For the past several months, San Benito students had been preparing for the school district’s annual spelling competition with help from their parents at home and via virtual assistance from their spelling coaches. Amidst all COVID-related adversities, campus spellers did their best in preparing for the challenge of a district wide competition.
Sponsored by the San Benito CISD Departments of Academic Services and Professional Development, the annual spelling competition provides elementary and middle school students with an opportunity to learn new words, sharpen their spelling and vocabulary skills, and vie for the title of the school district’s top speller.
“We had 37 students from our 11 elementary campuses and 2 middle schools advance to the district event held on Thursday, February 4,” said Director of Elementary Instructional Implementation Dilia Cornett.
“The event was a structured a little differently to ensure the safety of our students and staff, but our students’ and coaches’ hard work and dedication were clearly evident,” added Cornett.
Throughout the weeks they’ve been preparing, contestants have learned, studied and practiced spelling words such as eggplant (noun, purple spongy absorbent fruit), mister (noun, a man whose name is unknown), scooter (noun, a light twowheeled motor vehicle), and sacristy (noun, a room in a church where a priest prepares for service).
After nine rounds of competition, this year’s competition came to an end when Valeria Soto, a seventh grader at Riverside Middle School successfully spelled the winning word – ounce (noun, a unit of weight), earning the first-place honor. Her spelling coach, Amanda Duran Yarrito, was quite proud of her student being named the 2012 Spelling Champion.
Leilah Ontiveros, a fifth grader at Judge Oscar De La Fuente Elementary, earned second place; her coach was Anna Richmond. Isaiah De La Cruz, a fourth grader at Ed Downs Fine Arts Academy finished in third place; Michelle Flores was his coach.
San Benito students having competed in the 2021 Spelling Bee were the following:
• Angela G. Leal Elementary – Jocelyn Rocha, Daniel Abrego;
• Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary – Victoria Leos, Jadalynn Guajardo;
• Dr. Raul Garza, Jr. STEAM Academy – Annalisia Hubbard, Eritza Sequera;
• Ed Downs Elementary – Miah Morales, Isaiah de la Cruz;
• Frank Roberts Elementary – Siniya Quesada, Lanie Leal, Luz Garza;
• Fred Booth Elementary – Emery Gonzalez, Yael Ruiz, Jaime Gonzalez;
• Judge Oscar De La Fuente Elementary – Alana Sifuentes, Leilah Ontiveros;
• La Encantada Elementary –
Roel Abrego, Daisy Rodriguez;
• La Paloma Elementary – Santiago Martinez;
• Miller Jordan Middle School – Deevine Alanis, Devante Alanis;
• Rangerville Elementary – Gabryela Elizabeth Peña, Mason Lee Rios, Isaiah Miguel Flores;
• Sullivan Elementary – Maria Garcia, Emily Palacios, Arianna Anderson;
• Riverside Middle School – Abril Soto, and Valeria Soto.
As the local Spelling Champion, Soto will now represent the school district at the 33rd Annual Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee in March.
According to Cornett, not only does a Spelling Bee contest allow contestants to engage in healthy competition, it also empowers students to develop self-confidence, better their public speaking skills, and increase their ability to do their best under pressure.
“Congratulations to all of our Spelling Bee participants! Thank you all for your continued commitment to being The Gold Standard,” Cornett said at the end of the event.
