Last Monday, 24 students competed in the 9th annual bee – which had more rounds than any previous bee. Typically, the bee ends after 13 or 14 rounds. Last year, it went to 19. This year, it went to 24! At the end of the championship round, Jiya Gaikwad was crowned the Frost Middle School Spelling Champion for 2025. Congratulations to Jiya! We wish you all the best in the next round. Jiya was joined on the podium by Nico Ligairi in 2nd & Sakuya Kawashima in 3rd place. 

Spellers faced a number of tough words. I wonder how many of our Frost community could nail glabrous, linoleum, lieutenant, maelstrom, cascabel, gallipot, tetragrammaton, and chlorofluorocarbon. For any who could, try chyme that's pronounced 'kime' — or Tlingit that's pronounced 'Klingkit'?!     

All competitors deserve credit for prepping and putting themselves out there. Lukas Mellott proved to be the most memorable pronouncer. He added appropriate flair to each letter. Henry Hallmark, Sean Elder, Sarah Anthony, and Betty Chu had the most clarity. Emma Breen and Eva Reid had the top practice-round comebacks, and Tugs Erdene Batjargal and Nhi Nguyen had the top comebacks from 7th to 8th grade. I suspect Chaei Ryu and Yesa Lichter will fill these slots in 8th grade, since they were determined to study. Congratulations to all who participated!

Special shoutout to the following staff who made this all possible: Colin Verbicar, Erika Pflugrath, Shruti Sharma, Emma Harries, and Susan Victor for volunteering as judges. Deb Metzger, Judy Sohn, Amanda Morgan, Amadu Jallou, Danielle Hornbecker, Caryn Jackson, and Robin Wilson for helping to arrange the date, room, table, chairs, mic, and parent visitors.