Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, January 20, 2016
(PAOLI) - After a debut run in 2015, the Orange County Publishing Company’s Great Spelling Bee will return to Ruth Farlow Uyesugi Auditorium at Paoli Junior-Senior High School on February 27 at 2 p.m.
In addition to being named the county's top speller, the winner will go on to represent all of Orange County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.
"We're so glad to be able to offer this exciting opporunity for local youth once again," said Miles Flynn, managing editor at the newspapers and the local bee's organizer. "Of course the cost of affiliating with the national event and sending a winner and parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for five nights is considerable, so none of this would be possible without the generous support of our funding partners."
On board again this year are the Orange County Community Foundation at $1,500 and Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company and Old National Bank, each at $750. New partners include Orange County REMC's Operation Round Up at $1,342 and Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation at $750. Another potential partner is in the process of being recruited.
"Regardless, though, we have no doubt we'll be moving forward," Flynn added.
The bee is open to eighth graders and younger students. School bees, using words provided by the national organization, are in the process of being held now to determine who will compete at the Great Orange County Spelling Bee, with up to four students advancing from Springs Valley Elementary, Springs Valley Junior High, Throop Elementary, Paoli Junior High, Orleans Elementary and Orleans Junior High.
"Not only will this be an amazing opportunity for one student, but," Flynn said, "more importantly, it will also get students across Orange County excited about good spelling. That's why our school leaders really embraced this project the first time around and were eager to be involved again for 2016."
The schools will also be provided with words for younger children, all the way down to first grade.
"I think this is a great way for educators to get all age levels in on the excitement and make spelling fun," Flynn commented. "It's also a way to develop a farm system of future competitors for our countywide bee."
In addition, individual homeschoolers or homeschool cooperatives are also invited and encouraged to take part and have until January 29 to register with the national organization through www.spellingbee.com. They will have to pay the same enrollment fees paid by schools, and more information is available by emailing mflynn@ocpnews.com.
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