Elementary Students Take Down Annual Twp. Spelling Bee

There was no prejudice at this year’s annual Long Valley Junior Women’s Club Spelling Bee.

Well, there was, but only for a moment.

Flocktown-Kossmann School fourth grader Sloane Di Bari correctly spelled “prejudice” in the 25th round of the 13th annual competition, besting 26 of her peers to win the event on Jan. 25.

Di Bari, along with second place finisher Maiju Hoerning (fifth grade, Old Farmers Road School) and third place finisher Sarah Lahmidi (fifth grade, Old Farmers Road School) will go on to compete in the Highlands District Spelling Bee on Feb. 21 at Mohawk Avenue School in Sparta.

The top three finishers from that event will compete in the New Jersey State Bee in New Brunswick on March 7.

Evelyn Oravez (fourth grade, Benedict A. Cucinella School), and Avery Gumersell (fifth grade, Flocktown-Kossmann) rounded out the top five in the competition, which was held at Benedict A. Cucinella School.

Long Valley Junior Women’s Club chairperson Alexis Antonov led the event, which was assisted by Long Valley Middle School principal Mark Ippolito as the pronouncer. It was Ippolito’s sixth consecutive year in the position.

The Long Valley Junior Women’s Club is an all-volunteer organization that coordinates the C.A.R.E. Program, Science Fair, Summer Read-A-Thon, and Casino Night.

Pictured: From left: Sarah Lahmidi, third place; Maiju Hoerning, second place; Sloane DiBari, first place. Photos Courtesy Long Valley Junior Women’s Club.

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