The schools came together recently for their own brainy battle. It was the latest collaboration between the Bemus Point and Chautauqua Lake central schools since the districts came to an agreement to share the services of Josh Liddell, the districts’ shared superintendent.

“This year’s Battle of the Books competition highlighted the power of collaboration between schools and the positive impact it can have on students,” Liddell said. “I’m thankful to the staff from both schools who dedicated their time, energy, and effort to continue this great tradition and make the day such a positive and memorable experience for our students. What stood out most was seeing students supporting one another, working together as teams, and simply enjoying being part of the event. There was a lot of laughter, school spirit, and genuine excitement throughout the day, and it was clear that both students and staff had a great time together. Opportunities like this remind us how important collaboration and shared experiences are in building strong school communities.”

Originally launched in 2017 through the Chautauqua Institution, Battle of the Books has become a valued regional tradition. While the Institution took a pause from organizing the program this year, educators from both districts worked together to ensure the experience continued–planning, organizing, and hosting the event at Bemus Point Elementary.

“The Battle of the Books was one of the most enjoyable and meaningful programs I have had the opportunity to attend,” said Dr. Margaret Spence, Bemus Point Central School board member. “The event brought together costumes, competition, teamwork, audience participation, and an incredible amount of enthusiasm from everyone involved.”

Students and staff from are pictured at the recent Battle of the Books at Bemus Point and Chautauqua Lake elementary schools.

The event itself reflected the strong collaboration behind the scenes. Staff from both schools met several times to develop plans that would mirror the institution’s event.

Elementary students from each school worked with teacher coaches to read and discuss the seven assigned novels, often dedicating time during their lunch and after school to prepare. Battle questions were developed jointly by participating schools, and students competed in a spirited but supportive environment. Teams faced off over three rounds of eight questions each, with a tie-breaker round used to determine the final standings. The event also included dancing, costumes and camaraderie.

“Seeing adults dressed up and willing to be silly to make this an unforgettable event for the students is definitely a highlight for me,” said Megan Lundgren, Chautauqua Lake elementary principal. “This year the cherry-on-top was getting to do that alongside staff at Bemus Point.”

In addition to the competing students, parents and fourth graders from both schools attended to observe the event, offering them a glimpse of what they can look forward to in the year ahead.