Spelling bee challenges Ellis Middle School students
Published 11:01 am Thursday, January 12, 2017
- Jackson Goetz flashes a quick grin after winning the eighth-grade Spelling Bee Wednesday morning at Ellis Middle School. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
For Ryan Schmeichel, the Ellis Middle School spelling bee held Wednesday was significant — in more ways than one.
First, the 10-year-old said his performance was significant because “I’m not used to being in front of people,” he said, nodding to the Ellis Middle School Auditorium stage, where the bee was held.
Secondly, he correctly spelled “significant” to take first place in the fifth grade bee. Separate contests were held for sixth, seventh and eighth, too.
“I’m really proud of myself,” said Ryan. “I really wanted to win. I felt confident.”
Ryan correctly spelled “wonderful,” classical,” “bargain,” “perimeter,” “emperor,” “enumerated,” and “boundary” before “significant” clinched the win.
He also thought he was a kind of natural at spelling.
“I’m just a chatterbox,” he said. “I am around words a lot.”
![Armando Ramirez takes a moment before going up for the next round in the Spelling Bee Wednesday morning. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/0112.SpellingBee-1.jpg)
Armando Ramirez takes a moment before going up for the next round in the Spelling Bee Wednesday morning. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
![Ellis eighth-grader Wren Clinefelter spells a word during the Spelling Bee Wednesday morning at Ellis Middle School. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/0112.SpellingBee-2.jpg)
Ellis eighth-grader Wren Clinefelter spells a word during the Spelling Bee Wednesday morning at Ellis Middle School. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com