Eleven FMS schools participated in the 2023 Diné Spelling Bee, a competition to determine the district’s best Diné Bizaad spellers that also highlights Diné culture and song. Divided into elementary, middle, and high school categories, last night’s thirteen edition of the Bee took place at Piedra Vista High School’s Turano Chrisman Performing Arts Theatre.
Our students would listen to words like Dik’os (Cough) and Ahdla’áadah (Fifteen), write them down on a board, and pronounce them for the judges. In two of the levels, a glottal stop is what separated first and second place.
Kudos to our amazing spellers, organizers, teachers, master of ceremonies, and pronouncer.
Special kudos to our District Instructional Facilitator Carmelita Lee (above), and our Bee Judges Jerilynn Goldtooth, Melissa Spencer, Roselyn Begay, and Valerie Vicenti.
Elementary School Competition
It took five rounds to decide who would be the elementary category winner. During the fifth round, the students had to spell the same word to determine who would place first, second, and third. The winning word was K’adí (That is All). And the winners are Kiara Benally (1st place, Apache Elementary), Ethan John (2nd place, Apache Elementary), and Aydin Aronilth-Toledo (3rd place, Esperanza Elementary).
Middle School Competition
Our middle schoolers won their places during the second round. The winning word was Hastóí (Elderly Man). And the winners are Chasity Taylor (1st place), Makala Taylor (2nd place), and Jaime Tomasello (3rd place). All the winners are from Tibbetts Middle School.
High School Competition
The winning word that separated first and second place was Tsintah (Among the Forest). And the winners are Yazzmine Lee (1st place, Farmington High School), Jalen Harvey (2nd place, Piedra Vista High School), and Ashley Beyale (3rd place, Piedra Vista High School).
The event featured recognition of all the Diné teachers and wonderful musical intermissions by the 2nd Grade Students at Animas Elementary School (above) singing “Navajo Sunrise and Shiyázhí Songs,” the PVHS Indigenous Club, and FHS student and Master of Ceremonies Jayden Begay.
Congratulations to all the winners and participants, and we can’t wait to see what next year’s competition holds.
[Click here] to view or download more photos of the event!