St. Mary Immaculate School crowns Spelling Bee Champion

On Jan. 27, the students of St. Mary Immaculate Parish School in Plainfield, grades 3-8, assembled for the annual Spelling Bee. The winner, sixth grader, Grady Smith, out spelled sixteen other sixth through eighth grade schoolmates, each a previous winner of spelling bees in their language arts classes. Seventh grader Andrew Nolasco finished in 2nd place.

St. Mary Immaculate teacher Joan Hamer coordinated the school's 2020 Spelling Bee. She was assisted by fellow teacher Christoph Hueg. Grady's winning word was divan. It was a great event with 204 words to determine the school champion.

Grady has earned the right to compete in the Will County Spelling Bee on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. In the Will County Bee, students must be in Grades 6-8 to participate and they must go to school in Will County.

The champion of the Will County Spelling Bee qualifies to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held near Washington D.C. on May 24 through May 29.