Palatine CCSD 15 holds annual district spelling bee; champion to advance to North Suburban area competition

Dr. Emily McFadden, director of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Assessment for Palatine CCSD 15, opened the district's annual spelling bee and welcomed students, families and staff to the event at SunLink Junior High School. "We're so happy to have you at our district 15 annual spelling bee," she said.

The contest included multiple standard spelling rounds and vocabulary rounds drawn from school study lists and, for later rounds, Merriam-Webster Unabridged. McFadden told the auditorium that "Tonight's winning speller will represent District 15 at the North Suburban Area Spelling Bee on Tuesday, February 25 at Lincoln Hall School in Lincolnwood at 7PM." She also explained competition rules set by the Scripps National Spelling Bee Organization and the procedure for appeals and timing.

Organizers identified Mrs. Renee Burns as the pronouncer and named judges Kaylee Gerhardhart and Kate Ehrenberg; Ehrenberg additionally provided student support during the contest. The district also thanked school staff and volunteers including Julie Crawford (who oversees the district spelling bee), Jason Dietz (SunLink Junior High School staff), and technology and videography staff Scott Arnieri, Steve Manka and Dave Kuchenberg.

Rules and procedures emphasized by staff included a five-minute maximum for spelling each word (with a yellow sheet displayed at four minutes and a red sheet when time expired), the ability for spellers to request repetitions, definitions, part of speech and language of origin, and a prohibition on changing letters once spoken. McFadden told the audience that "the judges are in complete control of the competition. Their decision shall be final on all questions and are not subject to review or reversal by the Scripps National Spelling Bee headquarters office." She also outlined the appeals process: parents, guardians or teachers may appeal at the end of the round in which the speller was eliminated; judges may consult notes and video when reviewing appeals.

At least 19 students from Palatine CCSD 15 schools participated, representing elementary and middle schools across the district. Contestants ran through rounds that included straightforward spelling words, homonyms, variant spellings and vocabulary multiple-choice questions; the transcript records rounds through at least seven full rounds and into later vocabulary and Merriam-Webster-based lists. Organizers said that if all spellers in a round misspell, all remain in the competition; when a single speller spells correctly in a round, that speller is given a new one-word round to attempt to be declared champion.

The transcript does not record a final champion or complete final standings. The district announced the schedule and path for the winner to advance to the North Suburban Area Spelling Bee, and judges and staff continued the competition following the procedures described.