As part of Inspire – ECU – A Division of WFCU Credit Union’s community engagement program – the Bee promotes literacy and language arts in a fun and engaging way, and provides area youth from grades 4 to 8 the opportunity to compete for a chance to represent the Waterloo Region at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
13-year-old Eleanor Jeavons from MacGregor Senior Public School in Kitchener won the ECU Regional Bee in February 2023 by correctly spelling the word innovator! Other words Eleanor spelled correctly include doppelgänger, insinuate, natatorium, and Presbyterian.
Eleanor tied for 141st at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee after correctly spelling halala, but incorrectly identifying the meaning of virulence. Way to go Eleanor!
To enroll your school for 2024, or to find out more information about the Bee, please email communityinvestment@wfcu.ca! The Bee helps students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. In addition to the academic benefits, students also develop important life skills—like goal setting, time management, and public speaking—that will help them as they advance in school and eventually to successful careers.
For more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, please visit https://spellingbee.com/.
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