Four talented students from VERSO represented Thailand as National Champions at the World Final of the Kids Literature Quiz (KLQ) in Canberra, Australia, in July 2024. DJ (Grade 6), Kacy (Grade 5), Nadine (Grade 6), and Yipta (Grade 7) traveled with their parents to compete alongside national champions from six other countries: Australia, Canada, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States.

The week-long program offered the VERSO team a wide range of unique experiences, including a Q&A session with H.E. Ms Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, a writing workshop with renowned Australian author Deborah Abela, and attendance to the launch of Ashleigh Barton's famous Freddie Spector graphic novel series. The students also had the opportunity to listen to an inspiring talk by Mr. David Smith MP and Government Whip, and visit the restricted book depository at the National Library of Australia.

The VERSO entourage stopped by the Embassy of Thailand in Canberra to visit H.E. Ms Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia

Our Quizwizards with Mr. David Smith, MP and Government Whip of the Australian Parliament, who spoke on the importance of reading

Beyond the competition, the experience provided valuable life lessons. The team learned to navigate dormitory living, manage their time independently, and foster lasting friendships with students from other countries.

The students attended a writing workshop with renowned Australian author Deborah Abela

When asked about memorable moments outside the competition, the responses varied. DJ highlighted the "Mystery dinner," saying, "It was very fun, and inspiring, with lots of special author guests! I got to sit next to an author (David Conley), and it was very cool to chat and converse with him."

DJ with Australian author and illustrator David Conley

Kacy's highlight was visiting the National Zoo and Aquarium. She shared, "Visiting the zoo was a very valuable bonding experience for me and my friends in the KLQ World Final, because we all shared a love for cute animals, such as little penguins and koalas. I also got to see a multitude of animals from around the world, including my favorite animal, (second only to cats), the koala!" Kacy also proudly overcame her stage fright, giving a speech about her favorite book in front of over 200 people at the Mystery Dinner.

Kacy gave a speech about her favorite book in front of over 200 people at the Mystery Dinner

"Visiting the zoo was a very valuable bonding experience for me and my friends in the KLQ World Final, because we all shared a love for cute animals, such as little penguins and koalas. I was really proud of myself when at the Mystery Dinner I stood up and gave a speech about my favorite book in front of 200+ people, despite my stage fright."

-KACY, G5

For Yipta, a simple moment stood out: "A memorable moment in Australia for me was when I met DJ, Nadine, and Kacy at a restaurant. We ate pizza and had gelato, it was a nice time to talk and meet up."

Nadine found joy in the camaraderie at the dorms, stating, "I got to talk with the other teams because I enjoyed learning new things about them, and I found out I have a lot in common with some of the other competitors."

Our participants with Mr. Peter Arnaudo (right), owner of Book Cow bookstore at the Author's Book Launch of Ashleigh Bartons' newest volume of Freddie Spector series 

The international competition presented new challenges for the team. Yipta noted, "You had to be much faster so you could press the button and answer, and you're competing with other winning teams from other countries, which makes it more stressful." Nadine added, "I think that it was different because we were competing with different countries and it was more of a challenge because the other teams were also finalists."

The experience also offered insights into Australian culture and literature. Nadine was intrigued by the prevalence of Ned Kelly in Australian art and history. DJ observed, "I think Australian literature isn't very different from other English literature, but I had a fun time looking at the indigenous names of all the pieces of land that we went to."

Reflecting on how this experience will influence their future approach to literature and competitions, the students showed increased confidence and enthusiasm. DJ said, "If anything, I am now less scared of big competitions like this and I am better at making friends." Nadine echoed this sentiment, stating, "This experience has made me more confident. I feel like I would enjoy participating in similar competitions and that my love for reading has grown even more compared to before."

"This experience has made me more confident. I feel like my love for reading has grown even more compared to before."

-NADINE, G6

Although Team VERSO didn't win the competition, they gained invaluable experience and are eager to build and expand VERSO's Literature team in the future. Their journey serves as an inspiration to their peers and a testament to the school's commitment to fostering a love for literature and global understanding.