Washington Informer Spelling Bee by The Washington Informer

Annual 2013 Supplement

The Washington Informer

Spelling Bee History of the City-Wide

Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes prepares for NBC4 interview following the spelling bee with D.C. Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Arlene Ackerman. Dr. Ackerman is now superintendent of the Philadelphia Public Schools./ Photos from the WI Archives

Ashley White gets a big hug from her mother following her successful bid as D.C. spelling bee champion in 2003. She was featured in the film “Spellbound” and she went on to receive an undergraduate degree from Howard University.

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March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

he Washington Informer began sponsoring the D.C. City Wide Spelling Bee during the 1981-82 school year. The late Dr. Mary E. White, supervising director, D.C. Public Schools Division of Instructional Services, Department of English, sought participation for D.C. Public Schools students in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held annually in Washington, D.C. While Scripps was willing to include the District of Columbia in the national competition, it could not do so based upon its requirement that a daily newspaper must serve as the official sponsor of the local competition. Many years prior, The Washington Daily News sponsored the local spelling bee. Subsequently, The Washington Star purchased the Daily News, and subsequently ceased sponsorship of the spelling bee. Thus, for more than 15 years, District of Columbia public, private and parochial school children could not participate in the national competition for lack of a sponsoring newspaper. Dr. White solicited support from the Washington Post, hopeful that the publisher would agree to become the District’s official sponsor. According to Dr. White, Post officials told her that since the daily newspaper was a regional publication; their sponsorship would have to include not only the District of Columbia, but suburban Maryland and Virginia, as well. However, at that, the Journal newspaper chain had served as the suburban sponsor for several years, resulting in the Post’s refusal to sponsor the bee solely for students enrolled in District schools. Dr. White then appealed to Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, a friend and supporter of the D.C. Public Schools, president and founder of the United Black Fund, Inc. and publisher of The Washington Informer newspaper. It was Dr. White’s hope that Dr. Rolark would exercise his influence over the Post officials and persuade them to agree to sponsor the spelling bee. However, as publisher of a weekly newspaper, which served more than 25,000 readers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, Dr. Rolark volunteered his publication to serve as a sponsor. With that, he brought in his daughter, Denise Rolark, managing editor of The Washington Informer, to assist in coordinating the District’s first spelling bee along with Dr. White and other D.C. Public Schools officials. The first city-wide spelling bee was held at Backus Junior High School in March, 1982. The winner was a sixth grade student, John Krattenmaker, who attended Mann Elementary School. Unbeknownst to Dr. Rolark, John was not permitted to participate in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee held the following May because The Washington Informer was and still is not a daily newspaper.

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Each year, more than 4,000 students enrolled in nearly 200 D.C. public, private, parochial, charter and home schools participate in the spelling bee. For the past 31 years, the City-Wide Spelling Bee has been held at the studios of NBC4, where it is taped and later aired for general viewership.

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As an officer of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a trade organization of nearly 200 African American-owned newspapers across the country, Dr. Rolark concluded that the Scripps National Spelling Bee was maintaining an inherently racist policy because there were and still are no African American-owned daily newspapers in the country. He argued that in a jurisdiction, like Washington, D.C., where the majority of the student population is African American, students who might otherwise be eligible to participate in the spelling bee would be precluded from doing so unless a white-owned daily agreed to become the official sponsor. Dr. Rolark called in his legal counsel and wife, Attorney Wilhelmina J. Rolark, who threatened Scripps with an injunction that would forbid the national competition to take place in the District of Columbia until the court ruled on the merits of the case alleging discrimination. Scripps complied, and changed its rules allowing weekly newspapers sponsorship privileges in the national competition. That year, the Loudon County Times, a weekly newspaper based in Loudon County, Virginia and the only other weekly newspaper to participate along with the Informer in the national spelling bee that year, produced the national spelling bee winner. Each year, more than 4,000 students enrolled in nearly 200 D.C. public, private, parochial, charter and home schools participate in the spelling bee. For the past 31 years, the City-Wide Spelling Bee has been held at the studios of NBC4, where it is taped and later aired for general viewership.

