It’s time to mark those new 2010 calendars with the spelling bee date—Jan. 29!  Hope to see many of you there!  Below is the article with all the info that appeared in the HEN newsletter last fall. 

HEN Spelling Bee 2010: Go for the Gold!

Just as athletes are currently training for the 2010 winter games, it’s time to start your training for the 2010 HEN Spelling Bee!  Please plan to join us at the bee on Friday, Jan. 29 at the A.V. Sorensen Library and Community Center on 48^th and Cass Streets.  1^st- and 2^nd-place winners at each level receive a gold and a silver medal respectively, and the top two senior division spellers advance to the next level of competition—the Douglas County Spelling Bee. 

The day kicks off with junior division spelling just for fun.  Registration starts at 10 a.m., then, beginning at 10:30, grades 1-4 will spell one grade at a time, finishing by about 12:30 or 1 p.m. 

After a break for lunch, senior division will register at 1:45 and begin competition at 2 p.m.  There is no division by grades at this level, but senior division spellers must not have passed beyond 8^th grade at the time of the bee. 

Spellers in grades 1-4 may participate at both levels if they wish, or just one. 

Word lists

Word lists are available at http://spellingbee.com/files/spellingbee.com/2010%20study%20words%20complete%20set.pdf. 

Junior division word lists generally go by grade level, but the new lists for early levels are fairly short and simple, so please be aware that you should be studying your own grade level and the levels above your grade to the extent of your ability.  If one grade exhausts the list provided for their level, they will move on to the next grade level list.  Words will not be repeated from grade to grade, so it is conceivable that your grade may be using lists a level or even two above your stated grade.  (For example, if all the early word lists have been used by the younger grades, 4^th graders could be starting out with the 5^th- or 6^th-grade list.) 

Senior division spellers should study the lists marked 5^th-8^th grades, as well as any other spelling resources they choose.  Check www.spellingbee.com for ideas.  The school level bee no longer includes words from the Spell It! booklet, but the county and regional bees do.  If you are ready to study Spell It! please see their web site at www.myspellit.com.  (You may also contact Sandy Larsen at sjlarsen@cox.net or call 558-5409 for information on a downloadable copy.) 

Rules

A copy of the rules can be found at the following web site:  http://spellingbee.com/files/spellingbee.com/Rules%20for%20Local%20Spelling%20Bees.pdf.  Please note that these rules describe the general structure and function of the HEN Bee, however, local bee officials may amend these rules to accommodate the needs of their particular bee. 

Registration

Pre-registration is tremendously helpful, but is not required.  Please send the following information to sjlarsen@cox.net or call 558-5409:

            1)  name of speller

            2)  age and grade on the date of the bee

            3)  parent(s) name

            4)  phone number and e-mail if available 

A registration fee will be collected at the door.  Please pay $2 for each junior division speller and $3 for each senior division speller.  Since fees may not completely cover the costs of the bee, donations are also welcome.  Checks may be made payable to HEN. 

Special note for parents of senior division spellers—last but not least!

You may have the opportunity to represent HEN and homeschoolers in the larger community.  The Douglas County Spelling Bee is annually passed on to the winner’s school.  This means that should your child advance to and then win 1^st place at the 2010 Douglas County Bee, you will be the host of the 2011 Douglas County Bee.  This has been done by homeschoolers in the past, so there are families who can give you advice should you find yourself in this happy position.  HEN has provided financial resources and HEN volunteers have stepped to the plate, but the responsibility of organizing and coordinating this event would be yours.  This can be a great opportunity to showcase homeschooling in the community and involve your children and other homeschoolers in serving with you to host this event.  Contact Sandy Larsen and/or the HEN Board if your child wins to receive all the information and advice you need.