Editor, The Spotlight:
Bethlehem Opportunities Unlimited (BOU) held Bethlehem’s 1st Annual Community Spelling Bee on March 27 at the Bethlehem Central Middle School. The Spelling Bee is BOU’s primary fundraiser for its grant programs which promote and fund healthy activities for the youth in our community.
BOU is happy to report that the first “Bee” brought out 18 teams from our community. Team members were dressed in team T-shirts, costumes and had team names and signs. The competition was tight with some words stumping even these talented teams. After several rounds of friendly competition, the winner was Words’ Worth, sponsored by Thomas H. Pratt Jr. and Associates, and second place went to The Bethlehem Children’s School. Congratulations to both teams!
BOU would like to thank our volunteers that helped make the event possible – our judges, student volunteers from Bethlehem Youth Court and BCHS’ Student Help Desk and our master of ceremonies, Principal Dave Ksanznak. We would like to thank our community’s businesses, schools and organizations that were participants, team sponsors and word sponsors as well as those that donated food and other items. Our gratitude goes out to the following organizations. We look forward to our next “Bee!”
Jayne Deane-White, co-president of BOU
Team Sponsors: Elsmere PTA, Bethlehem Central Community Organization, Glenmont PTA, Bethlehem Central Teachers Association, Kinderhook Bank, The Bethlehem Children’s School, Dr. Michael Parker, Bethlehem Memorial Veterans Association, Thomas H. Pratt, Jr. & Associates, Bethlehem Police Officer Union, Delmar Pediatrics, Price Chopper, Stewart’s Shops and Eagle PTO.
Word Sponsors: Bethlehem Central Community Organization, Delmar Dental, Kinderhook Bank, Farm Family, Safari Health, Glenmont Dental and School’s Out, Inc.
Other Contributors: Andriano’s Pizza; Riegel’s All Stars, Eagle Elementary; Ron Tweedie; ShopRite; Hannaford; I Love Books; Main Square Shoppes; Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce; BCSD Communications Department; BCMS Custodial Crew; Bethlehem Youth Court, Katrina Charland.
Teams: BCSD PE Dept.; The Bethlehem Children’s School; Bethlehem Youth Court; Colonial Acres Book Club; Elsmere Stingers (Elsmere Elementary teachers); Got Words? (Eagle Elementary teachers); Hamagrael Spellers Teams 1 & 2 (Hamagrael Elementary); The Eyevee Leeghers (BCMS Teachers); Kinderhook Bank; Klugman Family; Price Chopper Supermarkets; The Queen Bees (Eagle Elementary teachers); SADD Spellers (BCMS SADD); The Spellors (Eagle Elementary teachers); Stellar Spellers (Glenmont Elementary teachers); To Bee or Not to Bee (Slingerlands Elementary teachers); Words’ Worth.