Dr. Mary White, chairman of the English and Language Arts Dept., congratulates John Krattenmaker, of Lafayette Elementary School, D.C.’s first winner of the Washington Informer Spelling Bee held 31 years ago.

Daphne Gaither, of Evans Junior High School, with Dr. Mary White and her team of spelling bee coordinators from the English and Language Arts Department of DC Public Schools.

Purpose

Scripps, a diversified multi-media company, established the National Spelling Bee to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop correct English that will help them all their lives. Spellers experience the satisfaction of learning language not only for the sake of correct spelling but also for the sake of cultural and intellectual literacy. The Washington Informer’s participation in Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee helps to further the goals of Scripps in the District of Columbia and to address the issue of illiteracy, particularly among African American youth. “If we want to improve the quality of life for all Americans,” the late Dr. Calvin W. Rolark said, “then we must begin by teaching our children to read, which they will not be Washington Informer publisher Dr. Calvin W. Rolark interviews spelling bee champion Ronald Benson-El during his weekly taping of Sound-Off on WYCB 1340-AM. able to achieve until they can learn to spell.” SB

31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT March 2013

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Congratulations to all the Washington Informer Spelling Bee Participants!

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March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

2013 Washington Informer Spelling Bee Winners

First Place Donovan Rolle Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science 8th Grade

Attorney Jack H. Olender, a long time supporter of The Washington Informer Spelling Bee, sponsors a yearly reception to give cash awards to the bee’s top winners. Here he is shown in his office holding a large gavel with third place winners, Eric Wright and Justin Atwood, Second Place Winner Alex Tognieri-Jones, and First Place Winner Donovan Rolle. – Khalid Naji Allah photo

Second Place

Alex Togneri-Jones Alice Deal Middle School 6th Grade

THE MALPRACTICE LAW FIRM

Jack H. Olender

& ASSOCIATES, P.C. Congratulations to Winners DONOVAN ROLLE ALEX TOGNERI-JONES

Third Place

JUSTIN ATWOOD

Eric Wright

Washington Latin Public Charter School 7th Grade

ERIC WRIGHT and all the

31st Annual Washington Infomer Spelling Bee Participants

Third Place Justin Atwood

Alice Deal Middle School 7th Grade

888 17th St., N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006 www.olender.com (202) 879-7777 FAX (202) 393-2245

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THE AWARD WINNING AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER

2013 PRIZE LIST First Place Winner: • • • • • • • • • •

We consider each and every finalist to be a winner, and our sponsors and partners have helped us to reward every one of them. We humbly ask that you support our sponsors, partners, and advertisers.

2013 Spelling Bee Sponsors and Partners

Amtrak Coca Cola Champion Trophy DC Public Schools Giant Food Jack H Olender and Associates McMillon Communications NBC4 Pepco The Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education Inc. (FAME) The Nielsen Company Southwest Air Washington Gas Washington Nationals Wells Fargo

First Place Trophy – courtesy by Champion Trophy Four Tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies – courtesy of Southwest Air Check for $1000 – courtesy of Jack H. Olender and Associates 1 hour session with Doris McMillon on effective public speaking Hotel stay for the national bee at the Grand Hyatt – courtesy of The Washington Informer Washington Nationals tickets & Invitation to be honored at Home Plate of a Nationals game and a meet and greet with a player and Screech. Giant gift card Washington Informer gift bag with assorted gifts from sponsors Washington Nationals 2012 souvenir playoff program Coca Cola Backpack

Second Place Winner: • • • • • • •

Second Place Trophy – courtesy of Champion Trophy Check for $500 – courtesy of Jack H. Olender and Associates Washington Nationals tickets & Invitation to be honored at Home Plate of a Nationals game and a meet and greet with a player and Screech. Giant gift card Washington Informer gift bag with assorted gifts from sponsors Washington Nationals 2012 souvenir playoff program Coca Cola Backpack

