Community & Business
7 August, 2025
Reading a winner at St Joseph’s school
A TEAM of four Year 6 students at St Joseph’s Parish School in Atherton have won the Far North Queensland Regional Reader’s Cup competition and will now head to Brisbane in September to compete in the State challenge.
The students, Matilda Bowe, Ruby Quadrio, Alex Rose and Tess Seawright, with their staff coordinator Mrs Andrea Taylor-Kehoe, joined 41 other schools across Far North Queensland at the annual competition, which was held at Edge Hill State School in Cairns on 26 June.
To prepare for the competition, the students had to read five set novels and answer detailed questions based on the texts, Mrs Taylor-Kehoe said.
They also created practice questions, peer testing, and study sessions held during lunch breaks and after school hours.
“The team demonstrated exceptional commitment, collaboration, and enthusiasm throughout the process,” she said.
The competition was “highly competitive, with a narrow margin separating the top teams”.
However, St Joseph’s came out on top and would now compete on September 4.
“This is a remarkable opportunity for our regional students to engage with peers from across Queensland and showcase their talents on a larger stage,” Mrs Taylor-Kehoe said.
“We are looking forward to Brisbane and competing against other bigger schools.”
The school was also grateful to have the local community get behind the students, with JNT Accounting sponsoring the team shirts, St Joseph’s P&F Committee offering support, and the Tableland Regional Council supporting the students through the Tablelands Regional Grant Program.
