Thanks to sponsors of the spelling bees | Letter

Published 12:59 pm Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Spelling bees are about as exciting as watching a loaf of bread, right? Wrong! They are every bit as exciting as watching your favorite competitive sport, especially in the final rounds when the remaining competitors battle it out over words they haven’t learned yet.

The kids bite their lips awaiting their turn, while the audience vicariously spells right with them, elated with correct answers and disappointed with the wrong ones. Like sports, it comes down to who is most prepared, strategy and who remains the coolest under fire.

This year my son, Joe, won the All School Spelling Bee and went on to place seventh in the regional bee at Skagit Community College. Both bees were very well organized and professionally done.

I would like to take a moment to thank sponsors of both the bees for their contribution to these important events and encourage all of you to support them as they have supported our students: The Orcas Christian School, Orcas Island School District and PTSA, Skagit Community College, the Office Cupboard, Island Market, Julia Sanders-Dobos,  Tim Hance of All Home Inspections, Darvill’s Bookstore, and the Skagit Valley Herald.

I would also like to thank Cali Bagby for her wonderful on-the-spot reporting. I am sure there are others who helped I extend my thanks to you, as well.

Folks, if you missed this year’s spelling bee, make it a point to go to the one next year. You won’t regret it, I promise!

Beth Reigel

Orcas Island