Third Place Winner: • • • • • • •

Lunch Provided by Inspire BBQ and Catering

Third Place Trophy – courtesy of Champion Trophy Check for $300 – courtesy of Jack H. Olender and Associates Washington Nationals tickets & Invitation to be honored at Home Plate of a Nationals game and a meet and greet with a player and Screech. Giant gift card Washington Informer gift bag with assorted gifts from sponsors Washington Nationals 2012 souvenir playoff program Coca Cola Backpack

All other finalists: • • • • • Please feel free to contact The Washington Informer with any questions, concerns, suggestions for next year, or if you would like to personally thank any of our sponsors.

Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher Ron Burke, Advertising and Marketing Director

Please feel free to contact The Washington Informer with any questions, concerns, suggestions for next year, or if you would like to personally thank any of our sponsors.

The Washington Informer

3117 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Washington DC 20032

202-561-4100 FAX 202-574-3785 rburke@washingtoninformer.com

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Finalist Trophy – courtesy of Champion Trophy Giant gift card Washington Informer gift bag with assorted gifts from sponsors Washington Nationals 2012 souvenir playoff program Coca Cola Backpack

March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

The Washington Informer 3117 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Washington DC 20032 202-561-4100 FAX 202-574-3785 rburke@washingtoninformer.com

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31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT March 2013 Job No: fz6436a01.indd Client Name: Fitzgerald

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March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

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Donovan Rolle gets a congratulatory handshake from last years winner, Tuli Bennett-Bose – Roy Lewis photo

Brian Pick and Dr. Anne Evans, helped to coordinate the bee for DC Public Schools and are proud to stand with the first and second place winners. – Roy Lewis photo

We are proud to provide the trophies for

the Washington Informer Spelling Bee

Being in the studio and watching the spellers compete is a very enjoyable thing to do – Roy Lewis photo

52 Years of Expert Engraving Services

Every spelling bee participant received a trophy provided by Champion Trophy in Northwest, along with a gift bag full of gifts. – Roy Lewis photo

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March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

Before the April 13th game (Saturday) vs. the Atlanta Braves at 1:05, the Nationals will honor the winners of the 31st Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee. The Nationals are providing all winners and their families, complimentary tickets to the game, and will honor the following on the field before the game with a “Spirit Award” in front of the entire crowd.

Message From The Washington Nationals

• First Place - Donovan Rolle • Second Place – Alex Togneri-Jones • Third Place (tie) Justin Atwood and Eric Wright

The Nationals presented each winner and participant with a 2012 souvenir playoff program.

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Howard Middle School

Spelling Bee Student Takes D.C.

By Michelle Phipps-Evans WI Staff Writer

It was winner take all for the student who would be the spelling bee champ at the 31st Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee on March 9 at the NBC4 studios in Northwest. It came down to a nail-biting end for eighth-grader Donovan Rolle who spelled the last word, “blanquette,” to be named the D.C. speller at the national competition in May. The pre-taped show will air in April. “I feel really good,” said Donovan, 13, who attends Howard University Middle School of Math and Science in Northwest. “My grandma helped this morning when she made salmon croquette and once I heard the word was French, I knew how to spell it.” Donovan received a number of prizes including four Southwest Airlines tickets, Washington Nationals tickets, courtesy of those organizations, and a check for $1,000, from the Olender Foundation, a nonprofit headed by Jack H. Olender, president of the malpractice law firm, Jack H. Olender & Associates, P.C. in Northwest. The second place winner received $500 and the two third place winners received $300 each. “I think the spelling bee competitors are absolutely terrific,” said Olender who presented the checks to the winners at a reception on March 18. “They dedicate themselves to a difficult task until they master it and win in tough competition. This helps prepare to be successful in many aspects of life – not just academics.” This was Donovan’s second time winning the local bee. He took the top prize in the sixth grade, but was eliminated early at the nationals. However, the excitement of winning the competition out of 33 of the District’s top spellers overwhelmed his mother, Stenise Rolle Sanders.

