Bellmore’s a-buzz with spelling talent

Bellmore student Otto Velting was the first-place winner in Shore Road School’s annual sixth-grade spelling bee, with Hayden Schneider finishing second in the competition.

Fourteen student spellers battled it out on the auditorium stage for the title of top speller, with teachers Carolyn Acevedo and Kelly Popielaski as moderators and teachers Laurie DiMaina, Regina Harten and Michelle Stein as judges. The competition was challenging when after eight rounds and the misspelling of the word “metropolis,” Otto gave the correct spelling of “vaguely” to clinch the title.

Prior to the selling bee, contests were held in individual classrooms, and the two top spellers from each class were invited to participate in the spelling bee on April 7. The district also congratulates participants Jessica Blumberg, Taylor Conroy, Christopher Field, Nicole Giordano, David Greenberg, Richard Ippoliti, Gabriela Mazzaferro, Christopher Panza, Nicholas Rinaldi, Skye Saunders, Samantha Schneider and Matthew Wallace for their participation and outstanding sportsmanship.