MONTEBELLO – Rosewood Park Elementary sixth-grader Ismael Solorio is preparing to represent Montebello Unified at the 10th annual Los Angeles County Elementary Spelling Bee to be held March 25 after winning the District’s eighth annual Spelling Bee. It is no easy feat to compete in the District’s Spelling Bee where complex words such as “precocious,” “synthetic” and “statistician” can stump even the top of the District’s fourth- through sixth-grade spellers who outperformed their classmates to reach the District competition.

“District-wide events such as our annual Spelling Bee engage students, teachers, families and staff members while promoting literacy, competition and confidence,” Montebello Unified Board President Edgar Cisneros said. “Being able to compete at the county level is a special accomplishment, and we wish him the best of luck as we are so proud that he is representing Montebello Unified.”

The District’s event, held at Montebello Intermediate School on Feb. 25, featured approximately five rounds of competition as students took turns spelling complex words in front of their families and audience members. Ismael was declared the winner after he successfully spelled the word “geneal.” Andrea Ruiz, a sixth-grader from Eastmont Intermediate School, secured the runner-up spot.

“I had fun at the District Spelling Bee representing Rosewood Park School and I want to thank my mom, my brother and especially my teacher, Ms. McCabe, for helping me to prepare for this event,” Ismael said. “In order to prepare for the Spelling Bee, I studied prefixes, suffixes and learned Greek and Latin root words.”

Ismael will face off against other student representatives from 24 other school districts in Los Angeles County. The top two winners, with their parents, will participate in the California State Elementary Spelling Bee in April, with expenses paid for by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE).

“We are so proud of our school representatives for participating in another successful and challenging MUSD Spelling Bee, which makes learning engaging,” said Superintendent of Education Susanna Contreras Smith. “A heartfelt congratulations to Ismael – and a very special thank-you to all the teachers, staff and District leaders who organized this fantastic event this year.”

Contreras Smith served as the Master of Ceremonies. The judges were: Arthur Revueltas, Deputy Superintendent; Jill Rojas, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources; Dr. Anthony Martinez, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services; and Adeline Canedo, Director of Instructional Services. The Spell Master was Doug Patzkowski, a fifth-grade teacher at Bella Vista Elementary School.

The host of LACOE’s Spelling Bee, to be held Almansor Court in Alhambra, will be entertainer John Irving of The Renaissance Center in Lancaster. The Spell Master will be Donna Van Allen of LACOE.

“The students, staff and parents of Rosewood Park School are very proud of Ismael and we wish him the best at the LACOE competition next week,” said Robert A. Cornejo, J.D., Principal of Rosewood Park School.


Photo Caption

MUSD Spelling Bee1: Winning the District’s eighth annual Spelling Bee was quite the accomplishment for Rosewood Park Elementary sixth-grader Ismael Solorio (pictured, center, with runner-up Andrea Ruiz, their parents, teachers and Superintendent of Education Susanna Contreras Smith), who is now preparing to represent the District at the 10th annual Los Angeles County Elementary Spelling Bee on March 25.