Entry deadline nears for bee

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The deadline for eligible schools and home-schoolers in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to enter the 76th Annual Vindicator Regional Spelling Bee, a forerunner to the Scripps contest, is rapidly approaching.

To participate, schools must enroll online by Oct. 15 at www.spellingbee.com, the official Scripps Web site.

The Vindicator will be notified of local online school registrations, and schools will receive informational materials to register their local school champion for the regional event slated for March 14, 2009, on the campus of Youngstown State University.

Enrollment benefits include:

USpelling bee eligibility for each school’s pupils.

U25 spelling bee study booklets — “2009 Spell It!”

UUser ID and password for the School Log-in section of spellingbee.com.

UFrom Encyclop ¶dia Britannica, a free one-year subscription to student.britannica.com for one student.

UThree grade-specific versions of the 2009 Classroom Pronouncer Guide.

UThe 2009 School Pronouncer Guide.

UAward certificates.

UImportant information about the local spelling bee program.

The materials and enrollment fee is $99 per school. Schools enrolling by Sept. 30 will receive double the award from Encyclop ¶dia Britannica: two free one-year prize subscriptions to student.britannica.com.

School representatives or home-school families with questions should contact Nena Perkins, Vindicator spelling bee coordinator, at (330) 747-1471, ext. 1222, or by e-mail at nperkins@vindy.com.