On the week before Christmas Break, students from Pierceton Elementary took their seats up front in the school cafeteria at 1:30pm to participate in the annual Scripts Spelling Bee. Many of them were wearing pajamas as part of the week’s holiday celebration. After 16 rounds, sixth grade student, Jonah Brenneman, was declared the champion.
In the fifteenth round, only three students remained: Alyssa Romine (5th Grade), Jonah Brenneman (6th), and Trinity Hall (6th). Because Romine and Hall had both missed their words in round 15, Brenneman needed to spell one more word in the championship round. That word was “Mars.” Brenneman later said that he felt very relieved to have such an easy word in the final round of competition.
Next, a spell-off ensued, as Romine and Hall would continue on into the 19th round. Because a clear runner-up could not be declared, they continued until Hall was declared the winner of the spell-off; correctly spelling the word “trombone.”
Both Hall and Brenneman are classmates in Anne Clark’s classroom. Principal Smith thanked all of the students for all of the practice and hard work that made this year’s bee possible. Tasha Kinney, Anne Clark, and Beth Woodard served as this year’s spelling judges and Doug Gregory was this years announcer. Mr. Gregory is a member of the Pierceton Alumni Association.
Jonah Brenneman will continue on to the county spelling bee, and as is tradition, should he not be able to perform his duties, Trinity Hall will compete in his place. Congratulations to both Brenneman and Hall!
