Twenty-two top spellers from the fourth through eighth grade classes at Orcas Island Elementary School, Middle School and OASIS K-8 School will compete in a School Championship Bee on Friday, Jan. 29, at 9:45 a.m. in the School Cafeteria. The public is invited.

The top spellers from each classroom in grades four to eight were previously selected at class bees two weeks ago and will compete for the school championship and the opportunity to advance to the regional spelling bee, and perhaps The Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

The qualifying spellers include: fourth graders Monica Connell, Evelyn Hance, Maggie Toombs, and Josh Veldman; fifth graders Michael Chesher, Axel Greening, Maddy Hance, Bethany Hansen, Miles Harlow, and Aidan Kruse; sixth graders Jo Gudgell, Anthony Kaskurs, Wylie Kau, Bethany Meenach, Julianna Rose and Halle Thompson; seventh graders Arianna Dean, Nate Lawson, and Dylan Thompson; and eighth graders Caleb Dean, Emily Jackson and Jack Russillo. Many of the competitors have been practicing for months, by attending the school’s spelling club, taking part in mock bees, learning strategies and studying word lists.

Principal Kyle Freeman will emcee. The judges and pronouncers will be Chris Sutton (school board member), Lance Evans of the Chamber of Commerce, Nita Couchman from the Public Library and Jenny Pederson from Darvills.

The Orcas Island School spelling bee winner will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee on March 13 at Bayview Elementary in Burlington, Wash. The regional winner advances to The Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition in Washington D.C.

The bee is sponsored by the Orcas Schools’ PTSA,and supported with donations from All Islands Home Inspections, Enzos, Islanders Bank, Stoltz/Kau Architects, Teezers, West Beach Resort and White Construction Co.