CLARKSVILLE — Clinton-Massie Elementary and Middle School students recently competed in the initial rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition that encourages students to improve spelling, increase vocabulary, identify word patterns and develop correct English usage.
While classroom teachers encouraged students to build upon their word knowledge, students worked hard to learn new words, practice for spelling bees, and participate in individual classroom bees that took place in first through fifth grades.
At the conclusion of the elementary school’s classroom bees, the following students advanced to the school-wide competition: First graders Eli Baker, Cobe Euton, Bryson Geyer, Nicholas Hanlon, and Gwenna Probasco; second-graders Abi Byrd, Andy Davila, Kaylee McCollister, Aubrey Sivert, Lila Theetge, and Daphne Woodrum; third-graders Jacob Harrison, Marshall Hunter, Sydney Schneder, Hayden Schram, and Catherine Synan; fourth-graders Leah Binau, Liliana Carlisle, Isaac Marshall, Alex Pence, Mase Neeley, and Nathan Voisey; and fifth-graders Trey Brewer, Isaiah McCoy, Gabe McDowell, Connor Powers, Lacie Sandlin, and Eli Stiverson.
After six rounds of competition, Leah Binau, Jacob Harrison, and Connor Powers remained in the running and continued to work their way through more and more challenging words. By the end of round eight, Binau had taken the lead and was the final contestant standing. After successfully spelling the word “tropical,” Binau was declared the winner of the CMES Spelling Bee.
During the middle school competition, classroom bee finalists included sixth-graders Jacob Crisenbery, Kaley Koch, Luke Lentine, Evan Mc Collister, Lauren Myers, and Isabelle Phelps; seventh-graders Sam Binau, Abby George, Russell Holderman, and Pearl Spurlock; and eighth-graders Clayton Amburgy, Savannah Henderson, and Josh Merkle, all of whom spelled to the finish.
According to Gifted Intervention Specialists Jill Binau and Nicole Friend, students made an impressive showing as they spelled words with increasing difficulty and complexity. They asked for definitions, sentences, and alternate pronunciations as they worked through 12 rounds of words.
After the final round of competition, Abby George walked away in first place, having spelled the winning word “mogul” correctly, followed by Savannah Henderson in second and Evan McCollister and Pearl Spurlock tied for third.
Having won their school-wide spelling bee competitions, both Leah Binau and Abby George advanced to complete an online qualifying test which will determine if they will compete in the regional Spelling Bee competition March 12 at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.
Both students will also receive a free one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online for Kids from Encyclopedia Britannica.
Clinton-Massie Locals Schools competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee free of charge thanks to a generous offer by the Ohio Lottery commission that paid for the materials and enrollment fee.
The Ohio Lottery contributed a record $990 million to K-12 education in Ohio last year.
Information for this article was provided by Diana Miller, who coordinates communications for several area schools.