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First Place Winner Donovan Rolle shows off his trophy and is flanked by (from left), Ron Burke, Washington Informer Director of Advertising: Tracye Funn from Washington Gas; Roderick Johnson from Wells Fargo, his mother Stenise Rolle, his coach Rebecca Christian, Shannon Emery with Frances and Magda Montevilla from Giant; and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes – Roy lewis photo

“I feel great. This is Donovan’s day,” said Rolle Sanders, 35. “I’m so proud.” To win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Donovan has a plan. “This competition showed I have to study a lot more,” he said. His sponsor and coach, Rebecca Christian, said she’ll use the unabridged dictionary she won at the bee so he’ll have a better chance. “It pays off in the time and effort,” she said about preparation for the bee. “It helps with their academic performance and their future.” Besides this year, Christian has coached first-place winners from Howard Middle School in 2011 and 2010. Donovan’s win was the culmination of a relatively tense and long day for the spellers and

their parents who showed up at the NBC4 studios early. The children boasted of backgrounds that included honor rolls, spelling bee cluster wins and science fair awards. Justin Filar Atwood, a seventh grader from Alice Deal Middle School in Northwest, was hoping he could place higher than third – a spot he’s held for the past two bee competitions. “He studied a little more,” said his mother Tracey Filar Atwood from Northwest. “They have a club at the school where they practice all the time.” This year, he tied for third place with Eric Wright, another seventh grader from Washington Latin Public Charter School in Northwest. “He’s a little disappointed but he tried his best. Part of being a

good speller is keeping your calm in a pressure-filled environment. I know he’s exhausted [because] he’s been doing this since the fourth grade.” The Washington Informer began to sponsor the District’s citywide spelling bee in the early 1980s. A supervising director within the D.C. Public Schools sought inclusion for public school students in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held annually in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, students could not participate because of a rule that required daily newspapers to serve as official sponsors. Years earlier, the District competition was sponsored by the Washington Daily News, which stopped its sponsorship after it was purchased by another newspaper. Subsequently, the Dis-

March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

trict’s winners couldn’t participate nationally because there was no sponsoring newspaper for more than 15 years. To make it worst, national and international spellers continued to visit the city for the annual competition. After The Washington Post refused to sponsor the bee, the Washington Informer’s publisher Dr. Calvin W. Rolark was approached and he agreed to become the sponsor. The first Informer spelling bee took place 31 years ago at Bertie Backus Junior High School. However, since the competition wasn’t sponsored by a daily newspaper, rather a weekly, the District’s winner still couldn’t compete nationally. Rolark and his wife, attorney and D.C. Council member WilhelmiSee 31st on Page SB-13

The top winners of The Washington Informer City-Wide Spelling Bee are proud of their accomplishments and were nicknamed “The Bad Boys of Spelling”. Showing off their “bad boy” poses are (from left) Donovan Rolle, Alex Tognieri-Jones, Justin Atwood, and Eric Wright. – Khalid Naji Allah photo

Aisha Karimah, Community Affairs Director from NBC4 has been the point person at the station for all of the 30 years the Washington Informer spelling bee has been televised. She is presented with a “Shining Star Award” by Denise Rolark Barnes and Ron Burke – Roy Lewis photo 31st continued from pg SB-12

na J. Rolark, threatened to file an injunction blocking Scripps from holding the bee in the District until it allowed weeklies to become sponsors. Each year, more than 4,000 students from 200 D.C. public, private, parochial, charter and home schools take part in the spelling bee. Washington Informer publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, Rolark’s daughter, said the children were among the “best and brightest of Washington, D.C.” “Our newspaper is proud to be associated with the education of our local children who truly are our future,” said Rolark Barnes. This year’s spelling bee offered second-place winner Alex

