Five Bees Crowned at County Schools Inaugural Spelling Bee

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Spelling was all the buzz at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools first Spelling Bee on March 24. 

Five winners were announced during a virtual awards ceremony. First place champion Caleb Rodriquez will advance to compete in the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee in July. 

Congratulations to the 2021 Spelling Bee winners:

• First place, Caleb Rodriguez, 8th grader at Edison Academy of Differentiated Learning, Ontario-Montclair
• Second place, Hayden Gonzalez, 8th grader at Foothill Knolls STEM Academy of Innovation, Upland Unified
• Third place, Logan Person, 8th grader at Richardson PREP HI Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified
• Fourth place, Rianna Manalac, 7th grader at Loving Savior Lutheran School, Pacific Southwest 
• Fifth place, Ames Avarell, 4th grader at Inland Leaders Charter Schools, Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified 

Twelve students from nine elementary and middle schools participated in the virtual event. Districts represented included: Adelanto Elementary; Ontario-Montclair; San Bernardino City Unified; Snowline Joint Unified; Upland Unified; Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified; and private school district, Pacific Southwest. 

Scripps National Spelling Bee provides Words of The Champions, a 4,000-word study booklet, to help students prepare for the competition. Each student is given 30 minutes to spell up to 50 words. Rodriguez correctly spelled 44 words out of 50—earning him the title.

The Spelling Bee is sponsored by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Innovation and Engagement branch. The purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn new concepts and develop correct English usage. For more information on the Scripps National Spelling Bee, visit their website