After advancing through classroom competitions, 15 fourth grade finalists recently took the stage for the Lakeview Elementary School Spelling Bee. Cheered on by classmates, family members and staff, the students demonstrated their vocabulary knowledge and perseverance as they worked through increasingly challenging rounds of competition.
Hosted by literacy coach Vanessa Staviski and judged by library media specialist Maria Bohan and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Jennifer Pontillo, the spelling bee began with words such as “freight” and “astronaut” before progressing to more difficult challenges. As the competition narrowed, contestants tackled advanced words including “achievement” and “committee.”
After several rounds of impressive performances, fourth grader Raffaele Siino, representing Robin Ambrosi’s class, correctly spelled “foreign” to claim the title of Lakeview’s 2026 Spelling Bee champion.
“We are incredibly proud of all of our participants for the preparation, focus and courage they demonstrated throughout the competition,” Principal Elizabeth Blessing said. “Standing on a stage in front of your peers and family members takes confidence, and every student represented themselves and our school exceptionally well.”
