Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Buzzing with knowledge - SBISD students shine during annual spelling bee

February 20, 2024 1:00 PM

Top student spellers gathered at Westchester Academy for International Studies on Friday, Feb. 16, for the SBISD Spelling Bee.

During the spelling bee, 50 students from 25 schools across the district in grades third through eighth competed for the winning title.

The students were pre-qualified, as they had previously participated in oral tests before advancing to the district-wide competition. (See list of campus winners and runner-ups below)

After 18 rounds, the winning word was “plutonium.”

The winner? Divakar Shenoy, an eighth grader from Memorial Middle School and the runner-up in the 2023 SBISD Spelling Bee. Arthur Jainsky, a seventh grader from Spring Branch Academic Institute was runner-up.

Along with a certificate and trophy, Divakar received a Black Fire HD 10 (13 Gen, 2023 released) wifi-enabled tablet with a yellow cover to assist with his academic endeavors and any preparation for future spelling bee competitions.

Divakar Shenoy will represent SBISD at the 2024 Scripps Regional Spelling Bee hosted by Houston Community College on March 23, 2024.

“The SBISD Spelling Bee is only a few hours in length but requires hours and hours of preparation by each participant,” said Linda Bimler, SBISD Gifted and Talented facilitator.

“We hope this competition leads them to a life-long love for words and learning in general!”

Event judges included Roberta Smiley, pronouncer and National Spelling Bee finalist, Kathleen Grant, lead judge and retired SBISD Pre-AP ELA teacher, Janet Christman, retired SBISD Pre-AP ELA teacher and Helen Welter, community member.

View the list of campus winners and runner-ups:

SCHOOL	WINNER	GRADE	RUNNER-UP	GRADE
Memorial Middle School	Divakar Shenoy	8	Eleanor Kaim	7
Westwood Elementary	Gerardo Ayala	4	Jack Odom	3
Cedar Brook Elementary	Eleanora Soto	3	Joniah Miles	3
Pine Shadows Elementary	Sydney Perkins	5	Zivah Daniels Cali Bailey	5 5
Spring Shadows Elementary	Cedric Harper Jr.	5	Bentley Gonzales	5
Memorial Drive Elementary	Cyrus Masani	5	Neville Masani	5
Cornerstone Academy	Clark Odom	7	William Tristan	8
Valley Oaks Elementary	Samuel Griffin	5	Sophia Lee	4
Spring Branch Middle School	Amy Martin	7	Luna Mirza	8
Ridgecrest Elementary	Leena Eltom	3	Angel Prado	5
Bunker Hill Elementary	Rylan Eastman	4	Kristen Adams	4
Spring Forest Middle School	Ethan Botacio Saenz	7	Shareen Javed	6
Spring Oaks Middle School	Jowell Arguelles Flores	7	Rebecca Hidalgo	6
Sherwood Elementary	Leonardo Pisano	5	Mark Pier Jr.	4
Frostwood Elementary	Samantha Lemieux	3	Wyatt Eggleston	3
Buffalo Creek Elementary	Anthony Bejarano	4	Analeah Contreras	5
Terrace Elementary	Daniel Bravo	5	Ayden Palacios	5
Wilchester Elementary	Noah Hahn	4	Maria "Ceci" Oliver	5
Meadow Wood Elementary	Naydelynn Alvarez	5	Daniel Alvarado-Listak	5
Spring Branch Elementary	Zoe Alejandro	5	Elizabeth Bohorquez Ortega	4
Shadow Oaks Elementary	Trajan Cantos	4	Azriela Vargas	5
Hunters Creek Elementary	Caroline Ranton	5	Ateeb Saif	5
SBAI	Arthur Jainsky	7	Anika Roy	5
Nottingham Elementary	Adrian Gonzalez	5	Taylor Nguyen	5
Thornwood ES	Aarib Sheikh	5	Imari Ajiodo	5