Mid-Continent Public Library Spelling Bee

The Mid-Continent Public Library Spelling Bee (formerly the Jackson-Clay Spelling Bee) is proud to offer students in Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. From the school-level bees to the semifinal and championship bees, the MCPL Spelling Bee encourages students to expand their vocabularies, strengthen their study skills, and gain confidence under pressure. The winner of our Championship Bee goes to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. each May.

What does it take for my school participate to in the MCPL Spelling Bee program?

The Mid-Continent Public Library Spelling Bee is affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. Participating schools must register with Scripps National to participate in MCPL’s local bee program. Registered schools receive access to bee materials, exclusive online resources, and guidance on how to conduct a school bee program from SNSB. Learn more about the Scripps National Spelling Bee program.

What does it cost for my school to register with Scripps National Spelling Bee?

The cost of registration is $180 for each school before October 31. The price increases to $199 on November 1.

What is the deadline to register my school for the bee?

Registration opens August 22, 2023 and closes on December 31, 2023. Schools will be required to conduct and register their school champions by January 19, 2024, to compete in the Mid-Continent Public Library semifinals and championship bees.

What grades can participate in the bee?

The MCPL Spelling Bee is open to students in grades 3-8. It is up to the individual school to decide which grades will participate in their school-wide bee and how a school bee champion is chosen. Many schools conduct classroom/grade level bees and then advance the winners to a school-wide bee.

What happens once our school crowns a School Bee Champion?

School Bee Champions advance to MCPL’s online semifinal spelling bee test which will be available to students February 7-14, 2024. The online test is timed and consists of 50 questions—25 spelling words and 25 vocabulary questions. The test will be limited to 30 minutes. The test can be taken on a laptop, tablet, or phone using Google Chrome.

What if a speller requires special accommodations to take the online test?

The MCPL Spelling Bee will work with counseling staff at the school/district to create a reasonable accommodation for your speller.

What study materials are available to help spellers?

Scripps National Spelling Bee offers its Words of the Champion study guide to participating spellers. The guide is available through the School Membership Portal at spellingbee.com. Parents can request a copy from their school’s bee coordinator. The Mid-Continent Public Library Spelling Bee CANNOT furnish schools or spellers with any study materials.

Scripps National also has a free study app called Word Club, which is available on Apple and Android app stores.

PLEASE NOTE:

The Mid-Continent Public Library Spelling Bee semifinal spelling/vocabulary test will include words NOT FOUND in the 2024 Words of the Champions Study Guide.
Depending on the level of competition, the Mid-Continent Public Library Spelling Bee may introduce words NOT FOUND in the 2024 Words of the Champions Study Guide.

Where can parents get study tips for their spellers?

For study tips, visit the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s Parent Portal at spellingbee.com.

Where can parents get regular updates about the Mid-Continent Public Library Spelling Bee? Parents can join the MCPL Facebook group for regular updates on the MCPL Spelling Bee.

Who advances from the Semifinals to the Championship Bee?

Spellers scoring among the top 30+ spellers on the semifinal test will advance to the Mid-Continent Public Library Championship Spelling Bee on March 2, 2024, at the Midwest Genealogy Center Community Hall. The championship bee is a traditional single-elimination spelling bee with advancing spellers competing in multiple rounds until a single champion is selected.

What does the Spelling Bee Champion receive for winning?

The Champion wins the chance to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Mid-Continent Public Library will pay airfare and hotel for the Champion and a parent/guardian to travel to Washington D.C., as well as furnish them with $600 for incidental expenses.

Have more questions?

Sara Peterson-Davis
Spelling Bee Coordinator
spellingbee@mymcpl.org
816.503.4190 Desk | 816.666.3883 Cell

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