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Health & Fitness

2014 Higgins/PEF Spelling Team Announced


After conducting fifteen spelling bees (one for each cluster at Higgins) during the month of December, the members of the 2014 Higgins Middle School Spelling have been identified.  They are:

Grade 6:
Dolphins – Lydia Sorpol and Madison Melvin
Marlins – Olivia Grabowski and Sophia Paquette
Penguins – Olivia O’Connor, Alex Jean and Abby Ryder
Sharks - Jessica Bacelari and George Bento
Stingrays  - Josh Dinapoli and Kaitlyn Swenson

Grade 7:
Bears – Neil Sherman and Kyle Sousa
Broncos – Alicia Ridgely and Alexandra Barrett
Lions – Alec Deurloo and Mark Vecchio
Panthers – Izadora Sorpol and Noah Wallack
Tigers – Gabe Goldman and Vanessa Martarano

Grade 8:
Aquarius – Megan Eugenio and Abi Tringale
Gemini – Becca Dunn and AndeeMae Sims
Orion – Jeremy Perkins and Kayla Connolly
Pegasus – Nuno Bazarian and Ryan Lemole
Pisces – Kirsten Crowe and Alexia Quadros

The school’s 4th Annual Spelling Bee will be held at the Northshore Mall on Wednesday, February 12.  The champion of our Bee goes on to compete in the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, which is part of the National Spelling Bee program, in March.  Last year's Higgins Spelling Bee Champ, Gabe Goldman, placed third at the regional competition.

As a member of the team, spellers receive a “pass” to present to their classroom teacher allowing them to come to the Library to practice during Academic Support and REACH periods.  Additionally, beginning in January, the team will practice after school in the Library on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Most of the words on the National Spelling Bee’s 2014 Spell It word list are also available for team members to access through Visual Thesaurus at: http://www.peabody.k12.ma.us/Page/4276   

Funding for the purchase of Virtual Thesaurus, a web-based spelling practice tool, was provided last year by the Peabody Education Foundation (PEF)and was introduced to the 2013 Spelling Team.  Another Best Bet grant from the PEF this year, allowed the Library to renew the software subscription and make it available to all 1450 students at the school.

A Family Potluck Practice for the Spelling Team is planned in the Higgins Library for Wednesday, January 22 at 6:00 p.m. 

The Northshore Mall provides the spellers with gift bags, prizes, a Pizza Party Practice and broadcasts the winner of the Bee on the Mall's electronic advertisement board along Route 128.  The Bee is held outside of Burtons Restaurant.

PAT, Peabody Access Television, will broadcast the February 12 event.

Download the movie

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