Fifth Pali Bee Creates Buzz of Excitement

By DAYNA DRUM | Reporter

The fifth annual Pacific Palisades Spelling Bee decked out the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center on Sunday, Feb. 28 in black-and-yellow decor, bringing in 157 students in first through fifth grade from 20 participating elementary schools.

Founders of the “Pali Bee,” Leslie Pereira and Eugene Volokh handed the reins of the event to the Palisadian-Post this year.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be carrying on this tradition, and we are so grateful to Leslie and Eugene for entrusting us with this amazing event,” said the Post’s Editor-in-Chief Frances Sharpe.

The day was comprised of a morning session for first and second graders and an afternoon competition for third through fifth graders. Each session was divided into a written test and an oral competition.

The top scorers on the written exam moved on to compete on stage before a panel of judges in the event’s oral spelling bee.

While the written exams were being scored, parents and participants mingled in the courtyard awaiting the results.

Second-grader Lucy Messina said “conditioner” was the hardest word for her on the written test. However, contestant number 45 said she was feeling confident. Lucy’s parents Dana and Nancy Messina said they had been coming to the Bee every year and were returning in the afternoon session with their second child.

Before the advancing participants were announced, Scott Groza of Groza Learning Center assured everyone that all the students were winners for participating.

The oral competition immediately followed after the advancers were identified.

Master of Ceremonies and the Post’s Assistant Managing Editor Jacqueline Primo donned a bee costume and kicked off the oral competition part of the day with 10 squirming first graders seated behind her on stage.

The morning judging was handled by Joan Ingle, principal of Palisades Elementary Charter School; Nicole Sheard, principal of Canyon Charter School; and Benjamin Merit, principal of Marquez Charter Elementary School.

The duties of word pronouncer were fulfilled by Tim Schneider of Schneider Publishing.

Both first and second grade competitions went to tiebreaking rounds. Groza explained tiebreakers happen often and that it is a tight competition.

“We prepare for it every year,” said Groza, referring to the list of challenge words that had been prepared. Groza Learning Center prepared the lists of words for the written and oral tests.

The first-grade winners were announced to a drumroll created by the audience. The title of first place went to Caroline Baskin of Carlthorp School, who said she was excited to win, but was nervous being on stage.

Second place went to Lucas Hocking of Calvary Christian School, and Hanna Shin of Calvary took third place.

After first-grade trophies were passed out, the second-grade winners were announced. First place was awarded to Asa Stratman of Canyon School, second place to Charles Abemayor of Seven Arrows and third place to Jakob Heindel of Marquez.

“I’m really proud of myself,” Abemayor said holding his red trophy, which he said he would be putting somewhere safe.

About 40 volunteers from the YMCA, Palisades Music School and Groza Learning Center collaborated to ensure the Pali Bee ran smoothly. Between the morning and afternoon sessions parents milled around the outdoor courtyard with snacks and yard games.

The afternoon session began with the written portion for third, fourth and fifth graders. Violet Affleck said she felt like the written exam went well but pointed out that “rendezvous” was the hardest word on the test. Despite her nerves and the pressure she was feeling, Affleck said, “I’m just here to have fun.”

The afternoon judging was taken over by Stuart Work, head of school at St. Matthew’s Parish School; Ashley Ciatu, Seven Arrows teacher; and Melissa Whiting, also a Seven Arrows teacher.

For the fourth year in a row, owner of the Post Alan Smolinisky stepped in as the afternoon’s word pronouncer.

Each of the three grades was forced into tiebreaking rounds.

After a long list of challenge words such as “parsley” and “passengers” the duel between two third graders ended when one misspelled “refrigerator.”

Ryan Grossman of Marquez took first place, Mischa Posin of Seven Arrows took second place and Lily Williamson of Pali Elementary came in third place.

With his beaming family around him, Grossman said, “It feels like all the work paid off.”

The three trophies in fourth grade went to Leo Craig from Village School in first place, Violet Affleck in second place and Dillon Ring from Pali Elementary in third place.

Holding his first place trophy on stage, Craig said he would be celebrating the win with a root beer float that night.

The last trophies of the day were given to fifth graders Elena Rosenmayr from Pali Elementary in first place, Maddie Neilson from Corpus Christi School in second place and Josh Webber in third place.

During breaks in the competition, contestants played on iPads and computers provided by ATAM, which also donated a prize to the winners. Palisades Music School donated a free class to the winners. Other prizes included passes to Disney on Ice and Discovery Cube.