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How do you spell success? S-z-c-z-y-p-i-e-n
Peru seventh-grader earns spot in national spelling competition
You can now view Calendars of Events for today and upcoming weeks? A complete and up-to-date list of local events is now available on every section of PressRepublican.com.
PLATTSBURGH — Middle-school students from across the area gathered at Plattsburgh High School for a few hours Friday night for a competition not of athletic prowess, but of mental agility.
When it was all said and done, seventh-grader Alyssa Szczypien of Peru Central School won an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., beating out the North Country's top spellers in the Champlain Valley Educational Services Regional Spelling Bee.
Szczypien emerged victorious after the correct spelling of "pongee" and "narcissism," and now heads to the nation's capital for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She said she has been preparing for the spelling bee since it was announced to students in her school last October.
"It feels awesome. It's not just a trophy. It's a chance to show yourself."
Studying about an hour a day, her father, John, said he couldn't even express how he felt.
"It's a thrill. I didn't expect her to get this far."
The ninth-annual Regional Spelling Bee featured representatives from local schools who won their class spelling bees. Runners-up served as alternates.
This is the third year that winners from this area have been sent to nationals, allowing students a chance to pit their knowledge of vocabulary against other students across the country.
"The spelling bee is an opportunity for our students to participate in a higher level," said AuSable Valley Middle School Principal Phillip Mero. "It gives them the opportunity to show what they learned."
Jane Landry, who works for Assessment and Planning for CVES and helped organize the event, said she is surprised at the level of knowledge many of these kids have even before they study for an event like this.
"I'm amazed at the words they have always been able to spell," Landry said.
However, as they continue to the national level, the words will be increasingly difficult, she said.
Ingrid Cote, a teacher at AuSable Valley Central School, said the top 10 students from the English courses at her school were gathered to compete in a school spelling bee. But for students, it's not just memorizing the spelling of words, it's paying attention to detail, she said.
"It's a living process," she said of language. "It changes, it grows."
Paying attention to detail allows students to explore the meanings of words, which gradually expands to a greater overall knowledge of the world.
Runner-up and seventh-grade champion Lysbeth Buchanan of North Country School said her success was a total surprise.
"Wow," she said. "I didn't even think I'd make it past the third round."
Her secret wasn't to memorize and study words, but to keep up a regular schedule of reading. Finishing eight to nine books a week as a matter of course, Buchanan said she didn't work too hard to prepare for the competition.
"It was really fun," she said.
And as far as not winning the trip to the nation's capital, Buchanan didn't mind.
"She's probably going to (do) better," she said of Szczypien.
In addition to winning the trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by North Country Parents for a National Spelling Bee and the Press-Republican, Szczypien and Buchanan won various other prizes.
Other grade-level winners were Nadia Niva, fourth-grader from Beekmantown Central School; fifth-grader Windy Hoag of Beekmantown Central School; sixth-grader Trevor Wills of Plattsburgh; and eighth-grader Thomas Connor of Peru Central School.
After the first two oral rounds and one written round, 17 students remained. As words like "corpuscle" continued to whittle down contestants, it was soon down to seventh-graders Szczypien and Buchanan. After missing her first word, Szcypien lost the seventh-grade prize to Buchanan, but remained in the running after Buchanan was unable to spell her next word for the championship.
After victory escaped Buchanan's grasp, misspelling "sorghum," words like "febrifugal," "teratological," "vaticinal" and "choucroute" had the final two contestants battling for several more rounds. When Buchanan spelled "roux" incorrectly, however, Szczypien moved in with two correct spellings, sealing her victory.
The night's emcee, WPTZ's Jim Moore, summed up those final rounds when the trophies were awarded.
"This by far was one of the greatest (spelling bees) ever," he said. "It was like a heavyweight fight up there."
- Local News
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Area's state legislators recognized for taxpayer support
Sen. Betty Little ranked first in the Senate, while Assemblywomen Janet Duprey and Teresa Sayward ranked 23rd and 25th, respectively, when Unshackle Upstate released its 2010 Legislative Scorecards.
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Essex County layoffs debated
The Essex County Board of Supervisors isn't sure it wants to include layoffs in its early retirement incentive plan.
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City school mulls new tax
A utility tax would force everyone to help cover the costs of public education, while reducing the amount property owners pay in terms of property taxes.
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Capital project continues for City School
School officials say it has been a long summer with some setbacks, but work is moving forward and the outcome will benefit students.
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Tribes celebrate cigarette-tax stay
St. Regis Mohawk will be included in the temporary stay on tribal cigarette sales-tax collection.
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Ti lakeshore zoning gets rewrite
Water quality and quality of life are being touted as components of revised Ticonderoga waterfront zoning.
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Construction begins on new sidewalk along School Street in Peru
Workers have begun installing a sidewalk along School Street in the hamlet of Peru that will allow safer access to school property for students walking to and from school during the busy morning and afternoon commutes.
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Champlain Telephone Employee Stock Ownership Plan approved
President and CEO Trent Trahan will sell his majority shares to the company's non-union workers. They will get stock based on their years of employment and will be reimbursed for them when they retire.
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Women in wartime: heros, helpmates, history makers
The annual commemoration of the Battle of Plattsburgh begins this week, culminating in a remarkable mix of events over next weekend, writes columnist Richard Frost.
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P-R wins 5 Associated Press awards
Press-Republican staff takes home five awards in the 2009-10 New York State Associated Press contest.
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Ellenburg man opens dive shop in brother's memory
As he copes with the loss of his younger brother, Archie Jones hopes to teach others about scuba diving, something Melvin Jones became passionate about before his death.
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Women offered chance to boost self image
Program gives participants an opportunity to look and feel their best.
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A day in paradise
Chris Fasolino opens a window on the peaceful, stunningly beautiful village of Amalfi in Italy.
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Bed Race deadline extended
People have more time to sign up teams for Sept. 11 Rotary Red Race.
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Of Interest: Sept. 5, 2010
PSU accepting spring '11 applications; Lake Placid School Board meeting set; Westport School Board agenda planned
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Business Briefs: Sept. 5, 2010
Labor Day donation; Deadline extended; Health forum; School program; Grant received.
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Farm Briefs: Sept. 5, 2010
Hay and pasture insurance expands; High-tunnel crops experience success; Online courses for beginning farmers debut; Local dairy recognized as eco-friendly farm.
- September 4, 2010
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City school mulls new tax
A utility tax would force everyone to help cover the costs of public education, while reducing the amount property owners pay in terms of property taxes.
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Ti lakeshore zoning gets rewrite
Water quality and quality of life are being touted as components of revised Ticonderoga waterfront zoning.
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West Chazy meat market burns
D&D Meats and its upstairs apartments are now a total loss, but the owners' house next door was saved.
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Area's state legislators recognized for taxpayer support
