Grades 1-8 participate during week of Feb. 11
On Wednesday, Feb. 13, Garrison School held the first annual Garrison School Spelling Bee. Leading up to the competition, each class in grades 1-8 held its own mini bee. The first and second place winners from each class went on to compete for the bee championship in front of their classmates, teachers and family members in three categories: grades 1-2,grades 3-5 and grades 6-8.
The Spelling Bee represents another enrichment program developed this year by the Garrison School’s PTA. Garrison School Board and Spelling Bee Committee Member Christine Foertsch explained the reasoning behind establishing the bee. “Spelling bees have a long history in education and provide an enrichment experience here at Garrison,” Foertsch said. “Preparing for a bee promotes exploration of new vocabulary. In addition, like all competitions, a spelling bee challenges students to ‘think on their feet’ and perform a skill which will help them with public performances later in life.”
First-grade finalists were Declan DuBois, Grace Gordon, Alyssa Harris and Lily Zuckerman, and second-grade finalists were Timothy Liu and Noula O’Reilly, who won her division. Spelling words were posed to them by teacher Jeanne Khuns, who, to the delight of the children, was dressed as a bumblebee for the day.
Third-grade finalists were Charlotte Dinitz and Madison Smith, fourth-grade finalists were Emma Bakker and Zoel Boublil, and fifth-grade finalists were Andy Dupree, Donovan Green, Ben Higbee and Solana McKee, who won her division.
Sixth-grade finalists included Brad Dowd and Hanna Scali, seventh-grade finalists were Henry Driscoll, Hudson Gell, Alex Mancuso and Cameron Palikuca, and eighth-grade finalists were Will Bohl and Anna Northrup. Will eventually took the division championship.
The Garrison School thanks the PTA Spelling Bee Committee of Angela Smith, Kym August, Christine Foertsch and Julie Heckert; the official judges and recorders Ian Berger, Karen Bresnan, Susan MacEnroe, Debbie Earle and Jeanne Khuns; and all of the student participants and teachers.
Photos courtesy Garrison School
