St Mary’s Waverley triumphs in Kid’s Lit Quiz national final

A passion for reading, quick thinking, and teamwork have propelled four young book lovers from St Mary’s Waverley onto the global stage. After winning the Johannesburg regional final against 38 schools, Selah Galeta, Motheo Modise, Ella Sproule, and Nancy Wood dominated the national Kid’s Lit Quiz final in Cape Town, securing victory with an eight-point lead.

Read more: St Mary’s School, Waverley, matriculant excels in academics, rowing, and leadership

The Kid’s Lit Quiz, founded in 1991 by Wayne Mills, has been a South African staple since 2004. This rapid-fire literary competition tests learners on books, characters, and authors. Hosted by The Grove School, this year’s national final saw ten schools battle for the coveted title. St Mary’s clinched their first-ever win, earning a spot on the Exclusive Books Kid’s Lit Quiz floating trophy.

Senior primary teacher and coach Rosa Elk was astounded by the learners’ abilities, praising their quick recall and deep literary knowledge. The competition was intense yet exhilarating, with the team describing it as thrilling, nerve-wracking, and unforgettable. For Galeta, the victory was especially significant, calling it their: ‘Redemption year’, after placing seventh in the previous competition.

Also read: St John’s Preparatory School secured third place at the Kids Lit Quiz World Final

With the international final set to take place in Johannesburg, the team is eager to compete against top young readers from around the world. While an overseas final would have been exciting, Elk sees great value in hosting the event locally, allowing her learners to engage with global literary peers and compare reading cultures.

Beyond the competition, the journey has been about camaraderie, laughter, and celebration, including a well-earned post-victory swim. Their coach hopes this marks the beginning of a new legacy for St Mary’s in the competition. No matter the outcome at the world finals, these young literary stars have already made history.

Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.

Related article: PVS looks forward to quiz finals