The heat is on for Fred Adella and Leila Nelson. Adella, a sixth-grader at Waimea Canyon Middle School, and Nelson, a Kapaa Middle School seventh-grader, will be competing Saturday in the Hawaii State Spelling Bee. “I’m thankful and happy I
The heat is on for Fred Adella and Leila Nelson.
Adella, a sixth-grader at Waimea Canyon Middle School, and Nelson, a Kapaa Middle School seventh-grader, will be competing Saturday in the Hawaii State Spelling Bee.
“I’m thankful and happy I get to go, but I’m also a little nervous,” said Nelson. “It will be a fun and new experience for me, since I’ve never been to Oahu before.”
They will be among 14 finalists in grades four to eight in the event that will be broadcast live on PBS.
Each has their own Bee battle plan.
Nelson’s mother Christy Matsumura believes the secret to grooming a successful speller is reading to your children.
“I read to all my kids as babies and have witnessed the difference it has made,” said Matsumura. “Leila has taken to books so much I have to tell her sometimes to put them down and also look up and around you, too.”
This is Nelson’s second year competing at the district level. She took first in the Kauai District Spelling Bee in January after being eliminated in last year’s event.
“I’m really not a good speller,” she said. “I just read a lot of books and have a good memory.”
Adella downloads spelling games on his iPad and studies previous spelling bee videos to prepare. His method works, too.
“I also work on the study list with my Mom and Dad and my sister,” said Adella.
The Adellas moved from the Philippines to Kauai two years ago. During his preschool years in the Philippines, Adella knew he was a good speller because he’d score 100 percent on his tests. That continued into second grade when he continued to come in first in his class.
On Saturday, if Adella comes out on top, he looks forward to seeing the White House. He lists “doctor” as one of his potential occupations.
“Being a good speller could help me spell the names of diseases,” Adella said.
Asked if she thinks she’ll win, Nelson says, “I might. But I don’t like to be overly confident and get my hopes up.”
PBS Hawaii will air a live broadcast of the Hawaii State Spelling Bee at 7 p.m. Saturday. The program will also be live streamed on PBSHawaii.org.
The state champion will represent Hawaii at the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 25 to May 31 in Washington D.C.
