FBE Virtual Spelling Bee & Trivia – Saturday, February 6, 2021

By Leave a Comment

Photo: The bee and trivia event will be held virtually

The upcoming Foundation for Belmont Education Spelling Bee & Trivia event promises to be an afternoon and evening of fun from the comfort of your own home on Saturday, Feb. 6.

The Bee & Trivia format will utilize both Zoom and Kahoot! and will be divided into two fun-filled segments: a Family Bee from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a Teen and Adult Bee from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. While there will still be spelling, both Bees will now include trivia questions too, with surprise hosts, half-time entertainment, and both segments will be eligible for an assortment of fun prizes!

Registration opens on Jan. 19-29, at www.fbe-belmont.org/bee

One member of your team should register the entire team – you will need all the names of the team members and your team name upon registration. We ask that teams be limited to four or the size of your family. The fee per team is $40. Scholarships are available, please contact The Bee Keeper at beekeeper@fbe-belmont.org for information.

For additional information about the FBE Virtual Spelling Bee & Trivia and the FBE, please visit www.fbe-belmont.org. Thank you for your continued support of the Foundation for Belmont Education. Together, we are making a difference in the Belmont Public Schools.

Questions? Email beekeeper@fbe-belmont.org

Don’t Bee Left Behind: Registration for Annual Spelling Bee Closes Oct. 20

By Leave a Comment

Photo: A kindergarten team at last year’s event.

Bee prompt bee for it’s too late!

Register now for the Foundation for Belmont Education’s annual Spelling Bee! There are very few spaces left for teams to participate in the contest taking place on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Chenery Middle School beginning at 2 p.m. The Bee is open to all students in grades K-6 and is an exciting event for students, family, and friends.

It’s time to get ready create a team, pick a creative name, and coordinate your costumes. 

Expected Spelling Times

  • K-2nd Grades: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • 3rd and 4th Grades: 4 p.m. – 6  pm 
  • 5th and 6th Grades: 6 p.m. – 8:30 pm 

Registration

Online registration is available at www.fbe-belmont.org/bee. Registration is completed at the individual speller level, but a team name and the names of all team members are required before an individual can register.

Space for this popular event is limited and often fills before the Friday, Oct. 20 registration deadline. Please register with your team as soon as possible to secure a spot.

Volunteer

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Bee, view the volunteer and sign-up HERE.

For more information, to register, and to view the 2017 word lists, visit the FBE website at: www.fbe-belmont.org/bee. Need assistance? Email beemaster@fbe-belmont.org.

Oh Mon Cher! French Words Play Spoiler at Foundation’s Spelling Bee

By Leave a Comment

Photo: The Chenery Cheetahs, the 2015 Foundation for Belmont Education Spelling Bee Champions: Solenn Marion, Grace Deane, Gillian Palmer and Maddie Knight.

They came onto the stage of the Belmont High School auditorium in T-shirts sporting names such as “Sassy Pandas,” “Alphabeetizers and “Not Another Spelling Bee.” Some wore mustaches, others costumes ranging from princess dresses to bear-inspired head gear.

And the more than 700 Belmont students, from kindergarten to sixth grade, came to spell on Saturday, Nov. 14 as participants in the 17th annual Foundation for Belmont Education Spelling Bee.

The bee will raise nearly $20,000 that helps the Foundation fund enrichment programs and provides grants to teachers that benefit single classrooms to entire schools, said Jamie Shea, president of the Foundation for Belmont Education.

“It’s also a great that this is our most attended event of the year as parents come to take photos and join in on the fun,” said Shea.

Under the skilled hand of host Greg Stone (who announced his retirement from the job after 12 years) early 200 teams in 21 “swarms” (groupings of six to nine teams) got their opportunity to show their spelling prowess, from the Kindergarteners writing out “fun” and “away,” to the fifth graders in the competitive rounds, taking on tougher ones such as “philanthropist” and “martyr.”

And this year, words with a French origin were pivotal in the finals, knocking out some very strong teams. “Potpourri” was an especially harsh word as all but one of the teams during on

For the team Magical Spell – made up of sixth-grader Eman Alkayid and the fifth grade’s Daniel Lai – the ability to spell “mayonnaise” and “pasteurize” allowed them to come from behind two teams and make it to the finals.

“I figured pasteurize had to do with Pasteur,” said Lai while Alkayid said they just worked their way through the spelling of the popular sandwich spread.

