MERIDEN — There’s no substitute for good spelling, as Washington Middle School sixth-grader Jaedan Curcio found out when he won the district-wide spelling bee Monday night.
Curcio spelled “stomach” and then “substitute” correctly after 103 words had been used during the event at Roger Sherman Elementary School.
Thomas Edison Middle School sixth-grader Isabella Soule won second place and Hanover Elementary School fifth-grader Delaney Diaz came in third.
Thirteen fifth- and sixth-grade students participated, one from each elementary, middle and parochial school in the city. Everyone received a participation certificate.
The Kiwanis Club and the Record-Journal sponsored the event.
The panel of judges included the current and past presidents of Kiwanis, the current president of the Meriden Rotary Club, and Miguel Cardona, the school district’s assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
David Wyskiel, a past president of Kiwanis, served as “beemaster,” a position he said he has held for “quite awhile.”
Eileen Bongiovanni of Meriden Rotary chaired the event.
The school that wins hosts next year’s spelling bee.
LTakores@record-journal.com
203-317-2212
Twitter: @LCTakores