Lucy Palmer, Matilda McCracken advancing to state spelling bee

The annual Charlotte Central School spelling bee took place at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 21, with the second-eighth grade grade students watching.

Chea Waters Evans, a Democratic Chittenden-5 representative, attended Charlotte Central School as a child and loves to help with our school spelling bees. She was one of the judges for the spelling bee, along with Margaret Woodruff, director of the Charlotte Library, and Superintendent Rene Sanchez. Larson Berkey and Julie Lin also assisted the judges.

Thirty-two third-eighth grade students participated. There were 15 rounds, and by the ninth round, there were only five contestants left.

The final three competitors were Matilda McCracken, Lucy Palmer and Annie Palmer.

Annie got third place and her final word was “lymphoma.”

Matilda got second place, and her final word was “conciliatory.”

Lucy won first place by correctly spelling “turquoise.”

Matilda McCracken and Lucy Palmer will advance to the statewide spelling bee.

(Leigh Cullen and Dahlia Herrington are Charlotte Central School students.)