City school students enjoy Spelling Bee, a movie night in West Baltimore

BALTIMORE — Spelling can be a daunting task for many of us, but doing it in front of friends and family?

“I thought I would be nervous being on stage in front of people.”

My goodness, both you and me, Omari. But he and the rest of the third, fourth and fifth graders took part in a spelling bee before the first screening of the film at Herbert Street Park in West Baltimore.

“That’s good, it’s the first event of this kind we’ve had.”

In 2020, the West North Avenue Development Authority invested in this space to demolish vacant rowhouses and create a green space.

Now they are investing in activating the space to make it a place where families feel comfortable and safe.

“Any time there’s something the community can enjoy, that the kids can enjoy, and that the parents can bring out [to]Feel safe and just say, “I’ll let you go for a while and you can all just walk around.”

Okay, back to the competition, it was intense. Eighteen children from two area schools followed Scripps Howard Spelling Bee rules to compete.

“I was thinking about stocks, stocks, and then I tapped into it,” Kaliah said.

“I thought I would get second place, but I knew I would try hard,” Hailee said.

Hailee and Kaliah were the third and fourth grade winners. It was a challenge for each of them, but they persevered and emerged victorious.

Best friends and third graders Omari and Makai didn’t win first place, but they were winners themselves.

“I was in fifth grade and she was in third grade,” Omari said.

But Makai will be ready for next time. The word that got her out…

“Toad,” she said.

At the end of the day all the children had fun.

“My favorite thing about spelling is how it expands my knowledge,” Kaliah said.

Kaliah already has her sights set on her next goal in spelling.

“To become the city’s spelling bee champion,” she said.

But first she will sit back and relax with her family.