— by Cara Russell —
The brave spellers following their All-School Spelling Bee competition. Photo: Cara Russell
On Tuesday, January 28, 19 student spellers sat nervously on the stage in the Orcas Island School cafeteria, waiting to compete in the All-School Spelling Bee. Students from the Orcas Island Public School, OASIS, and Orcas Christian School all competed. Each one had a piece of paper pinned to their chest, with their name and a number written on it so large that it could be seen from the back of the room.
On the floor, judges Coleen O’Brien, Children’s Librarian Nita Couchman, and Ed Wilson, a parent of a student, sat at a table waiting to provide the words the children would have to spell. “But don’t worry,” said Wilson with a smile “my kid isn’t on stage today,” a comment that relieved the nervous energy in the cafeteria for just a moment.
In the audience was twice-winning Orcas Island Spelling Bee winner, Tara Dobos, who seemed almost as nervous as the kids on stage. Too old to compete this year, Dobos provided the students support by offering them a spelling bee club to practice.
There were twelve rounds before a winner was named, as each child approached the microphone and spelled out big words in their little voices—words like ragamuffin, aficionado, and juxtapose.
As the words became harder, the students thinned out, until only eight were left standing; Flora Lister, Ian Maier, Skyler Gregg, Evie Hance, Benjamin Pollard, Daniel Keyes, Josiah Renich, and Jaden Castelucio.
By Round Eight it was down to three; Ian Maier, Skyler Gregg, and Benjamin Pollard. Because all three misspelled their word, they each moved into Round Nine for a do-over. At that point Coleen O’Brien suggested the entire room take a stretch break, to get out the nerves and jitters.
By Round 10, it was down to just Skyler and Benjamin. Skyler misspelled perpetuity, while Benjamin misspelled mackerel. In Round 11 Skyler misspelled wherewithal, while Benjamin correctly spelled affectionate, but he also had to correctly spell compulsory to win the game which he too misspelled.
This moved the boys into Round 12. Mollycoddle was the word that took down Skyler, while Benjamin correctly spelled instinctively, and then the winning word—jurisdiction—to win the All School Spelling Bee 2014.
Pollard won a Kindle Fire, his name on a trophy, and a chance to compete at Regionals in Mount Vernon. If Pollard wins at Regionals, he will go to Nationals in Washington, DC.
Pollard said he studied for 40 minutes “almost” every night to prepare for the Spelling Bee. He thanked his parents for their support, and said that he was “happy,” with an almost smile. Although Pollard is a young man of few words, he seems to be able to spell them all.
Eager anticipation was high even in the All-School Spelling Bee audience. Photo: Cara Russell
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