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Remias crowned Hilltop spelling bee champion
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Brianna Remias (center) was crowned Hilltop Elementary School’s 2010-11 Spelling Bee Champion, with Mallory Vaclav (right) named runner-up and Evan Skripac (left) in third place.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Hilltop Elementary School Principal Cathy Mowry congratulated the participants of the school’s annual Spelling Bee.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Fifteen fourth-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School participated in the school’s annual Spelling Bee June 6.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Brianna Remias was crowned Hilltop Elementary School’s 2010-11 Spelling Bee Champion June 6 and was congratulated by her mom, Stephanie.
„ÄÄBy ABBY SLANKER
Fifteen fourth-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School had their spelling skills put to the test during the school’s annual Spelling Bee June 6.
Three students from each of the five fourth-grade classrooms participated in the contest. To qualify for the grade-wide spelling bee, the participants had to win one of three classroom spelling bees held throughout the school year.
Hilltop Elementary School Principal Cathy Mowry was the announcer, with Diane Dankovich, guidance counselor, Jessica Bruno and Suzen Woolley, both reading intervention tutors, serving as judges. Third- and fellow fourth-grade students, friends and family were also in attendance.
The students competed for several rounds until it came down to the final two spellers — Brianna Remias and Mallory Vaclav.
For the last two spellers, the rules changed. The announcer would say the word and use the word in a sentence. The contestant must then spell the word correctly to move on. If the word was misspelled, the other contestant must spell the word correctly and then spell a new word correctly to win the Spelling Bee.
It was quite a contest with Remias and Vaclav revealing their excellent spelling skills and going toe to toe in each round. Mowry finally had to declare a lightning round. The rules changed again where if one student misspelled a word, the other student would win the spelling bee if she spelled the same word correctly.
Once again the students went several rounds, until Vaclav misspelled the word ‘occurred.’ The word was then presented to Remias, who spelled it correctly, and was crowned 2010-11 Spelling Bee champion.
“You girls have outdone yourselves today. You have been spelling words on an eight-grade level, which is very impressive. I have to tell you, I only had one more word left on my list. I am so proud of you both,” said Mowry, as she congratulated the girls.
Evan Skripac placed third in the contest. The three top placers received a dictionary and a Barnes and Noble gift card, courtesy of Hilltop PTO. The last student from each classroom to be eliminated from the contest was also awarded a dictionary.