The Newton County School System will host the 2016 District Spelling Bee on Friday, February 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Newton High School. Each of the school system’s elementary and middle schools will send its spelling bee champion to participate in the county-wide competition. Each school will also send its runner up as an alternate in the event the school champion is unable to participate.
“Even in the technology-rich world that we live in today, spelling continues to be an important tool because the written word is so powerful,” said Benjamin B. Roundtree, Director of Elementary Schools. “Among other things, the spelling bee supports our students’ learning by enhancing their understanding of vocabulary relative to spelling and by promoting correct word usage. Indeed, spelling bee competitions in our schools continue to be highly anticipated events, and we are happy to continue this venerable tradition.”
During the competition, contestants must spell the word they are given correctly. Once they have started to spell a word, the contestant cannot change the letters once they are spoken out loud. If a speller fails to spell the word correctly, they are out of the competition.
When only two competitors remain, the elimination procedure will change. If one finalist misses a word, the other finalist will spell the next word on the caller’s list. If the contestant spells that word and the next word on the list correctly, he or she will be declared the winner. If he or she misspells either of those two words, the other finalist will be given the next word on the caller’s list to spell. If that finalist spells the next word and the next correctly, he or she will be declared the winner. If both misspell their word, both shall continue in the bee and the one who first misspelled his or her word shall be given the next word on the caller’s list to spell.
The judges and the Newton County Spelling Bee Committee are in complete control of the bee at all times and the judges’ decision shall be final on all matters.
Parents and family members are invited to attend the NCSS Spelling Bee; however, we ask that parents refrain from bringing infants and small children to the competition as they may distract the contestants. We also ask that flash photography only be used after the competition is completed.
Newton County School System’s 2016 school-level spelling bee champions are as follows:
School Champion Alternate
East Newton Elementary Riley Worley Jewel Thomas
Fairview Elementary Joey Reynolds Jaimoni Parker
Flint Hill Elementary Zada Atkism Zavier Wallace
Heard-Mixon Elementary Mason Westbrook Lynda Coots
Live Oak Elementary Nicholas Duclosel Naijha Barnes
Livingston Elementary Nikillis Johnson Ashley Holland
Mansfield Elementary Dylan Jones Steven Livingston
Middle Ridge Elementary Domonick Cooper Taliah Cornish
Theme School Scott Evritt Cheyanne Washington
Oak Hill Elementary Shelby Housworth Aiden Ruffin
Porterdale Elementary Raina Mannah Jaden Grier
Rocky Plains Elementary Cameron Jones David Remington
South Salem Elementary Reagan Key Leila Diallo
West Newton Elementary Jade Neal Isabel Cuadros
Clements Middle Jayden Wheeler Justic Ferguson
Cousins Middle Stephanie Vaughn Laura Jean Dole
Indian Creek Middle Jet Rawls Brendan Glaspie
Liberty Middle Safiyyah Rahim David Byrke
Veterans Memorial Middle Emerson Greendridge Jacob Lynch
