Four days remain to register for spelling bee

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

There are four days left for area schools to sign up for the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.

The Vindicator will sponsor its 83rd Regional Spelling Bee on March 12, 2016, as a qualifier for the Scripps event in May in Washington, D.C.

Participating schools have until Oct. 16 to enroll with Scripps at www.spellingbee.com and secure log-in details for a copy of the 2016 School Pronouncer Guide plus three grade-specific levels of the 2016 Classroom Pronouncer Guide.

The Ohio Lottery Commission will be picking up the registration fee this year.

Schools have their own bees to select a champion to advance to The Vindicator Regional Spelling Bee.

The winner of the regional event gets an all- expense-paid trip to compete in the Scripps national bee in Washington.

Nena Perkins, coordinator of the regional bee, said nearly 50 schools have enrolled so far.

The Vindicator Regional Bee will begin at 9 a.m. March 12 in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University.

Students may begin using the free, official study guide from the Scripps National Spelling Bee and Merriam- Webster, available at www.myspellit.com.

The free online access replaces the school’s need to order spelling-bee booklets for students.