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Community Spelling Bee

Achieve Hartford!'s Community Spelling Bee October 19, 2012 once again was a fun-filled, family-friendly event designed to celebrate learning while raising awareness and support for our programs and initiatives.
 
It was an evening of lively and exciting competition amongst friends, family and neighbors!  We congratulate and thank all participants and extend special thanks to our sponsors.
 
 
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Information about the 2013 Community Spelling Bee will be posted here, starting with the word list:
 
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Here is the background information on the Community Spelling Bee (please click here for more details):
 
Up to forty teams of three people each (high school age and older) compete in a friendly competition to spell increasingly difficult words. Teams are encouraged to create a team name; wear unique team T-shirts or costumes, and to bring a cheering section!  For the final round, the finalists of the student division and the adult division will compete for the grand prize.
 
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Achieve Hartford! is very grateful for the many sponsors who make the Community Spelling Bee possible.  Those sponsors, from 2012, were:
 
Premier Sponsors
Trinity College
Landmark Partners
 
Platinum Sponsor
Robinson & Cole LLP
 
Gold Sponsors
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Sandra and Arnold Chase Family Foundation
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Gray Cancer Center
Hartford Steam Boiler
Phoenix Life Insurance Company
SPARTA Insurance Company
Webster Bank
Cigna
 
Silver Sponsors
C.M. Smith Agency, Inc.
Motley Rice LLC
Peoples United Bank
University of Hartford
 
Please click here for a list of our 2012 honorary committee members, who graciously gave their support to this event.
 
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What is the Bee About?
The Bee is a program that supports student achievement and fosters community support for learning. It is a lively fun filled event that attracts over 120 participants and more than 300 spectators and fans to cheer on their favorite teams.  Funds raised from the Bee will help support our programs that are having a positive impact for parents and children in Hartford.  These programs include:

  • SmartChoices and our Choice Education Program, which assist families in navigating the complex school choice process in Hartford
  • Our Parent Workshops, which are preparing parents to be strong advocates for their children’s education.
The registration fee to participate is $500; however, there is no charge to attend the “show.”  The evening also includes complementary refreshments (this is an alcohol-free event). We offer sponsorships to businesses who want to affiliate with an education focused event.

In the past, spelling bee teams have come from business groups, neighborhood friends, church and civic associations as well as teacher and student groups. The registration fee is waived for Hartford Public School teachers and students and other non-profit community groups.

Student Participants Welcomed
We strongly encourage students to participate in the Community Spelling Bee as it provides them with an exciting opportunity to participate in a safe, yet challenging academic competition. By taking part in the Community Spelling Bee, students will not only develop a strong vocabulary, but they will also learn techniques in problem solving and collaborative teamwork, valuable lessons for which they can also take back to their own schools. Parents, as well as faculty coaches, will be encouraged to get their students involved in this fabulous event. If you are not up to competing, there are opportunities to sponsor and root for a team from one of the high schools, youth groups or community groups in Hartford.
 
Bee a Sponsor/ Bee a Friend
The Community Spelling Bee is our signature special fundraising event.  There is a range of sponsorship opportunities for businesses and individuals to support the Bee and a form to indicate your participation.
 
Not up for spelling?  We also invite you to Bee a Friend; your support to back a Hartford student team would be greatly appreciated.  Please contact us to find out how!
 
Volunteer
There are a number of ways to help with the Community Spelling Bee and we invite anyone who is interested to join the Bee Committee:
  1. Bee a member of the Bee committee and join a group of fun people planning a lively event;
  2. Assist with soliciting for sponsors and teams;
  3. Assist with in-kind donations;
  4. Publicity, marketing, and talking up the Bee;
  5. Program design, proofing and other office tasks;
  6. Bee there to provide support on the big night, October 19, 2012!
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For more information - or if you would like to bee a part of the planning process or are interested in sponsoring a team - please contact us at 860-244-3333 or email info@achievehartford.org.
Achieve Hartford

The Mini Gladiators from Classical Magnet Middle School.

Achieve Hartford

The Pollinators team with the University of Hartford mascot, the Hawk.

Achieve Hartford

The Spartans from SPARTA Insurance emerged victorious after spelling correctly the word "mulligatawny."