Togneri-Jones, a sixth grader from Alice Deal Middle School, an opportunity to shine. “I’m amazed,” said Alex, 12, who looked forward to using his $500 check to travel. His mother, Wendy Togneri, said she was impressed by how he withstood the pressure at the end of the competition. “To get up there, and not know what word is coming at you, I’m so happy for the experience,” said Togneri from Northwest. Before the competition started, Togneri said, “It wasn’t so much about how he does but that he has a good time doing it.” The spelling bee has thrived because of the sponsors and partners who believe in its mission. “If we want kids to have a

Justin Atwood has placed third for three years in a row. He is committed to coming back again to try for the win. – Roy Lewis photo

good healthy life, we have to give them options, and the spelling bee forces them outside [of] themselves to learn more about the world around them,” said Shannon Emery, a representative from Giant Food, which is headquartered in Landover, Md. Others included Amtrak, Coca- Cola, Champion Trophy, Washington Gas, the Nielsen Company and Wells Fargo among others. Broadcast journalist Doris E. McMillon, the pronouncer of words, encouraged the students to keep their heads up regardless of the outcome. “Whether they win or not here,” said McMillon, president of McMillon Communications, “they’ll be wiser and they’ll do well on their tests, and have a better chance in life.” SB

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certain achievements open everyone’s eyes. Nielsen would like to congratulate the 31st Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee Winners First Place – Donovan Rolle Second Place – Alex Togneri-Jones Third Place – Justin Atwood & Eric Wright

March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

Rebecca Christian: The Star Coach of the District’s Spelling Bee By Michelle Phipps-Evans WI Staff Writer Rebecca Christian stands a little over five feet tall, but she’s a giant. Since 2010, she has steered two students from a District charter school in the winner-take-all spelling bee competition in the District of Columbia. Christian beamed as she witnessed her eighth-grade student, Donovan Rolle, trounce 32 other District students to be named the top speller at the 31st Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee on March 9, at the NBC4 studios in Northwest. “It’s a culmination of his hard work and effort,” said Christian, 45, a reading specialist at Howard University Middle School for Math and Science in Northwest. She also serves as the spelling bee coach, and helps in other literary areas, she said. This was Donovan’s second victory. In 2011, when he was in the sixth grade, he won the citywide spelling bee, again under Christian’s tutelage. Donovan’s mother, Stenise Rolle Sanders, said one shouldn’t “underestimate the significance of a good coach.” Christian countered, that it’s a partnership among parents, teachers, the

students and everyone involved in the child’s life. In 2010, Christian led theneighth-grader Avery Coffey to a win in the District’s bee. He placed second in 2008 and 2009. “It puts another spin on African-American males as scholars,” said Christian about her two winners. “The boys I’ve met have been stellar. With two black males in an urban setting, it’s a powerful image. ” Christian has surpassed other District spelling bee coaches with the most wins, said The Washington Informer advertising and marketing director, Ron Burke. She’s become the “winningest” coach. On the walls of her classroom at the middle school on Howard University’s campus, are large, brightly colored posters and billboards featuring English and grammar notes. One features various literary genres, another highlights personal writing tips. The Long Island, N.Y., native feels strongly about her role in the after-school spelling club, an entity she created in 2008 when she took over the coaching. “Spelling is not emphasized generally in schools,” said Christian who earned a master’s degree in education. “So we find kids who aren’t proficient in

Rebecca Christian (right) has coached first-place winners from Howard University Middle School of Math and Science in Northwest in 2013, 2011 and 2010. She is shown with Donovan and his mother, Stenise Rolle /Photo by Roy Lewis

spelling, which translates to other areas; and then it shows up later when they’re filling out job applications and writing college essays. Too many of them aren’t getting the education they need in spelling and vocabulary.” She said the secret to winning the spelling bee is hard work by the student. How Donovan does at the Scripps National Spelling Bee which begins May 28 to May 30, at the Gaylord National Re-

sort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md., is “up to Donovan,” she explained. “One good thing about Donovan is he’s consistent,” said Christian, a mother of three. “I can measure the efforts to see what needs to be done.” Right now, she’s working with him to better his chances this time at the nationals. She’s using the unabridged dictionary she won at the local bee, and all

they’re doing is practicing. She said the work he’s doing will help him, and the other students, in the long run. “Spelling expands their knowledge [of] the English language, and that’s vital,” Christian added. “It helps with discipline as the children have to practice to demonstrate mastery; and it gives confidence as they realize they can learn new things on their own.” SB

