Students claim v-i-c-t-o-r-y in spelling bee
Local students Fisher Dail, Victor Peters and Jack Baker took first place in their respective grades at the Lake Pend Oreille School District spelling bee Thursday night. (Photo by MARY MALONE)
(Photo by MARY MALONE) A total of 44 students in grades four through six participated in the Lake Pend Oreille School District spelling bee Thursday night.
SANDPOINT — It was a tough night for sixth-grade spellers on Thursday, as 13 of the 16 kids were knocked out in the first round of the district-wide spelling bee.
It was no easy feat, however, as they faced words such as gingham, lieutenant, terrapin, eulogy, camouflage and wainscot, among others.
It all came down to “arachnid,” which spelled correctly by Fisher Dail from Farmin-Stidwell Elementary, put him in first place for the sixth graders.
It was even more challenging for Southside Elementary students Andrew Lehman and Marshal Burnett, who spent about 20 minutes in a battle for second place, the words getting more difficult as they went. Ultimately, Andrew came out on top with the word “spectrum.”
“That was a combination between a sprint and a marathon — it was awesome,” said Lake Pend Orielle High School Principal Geoff Penrose, who served as the pronouncer.
The spelling bee included 44 spellers in grades four through six from elementary schools across the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Kootenai Elementary’s Jack Baker took first for the fifth graders, and Victor Peters, also from Kootenai, was first place in the fourth-grade category. Coen Smith from Sagle Elementary came in second place for fifth-grade, with a tie between several students for third place. In fourth grade, Sophia Taylor from Washington Elementary took second, and Hope Elementary’s Liam Davis and Washington Elementary’s Beck Meneghini tied for third place.
Kathleen Olson, ELA instructional coach for LPOSD and spelling bee organizer, said the first place students from each grade will have the chance to compete in the North Idaho Regional Spelling Bee at North Idaho College on March 16. If any of the first place winners are unable to attend the regional competition, the second place winners will serve as alternates.
As the kids nervously readied themselves before the spelling bee began, Andra Murray, LPOSD director of teacher and learning, offered some words in an effort to help them relax, citing a Stanford professor whose research focuses on why people succeed. Stretching your mind and sticking with something, she said, even when it is hard, is the “hallmark of that growth mindset.” “And you have all shown that determination and that ability to stretch yourselves just by being here tonight, regardless of the outcome,” Murray said. “Your teachers, your school community, your families are all cheering for you and I want to say congratulations to all our spellers.”
In addition to the spellers, Olson said the spelling bee would not be possible without volunteers and sponsors.
“There are many behind the scenes people who have supported the bee,” Olson said. “I express gratitude to each and every one who supports more students learning more in our district.”
The spelling bee’s fourth-grade participants were Toby Walker and Siena Todd-Murray from Farmin-Stidwell; Jacob Fluckiger and Liam Davis from Hope Elementary; Victor Peters and Clara Travers from Kootenai Elementary; Ella Flynn from Northside Elementary; Natalia Garcia and Mariah Tenney from Sagle Elementary; James Sandberg and Julee Watte from Southside Elementary; and Sophia Taylor and Beck Meneghini from Washington Elementary.
The spelling bee’s fifth-grade participants were Silvi Landrum and Dmitri Boren from Farmin-Stidwell; Hawk Wilson and Emitt Johnson from Hope Elementary; Megan Dixon, Jack Baker and Landon Winslow from Kootenai Elementary; Nathan Egbert and Dallen Williams from Northside Elementary; Gretta Beck and Coen Smith from Sagle Elementary; Makenzi Norris and Rachel Aylward from Southside Elementary; and Corban Kreutzmann and Jasey Treman from Washington Elementary.
The spelling bee’s sixth-grade participants were Fisher Dail, Ayla Lyons and Lena Krause from Farmin-Stidwell; Zach Storaasli and Evrett Montgomery from Hope Elementary; Lane Harris, Jacob Aexel and Bettilynn Travers from Kootenai Elementary; Emma Hogan and Michael Asquith from Northside Elementary; Jaden Peratos and Madison Hall from Sagle Elementary; Andrew Lehman and Marshal Burnett from Southside Elementary; and Fiona Macdonald and Titus Mikat from Washington Elementary.
The North Idaho Regional Spelling Bee is 9 a.m. Saturday, March 16, in the Edminster Student Union Building at NIC, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.