Spelling Bee

There wasn't a second of hesitation in Sarah Bhaskaran's voice. In a perfect, intentional rhythm, the sixth-grade Paradise Canyon Elementary student spelled out, "t-e-r-r-a-z-z-o" and it was all over. Sarah, 11, had won the 2011 La Cañada Unified School District Spelling Bee, which was held at the district's Round Building Thursday night. Sarah didn't pause to collect herself before spelling the word, even though she knew it was the deciding factor in who would be crowned the district's spelling-bee champion.

At the La Cañada Unified School District headquarters Thursday, the night turned from “zany” to “outrageous” in less than an hour. Sixteen students competed in a spelling bee that pulled four students each from the district's La Cañada, Palm Crest and Paradise Canyon elementary schools, as well as from La Cañada Preparatory, a private school. Parents sat on the edges of their seats, watching their children take turns in a battle of memory and reading comprehension. Palm Crest fifth-grader Solenn Matuska won after a heated battle with La Cañada Prep sixth-grader Evan Straw.

Zhi Low's career as a student in the La Cañada Unified School District hit a high note on Monday at the district's new board room off Cornishon Avenue. Low, a fifth grader at Paradise Canyon Elementary School, battled 11 other district youths to win the LCUSD's first official spelling bee. The youth needed 17 rounds to be declared the winner after successfully spelling Rottweiler and salutatorian, which runner up Neel Sitaramya from Palm Crest Elementary School failed to spell in the 16th round.

Twelve elementary students will be moving on to the district spelling bee at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the La Cañada district office. Each elementary school conducted spelling bee competitions at their schools last week where four winners from each school were chosen. “One winner will then move on to the [Los Angeles] county competition, then from there to the state,” said Ivette Ellis, principal of La Cañada Elementary. “This is only the third year that the county has done [the competition]

Zhi-He Low, a fifth-grade student at Paradise Canyon Elementary School in La Cañada Flintridge, spelled his way to champion of the Los Angeles County Spelling Bee. The contest was held in Alhambra on March 22. "Each of the elementary schools had classroom spelling bees in their fourth through sixth grades," La Cañada Elementary Principal Ivette Ellis said. "From each classroom the top two spellers participated in a school-wide spelling bee. The top four spellers from the school wide bee proceeded to participate in the district spelling bee. At the district spelling bee, one winner was selected to represent the district at the Los Angeles County Spelling Bee."

Presented by Broadway/L.A., "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Wadsworth Theatre on the Veteran Administration grounds in Brentwood for a limited four-week engagement from May 24 to June 17. One of the major hits of the past few seasons, Spelling Bee will enter its third smash year on Broadway on April 15. Starring in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" are the cast that originated these...

At the end of a two-hour spelling bee last week, Paradise Canyon Elementary School fifth grade student Josie Kamida took home the first place trophy. The annual La Cañada Unified School District Spelling Bee, elementary division, started at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the district office on Cornishon with 12 students, from fourth to sixth grade, competing. The students were already winners, having captured their individual school spelling bee the week prior. Each competitor had his or her own unique approach to the difficult spelling tasks before them.

Fifth-grader Solenn Matuska made a permanent, impossible-to-remove impression on senior policymakers and managers Wednesday when she successfully spelled “indelible” and “executive” to take first place in the 2012 Los Angeles County Elementary Spelling Bee. Solenn, 10, who attends Palm Crest Elementary School in La Cañada Flintridge, topped a field of 23 students. Wednesday's event took place at the Almansor Court Conference Center in Alhambra, with the most capable spellers sweating through 12 rounds and more than an hour of competition.

The spirit of Elizabeth Frances Knight inspires the La Canada Thursday Club. Her portrait hangs on the wall. She is distinguished, in a dark dress with white ruffles at the neck. Her hair is white. There is a book in her hand. From her vantage point she watches over parties, teas and lunches, the drinkers and the dancers, the rummage sales and the speeches. The lady in the portrait is mature, sedate and distinguished. The portrait sets a certain tone. And yet, there is a twinkle in her eye as she watches over us. It is a club that she founded.

There wasn't a second of hesitation in Sarah Bhaskaran's voice. In a perfect, intentional rhythm, the sixth-grade Paradise Canyon Elementary student spelled out, "t-e-r-r-a-z-z-o" and it was all over. Sarah, 11, had won the 2011 La Cañada Unified School District Spelling Bee, which was held at the district's Round Building Thursday night. Sarah didn't pause to collect herself before spelling the word, even though she knew it was the deciding factor in who would be crowned the district's spelling-bee champion.

?Water Day? to be celebrated here A World Water Day Celebration will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 at Memorial Park in La Cañada. The event, which will feature informational booths about the local and global water crises, games, food and face painting, is being organized by Kelly Gregg of Girl Scout Troop #739 as part of her Gold Award efforts. Proceeds will be donated to UNICEF. ? Parcel tax exemption process outlined Property owners living within the boundaries of the La Cañada Unified School District who want to submit a senior citizen or contiguous parcel exemption form for the 2010 tax year may do so between April 1 and June 30. Parcel tax exemption forms are available from the district?

At the end of a two-hour spelling bee last week, Paradise Canyon Elementary School fifth grade student Josie Kamida took home the first place trophy. The annual La Cañada Unified School District Spelling Bee, elementary division, started at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the district office on Cornishon with 12 students, from fourth to sixth grade, competing. The students were already winners, having captured their individual school spelling bee the week prior. Each competitor had his or her own unique approach to the difficult spelling tasks before them.

Twelve elementary students will be moving on to the district spelling bee at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the La Cañada district office. Each elementary school conducted spelling bee competitions at their schools last week where four winners from each school were chosen. “One winner will then move on to the [Los Angeles] county competition, then from there to the state,” said Ivette Ellis, principal of La Cañada Elementary. “This is only the third year that the county has done [the competition]

Presented by Broadway/L.A., "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Wadsworth Theatre on the Veteran Administration grounds in Brentwood for a limited four-week engagement from May 24 to June 17. One of the major hits of the past few seasons, Spelling Bee will enter its third smash year on Broadway on April 15. Starring in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" are the cast that originated these...