Fourth-grader triumphs in spelling bee

SAUGUS – Fourth-grader Kurtis Trumpler out-spelled his fellow Waybright Elementary School classmates last week in the school?s annual spelling bee.A dozen fourth- and fifth-graders took center stage in the auditorium, as their parents sat in rows in the middle and more than 200 students sat at the lunch tables in a horseshoe around them.The final three came down to Trumpler and classmates Forest Brooks and Chantakrak Athy-Ly, but it was Trumpler who was able to spell “smother” and “solution” for the win.?I didn?t practice,” said Trumpler. “I?ve always been a straight A student for spelling. I?ve never gotten below a 96 on my spelling test.”View a photo gallery from the competition.Trumpler?s mother Donna said it was wonderful to see her son win.?He did it all on his own,” she said. “I said if he believes in himself he could figure it out. He was more nervous because he?s only a fourth-grader and he?s going against fifth-graders using sixth-grade words.”Other students slowly filed into the auditorium and took their seats at the lunch tables.They erupted into applause as the spelling bee contestants walked in and took their seats facing the crowd.?Who?s going to win today?” asked principal Linda Arsenault.All 12 students shouted, “I am,” in unison.?If you don?t believe in yourself no one is going to,” said Arsenault. “And we?re all winners because we?re here today. So no matter what happens today, everyone here sitting in front of you is a winner at the Waybright School.”Reading teacher Joanne Leach read the students the rules and the spelling bee got under way.The first few rounds of the spelling bee went smoothly for the 12 participants, but with each round came harder words. One by one the field began to shrink as words like “sanctuary,” “politician,” “seizure” and “astronomer” tripped up some of the students.?We take words from the curriculum, but they get harder and we try to make them more difficult as they go on,” said Leach, who served as a judge in last week?s competition.Trumpler received the coveted spelling bee robe after his win, which Leach made out of an old curtain six years ago when she first came to Waybright. She said the robe has been a tradition ever since.?It was fun,” said Leach. “It?s exciting, but stressful at the same time. The spelling bee robe, every year the kids wear it. It?s part of what happens when they win.”Trumpler will also move on to compete in the 27th Annual Daily Item Spelling Bee at the Breed Middle School on March 16. Students at this competition will compete for a chance to spell in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in May.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].