IPEI’s 18th Annual Adult Spelling Bee on Sunday, March 6 is a fun fundraiser for IPEI’s grants for teachers. The family-friendly community event at the Ithaca High School Wellness Center Gym is free and open to the public. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. In addition to a silent auction, Remembox photo booth for spellers and spectators, complimentary refreshments, and quilt prize drawing, a play area will be available for children accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
There will be 32 teams of three adults each competing in four preliminary rounds; winners of these rounds advance to the championship one that follows. Teams show their spirit with unique team names and zany costumes as they battle it out for the Fuzzy Bee trophy. Most teams have sponsors covering the team entry fee, yet all can also be supported by additional individuals, businesses or community groups. There will be prizes for the team that raises the most funds.
IPEI’s Spelling Bee website includes the numerous ways to participate whether on a team or as a spectator; visit http://www.ipei.org/spelling-bee/ and click the “Spectate & More” or “Sponsor” button. In addition, follow IPEI on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to know about this year’s silent auction items, and to read what the teams and sponsors are thinking as they prepare for March 6. Ithaca High’s WRED TV students will record the Bee; it can be viewed afterwards on IPEI’s YouTube channel.
Thanks to the event sponsors all proceeds go directly toward funding Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) grants. The Blue Ribbon Champion Sponsor is Chemung Canal Trust Company, and the Red Ribbon Finalist Sponsor is Wells Fargo Financial Advisors. Sciarabba Walker and Cayuga Radio Group are Gold Ribbon Sponsors. “IPEI’s grants programs help Ithaca City School District teachers engage students and enhance education, sparking student learning by connecting the schools with our diverse and talented community,” expressed Christine Sanchirico, IPEI’s executive director.
Tickets for a quilt prize drawing can be purchased on March 6, or in advance at Cat’s Pajamas; Boynton Middle, DeWitt Middle and Ithaca High School winter music concerts; and the IPEI office. The quilt has been created by retired teachers and friends of IPEI (Peggy Hill, Connie Patterson, Judy Steele and Marcie Wyant).
This year’s Bee will pilot a spelling competition format based on the Bozeman School Foundation, Montana. With this new approach, teams in each round will be given the same words to spell at the same time, and the pace of spelling is expected to increase. Assisting will be an official word pronouncer, timekeeper, judges, and master of ceremonies.
Contact the Spelling Bee Committee, ipei@ipei.org to get involved or with questions. The chair is Jennifer Biloski, jbiloski@twcny.rr.com, 607-227-1905.
IPEI is a community-based not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that develops supportive community and private sector relationships with the ICSD. Founded in 1996, IPEI is committed to connecting school and community through collaboration, engagement, gifts and grants. For more information, see www.ipei.org or contact 256-IPEI (4734).
IPEI Spelling Bee Teams
#icsdlibs
#1STWRDOUT
Bee Compassionate
Bee-dazzlers
Belle Spellers
Board of Ed Buzz
Bunco Bees
Caroline BEEtniks
Code Red Robo-bees
CU Laters
Family Buzzers
Fine Arts “Word” Boosters
Ghoti
Highway to Spell
IHS Bee-T-A
ITA Spellerz
IthacaSTEM Hexaplexes
Ithaca Wegmans
Les Cafards
Lexicon Artistts
Notorious RPG
Off the “Wahl” Spellers
PTA Cavalry
Spellotape
The Spellicans
The Unpossibles
Their, there, they’re
Walker Bees
The Warren Wordsmiths
We Spell Krazy Good
Westhill <Ortho>Graphics
y=mx+bee
Team Sponsors:
Anchor Capital Management
Anonymous
Belle Sherman Elementary PTA
CFCU Community Credit Union
C.S.P. Management
Carol Bushberg Real Estate
Caroline Elementary PTA
Cayuga Radio Group
Chemung Canal Trust Company
Bob and Elle Conti
Cornell Office of Community Relations
Family & Children’s Service
GiveGab
Harris Beach PLLC
Hunt Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors
Ithaca Bakery
Ithaca Council of PTAs
Ithaca High School PTA
Kelviden Equestrian Farm
Les Cafards
RealtyUSA
Sciarabba Walker & Co, LLP
The Spellicans
Tompkins Insurance Agencies
Tompkins Trust Company
Trane U.S., Inc.
Travis Hyde Properties
True Insurance
UPS Store of Ithaca
WSKG
Wahl Educational Consulting, Inc.
Warren Real Estate
Wegmans
Wells Fargo Advisors
Westhill Graphics