Congratulations to VERSO Quizwizards DJ (G5), Kacy (G4), Yipta (G6), and Nadine (G5) for earning an invitation to represent Thailand in the prestigious Kids' Lit Quiz (KLQ) World Final in Australia this summer

Congratulations to VERSO Quizwizards DJ (G5), Kacy (G4), Yipta (G6) and Nadine (G5),  for earning an invitation to represent Thailand in the prestigious Kids' Lit Quiz (KLQ) World Final! This historic achievement marks them as the youngest team at the Thailand National Final this year to earn such an honor. The World Final is scheduled to take place at Canberra Grammar School from 8-12 July 2024 in Canberra, Australia.

The journey to this victory began at the Thailand National Final, held at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside on 8 March. The competition was fierce, with VERSO and Harrow battling it out in a tiebreaker. Undeterred by the challenge, our team emerged triumphant, securing 2nd place in a thrilling showdown!

Amidst stiff competition from 40 teams across Thailand, our learners showcased their literary prowess, earning a coveted spot among the top 6 teams advancing to the National Final. This remarkable feat not only highlights the depth of literary knowledge among our learners but also brings great pride to VERSO on the global stage.

Over 40 teams from international schools across Bangkok competed in the event

A special acknowledgment goes to our Learning Designers, Traci Toothman and Maria Pannakan, for their coaching and motivation. Their guidance played a pivotal role in inspiring our learners to participate in this competition.

The Kids' Lit Quiz, an annual literature knowledge competition for students aged 10-13, spans various countries, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and the USA. Founded by New Zealand Quizmaster Wayne Mills, the quiz involves teams of four students answering 100 questions on children's literature across ten categories.

During the preliminary round, teams of four students, each tasked with answering 100 questions on children's literature across ten categories, compete in local heats, with the winning team progressing to the National Final. Examples of categories this year included fables, legends, mangas, comics characters, family, authors and more!

Each team is provided with a set of  blank answer sheets. One student acts as the scribe, and after consultation with the rest of the team writes the answer to the questions on the printed sheets provided for each round. At the end of each round, the sheets are gathered up and checked against the “answer sheets”  by a team of markers.

"Entering into a competition where seasoned schools with years of experience participated, our learners showcased an extraordinary ability to rise to the occasion."

-MS TRACI

Our Learners with Quizmaster Wayne Mills and Learning Designer and coach Traci Toothman

The Thailand National Final round consisted of 6 teams, who competed in five categories with 12-15 questions in each category. All teams start with ten points. The questions are read out by the Quizmaster and once a team suspects they know the answer, they push a buzzer. 

In a conversation with the team, Nadine shared, "To prepare for the KLQ, we read a lot of story books and watched a lot of movies based on books in the syllabus", while DJ added, "We practiced with questions from previous years and prepared for a month."

"The buzzer and final round were the most challenging as we didn't expect to pass the prelims”, reflected Yipta, adding that anyone wanting to join such a contest must be a risk-taker, be confident, and not be afraid of making mistakes. Nadine also emphasized the importance of confidence, saying, "You shouldn't second-guess, just answer if you think you have the right answer."

Special thanks to our parents for their support  and cheers during our learners' debut at the Kids' Lit Quiz, proudly representing VERSO

DJ shared his learnings, stating, "I learned how to motivate people and cope with nerves”, while his sister Kacy offered sage advice, "Don't stress, do your best, and forget the rest!”

Siblings DJ and Kacy with their proud mom

Looking ahead to the World Final, Kacy noted, "Questions will be much harder, and we will be competing with the best of the best from each country." 

Despite the challenges, the team expressed their enjoyment of the process, adding that the family and authors categories were the most challenging yet rewarding session.

Nadine with Quizmaster Wayne Mills

Ms Traci expressed her pride in the team's performance, highlighting their enthusiasm and dedication throughout the experience. With a perfect score in the myths and legends category, the team continues to exemplify excellence in literary knowledge.

"Don't stress, do your best, and forget the rest!"

          -KACY, G4

“I was just blown away by the incredible performance of our learners in their debut participation in this contest," said Miss Traci. "Entering into a competition where seasoned schools with years of experience participated, our learners showcased an extraordinary ability to rise to the occasion. 

“Despite being newcomers to the event, they displayed a level of competence and determination that belied their lack of prior experience. Their achievement serves as a testament to the dedication and hard work they invested in preparing for the contest. I  am so proud of them!”

As they continue to embark on this prestigious journey, we wish the VERSO Quizwizards the best of luck in the Kids' Lit Quiz World Final, should they decide to travel to compete in Canberra, and are confident that they will continue to make us proud with their passion for literature.