It’s that time of year again! Modesto City Schools’ elementary students are abuzz with excitement as they recently competed in the annual MCS Spelling Bee, held this year at Fairview Elementary. More than 50 students gathered to showcase their spelling skills, vying for a coveted spot at the Stanislaus County Spelling Bee, and possibly the California State Spelling Bee.
Out of the group of talented spellers, 10 students were selected to represent MCS at the county level. Among them are sixth grader Anneke Capps from Sonoma Elementary School, and fifth grader Audree Haro from El Vista Elementary. Both are seasoned competitors who have participated in previous spelling bees. Now, they’re aiming for the county title, and perhaps even a shot at the State Spelling Bee.
“I have a really big goal,” said Capps. “I want to make it to at least the qualifying round of the National Bee. It might take me until 8th or 9th grade, but I’ll get there.” Anneke’s teacher at Sonoma Elementary, Gina Grgich, said her success is all self-driven.
“We don’t even do spelling tests in the classroom nowadays,” Grgich admitted. “But Anneke is the type of student who sets high goals and works tirelessly to achieve them. If she makes it to the state round, we’ll rally as a class to help her prepare.” Grgich says there are many benefits to participating in spelling competitions, which can provide greater experiences. “It’s beyond spelling; it’s about seeing kids achieve wonderful things. As teachers, our role is to provide a foundation for them to reach their dreams.”
At El Vista Elementary School, the sentiment is echoed by Audree Haro’s teachers, Patricia Towe and Patrick McLoud. Audree, who shined as the only fourth grader to qualify for the Stanislaus County Spelling Bee last year, continues to impress. In addition to her spelling prowess, Audree excels academically across the board.
Last year, she earned a perfect score on the CAASPP (California Assessment of Students Performance and Progress) in English Language Arts, and she recently achieved 100% on her first-trimester benchmark math test. “They can pick any words at the district spelling bee,” Audree said. “I have no idea which words they’ll ask us to spell, but I study the practice list until I know every word perfectly.”
Towe and McLoud credit Audree’s success to her drive and love of learning.“Audree and another student were part of our high-level intervention group,” said McLoud, her fourth-grade teacher. “Students like her push themselves because grade-level work isn’t always challenging enough.”
Towe added that the supportive environment at El Vista plays a big role in fostering success. “We have a really strong upper-grade team and the camaraderie among teachers creates a sense of trust for the students. It’s a powerful motivator,” she said.
For students who didn’t advance to the next competition, Audree offers wise advice: “It’s okay because you can always study again and focus on the words that were hard for you.”We are incredibly proud of all our spellers and thrilled to cheer on the 10 students moving on to the county competition. Best of luck to all of them. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish!