For Schools

The Broadneck Battle of the Books is designed to:

• Build excitement around reading

• Encourage teamwork and collaboration

• Create positive academic experiences

• Strengthen feeder-system relationships

• Build school spirit

• Help students create positive memories around literacy

This is intended to feel:

• Fun

• Collaborative

• Inclusive

• Community-oriented

Schools will be provided with ready-to-use materials to minimize the workload on individual schools, teachers, and volunteers.

Resources provided will include:

• Registration forms and tracking tools

• Coach handbooks and quick-start guides

• Student and family communication templates

• Flyers, graphics, and promotional materials

• Suggested practice formats and meeting ideas

• Team organization resources

• Competition rules and logistics documents

• Poster and costume contest guidelines

• Event timelines and key date reminders

• Ready-to-use book question development support from media specialists

• Day-of-event planning and coordination

• Volunteer coordination guidance

• Sponsor and partnership outreach materials

The goal is to create a consistent, organized experience across all participating schools while keeping implementation manageable for school staff and volunteers.

Participating schools agree to:

• Support student participation

• Coordinate team formation within their school

• Identify a school point-of-contact

• Work collaboratively to select books and develop competition questions

• Help recruit coaches and teams

• Share information with families

• Coordinate transportation

• Support event-day supervision

• Promote positive sportsmanship and school spirit

• Pick a walk-up song

Schools are NOT expected to independently run the event or manage the competition logistics themselves.

The official reading list will include approximately 10–12 books selected collaboratively by participating media specialists and planning team members.

The list is designed to:

• Include multiple genres

• Balance accessibility and challenge

• Appeal to a broad range of interests

• Expose students to different types of reading

We will be seeking partnerships that ensure access to the books on the booklist. If we are unable to secure one set of books for every participating them, we ask that schools help ensure students have reasonable access to the books.

Possible strategies include:

• Media center checkouts

• Shared team book sets

• PTO-supported purchases

• Classroom lending systems

• Rotating book schedules

The goal is reducing barriers to participation whenever possible.

Event Location

Broadneck High School Auditorium 

Event Schedule

The event is planned as a daytime student experience during the school day.

A draft of the schedule can be found here.

Transportation

Schools are responsible for coordinating transportation using standard field trip procedures.

Parent groups may support offsetting of transportation costs where applicable.

Event-Day Supervision

Schools should ensure:

• Coaches are present

• Appropriate school supervision is available

• Students understand expectations and sportsmanship guidelines

The Battle planning team and volunteers will manage:

• Competition flow

• Timing

• Scoring

• Seating

• Event logistics

• Hospitality

• Awards

The Broadneck Battle of the Books is intended to operate as a collaborative, shared-cost community event.

The event itself may be supported through:

• PTO/PTA collaboration

• Sponsorships

• Donations

• Community partnerships

• In-kind support

PTO/A Collaboration

To help keep participation affordable and accessible, participating schools and PTOs/PTAs may work together to share agreed-upon event expenses that are not covered through sponsorships or donations. Potential shared expenses may include:

• Medals and trophies

• Printing and signage

• Decorations

• Event supplies

• Student recognition items

Transportation and optional supplemental materials would remain the responsibility of individual schools or parent groups unless otherwise coordinated.

A collaborative budget approach and regular communication between participating school and PTO/PTA representatives will help ensure transparency, fairness, and shared decision-making throughout the planning process.

Sponsorships, Donations & Community Support

Sponsorships, donations, community partnerships, and in-kind support are intended to help reduce the overall shared cost burden across participating schools and PTOs/PTAs.

Whenever possible, outside support would be used first to offset event-wide expenses such as:

• Medals and trophies

• Printing and signage

• Decorations

• Event supplies

• Student recognition items

Examples of support may include:

• Financial sponsorships from local businesses

• Community organization partnerships

• Donations of supplies or snacks

• Printing services

• Bookstore partnerships

• Volunteer support

• Spirit or recognition item donations

Funds or donated resources designated specifically for Battle of the Books would be used solely to support the event and its participating students. The planning team and participating school/PTO representatives would collaborate to ensure transparency and shared visibility into how outside support is applied to event expenses.

School Participation Costs

Potential costs schools may encounter include:

• Transportation

• Supplemental book purchases if desired

Schools are not expected to independently fund the event.

A team coach can be any adult age 18 or older who is willing to support and encourage students throughout the Battle of the Books season. Coaches do not need to be parents — family members, teachers, community members, and other trusted adults are all welcome to participate as long as a current background check is on file.

We also hope to involve Broadneck High School National Honor Society students as assistant coaches to help support teams, build connections across schools, and reduce some of the workload for adult coaches.

To support schools, coaches, and families throughout the process, the Broadneck Battle of the Books planning team will provide multiple information and support opportunities throughout the school year. 

Meetings planned include:

• Concept development and approval meetings will take place with school administrators during the summer of 2026 to review:

  • Event structure

  • Expectations

  • Participation model

  • Transportation considerations, and 

  • School-level support needs prior to launch

• A one-hour information session for teachers, media specialists, administrators, and school staff will be offered between August 18–21, 2026 to review:

  • • Program structure

    • Expectations

    • Timelines

    • Support resources available to schools

• A family information session will be held on October 7, 2026 to:

  • Introduce the program

  • Explain team participation

  • Review volunteer opportunities, and 

  • Answer questions from families and potential coaches

• Schools will receive a student kickoff kit with ready-to-use materials designed for use during media classes or school announcements. Materials may include flyers, slides, introductory scripts, timelines, promotional graphics, and student interest materials. Student kickoff should take place in September.

• Broadneck Battle of the Books planning team liaisons will remain available throughout the season to answer questions, provide guidance, and support schools, coaches, and volunteers as needed.

• A coaches meeting will be held on November 16, 2026 for all registered coaches. This session will review:

  • Competition logistics

  • Rules, timelines

  • Event procedures

  • Volunteer coordination, and

  • Available planning resources

• A final logistics meeting will be held in March or April 2027 prior to the event. This meeting will review:

  • Day-of-event operations

  • Transportation and arrival procedures

  • Volunteer assignments

  • Auditorium logistics

  • Scoring procedures, and

  • Final event expectations for participating schools and coaches