The Free Lance–Star is pleased to offer schools in the following areas the opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Caroline
Colonial Beach
Culpeper
Dahlgren
Fauquier
Fredericksburg
King George
Orange
Spotsylvania
Stafford
Westmoreland

The bee is open to students, grades K-8, in enrolled schools. Public, private, parochial and home-schools are invited to enroll.

Each school must register directly with Scripps at www.spellingbee.com. There is a $99 materials and enrollment fee per school. The Free Lance–Star contributes $15, reducing the per-school cost to $84.

Competition begins with classroom bees in January and February, followed by a school-wide bee comprised of classroom winners. School bee winners then participate in a county (or city) bee. The winner of this bee competes in March in the Regional Bee hosted by The Free Lance-Star.

The champion of the Regional bee will win $1500 and an all-expense paid trip for the winner and an escort to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. in May. While in Washington, our champion will compete against more than 275 spellers from across the country and enjoy a variety of events organized for the Bee participants.

For more information or to register your school, contact Laurie Carter 540/374.5000, ext. 5657.

For tips for preparing for the Bee and FAQs, visit the Scripps National Spelling Bee Web site