Spelling Bees and Responding to the Community
By Steve Bartholomew - FF/S
Can you spell “resuscitable, scythe, dramaturgy, expressionism, philosophize?" These are some of the championship words that our third- , fourth- and fifth-grade students had to spell at our annual Lower School Spelling Bee this week.
A total of 39 competitors went 12 rounds to determine a first-place winner. Congratulations to fifth-grade student Andy Brunt, who was victorious by spelling the word “behemoth” (someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful). Second and third place went to fifth-graders Tejas Reddy and Harsh Patel, respectively. The runner up was third-grader Garrett Price.
Special thanks go out to all of our competitors who demonstrated stamina and good sportsmanship as they competed over an hour in the bee. I would also like to thank our judging committee – Ann Glass, Kristen Wilkens, Alice Clements, Ashley Evans and Jennifer Helbing - for their due diligence in preparing for the competition.
Winners from this event will compete in the Area Independent Schools Spelling Bee for grades 3, 4 and 5 at Excel Christian Academy (Cartersville) on Thursday, April 12, at 9:30 a.m. Three students per grade will be allowed to compete with a maximum number of nine students per school. There will be a total of seven schools represented in the competition.
The 100th Day of School was a great day for celebrating “Service Beyond Self” as our students learned about helping others. The tables at lunch and the stage in the gym were decorated with all of the donations that were given by our students to area schools, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
As one of our service projects, the students are collecting funds to purchase water filters for villagers in Guatemala. Special thanks to Tripp Bagby, who demonstrated at our Tuesday assembly how water filters work. The teachers and students are working diligently to have all of the funds collected by Feb. 9 as the Scott family will be traveling to Guatemala during spring break to install these filters. Girl Scout Troop #10266 presented a check to the Scott family for the purchase of two water filters. This amazing group of girls also presented Ann Glass, our librarian, with a check to purchase additional books for the library.
Parents and friends of the Lower School can participate in this project by donating $45 for the purchase of a water filter. Checks should be made payable to Food for the Hungry/Eli/s Wish Foundation. All funds can be given to Suzanne in the front office by Feb. 9.
Tiger Pride was very helpful in coordinating all of the above activities for the students. Kudos to Amy Monroe, Lowery May and Kathleen Hughes for all of their help and support.
Lastly, fourth-grade student Cole Hickman spearheaded a canned good drive for an area soup kitchen. The canned goods will be delivered on Thursday, Feb. 9. The class that donates the most canned goods will be rewarded with an ice cream treat.
School will be closed for winter break on Friday, Feb. 10, through Monday, Feb. 13. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Our Tiger Pride moms are planning a fantastic Teacher Appreciation Week which extends through Friday, Feb. 17.