Origin of the Term “Spelling Bee” The word bee, as used in spelling bee, is one of those language puzzles that has never been satisfactorily accounted for. A fairly old and widely-used word, it refers to a community social gathering at which friends and neighbors join together in a single activity (sewing, quilting, barn raising, etc.) usually to help one person or family. The earliest known example in print is a spinning bee, in 1769. Other early occurrences are husking bee (1816), apple bee (1827), and logging bee (1836). Spelling bee is apparently an American term. It first appeared in print in 1875, but it seems certain that the word was used orally for several years before that. Those who used the word, including most early students of language, assumed that it was the same word as referred to the insect. They thought that this particular meaning had probably been inspired by the obvious similarity between these human gatherings and the industrious, social nature of a beehive. But in recent years scholars have rejected this explanation, suggesting instead that this bee is a completely different word. One possibility is that it comes from the Middle English word bene, which means "a prayer" or "a favor" (and is related to the more familiar word boon). In England, a dialect form of this word, been or bean, referred to "voluntary help given by neighbors toward the accomplishment of a particular task." (Webster's Third New International Dictionary). Bee may simply be a shortened form of been, but no one is entirely certain.

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Meet The 2013 Spellers

Speller 1 Rami Chiaviello Stoddert Elementary School 5th Grade

Speller 7 Deniz Mollazade Oyster Adams Bilingual School 5th Grade

Speller 2 John Ghazal Holy Trinity 8th Grade

Speller 8 Justin Filar Atwood Alice Deal Middle School 7th Grade

Speller 3 Gregory Jones, Jr. Shepherd Elementary School 5th Grade

Speller 9 Graham Brady Washington Latin Public Charter School 7th Grade

Speller 4 Sam Lossef Alice Deal Middle School 6th Grade

Speller 10 Tiera Moore Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science 6th Grade

Speller 5 Brooktawit Alemayehu Center City Public Charter School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Shaw 7th Grade

Speller 11 Natasha Jervis Takoma Educational Campus 7th Grade

Speller 6 Samuel H. Joyce Holy Trinity 8th Grade

Speller 12 Donovan Rolle Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science 8th Grade

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March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

Meet The 2013 Spellers

Speller 13 Linnea Byrne Kvalsvik Lafayette Elementary School 4th Grade

Speller 19 Dona Anderson Capital City Public Charter School – Middle 8th Grade

Speller 14 Michael Wallace-Bruce Raymond Educational Campus 6th Grade

Speller 20 Noa Rosinplotz Oyster-Adams Bilingual School 6th Grade

Speller 15 Eric Wright Washington Latin Public Charter School 7th Grade

Speller 21 Imhotep Benjamin Roots Activity Learning Center 7th Grade

Speller 16 Chetachukwu Obiwuma Potomac Lighthouse Public Charter School 5th Grade

Speller 22 Thomas Broadnax, III Perry Street Prep 7th Grade

Speller 17 Caitlin Lynch Oyster-Adams Bilingual School 4th Grade

Speller 23 Jamarl Grear Center City PCS – Congress Heights 7th Grade

Speller 18 Derrick Robinson, Jr. JC Nalle Elementary School 4th Grade

Speller 24 Nisa Quarles Stoddert Elementary School 4th Grade

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Answers will come naturally…if we give them the tools. Some good things occur naturally, like the energy efficiency of clean natural gas. Other good things take planning, hard work, and reflect the will and energy of people. Our children should have the best possible education. But that doesn’t just happen. Washington Gas is proud to work with public officials, business leaders and local organizations to help our children achieve. That’s because providing safe, warm, welcoming places where our children’s minds will grow, is the smartest and most efficient investment any of us can make. To learn more about how Washington Gas is helping create a healthier, more vibrant community, visit washingtongas.com.

