Home-schooler wins North Idaho Bee - again
The word “wikiwiki” won a Coeur d’Alene 12-year-old last weekend’s North Idaho Regional Spelling Bee.
The Hawaiian word means “quickly or fast.”
Rachel Pinkerton’s victory was anything but swift.
The home-schooled eighth-grader dueled for nine rounds with runner-up Allie Broaddus, a Kellogg fifth-grader, before Allie misspelled “gazpacho.”
Outspelling 38 students earned Rachel an expenses-paid trip to the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee May 29 and 30 in Washington, D.C.
She also received a dictionary, a $100 savings bond, a one-year online encyclopedia subscription, a plaque and a medallion.
It was Rachel’s second time winning the regional spelling bee. She was also the champ in 2006.
Christopher Kalberg, an eighth-grade Idaho Virtual Academy student from Post Falls took third place and fourth place went to Brian Pfau, a fifth-grade Idaho Virtual Academy student from Dalton Gardens.
The competition at North Idaho College was sponsored by Hagadone Newspapers.
Other students placing in the spelling bee include:
Fifth-place finishers: Michael Peltzer, eighth grade, Sandpoint Middle School; Jesse Miller, fifth grade, Priest Lake Elementary; Shane Hylton, fifth grade, Betty Kiefer Elementary; Megan Whitney, seventh grade, Lakeland Junior High; Lattisha Lockman, sixth grade, Idaho Hill Elementary; Mackenzie Bublitz, seventh grade, Kellogg Middle School; Dominique Vanderwilt, eighth grade, Timberlake Junior High.
Sixth-place finishers: Benson Waldrop, fifth grade, Heyburn Elementary; Sarah Wells, fourth grade, Sagle Elementary; Leo Hunsaker, seventh grade, Sandpoint Middle School; Payton Wadsworth, fifth grade, Harrison Elementary; Easton Townsend, seventh grade, Woodland Middle School; Sabrina Smith, sixth grade, Coeur d’Alene Christian.
Seventh-place finishers: Caitlin Klaeui, fourth grade, Idaho Virtual Academy; Elissa Garrett, fourth grade, House of the Lord Christian Academy; Sawyer Brandt, fifth grade, home school; Delia Boyd, fifth grade, Sagle Elementary; Ashlynn Batchelor, seventh grade, Coeur d’Alene Christian; LeeAnne Bixler, sixth grade, home school; Josh Neel, eighth grade, Lakes Middle School; Kirk Abolafia, sixth grade, Canfield Middle School; Wyatt Brown, sixth grade, Spirit Lake Elementary; Colin Richards, fourth grade, Hayden Meadows Elementary; Paul Barbieri, seventh grade, home school; Bethany Harryman, eighth grade, Coeur d’Alene Christian; Sierra Mitchell, sixth grade, Farmin-Stidwell Elementary; Merinda Austin, fourth grade, Betty Kiefer Elementary; Justine Thomas, fourth grade, home school; Sarah Chandler, fourth grade, Harrison Elementary; Adam Pontius, fourth grade, Heyburn Elementary; Paisley Davis, fourth grade, Pinehurst Elementary; Jerry Hudson, sixth grade, Kellogg Middle School; Jack Harris, fifth grade, Hayden Meadows Elementary; Isaiah Sovereign, sixth grade, Idaho Virtual Academy; Marshall Willms, seventh grade, Kootenai Jr./Sr. High.
NIC presenting WINGS session
High school juniors and seniors can begin earning college credits by enrolling in North Idaho College’s WINGS program.
Through WINGS, which stands for WIN by getting a Good Start, students can receive high school and college credit by taking classes at NIC. The college is having an information session Tuesday for students and parents who are interested in learning more about the program.
Students from public, private and home schools are invited.
The meeting is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Driftwood Bay Room of NIC’s Edminster Student Union.
Information: (208) 769-3229.
‘Wear It’ poster contest under way
The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is inviting Idaho fourth-graders to participate in a poster contest.
Entries in the Idaho Boating Program’s “Wear It” poster contest should encourage the use of life jackets.
North Idaho’s winning artist will receive a T-shirt and a life jacket and the entry will be submitted to the state competition. The state winner wins a T-shirt and an education savings bond.
The winner’s classmates and teacher will also receive prizes.
Submit entries by April 14 to “Wear It” Poster Contest, Attention: Kim Jackson, 5657 Warm Springs Ave., Boise, ID 83716.
Information: (208) 514-2417.
Charter schools have openings
Two statewide public charter schools are opening enrollment for the 2008-‘09 school year.
The Idaho Distance Education Academy is having an informational meeting from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Sandpoint Library.
Open enrollment for I-DEA, a K-12 school, runs through May 1.
The school provides home educators with curriculum and the guidance of a certified teacher.
Information on I-DEA is available online at www.idahoidea.org or by calling (208) 457-1019.
The Idaho Connections Academy is having an information session 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the LaQuinta Inn, 280 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d’Alene.
The school loans parents a computer, reimburses them for Internet connection costs and provides textbooks and other materials.
Each student is assigned an Idaho-certified teacher to offer help and monitor student progress.
Information is available online at www.ConnectionsAcademy.
com.