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NCSS to Host County Spelling Bee

The Newton County School System (NCSS) will host the 2025 District Spelling Bee on Friday, February 10, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Newton High School. Each of the school system’s elementary and …

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The Newton County School System (NCSS) will host the 2025 District Spelling Bee on Friday, February 10, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Newton High School. Each of the school system’s elementary and middle schools will send its spelling bee champion to participate in the county competition.

Students in grades fourth through eighth were eligible to participate in their school competitions. In addition to the champion, each school will send its runner up in the school spelling bee as an alternate in the event the school champion is unable to participate.

“Even in the technology rich world that we live in today, spelling continues to be an important tool because the written word is so powerful,” said Benjamin B. Roundtree, Director of Elementary Schools. “Among other things, the spelling bee supports our students’ learning by enhancing their understanding of vocabulary relative to spelling and by promoting correct word usage. Indeed, spelling bee competitions in our schools continue to be highly anticipated events, and we are happy to continue this venerable tradition.”

During the competition, contestants must spell the word they are given correctly. After having started to spell a word, the contestant will not be given any opportunity to change the letters, once pronounced. If a speller fails to spell the word correctly, he must step out of the competition.

Once the competition is down to just two remaining contestants, the elimination procedure will change. When one finalist misses a word, the other finalist will spell the next word on the caller’s list. If the contestant spells that word and the next word on the list correctly, he or she will be declared the winner. If he or she misspells either of those two words, the other finalist will be given the next word on the caller’s list to spell. If that finalist spells the next word and the next correctly, he or she will be declared the winner. If both finalists misspell their word, both shall continue in the Bee and the one who first misspelled his or her word shall be given the next word on the caller’s list to spell.

The judges and the NCSS Spelling Bee Committee are in complete control of the Bee at all times and the judges’ decision shall be final on all matters. Parents and family members are invited to attend the NCSS Spelling Bee; however, we ask that parents refrain from bringing infants and small children to the competition as they may distract the contestants. We also ask that flash photography only be used after the competition is completed.

NCSS’s 2025 school-level spelling bee champions are as follows:   

SCHOOL CHAMPION ALTERNATE
East Newton Elementary Riley Rawls Emma Oftedal
Fairview Elementary Ashiah Giles Caleb Williams
Flint Hill Elementary Jamari McGee Bobby Stephens III
Heard-Mixon Elementary Marsaan Clayton Caitlyn Snead
Live Oak Elementary Angel Burdette Cedric Frazier
Livingston Elementary Tania Menchaca Camdyn Hicks
Mansfield Elementary Morgan Jeffries James Cooper II
Middle Ridge Elementary Joseph Woodruff Skyler Williams
Newton County Theme School  at Ficquett Caleb Ekanem Jaimoni Parker
Oak Hill Elementary Shaniya DeSears Aiden Ruffin
Porterdale Elementary Sy`Niah Benton-Stokes Cortez Fleming
Rocky Plains Elementary Justin Conwell Nathaniel Stafford
South Salem Elementary Ravin Belcher Nataleigh Brown
West Newton Elementary Adreal Burtts      Kendall Banks
Clements Middle Oemerhomu Erakptobor Dakayla Fulton-Johnson
Cousins Middle Ray Holt Claude Lemond, Jr.
Indian Creek Middle Jet Rawls Jayden Simmons
Liberty Middle Jeffery Lowe      Qayyum Rahim
Veterans Memorial Middle Emerson Greenidge Gracie Gomes

The winner of the NCSS Spelling Bee will represent the school district at the District 5 Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 25, 2025, at Edwards Middle School in Conyers, Georgia.

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