Three judges evaluated each of the contestants using a rubric. Oral reading and listening are part of the Department of Defense Education Activity’s fifth grade standards. Judges for the contest were PTA representative Mindy Quigley, Maj. A. Self, 3rd Air Force, A6  Communications Planning, and assistant principal David Dinges.

The judges said they were impressed with the all the participants and their reading. After reviewing and discussing the rubric scores, the judges revealed the names of the two RIS district representatives and an alternate.

RIS principal Stanley Caldwell handed each of the students a certificate and congratulated them on their accomplishment. Joey Orozco was named a representative for his reading of “Soup 1776,”  Kayla Sriver was named for her reading of “Worst Enemies/Best Friends” and Benjamin Rude was named an alternate for his reading of “The Stinky Cheese Man.”

All three received gift bags full of goodies from the PTA and the two district representatives received $50 savings bonds from the PTA. The RIS district representatives will attend the Kaiserslautern District Fifth Grade Oral Reading Festival April 30 along with the representatives from the other schools where they will have another opportunity to showcase their oral reading talents.