Tim Hance presents 2012 All-School Spelling Bee Trophy to Tara Dobos. Monica Connell applauds.. Photo courtesy Ron Hermann
Tara Dobos, Orcas Island Middle School and OASIS 7th-grader, won the All-School Spelling Bee in the 14th round today with the words “poignant” and “apartheid.”
Her last challenger was Monica Connell, Orcas Island 6th-grader, who mastered the words “blithe,” “nemesis” and “simile” but faltered on the word “illuminati.”
The two finalists persevered through 13 rounds among students in 4th through 8th grades from Orcas Christian School, Orcas Island School District and OASIS Alternative Learning school. The OASIS distance spelling bee was conducted through the “technological marvels” wrought by OASIS teacher Mimi Diepenbrock and Orcas School teacher Paul Evans, to compete electronically in 14 different locations.
OASIS distance learner Kaden Meredith made the trip from Tacoma to compete at the Orcas School cafeteria. He was joined by Sunshine Roach, Sydney Schofield, D.J. Bickmore, Eve Hance, Ian Maier, Nate Smith, Violet Sturk, Christian Bailey, Maddy Hance, Henry McMurray, Claire Bishop-Martin, Jo Gudgell, Wylie Kaue , Claire Orser, Madeleine Dudley, Stephanie Harris and Darby Wright.
Tara Dobos, Claire Orser (partially hidden) and Monica Connell ponder a difficult word during the 12th round of the All-School Spelling Bee.
Judges Coleen O’Brien, Nita Couchman and Steve Diepenbrock provided word definitions, use in sentence, language of origin — and eventually time limits. The Spelling Bee was organized by parent Tim Hance; prizes were donated by San Juan Insurance, Dr. Steven Bailey, Lance Evans and Janet Brownell, Coleen O’Brien, All Islands Home Inspection and the Orcas Island PTSA. The grand prize was a Kindle Fire.
The competition was peppered liberally with foreign words, such as “kielbasa,” “”gauche,” “bolshevik” and “karaoke” (all successfully spelled by the students; however the words “gestalt,” “segue” and “kohlrabi” kept the spellers from advancing to the next round).
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The Spelling Bee is a medium of excellence in language arts and an American tradition. I hope someday that Orcas students will be allowed to advance to state and National competitions. The reason they are not allowed now should be looked into and corrected.
I am so happy and celebrate Tara’s victory and know how focused she was in her studying and on winning this Spelling Bee, congratulations!