Canyon Creek Elementary will send three students to the Weber State Spanish Spelling Bee on April 9, continuing a nine-year tradition tied to the school’s Spanish Immersion Program.
Each year, fourth through sixth graders compete in the school’s Spanish Spelling Bee, reinforcing their language skills and expanding their vocabulary.
“Most of the students in the immersion classes participate, and it gives them a chance to learn more about the language they’re studying,” said Canyon Creek Spanish Teacher Sandra Valdajos. “They not only learn new words and their meanings but also gain a better grasp of grammar rules and exceptions.”
Students prepare by studying word lists at home and practicing with Spanish teachers and interns at school.
“It’s a community commitment—everyone is involved,” Valdajos said.
This year, 21 students competed at the school level, with sixth graders Liam Nielson, Cora Holbrook and Clara Ellsworth advancing to the Weber State competition.
To qualify, students must first advance through classroom and school-wide competitions. Each school is allowed to send three representatives.
Valdajos encouraged future participants to study past word lists and focus on difficult grammar concepts.
“They should pay close attention to grammatical rules and tricky areas like words containing the letter ‘h,’ since it’s silent in Spanish,” she said.
The three finalists will now prepare to compete against other top spellers from across the state.