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Cecil H. Parker School holds spelling bee

Parker Spelling Bee
Cecil H. Parker School holds spelling bee

Students lined up on stage for a competition of the minds at the annual PTA Cecil H. Parker Spelling Bee. The spelling bee was held on Friday, May 19, 2023. Chibuikem Okwudili, third-grade student, won the third-grade spelling bee on the words “pronounce” and “encyclopedia.” Justin Montaleza placed second, and Leshay McBryde placed third. 

The entire school held a parade prior to the spelling bee to celebrate the participants.

Parker Spelling Bee

"I'm very excited and happy and proud,” said Chibuiken after winning. “And it also makes my mom proud too.”

Parker School’s spelling bee began in 1990 by Janet Wilson, a retired first grade teacher, and Isabel Ellis, a PTA member and teaching assistant at the time. Ms. Wilson gave out candy to students who were perfect on their spelling tests, and it expanded into a schoolwide spelling bee. Other grade levels also participate in the spelling bee.

Ever since then, the school has hosted the spelling bee each year. Students cheered on their classmates from the crowd as they spelled their words. The competition went several rounds before being cut down to the top three, who each received a trophy. 

"I’m super excited to be a part of the spelling bee, and I’m very proud of all the kids,” said Jennifer Vano, reading teacher at Cecil H. Parker School and chairperson of the Spelling Bee Committee. 

"It was a team effort,” said Principal Jacqueline Green. “The committee was wonderful; they made the displays. We had a retired TA (teaching assistant), who came back and tutored with the spellers. You can also tell that some of them who are shy were very confident in spelling their words. So, it was really great.”

View the spelling bee parade here.

Parker Spelling Bee
Justin M At spelling bee
Spelling bee kid spelling word
Child spelling word

 

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Parker Spelling Bee
Cecil H. Parker School holds spelling bee

Students lined up on stage for a competition of the minds at the annual PTA Cecil H. Parker Spelling Bee. The spelling bee was held on Friday, May 19, 2023. Chibuikem Okwudili, third-grade student, won the third-grade spelling bee on the words “pronounce” and “encyclopedia.” Justin Montaleza placed second, and Leshay McBryde placed third. 

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