Several Darlington students took top honors this week at the Local Independent School Bee hosted by Excel Christian Academy in Cartersville, Ga.
On Wednesday, Fourth-grader Parker Scott took home first place in the Elementary division (grades 3-5), joining Darlington's Kayo Lufadeju (grade 3) in second place, and Jackson Peer (grade 3) in third.
Scott's winning word in the spelling bee was "cygnet."
In total, nine Darlington students secured spots in the top 12 of the Elementary division competition.
In the spelling bee's Middle School division (grades 6-8), Darlington eighth-grader David Braden won third place overall.
"Our strong showing in the bee is a reflection of how much our students read," said Jennifer (Brewster) Helbing ('98), ELA-8 dean of students. "At Darlington we instill and foster a love for reading through read-alouds, our curriculum and the materials we have available, as well as teachers that model and support that same love of reading in our students' daily lives."
Darlington students qualified for the regional bee during rounds earlier this month and also in January. The top four spellers in grades 3-8 advanced to Wednesday's finals.
The Local Independent School Bee rotates from year to year between various schools within the region.
"The area bee is a great example of how the local independent schools work together to provide opportunities for all of our students," added Helbing.
