Westbury School District students showcased their spelling prowess and sportsmanship at the annual districtwide spelling bee on Wednesday, March 11, at Westbury Middle School. The Bumble Bees—fourth through eighth graders competed first, followed by the Worker Bees—first through third graders.
As family, friends, faculty and community members came out to cheer them on, the students also connected with their peers throughout the district, forging new bonds.
“It was an amazing event,” said Westbury School District Superintendent Tahira DuPree Chase. “The kids did a great job and showed a lot of confidence and learning.”
As an educator and administrator for more than three decades, Chase has implemented spelling bees in four school districts where she has worked. Since launching the district spelling bee in 2021, Chase said the event has grown into one of Westbury’s “signature programs,” inspiring other competitions such as the district’s Math Mania event.
“What I love about the spelling bee is that it’s an old school traditional educational event that builds the community,” Chase said. “To have all of these people from different walks of life come out and celebrate our children, that is what a spelling bee is about. It brings us together.”
Judges included elected officials, a police officer, a court judge, the district’s attorney, the CEO of the Westbury Youth Soccer Club and the executive director of the Westbury Library. Mayor Peter Cavallaro, who has served as a judge for past competitions, sent the students a “wonderful message of support,” Chase said.
Chase also lauded the district’s schools for preparing students throughout the year to compete in the event and enjoy the process.
“We impressed upon the students that no matter what happens it’s about fun,” Chase said, adding that when students were eliminated from the competition they joined their peers in a designated “Beehive” seating area where they received educational prizes such as puzzles, scratchpads, wireless speakers and sunglasses.
Chase emphasized the educational value of the event, which improves spelling skills while teaching vocabulary development, word recognition, etymology, pronunciation and parts of speech, as students tackle the extensive word list.
“The students are using all sorts of cognitive skills, and they’re improving their oratory skills, which they need now and throughout their lives,” Chase said.
With the success of their spelling bee, Chase said the district is looking for sponsorship so that the winning students can go on to the state and national spelling bees.
“My children are ready for the national level and I know they will do well if they get the opportunity to compete,” Chase said.
The following students won prizes in each division.
Worker Bees – Grades 1-3
- First place: Ahil Khan, second grade, Drexel Avenue Elementary School
- Second place: Abdul Hadi, third grade, Park Avenue Elementary School
- Third place: Christopher Bardales, second grade, Drexel Avenue Elementary School
Bumble Bees – Grades 4-8
- First place: Mohammad Zaman, fifth grade, Drexel Avenue Elementary School
- Second place: Zayne Olowokere, fourth grade, Powells Lane Elementary School
- Third place: Mason Moonasar, fourth grade, Powells Lane Elementary School
The district also held an earlier spelling bee for Westbury kindergarten students, known as the Honey Bees division. These students all attend Dryden Street Elementary School.
Honey Bees – Kindergarten
- First place: Dante Long
- Second place: Yusuf Ganiany
- Third place: Amens-Jay Jean Baptiste
