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STAMFORD, Conn. — Students, parents, teachers and others at Stamford’s Northeast Elementary School will put their spelling abilities to the test Wednesday night at the school's spelling bee.
In addition to finding out who uses spell-check and who doesn’t, the event raises money for the school’s parent-teacher organization and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a release said. The spelling bee was started by Andy Sklover and Elizabeth Kenny, whose children go to the school, and are both named Ryan and have type 1 diabetes.
"We are fostering an appreciation for a diminishing skill set while supporting a worthy cause,” Sklover said in the release.
"The Northeast Spelling Bee has provided us with a unique opportunity to combine the power of education with the power of community. These students are raising important research dollars for JDRF while learning and having fun. We are thrilled to be a part of their first spelling bee," said Jean Marie Trick, Kids Walk coordinator for the Fairfield and Westchester offices of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, in the release.
The parents hope to reach $5,000 in fundraising, which is done by adult teams signing up at $300 apiece, as well as advertisers who make pledges.
The kids competition will take place with the finalists from each classroom in grades three, four and five, and then the adult competition will take place. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
"At least the adults get to work as a team. The third, fourth and fifth graders are all by themselves on stage. And if they can do it, we can do it," said Kenny in a release. In addition to being a co-founder of the bee, she is also a member of the adult team, "Awesome Moms."
The spelling bee will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at Northeast School, 82 Scofieldtown Road.
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