Battle of the Books, an annual reading competition that’s sponsored by the Baldwin Public Library for fourth and fifth graders throughout Birmingham Public Schools, challenges students to read six selected books and compete in team-based trivia contests. The friendly competition aims to foster a love of reading while encouraging students to explore literature beyond their comfort zones.
Ava Pruden, a 16-year-old competitive swimmer from Seaholm High School, has been named to the USA Deaflympics Team, set to compete in Tokyo this November. Pruden’s selection marks a remarkable achievement in a journey that began when she was diagnosed with hearing loss as an infant.
Seaholm High School was prominently represented when the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) announced the finalists for the 2024-2025 Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Awards. Of the 120 student athletes listed, a half dozen of them were Maples – more than any other school in the state.
![A pair of Berkshire students were recipients of the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1746204230/birminghamk12mius/uefnrctxbn2avc9qsrgq/NJHS_OutstandingAchievementAward.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1746204230/birminghamk12mius/uefnrctxbn2avc9qsrgq/NJHS_OutstandingAchievementAward.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1746204230/birminghamk12mius/uefnrctxbn2avc9qsrgq/NJHS_OutstandingAchievementAward.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1746204230/birminghamk12mius/uefnrctxbn2avc9qsrgq/NJHS_OutstandingAchievementAward.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1746204230/birminghamk12mius/uefnrctxbn2avc9qsrgq/NJHS_OutstandingAchievementAward.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1746204230/birminghamk12mius/uefnrctxbn2avc9qsrgq/NJHS_OutstandingAchievementAward.jpg","width":2200}])
![Science Olympiad team picture]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744742819/birminghamk12mius/yzlxopqful2mdvto8n1l/ScienceOlympiad_2025.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1744742819/birminghamk12mius/yzlxopqful2mdvto8n1l/ScienceOlympiad_2025.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1744742819/birminghamk12mius/yzlxopqful2mdvto8n1l/ScienceOlympiad_2025.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1744742819/birminghamk12mius/yzlxopqful2mdvto8n1l/ScienceOlympiad_2025.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1744742819/birminghamk12mius/yzlxopqful2mdvto8n1l/ScienceOlympiad_2025.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1744742819/birminghamk12mius/yzlxopqful2mdvto8n1l/ScienceOlympiad_2025.jpg","width":2200}])
![Headshot of Nia Ballah]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744642290/birminghamk12mius/yikaf7ywyq43ga9oifff/NiaBallahHeadshot.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1744642290/birminghamk12mius/yikaf7ywyq43ga9oifff/NiaBallahHeadshot.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1744642290/birminghamk12mius/yikaf7ywyq43ga9oifff/NiaBallahHeadshot.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1744642290/birminghamk12mius/yikaf7ywyq43ga9oifff/NiaBallahHeadshot.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1744642290/birminghamk12mius/yikaf7ywyq43ga9oifff/NiaBallahHeadshot.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1744642290/birminghamk12mius/yikaf7ywyq43ga9oifff/NiaBallahHeadshot.jpg","width":2200}])
![Birmingham Unified Figure Skating captured the state title for the second straight year.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744121394/birminghamk12mius/tsnqmhebiaxg1bxqwpvw/Figureskate2025.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1744121394/birminghamk12mius/tsnqmhebiaxg1bxqwpvw/Figureskate2025.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1744121394/birminghamk12mius/tsnqmhebiaxg1bxqwpvw/Figureskate2025.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1744121394/birminghamk12mius/tsnqmhebiaxg1bxqwpvw/Figureskate2025.jpg","width":960}])
![Pembroke's Starbooks won the 2025 Battle of the Books]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1742314823/birminghamk12mius/yvubq6cpdsqni1rgmpb0/Starbooks-team.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1742314823/birminghamk12mius/yvubq6cpdsqni1rgmpb0/Starbooks-team.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1742314823/birminghamk12mius/yvubq6cpdsqni1rgmpb0/Starbooks-team.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1742314823/birminghamk12mius/yvubq6cpdsqni1rgmpb0/Starbooks-team.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1742314823/birminghamk12mius/yvubq6cpdsqni1rgmpb0/Starbooks-team.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1742314823/birminghamk12mius/yvubq6cpdsqni1rgmpb0/Starbooks-team.jpg","width":2200}])
![Photo of Ava Pruden]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741701988/birminghamk12mius/xxurklox702lc7bpnb4w/AvaPrudenHeadshot3.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1741701988/birminghamk12mius/xxurklox702lc7bpnb4w/AvaPrudenHeadshot3.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1741701988/birminghamk12mius/xxurklox702lc7bpnb4w/AvaPrudenHeadshot3.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1741701988/birminghamk12mius/xxurklox702lc7bpnb4w/AvaPrudenHeadshot3.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1741701988/birminghamk12mius/xxurklox702lc7bpnb4w/AvaPrudenHeadshot3.png","width":1260}])
![BPS Main Logo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1739813608/birminghamk12mius/fu3lzfynyrs1icw20exd/MichiganSSOCbadge.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1739813608/birminghamk12mius/fu3lzfynyrs1icw20exd/MichiganSSOCbadge.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1739813608/birminghamk12mius/fu3lzfynyrs1icw20exd/MichiganSSOCbadge.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1739813608/birminghamk12mius/fu3lzfynyrs1icw20exd/MichiganSSOCbadge.png","width":960}])
![Six student athletes at Seaholm are finalists for the MHSAA's scholar-athlete award]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1738953876/birminghamk12mius/l7htxv2kpy7crauejb1t/SEA-MHSSAFinalistStudents-2425.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1738953876/birminghamk12mius/l7htxv2kpy7crauejb1t/SEA-MHSSAFinalistStudents-2425.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1738953876/birminghamk12mius/l7htxv2kpy7crauejb1t/SEA-MHSSAFinalistStudents-2425.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1738953876/birminghamk12mius/l7htxv2kpy7crauejb1t/SEA-MHSSAFinalistStudents-2425.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1738953876/birminghamk12mius/l7htxv2kpy7crauejb1t/SEA-MHSSAFinalistStudents-2425.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1738953876/birminghamk12mius/l7htxv2kpy7crauejb1t/SEA-MHSSAFinalistStudents-2425.jpg","width":2200}])