San Andreas, CA…Calaveras County students in sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth grades will compete to become the top speller in the county at the 48th Annual Calaveras County Spelling Bee, coming up at Calaveras River Academy/Mountain Oaks School in San Andreas on Thursday evening, April 14, 2016 at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and is sponsored by the Teichert Foundation and the Calaveras County Office of Education.

Students are selected for participation by their schools, either through a school Spelling Bee or teacher recommendation. Many students spend months studying the state word list in preparation for the countywide event.

First, second, and third place winners in each grade will receive award plaques, and all participants will receive certificates for their participation. The top two spellers overall among the seventh, eighth and ninth graders will be eligible to compete in the Statewide Junior High State Spelling Bee Championship, sponsored by the Marin County Office of Education and held in San Rafael in May. Last year’s Calaveras County winners, Calaveras High School ninth graders Max Stickels and Cleriza Estoesta, won second and fourth place in the state, respectively.

In addition, the Calaveras Enterprise will donate and award a $25.00 cash prize to the top speller in each grade level. The two spellers advancing to the State Championship will receive an additional $50.00 each.

For further information, please contact Lauren Robinson at Calaveras County Office of Education at 736-6094.

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