HOUSTON – May 22, 2017 – Elementary and middle school students from across all Spring ISD schools recently competed in the second Annual Spring ISD Spanish Language Spelling Bee. This is the second year of the annual competition for Spring ISD students from all backgrounds – native and non native Spanish speakers – offering them an opportunity to give it their best during the Spanish spelling competition.

According to Kathy Heinz, Spring ISD elementary bilingual coordinator, students were well-prepared and eagerly participated in the competition. “I was quite impressed in seeing parents with their students studying even right before the competition,” Heinz said. “I know each student gave it their all. And our sponsors and audience members motivated the competing students to do their best.”

As with any spelling competition, students showed exemplary preparation and enhanced study skills while building their vocabulary, giving them an opportunity to gain experience in a competitive setting.

The rules for the Spanish language competition are very closely aligned to those of the Scripps National Spelling Bee with a few exceptions, which include using the Spanish alphabet and commonly used accents. All the words used for the Spanish Language Spelling Bee came from the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language better known as the Real Academia de la Lengua Española. This makes the spelling of words more rich and complex in Spanish, which adds even more pressure for students to articulate the linguistic and phonetic components of words they need to spell.

The winners in each category were awarded trophies and certificates, as well as a chance to compete in the 7th Annual, 2017 National Spanish Spelling Bee July 13-16 in San Antonio, Texas.

Following are campus-level winners: Elementary school winners: Paola Sanchez, first place from Hirsch Elementary; Isabel Bautista, second place from Bammel Elementary School; and Camila Chica, third place from Salyers Elementary. Middle School winners: Wendi Ortega, first place from Bammel Middle School; and Lizeth Sanchez, second place from Roberson Middle School.