diocese of pittsburgh 2018 spelling bee - … · diocesan spelling bee requirements and information...
TRANSCRIPT
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
2018 SPELLING BEE
TO: Elementary School Principals
Spelling Bee Coordinators
FROM: Cecilia Grandillo
RE: Diocese of Pittsburgh Spelling Bee Grades 4-6
May 16, 2018
Registration - 11:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Spelling Bee- 12:00 PM
Location: Saint Louise de Marillac School
310 McMurray Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
Once again, we invite all students in grades 4, 5 and 6 to participate in the Elementary Catholic Schools
Spelling Bee. Each principal may select one student to represent the school. The principal may use a local
school spelling bee, a report card grade, or a written test to make the selection. However, the school spelling
bee is most effective in selecting the student to represent the school as it also helps prepare the student for the
Diocesan competition.
For your convenience, you will find the following items included:
School Registration Form (due by March 1, 2018)
Student Registration Form (due by April 1, 2018)
List of the Spelling Words to be used at the Spelling Bee (this list does not include the challenge words)
Spelling Bee Rules
We applaud the schools that have regularly participated in this annual event and look forward to welcoming
schools new to the Spelling Bee this year. Please send all registration forms to me. My contact information is
listed below. Call if you have any questions.
Cecilia Grandillo
Educational Consultant
Department for Catholic School Administration
111 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412-456-3070
Fax: 412-456-3098
Diocesan Spelling Bee Requirements and Information
Day/Date: May 16, 2018
Time: 11:30 - end of the bee!
Location: Saint Louise de Marillac
310 McMurray Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
Schools wishing to participate in the Diocesan Spelling Bee must do the following:
1. Complete and submit to Lisa Whisker a School Registration Form by March 1, 2018. The fax is (412)
835-2898 and the email address is [email protected] and complete and submit to Lisa
Whisker a Student Registration Form by April 1, 2018. The fax is (412) 835-2898 and the email
address is [email protected]. Any correspondence can also be sent via U.S. mail to
Lisa Whisker c/o St. Louise de Marillac School, 310 McMurray Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241
2. Choose ONE Fourth, Fifth or Sixth grade student to represent the school for the Diocesan Spelling
Bee. The school may decide how to select this student. The selection method may be using report card
grades, teacher recommendation/s or a local spelling bee. The local spelling bee is the recommended
method because it also provides the student with experience before an audience.
3. An alternate student may be selected and sent to the bee. In case of an emergency the alternate student
may participate in the bee.
4. Remind your student participant to arrive no later than 11:30 a.m. in order to register and receive a
seat assignment for the bee. The bee will begin promptly at 12:00 noon so students must be on time.
Sincerely,
Cecilia Grandillo
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Educational Consultant
412-456-3070 extension 3
1. There will be a practice round so students can gain a comfort level using the microphone. Each
student will state his/her name, school name, and grade level. During the practice round, the student
will be given a word to spell but no one will be eliminated during the practice round even if the word
is spelled incorrectly.
2. After the practice round, the pronouncer gives the contestant a word and a sentence using that word.
Spellers are encouraged to pronounce the word before and after spelling it; however, no speller will
be eliminated for failing to pronounce a word. The speller may ask the pronouncer to say the word
again, and/or ask one of the judges to pronounce the word, and/or request that the word be defined.
Definitions will be provided by one of the judges using a dictionary on hand.
3. While spelling a word the speller may stop and start over, retracing the spelling word from the
beginning; but in the retracing there can be no change of letters and/or their sequence from those first
pronounced. If the letters or their sequence is changed in the respelling, the speller will be
eliminated.
4. After a contestant completes the spelling of a word, a judge pronounces it “correct” or “not correct.”
If a word is spelled incorrectly, a judge will provide the correct spelling. The next word on the
pronouncer’s list is then given to the next contestant.
5. If a contestant misspells a word, the student returns to his/her seat on the stage. At the end of the
round, students who misspelled a word will leave the stage and sit in the audience.
6. If only one contestant spells correctly in any round, that student is given the opportunity to spell in a
next one-word round. If the speller succeeds, the speller is declared the winner and the others will
compete in a tiebreaker round or rounds. For example, if there are three spellers in a round and only
one student spells correctly, that speller will be given the opportunity to enter the next one-word
round. If the contestant spells correctly, the speller is declared the first place winner and the other
two contestants will compete in a tie-breaking round or rounds. If the contestant spells incorrectly,
all spellers will enter the next round and spell in the same order as previously. Tie-breakers will
happen only after there is a winner declared.
7. The same procedure is followed when there are only two contestants remaining.
8. Under no circumstances will any participant be asked to correct the misspelling of another speller.
9. Any questions relating to the spelling of the word should be referred to the judges immediately
during the bee. No appeal will be entertained after the bee has concluded.
10. The judges are in complete control of the bee; their decision/s shall be final.
11. If challenge words are needed, a list of ninth grade words will be used. This list of challenge words
is not distributed for study by the participants prior to the bee.
