Smarter Than a 5th-grader?
The adults have their own spelling bee!
Back from Winter Break, our faculty and staff geared up for the annual Adult Spelling Bee, buzzing with determination to snag the trophy from last year's champ, Head of School Chris Johnson!
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4th and 5th graders packed the auditorium to catch this epic showdown. The words were masterfully pronounced by Aiden S. and Reyna J.—the winner and runner-up from the recent 5th-grade spelling bee. Academic Support Coordinator Diane Bajalia stepped up as the official judge.
After the buzz died down, Ms. Bajalia shared that some teachers admitted, "That was hard to stand up in front of an audience. Wow, now we know how the students feel!"
The word list? Straight from the 5th-grade bee, making it feel just like an episode of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
"Being in the spelling bee is a mixed bag of feelings—confident, terrified, and suddenly unsure how to spell," confessed Director of Education Tonya Elstein, a brave participant. "Nothing better than a good 'ole dose of humbling reality. It's tough to stand on stage and do that."
The kids erupted in cheers and giggles as their teachers nailed words or stumbled over head-scratchers. (Seriously, who tosses around chignon in everyday chat?)
In the edge-of-your-seat finale against fourth-grade teacher Pippa Alexander, Mr. Johnson defended his crown, reigning as the adult spelling champ for another year!
"This is my reminder that I should stop correcting spelling in emails, because now expectations are too high," said Mr. Johnson. "A big thank you to the teachers for competing and the kids for letting us have fun too!"
Jacksonville Country Day School
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
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