On Wednesday, 21 January, words and emotions took center stage. As part of the 14th edition of the Petits Champions de la Lecture, 20 CM1 and CM2 pupils read aloud in front of an attentive audience and a dedicated jury.
The competition follows a clear progression: it begins in the classrooms, continues at the school final, moves on to the national level, and then leads pupils to the zonal final — and for some, all the way to the international final.
One after another, the candidates took the stage with courage, gradually overcoming their butterflies and bringing the chosen texts to life. The jury, composed of Mr. Kinder, Head of School, Mrs. Chardon, Head of Primary School, and Mrs. Guegan, teacher-librarian, praised the high quality of the performances and the commitment shown by every participant. Many readings were very close, and sometimes a small detail — a precise intonation, a confident gesture, or a strong interpretation — made the difference.
Reflecting the international identity of the school, this edition celebrated multilingualism. In addition to the official French final, non-competitive reading sections in English and German allowed pupils to share their joy of reading in several languages.
Beyond performance, the day highlighted what truly matters: reading aloud means understanding, feeling, and conveying meaning. It is a key skill in Cycle 3, fostering self-confidence and a lasting love of reading.
At the end of this inspiring day, several pupils stood out: Léa-Leen (CM2) and Phillip (CM1) for reading in English, Elsa (CM2) and Leonardo (CM1) for reading in German, and finally Zoé (CM2) and Marco (CM2), winners of the school final.
Several pupils came out on top as the day drew to a close: Léa-Leen (CM2) and Phillip (CM1) for reading in English, Elsa (CM2) and Leonardo (CM1) for reading in German, and finally Zoé (CM2) and Marco (CM2), winners of the school final.
Zoé and Marco will continue their journey at the ZECO zonal final in Vienna on 17 March. We wish them every success as they move forward on this wonderful path, driven by the pleasure of reading.