There was one French word that left all the finalists stumped. When “hors d’oeuvre” was selected by the judges, a look of horror and puzzlement descended on the participants faces as if they had encountered snails as a pre-meal appetizer. The judges – including long time pronouncers Laurie Graham and Anne Mahon, time-keeper Joanna Kaselis Tzouvelis and umpire, poet and professor Stephen Burt – decided quickly the word was a bit much for middle schoolers to chew on.

Finally, the Chenery Cheetahs, a quartet of fifth graders made up of Grace Deane, Maddie Knight, Solenn Marion and Gillian Palmer – used a cooperative approach to the spelling, defeating the Fab Four – Theo Gallagher, Alek Karagozyan, Brian Shu and Brennan Thomson – with “hygienic” after the girls went ahead on the tricky “queue.” The winners received a $100 bond from the Belmont Savings Bank along with a trophy.

So what makes a winning speller? Studying, being smart and “having a marker of destiny, fate, luck and power,” said Marion.

“And being good friends,” said Knight.

Foundation’s Youth Spelling Bee on for Saturday, Nov. 14

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Spelling Bee.

Belmont School District students will be lining up to show off their spelling prowess as the 15th annual Foundation for Belmont Education Spelling Bee takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

WHERE: Belmont High School Auditorium 

WHERE TO PARK AT BHS:

  • In the Belmont High School parking lots 
  • On the LEFT hand side of the entrance driveway 
  • On Concord Avenue 
  • On side streets near the Underwood Pool 
  • At the Belmont Memorial Library (after 5:00 p.m.) 

RULES: Click HERE for the Fall 2015 Spelling Bee Rules. 

FAQ: For a list of frequently asked questions click HERE.

ARRIVAL TIME FOR SPELLERS:  Check the latest list.

Spellers may participate in three or four-person teams. On the day of the Bee, teams go on stage in groups (swarms) and are given words from the list to write on a small team whiteboard (teams can designate one writer or rotate). 

The K-4 swarms are non-competitive. Teams will be told if their word is correct or incorrect, but there is no elimination. 

The 5th and 6th grade swarms are competitive using our famous “two stingers before you’re out” rules. Challenging, off-list words may be used, if needed. 

In preparation for the Bee, each team picks a name and is encouraged to wear attire (shirts, hats, etc.) to show their team spirit. Pizza, drinks and desserts will be available for sale in the cafeteria. Family members and friends are welcome to come and watch! Participants should check the FBE website before the Bee to determine approximately what time their team will be on stage.

Still have questions? Contact the Spelling Bee Co-Chairs, Christa Bauge or Jacqueline Kaiser, at beemaster@fbe-belmont.org

Put a ‘Bee’ in Your Bonnet: Register for the FBE Annual Spelling Bee

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Spelling teams.

Have your dictionaries at the ready. It’s that time of year when the younger students in the Belmont School District will be lining up to show off their spelling prowess as the 15th annual Foundation for Belmont Education Spelling Bee takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14

The yearly congregation of the town’s best spellers occurs in the Belmont High School Auditorium from 2 p.m. to until they have a winner.

Student teams from Kindergarten to 6th grade can register here: CLICK HERE. Deadline is Friday, Oct. 30.

And HERE are the rules for the Fall 2015 Spelling Bee Rules. 

Participants should check the FBE website the week before the Bee to determine approximately what time their team will be on stage! 

WORD LISTS
Spelling Bee 2015 Grade K Word List

Spelling Bee 2015 Grades 1 and 2 Word List

Spelling Bee 2015 Grades 3 and 4 Word List

Spelling Bee 2015 Grades 5 and 6 Word List

Students may review the appropriate grade word lists at home and with their team. Spellers may participate in three or four-person teams. On the day of the Bee, teams go on stage in groups (swarms) and are given words from the list to write on a small team whiteboard (teams can designate one writer or rotate).

The K-4 swarms are non-competitive. Teams will be told if their word is correct or incorrect, but there is no elimination.

The 5th and 6th grade swarms are competitive using our famous “two stingers before you’re out” rules. Challenging, off-list words may be used, if needed. 

In preparation for the Bee, each team picks a name and is encouraged to wear attire (shirts, hats, etc.) to show their team spirit. Pizza, drinks and desserts will be available for sale in the cafeteria. Family members and friends are welcome to come and watch. Participants should check the FBE website before the Bee to determine approximately what time teams will be on stage. 

More questions? Check out this year FAQ! Still have questions? Contact the Spelling Bee Co-Chairs, Christa Bauge or Jacqueline Kaiser, at beemaster@fbe-belmont.org

Volunteers are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Contact beemaster@fbe-belmont.org

‘Bee’ there!