TTE students participate in spelling bee
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Nineteen Timber Trail Elementary students participated in the school’s spelling bee. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Scripps National Spelling Bee.
This year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the very first spelling bee. The event helps students increase their vocabulary and build confidence while having fun with their peers. With only nine participants at that very first bee, today millions of elementary and middle school students participate in this annual tradition.
Last month, 19 Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) fourth and fifth grade students advanced from their classroom bee to compete in the school-wide contest. All participants had two months to practice from a study list of 450 words and study guides provided by Scripps. Although the majority of their preparation and studying was done at home, fifth grade teacher and bee coordinator Brooke Wolf met with the students once a week during recess to better prepare, practice, review the expectations and rules, answer questions and conduct mock bees.
During the competition, words progressed from easy to hard, from “deep” to “teriyaki.” Other words to spell were “respiratory” and “fuselage.” Fifth grader Dhruti Beeram took first place spelling “egotistical” with fourth grader Emma Elze winning second.
“I felt proud of myself, but I would also feel grateful even if I didn’t win. It was a lot of pressure,” said Dhruti, who will advance to the district bee at Douglas County School District’s Legacy Campus this month.
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From left to right: spelling bee coordinator Brooke Wolf, second place winner Emma Elze, winner Dhruti Beeram and principal Robert Thelen.
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary