Garden City’s Stratford School second graders shine in class spelling bee
On June 18, students in Ms. Allie Reifler’s second grade class at Stratford School showcased their spelling skills during an exciting spelling bee.
The event was a celebration of the students’ growth through the Fundations program— a phonics-based approach they have been working with all year. After completing smaller-scale spelling contests at the end of each unit, which focused on “trick words” and common spelling patterns, the students were eager to take things to the next level.
To mark the end of the year, the class organized a full spelling bee featuring words from every unit. Each student gathered the courage to take the Stratford stage and spell second-grade level words on the microphone, following the official spelling bee cadence of repeating the word, spelling the word and finally repeating the word again. Many even asked for definitions or used the words in sentences, just like in official competitions.
The spelling bee not only highlighted the students’ academic achievements but also emphasized valuable character traits— demonstrating perseverance when faced with challenging words, the confidence to speak before an audience, and excellent sportsmanship by cheering on classmates and offering words of encouragement.
“The spelling bee not only showcased students’ hard work and spelling skills but also demonstrated that our class is a strong team that uplifts and supports each other no matter what,” said Ms. Reifler. “It was such a fun and engaging way for everyone to demonstrate their learning and build confidence!”
