Everyone! Cliché, maybe. But as you could hear a pin drop while the last finalist listened, considered and then correctly spelled 'refectory', you had the sense that this was a day when a roomful of winners emerged.
"Correct! Congratulations to Kiki M, A7," said Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Gargano, emcees of the Sacred Heart 2022 Spelling Bee. A 10 year tradition, this year's Bee had all the drama, skill and excitement of previous competitions.
All SHS Middle School students competed in the overall event, beginning with mini-Bees in each of the 12 classrooms as part of the Language Arts curriculum. Each class produced a winner who joined the others for a total of 12 students who competed in the final Spelling Bee held in the Chapel on Friday, January 14.
Mr. Gargano set up the guidelines for the competition inviting clarifying questions from the students before they began. Then the chime was struck and they were off. Students, one by one, walked to the podium, listening intently as Ms. Murphy announced the word, provided context or synonyms as necessary. At times, a student requested the word be used in a sentence. Every time, as the student prepared their answer, those watching saw composure, focus and determination. And silently, but enthusiastically rooting him or her on were the other contestants, sitting just as focused, happy if the word was successfully spelled, supportive if it was not.
They each looked like pros at the microphone. And as they looked out at the audience, they saw encouraging smiles, gentle urging to 'get it correct'. Thumbs up, smiles or fist bumps greeted those who moved on to the next round. Consoling pats on the back, kind encouragement greeted those who did not.
Of course, each participant wanted to win, but equally obvious was the fact that they rooted for each other just as strongly as they focused on their own individual performances. This generosity of heart and determination to excel are among the many special attributes characterizing the Sacred Heart educational experience.
The 12 finalists
- William B, H6
- Henry A, H6
- Sophie A, A6 – second place
- Lillian A, A6
- Baroque A, H7
- William K, H7
- Keaton "Kiki" M, A7 – winner ("refectory" was her championship word)
- Cecilia H, A7
- Fidel Y, H8
- TJ C, H8
- Helen C, A8
- Travis G, A8
The Spelling competition now moves on to the All-Chicago school competition in March, followed by Regionals and then the National Spelling Bee.
Mr. Gargano was proud and excited for each of the students who participated in the event. They cared, they obviously studied and they were so diligent throughout the process. He highlighted the energy and excitement that surrounded the competition. His and Mrs. Murphy's own energy and supportive enthusiasm along with her wonderfully resonant voice added to the drama.
As Mr. Gargano put it, "I love it because our students show the same level of enthusiasm for this event as they do for a playoff basketball game." So, they all are winners!