Huntsville City Schools 2017-2018 Spelling Bee Update Leah Edgecombe District Curriculum Specialist, Magnet Programs April 5, 2018

Summary of Previous Presentation/Goals Presentation by Erin Howard Service Learning Project “Increasing Spelling Bee Participation” District Goal set: 100% participation from all P-6, P-8, Middle and Junior High Schools

The HCS Participation Decline In recent years, Huntsville City Schools’ participation in the Madison County Spelling Bee has dwindled. 42% of eligible HCS schools participated (13 schools). 2005 2010 2017 In 2005, 27 HCS schools participated. In 2010, 21 HCS schools participated. By the school year of 2019-2020, I would of course like to see participation at 100%, but if not, I would like it to be at least back to 65-70% (at least 22 schools). By the school year of 2022-2023, my minimum percentage goal would be 80% (25 schools). 64% of eligible HCS schools participated. 54% of eligible HCS schools participated.

Erin’s Rationale: The Spelling Bee and 21st Century Learning The spelling bee helps students improve skills that are crucial to them as 21st century learners. These include: - vocabulary - communication and public speaking - critical thinking and analysis of etymology - study skills and work ethic Students have to be able to speak clearly at a microphone in front of judges, understand patterns in words that may assist students in spelling unfamiliar ones, and commit their time and effort to studying.

2017-2018 Participation By December 2017 all Elementary and Middle Schools were registered on the Scripps Spelling Bee Website School Wide Spelling Bees began in October and were all successfully completed by January 2018 District personnel, members of the Community, Individuals from Redstone Arsenal, Alabama A&M University, and a host of others served as judges and pronouncers HUNTSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS HAD THE HIGHEST PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE COUNTY WITH 100% OF ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS HOSTING A SPELLING BEE!!

Madison County Spelling Bee All First Place School Winners and Runner Up Winners attended the Madison County Bee on February 6th 2018. Huntsville City Schools for the second year in a row had a student- Ms. Erin Howard declared as the overall County Winner! Erin competed in the State Spelling Bee on March 10th in Birmingham and has been declared the Alabama State National Spelling Bee Champion! Erin will compete nationally in Washington D.C. at the end of April.

THANK YOU!!! TO ALL OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOL POINT OF CONTACTS, SPONSORS AND PARENTS WHO SUPPORTED OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SPELLING BEE AND MADE SURE OUR STUDENTS ATTENDED THE COUNTY BEE!