OMS Spelling Bee Winner Advances to Regional Competition

On Jan. 8, 31 Oldfield Middle School students in the Harborfields Central School District took part in the school level of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. The students, representing grades six through eight, qualified to participate in the school-level bee after winning their class bees.

Students took on many complicated words with confidence. After nine rounds, only three contestants remained – seventh-grader Eric Cadalzo and sixth-graders Thomas Burney and Christian Melhado. Christian emerged as the winner in round 12 by correctly spelling “bonsai.”

As this year’s winner, Christian will be able to compete in the Hofstra Long Island Regional Spelling Bee on Feb. 9. He also receives a free one-year membership to Britannica Online for Kids.

When asked how he felt, Christian said with excitement, “When I heard that I was up against eighth-graders, I thought I had no chance, but when it got down to the final few, I thought I might just have a chance!”

 Photo above: Oldfield Middle School students in the Harborfields Central School District took part in the school level of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. Pictured are the final three contestants, Eric Cadalzo (second place), Thomas Burney (third place) and Christian Melhado (first place), with English language arts teachers Laura Hurney and Kerri Brierton.