SPELLING BEE

All students in grades 4 through 8 are eligible to participate.  Elementary teachers hold a competition for all students in their classes and select a winner and an alternate.  Junior High teachers are asked to single out their top five or six spellers and hold a competition to select a winner and an alternate.  Participants in the Junior High competition are chosen based on highest averages in Spelling.  Contests are held according to Scripps/Howard established Spelling Bee rules available on the MAIS website.

Once chosen, winners and alternates are given copies of Valerie’s List, a supplement purchased by Columbia Academy each year at an annual cost of less than thirty dollars.  Practices are held after school on set dates to familiarize contestants with rules, procedures, etc.  As the Bee date nears, meeting are held in the Fine Arts Center with lights, microphone, and such to make the contestants comfortable with such environment as will be present on Bee date. 

The 2008-2009 school year was CA’s first year to establish procedures for Spelling Bee prep.  Of the five participants sent to District competition, four advanced to the State level.  This Bee was attended by schools in our district and CA had more students advance to the next level than any other school present.  The 2010 Spelling Bee was held in mid February and Ian Pittman won the 7th grade contest and Rachael Williamson won the 8th Grade contest.