9:00am | The countdown is on for the 10th Annual National Elementary School Spelling Bee, and there is still time for smart, young Long Beach spellers to sign up for Sunday’s competition, organizers said.
Sponsored by Long Beach activist Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team, the bee is slated for this Sunday, March 6, and will be held in the auditorium of Belmont Shore’s Bay Shore Church, 5100 E. The Toledo, beginning at 2 p.m. The competition offers cash prizes and is open to any third-, fourth- or fifth-grader regardless of the city in which he or she resides or whether he or she attends public, private or parochial school or is home-schooled.
As of Wednesday evening, 46 spellers had signed up to vie for the $1,000 cash top prize, with one student hailing from as far away as Portland, Ore., Rudd said. Students interested in competing have up until the bee begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday to register.
“There is no limit to the number of students from a school,” Rudd said. “Spellers do not have to be endorsed or entered by their school. For the 2 p.m. finals, we will accept the first 100 students to register.”
All entrants must be at the church and signed in by 1:30 p.m. If more than 100 students register, Rudd said a spell-off will be held at 1:45 p.m. to determine which spellers will advance to the 2 p.m. finals. Students can arrive as early as 1:15 p.m., though the doors will not open to the public until 1:30 p.m., he said.
The cost is now $40 per registrant, though Rudd, in an effort to double the number of competing spellers, has extended an exclusive offer to our readers here at the Long Beach Post. Rudd said he’ll slash the registration fee in half for anyone who mentions reading this article on the Long Beach Post.
Additionally, Rudd said that there are a number of free-entry scholarships remaining for low-income spellers who would like to participate but whose families cannot afford the registration fee.
Family and friends of participating spellers are encouraged to attend. General admission seating is $5 per person, and street parking at the church is free.
For additional information or to register a speller, send an e-mail to [email protected].