Junior School Spelling Bee

In a day and age when our spelling mistakes are either instantly underlined on our screen or even immediately corrected on our phones, one might think that an appreciation for spelling might be a thing of the past. Anyone who attended our Junior School assembly last week, however, might have a thing or two to say about that. Last Wednesday, the wonderful acoustics (of or relating to sound or to the sense of hearing) of the Fountain Performing Arts Centre played host to 14 of our Junior School students who took part in our annual Junior School Spelling Bee.  

 

With our special guest judges, Mr. Seagram and Ms. Schafer, on hand to make sure the right “I’s” came before the right “e’s”, each of our class reps took turns spelling a variety of words from arboreal (inhabiting or frequenting trees) and effusive (expressing unrestrained emotion) to machination (a scheme or subtle maneuver intended to accomplish some end) and esoteric (difficult to understand). While there were some nerves and laughs, in the end, all in attendance could appreciate just how tricky some words in English can be to get right!

 

Congratulations are extended to Grade 6 students: Danielle Hebert, Owen Xu, Natalia Shaw, Maanvi Manchineni; Grade 7 students: Will Larder and Hunter Hood; Grade 8 students: Gabby Shaw, Parker Simpkin, Cooper Pape, and Alex Graham; and Grade 9 students: Jessica Etou, Sabine Wellard, and Tanvi Manchineni for representing their classes.

Although Grade 7 student Will Larder (3^rd) and Grade 8 student Alex Graham (2^nd) showed impressive poise and ability, when the dust settled, the ‘spelling melee’ (a confused fight, contest or struggle between individuals) had ended, it was Grade 9 Tanvi Manchineni who proved to be the Junior School Speller par excellence (being best of its kind).

J. Rory Campbell
Junior English and Technology Teacher
Girls’ Rugby and Basketball Coach