March 26, 2026
The most nerve-racking part of a spelling bee isn’t always spelling the word — it’s the silence that follows.
On Friday, December 12, that pause filled the City Academy gym again and again as students stepped back from the microphone, waiting to hear either “That is correct” or the ding of the bell, indicating an incorrect answer.
Upon spelling his final word, arrange, Fourth Grader Camari Henry focused on staying confident while waiting to hear the decision. “I was thinking, ‘I know I’m going to get this right. Just be great,’” he said. “When Ms. Thorpe stood up, I thought, ‘Did I win?’ Then my grandma started yelling, ‘That’s my baby!’”
The after school event was optional for students, yet dozens of third and fourth graders chose to compete. Third grade took the stage first, followed immediately by fourth grade, with each round growing more intense as words became longer and more complex.
The spelling bee was the idea of Reading Specialist and Speech-Language Pathologist Deshon Garrison and Third Grade Humanities Teacher Jennifer Magnuson, who partnered with school administrators to bring the event to life.
“The goal was for students to strengthen their literacy skills while also taking pride in their preparation and hard work,” Garrison said. “Watching students step up to the microphone in front of their peers and families was truly inspiring.”
Students prepared in the weeks leading up to the event, practicing word patterns, study strategies, and public speaking skills. A table of judges sat at the front of the gym, including a student judge — Ashley Veasley — who earned the role after winning the summer school spelling bee.
In the third-grade competition, Todd (TJ) Jones claimed first place after correctly spelling “hamburger.” TJ admitted he was unsure about competing at first. “I didn’t want to because I was a little nervous,” he said. “But Mr. G said, ‘You should just try it out. What if you win?’ So I tried it — and I won.”
He studied wherever he could, even while traveling. “I went to Houston over Thanksgiving and took a picture of the study guide so I could practice on the way there and back,” TJ said.
Camari said preparation was key. “I practiced every single word, every single day, going to school and back,” she said. “My granny would just pop a word and say, ‘How do you spell this?’”
Garrison was encouraged by the skills students showcased during the bee. “The spelling bee combines spelling, reading, and public speaking into one meaningful experience,” he said. “It also gives students a chance to learn how to win and lose gracefully, even in an academic setting.”
In summary, the event was a huge s-u-c-c-e-s-s. Success.
