Mill Valley 5th Grader Correctly Spells 'Inoculate' to Claim Spelling Bee Title

The following was submitted for publication by Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke:

The Marin County South Regional Elementary Spelling Bee was held last Thursday, Oct. 2, at Old Mill School in Mill Valley.

Joey O’Neill, a 5th grader from Bel Aire Elementary School, was the first place winner. The winning word was inoculate.

The following five finalists will represent the South Region at the Marin County Elementary Spelling Bee Championship on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at the Marin County Office of Education.

• Joey O’Neill, 5th grade, Bel Aire Elementary School – first place
• Julian Reiss, 6th grade, Mill Valley Middle School – second place
• Devin Hunsinger, 4th grade, Bel Aire Elementary School – third place
• Tristan Ghosh, 4th grade, Park School – fourth place
• Sydney DeVito Parks, 5th grade, Strawberry Point School – fifth place

The regional and county elementary spelling bees are part of a countywide program of spelling contests coordinated by the Marin County Office of Education. Special thanks to the Marin Association of REALTORS® for volunteering as judges for this popular academic event. The judges for this competition were Mona Skyler of Bradley Real Estate and Andy Fegley, CEO of Marin Association of REALTORS®