Excellence in Spelling

KES News Release

Throughout the month of November, students at Kaunakakai Elementary School (KES) prepared to take part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Each student grades two through six was given a Scripps National Spelling Bee Study Guide with 100 spelling words to practice for their classroom Spelling Bees. The top two winners from each second through sixth grade classroom then advanced to our School Spelling Bee Championship that was held Tuesday, Nov. 25 in our school cafeteria.

Congratulations to the 22 Classroom Spelling Bee Champions who participated in our School competition: Grade 2: Daviano Ortiz, Kaye Marie Alvarez, Kaia Yamashita, Enzo Kansana; Grade 3: Aiko Kanemitsu, Katelynn Whitted, Kielyn Guzman, Navaehstiny Valdez Luafalemana-Kalauli; Grade 4: Sapphire Puaa-Mae, Lau Asuncion, Kealo Mahina, Meredith Go; Grade 5: KC Alvarez, Akone Manaba, Paige Fukuoka, Kristen Santiago; Grade 6: Dylan Coelho-Kelekolio, Kai`ina Afelin, Reese Raguindin, Kayla Clemens; Spelling Club Reps: Owen Svetin, Teruko Asano.

From the School Spelling Bee Championship, the top two students are invited to advance on to the Maui District Spelling Bee competition that will be held on Jan. 22 at Baldwin High School.  Congratulations to Reese Raguindin for being our School Spelling Bee Champion! Reese and Owen will represent our school on Maui in January.

A big mahalo to our volunteer judges for the evening, Kumu Tiana Miguel and Ms. Catherine Cluett, as well as our volunteer pronouncer for the event, Mrs. Cindy Brito.  The Scripps National Spelling Bee Coordinator at Kaunakakai Elementary School is Jenn Whitted.