|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
“N-I-H-I-L-I-S-M” gave the win in one age group while a four-way tie for first place after extended rounds was the result in another during the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District’s virtual spelling bees last month.
The two LVJUSD competitions were held Feb. 17 for grades 4-6 and Feb. 24 for grades 7-8, under the guidance of “Spell Master” Philomena Rambo. Each elementary and middle school sent their top spellers to the district-wide contests, where the students competed in a live setting from home.
“I am so proud that our district was able to continue the tradition of hosting our annual spelling bees, despite the constraints of the pandemic. Our students’ and staff’s proficiency in the use of online webinar platforms resulted in two exciting and intense competitions,” Superintendent Kelly Bowers said in a statement.
“The virtual spelling bees were so much fun,” added Brett Christopher, Livermore High vice principal and emcee for both events. “We had a great collection of students who all did an amazing job. Every year I’m amazed by the words that these students are able to spell and this year definitely did not disappoint. Congratulations to all of the students that participated in such exceptional competitions.”
Excitement was especially high in the 4-6 Grade Spelling Bee. After 12 rounds and nearly four hours of tough spelling, Rambo in consultation with the judges called time on the competition and awarded a four-way tie for first place.
The “Final Four” co-champions were sixth-graders Lily Feng and Brayden Kreitzman from East Avenue Middle School, sixth-grader Anaya Menon from Mendenhall Middle School and fifth-grader Mahathi Kamalanathan from Altamont Creek Elementary School.
The 7-8 Grade Spelling Bee victory went to Mendenhall Middle School seventh-grader Isaac Yee, who was crowned champion after seven rounds when he correctly spelled the word “nihilism.”
Rounding out the other top finishers in the older division were eighth-graders Sameer Dhanvantari from Joe Michell TK-8 School and Amelia Paradise from Junction Avenue Middle School.
Livermore poised to resist potential reuse of former Dublin prison as ICE facilityJune 14, 2026 6:20 pm