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Meet The 2013 Spellers Speller 25 Sidnee Salter Paul Public Charter School 6th Grade

Speller 30 Alex Belikovetskaya Hardy Middle School 8th Grade

Speller 26 MacKenzie Vest Savoy Elementary School 5th Grade

Speller 31 Ella Goldblum Washington Independent School 6th Grade

Speller 27 Alexandra Whittington Holy Trinity 7th Grade

Speller 32 Alex Togneri-Jones Alice Deal Middle School 6th Grade

Speller 28 Jeff Williams Powell Elementary School 5th Grade

Speller 33 Iman Davis-Goard Community Academy Public Charter School-Butler Campus 5th Grade

Speller 29 Kate Lenegan Capital City Public Charter School – Middle 6th Grade

Meet the judges: Sitting at the table are the spelling bee judges for this year (From left) Dr. Sharon Holmes, Dr. Elizabeth Primus, Ms. Merita Carter, Mr. James Roundtree

Pronuncer: Doris McMillon has been the Pronouncer for the past six years and is shown before the bee talking with NBC 4 co – hosts, Richard Jordan and Eun Yang

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Denise Rolark Barnes speaks to the kids and the audience prior to the taping – Roy Lewis photo

The Washington Informer uses the Meet The Press studio to tape the spelling bee – Roy Lewis photo

HOWARD UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL of Mathematics and Science

A young person reads the Washington Informer while waiting in the holding room prior to the taping. – Roy Lewis photo

(MS)2 ...do something extraordinary tm Congratulations Donovan Rolle on your First Place win in the 31st Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee!

We would also like to extend our congratulations to Rebecca Christian, Spelling Bee Coach/Sponsor for her outstanding guidance and support of the Washington Informer Citywide Spelling Bee 1st place Winners from (MS)2 in 2013, 2011, 2010 as well as placing 2nd in both 2009 and 2008 competitions. (MS)2 offers an extremely rigorous academic program with accelerated instruction in all subject areas. We are currently accepting applications for the 2013 – 2014 school year until Friday, April 12, 2013. If you have any questions or require additional information.

Please contact (MS)2’s Enrollment Coordinator Mr. Ricardo Perez, at 202.806.7725 or via email at ricardo.perez@universitymiddleschool.org SB-22

Washington Latin Public Charter School congratulates Eric Wright, 3rd and Graham Brady, 8th on their recent success at the The Washington Informer Spelling Bee. We are proud of your accomplishments and look forward to more success next year.

March 2013 31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

Co – Hosts Richard Jordan and Eun Yang interview Donovan and Alex after the competition – Roy Lewis photo

Brian Pick, DCPS Chief of Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Anne Evans, DCPS Manager, Elementary Curriculum and Spelling Bee Coordinator, stand proudly with the first and second place winners. – Roy Lewis photo

There was time to study prior to the taping -– Roy Lewis photo

“Inspire BBQ and Catering provided lunch for all in attendance. – Roy Lewis photo

s L on AL Stati n s o in ice and v r ins Se -Fi r Tra i e W rido Fre Cor t eas rth

Purpose of The Spelling Bee

The purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. The Washington Informer believes that students will never be able to succeed if they do not know how to read well, and that they will never be able to read well if they do not know how to spell.

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31st ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT March 2013

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The Award Winning African American Newspaper Celebrating Our 48th Year of Service

The Washington Informer Congratulates our 31st Annual Washington Informer

Spelling Bee

Winner!

We celebrate all of our finalists and everyone who helped make our 31st Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee a huge success.

First Place

Donovan Rolle The Bee will air on NBC 4 on Sunday April 21, 2013 at noon The Washington Informer Thanks all of our 2013 partners for making this year special

Young design

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Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science 8th Grade