Announcing 2017 Junior and Senior Spelling Bees

Jr. Spelling Bee: Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Sr. Spelling Bee: Wednesday, February 15, 2017

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Junior Spelling Bee Contest Details:

  • The Junior Bee will be held on Wednesday, February 8, from 4:30 pm- 6:00 pm. Participants will be asked to gather at 4:15 pm, and the bee will begin at 4:30 pm. Ending time will vary based on number of participants.
  • The Junior Bee will be for students under age 9 using past Scripps spelling word lists. The bee will be a slightly less formal structure to get kids comfortable spelling in front of an audience.
  • The contest will be oral questions and responses with one pronouncer and one judge.
  • The top two spellers from the Junior Bee will be invited to participate in the Scripps Senior Bee the next week on Wednesday, February 15.

Senior Spelling Bee Contest Details:

  • The Senior Bee will be held on Wednesday, February 15, from 4:30 pm- 6:00 pm. Participants will be asked to gather at 4:15 pm, and the bee will begin at 4:30 pm. Ending time will vary based on number of participants.
  • The Senior Bee will be for students age 9 and older plus the two qualifying Junior Bee Spellers.
  • The contest will be oral questions and responses following the format, rules, and guidelines of the national Scripps Spelling Bee program.
  • The Compass Senior Bee champion will be invited to participate in the Fairfax County Spelling Bee in late March.

General Bee Details/Location

  • A registration fee is collected from each participant. The registration fee is $10.00 for Compass students* and $15.00 for non-Compass students. (*A Compass student is one who has been enrolled in a Compass class in 2016-17.)
  • Registration is now open! See the Store tab of the Compass website to sign up! Payment may be made by check or credit card.
  • The Bee will be held at 2705 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton on the Compass campus. 

Eligibility:

  • Homeschooled students under age 15* and under can participate. *A student must be under age 15 as of August 31, 2016 to participate. (i.e., birthday 9/1/2001 or later).
  • This contest is open to all homeschooled students from northern Virginia, regardless of whether or not they take classes at Compass!
  • This contest is also open to Compass students* who reside in Maryland, West Virginia, and/or Washington DC. Homeschooled students from these areas who do not attend Compass classes cannot be accommodated and are encouraged to find or organize bees in their own area.
  • A student may compete in only one local Scripps bee and cannot “shop” around by participating in more than one homeschool spelling bee.

More Information:

  • An optional “Bee Basics” information session will be held for first time participants and their parents on Wednesday, February 8, at 9:00 am, in Room 5 at Compass.

Practice Suggestions:

  • All registered participants will receive an e-mail with practice words lists.
  • Watch YouTube videos (with your parents) YouTube videos of past national spelling bees
  • Watch bee-related movies (with your parents) bee-themed movies such as Spellbound or Akeelah and the Bee.
  • Read!

Questions:

  • For questions not answered here, please contact the Spelling Bee coordinator through Compass.

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