San Andreas, CA…The 52nd Annual Calaveras County Spelling Bee Championship returned after three years on April 13 at the Calaveras River Academy/Mountain Oaks gymnasium. Twenty-six students from five schools competed for placement in their grade level and a chance to advance to the State Spelling Bee on May 13th at the San Joaquin County Office of Education. This is event is put on by the Calaveras County Office of Education (CCOE) and is open to all Calaveras County students in sixth through ninth grades.

Lila Miley, Mark Twain Elementary

Liberty Pipkin, Sierra Hills Education Center

Competitors from Avery Middle School, Calaveras High School, Mark Twain Elementary, Sierra Hills Education Center, and Toyon Middle School attended the event. Students were awarded first, second and third place plaques for each of the four grade levels. First place winners of each grade level were also awarded $50.00, sponsored by Bank of Stockton.

The top two spellers of from grades seventh through ninth were selected to move onto the State Spelling Bee. Liberty Pipkin, eighth grader at Sierra Hills Education Center (SHEC) and Lila Miley, eighth grader at Mark Twain Elementary, will be advancing on to the state level competition. Liberty Pipkin took first place for her grade level and was the overall winner of the entire competition.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Dorris was the moderator for the event. Competitors had 15 seconds to write the correct spelling of each word; proctors then check the students’ work. Each student was allowed to miss up to four words before being disqualified. Words are staged in three levels, increasing in difficulty with each level. The first word of the event was ‘palace’, the competition ended with the 39th word ‘hierarchy’. With words like ‘dilapidated’, ‘utilitarian’, and ‘judicious’, the competition proved to be intense.

Unlike typical spelling bees, students write their words and remain seated while proctors check their spelling. A flag is assigned to each student’s station and lowered one increment with each missed word. This system allows for close monitoring of the ranking in each grade level. The competition gets heated when only a few students are left and competing to earn a placement in their grade level.

“We are so happy to bring back the spelling bee this year, the event was exciting and fun. Students are already talking about coming back to compete next year,” reported Debbie Strand, CCOE’s Communication and Student Event Coordinator.

This year’s student events are sponsored by the Calaveras Community Foundation, Angels-Murphys Rotary, Adventist Health Sonora, Dignity Health, Bank of Stockton, Middleton’s, R.A. Pargett Engineering, and the Calaveras County Office of Education. For information visit www.ccoe.k12.ca.us/spellingbee/.

52^nd Annual Calaveras County

SPELLING CHAMPIONSHIP

April 13, 2023 • Calaveras River Academy/Mountain Oaks

6th Grade Winners

1st Place                       Rylie Vanhille
School                            Sierra Hills Education Center

2nd Place                      Bridger Stephens
School                            Avery Middle School

3rd Place                      Ally Jones
School                            Toyon Middle School

7th Grade Winners

1st Place                       Paisley Imlach
School                            Avery Middle School

2nd Place                      JT Glessman
School                            Avery Middle School

3rd Place                      Raymond Penfold
School                            Mark Twain Elementary

8th Grade Winners

1st Place                       Liberty Pipkin
School                            Sierra Hills Education Center

2nd Place                      Lila Miley
School                            Mark Twain Elementary

3rd Place                      Jake Schuler
School                            Avery Middle School

9th Grade Winners

            1st Place                       Angelina-Maria Kyriakopoulos
School                            Calaveras High School

            2nd Place                      Andrew Cannon
School                            Calaveras High School

            3rd Place                      Vacant

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