MEDIA RELEASE

The national annual Scripps Spelling Bee, which concludes with highly competitive finals in Washington, D.C., and in Hawaii, includes a statewide bee that is broadcast live by PBS Hawaii Public Television, begins on campuses across the state.

Waimea Middle School again host its schoolwide Spelling Bee from 8:30 – 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14 at Kahilu Hall and families and community friends are invited.

Language Arts classes have held classroom bees during the last two weeks and 27 students from sixth to eighth grade have qualified for the schoolwide finals. Winners of the schoolwide bee will compete in the district and possibly state finals.

WMS schoolwide finalists include:

Eighth Grade: Anatevka AhLoy, Romilly Benedict, Rusty Crabbe, Bodie Glasscock, Iokepa Keliiholokai-Agustin, Korie Key, Kaylene Lincoln and Cherrish Lumalan

Seventh Grade: Roland Afaga, Jr. (the current No. 2 middle school speller in the state), Jacob Brown, Ryan Hooley, Austin Kahoopi’i, Kiai Lindsey, Lehua Muranaka Walton, Adrianna Rodriguez, Celeste Souza and Taran Takahashi

Sixth Grade: Sheldon Aribal, Serenidy Delos Santos, Daneau Domingo, Maya Ellsworth, Kuulei Hashimoto-Ruis, Lilly Lindsey, Tori Lindsey, Keahi Noa-Lange, Lehua Peters-Lindborg and Annie Pham.

Coordinating the bee are WMS language arts teachers Leesa Robertson, Liz Noetzel and Barbara Haight.

For more information, call WMS at 887-6090 Ext. 222 or visit: www.WaimeaMiddleSchool.org