Several students from schools located in the Archdiocese of Atlanta participated in the Georgia Independent Schools Association Spelling Bee in February.

The first round of competition was held Feb. 8 at various locations around Georgia. Round one was a written competition devised of 110 words in which students were required to write in ink without erasing or adding any letters. Anything that is illegible was considered an error. The archdiocese was well represented at the end of round one with many students advancing on to the second round. Six out of nine Catholic schools from Atlanta Area One sent representatives, and two out of four Catholic schools from Atlanta Area Two sent representatives.

Rounds two and three, also written competitions, of the GISA Bee competition were held on Feb. 22, at Tattnall Square Academy in Macon. The 42 contestants from each of the five different round one sites competed and the top 20 competitors moved on to round 3. Again, the archdiocese was very well represented at the end of the second round with eight students advancing to the third round, including: Olivia Taylor of Pinecrest Academy, Cumming; J.P. Smith of Christ the King School, Atlanta; Brendan Hickey of St. Thomas More School, Decatur; Sophie Hawkins of Marist School, Atlanta; Todd Jones of Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Atlanta; Eric Eichelberger of Marist; Katilyn Bregman of St. John the Evangelist School, Hapeville; and Taylor Halbig of St. John Neumann, Lilburn. All made it to the third round. Holy Spirit Prep’s Jones went on to win first place and will advance to the state level competition, which will be held in Atlanta on March 23.