Welcome to the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs’ Spelling Bee
Sponsored with the Newton Civic Pride Committee and with Mount Ida College
We are thrilled that your child is joining us for this Spelling Bee. In an effort to help you prepare your child, please review this list of general rules and guidelines. We wish everyone the best of luck!
“Bee” Prepared General Rules and Guidelines
Arrival Schedule: (Be sure you are registered for one day only)
March 1 & 3 for Grades K-3:
For Grades K, 1,2: Arrive no later than 5:30 pm so that we can begin at 6pm
Grade 3: Arrive no later than 6:30pm
March 8 and 10 for Grades 4-6:
Grade 4 Arrive no later than 5:30pm so that we can begin at 6pm
Grade 5,6 Arrive no later than 6:30pm
- If your child has not eaten at home, please bring a snack.
- In fairness to all children who are participating in the Spelling Bee, it is very important that we keep the noise level to a minimum. Please hold your applause until the end of each grade bracket. At the end of each round, we will prompt you to give each grade a big round of applause for all of their hard work.
- Each grade will be called on stage together, and students will be asked to spell a grade appropriate word. Children will be competing within their own grade level only; they will remain in the contest until they spell a word incorrectly. The children will be asked to stand to spell their words.
- Students may ask to hear a word a second time, have it used in a sentence, and/or ask for the definition. Students will also be able to “self-correct” (i.e. saying an incorrect letter and then changing it before they finish is okay). Additionally, the emcee or judges may ask a student to spell a word again if the initial spelling is unclear.
- If they spell the word correctly, they will stay on the stage and proceed to the next round where they will spell increasingly more difficult words.
- Children who do not spell their word correctly will be escorted off the stage and into the hallway. Of course, everyone is a winner- we will be awarding all participants a customized Spelling Bee Certificate and a goodie bag for all of their hard work.
- We encourage parents to meet their children outside the room and praise them for all of their hard work. After your child is no longer participating in the Spelling Bee, we welcome you to stay and watch the remaining spellers or leave at your convenience.
- Each grade level will have 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners and will be awarded prizes at the conclusion of the grade contest.
Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate contacting us. Looking forward to meeting you.
PHOTO RELEASE
I/WE, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of do hereby grant permission for pictures to be taken of my child for the purpose of publicity for programs of the Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs. I understand that photos may be published in local papers or in future brochures for the Newton Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs.
Signature of Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Date:
Return to Spelling Bee page Return to Spelling Bee Registration Form
Download a copy of these rules