Spellbound: Church Street School students rise to the word challenge

For Ema Zdravkovic, success is spelled O-N-S-L-A-U-G-H-T.

That word — onslaught — sealed victory for the fourth-grader, wearing No. 7, at Church Street Elementary School on Wednesday morning during the fourth- and fifth-grade spelling bee, a nearly two-hour competition that tested vocabulary, courage and composure.

Fifty-four students took the stage, each vying for the chance to advance to the regional qualifying level connected to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. After 11 intense rounds, Ema emerged as champion, earning the opportunity to move on in the Scripps pathway for the first time in the school’s history.

Fifth-grader Declan Emery (37), who received the word “misanthrope,” placed second, while fellow fifth-grader Julia Kupka (51) finished third after bowing out with “hyperventilated.” All participants received certificates, and Ema was awarded a trophy as classmates and family members applauded her achievement.

“I studied pretty much every day since mid-December,” she said, beaming, as she held her trophy moments after victory. “I’m so proud!”

The participants were given increasingly challenging words as they moved from round to round. Among them were “atrium,” “savant, “deferential,” equestrian,” “guttural,” delphin”  and “chartreuse.”

Principal Myra Castillo said the day was about far more than winning.

“It’s friendly competition. You’ll see that they encourage each other on the stage,” Ms. Castillo said before the competition kicked off. “It’s a challenge to see who is the best speller at Church Street School, but it’s beyond that,” she said. “The biggest piece is all the encouragement. Even if they’re eliminated, they sit in the audience and encourage and root for their friends, their classmates, and at the end, everyone cheers for the champion.”

The students studied more than 400 words, preparing not only for the school bee but for the possibility of advancing beyond it. This year marked the first time Church Street’s champion could move into a regional qualifying competition tied to Scripps.

“This is a stepping stone,” Ms. Castillo explained. “Usually we have a building champion, but now our winner can participate in a qualifier to see if they can go on to the next level. It opens up a whole new opportunity for our students.”

Before the first word was called, judges reminded the audience of the seriousness of the moment and the bravery required.

“We have a lot of students who are going to show how courageous they are today,” one judge told the crowd. “Please remain absolutely quiet so everyone has a fair chance.”

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, founded in 1925, is the nation’s longest-running educational competition, challenging students across the country to master language, discipline and public speaking.

Winners advance through school, regional and national levels, with the final rounds held annually near Washington, D.C.