On June 14th, 2025, the Middle School Department of Wuxi Xiehe United School successfully hosted its first-ever English Spelling Bee championship. Meticulously planned by the English Department’s team of local and international teachers since mid-February, the event received enthusiastic participation from all middle school students and faculty.
The finals showcased an extraordinary linguistic competition, with eight teams comprising 32 contestants demonstrating exceptional vocabulary mastery and remarkable teamwork. This high-caliber event highlighted our students’ outstanding language abilities and competitive spirit.
The competition kicked off with an electrifying performance by the eighth-grade band “No Music Theory,” whose vibrant energy, combined with Mr. Michael’s passionate guest appearance, sent the crowd into its first roaring crescendo. The fusion of pulsating beats and youthful exuberance set the stage for the intense battles to come.
This year’s competition featured a distinguished panel of judges—Ms. Holly, Mr. Michael, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Andy—who evaluated contestants comprehensively across multiple criteria including lexical accuracy, response speed, and strategic application of spelling rules.
The event featured six creatively designed segments: For individual rounds, we’ve got Laser Eyes, Show and Spell, Letter by Letter, Speed Spell. For team challenge, we’ve got Super Words. Each segment was meticulously crafted to assess not only lexical knowledge and spelling accuracy, but also contestants’ improvisational skills, tactical decision-making, and collaborative abilities under pressure.
The event extended beyond the stage with interactive games. Enthusiastic spectators competed for prizes, generating continuous waves of cheers and applause that energized the entire venue.
The poetry recital, meticulously organized by Mr. Harris, emerged as a standout moment of the event. Four gifted seventh-grade members from the Poetry Club delivered heartfelt performances of their original works. With crystalline voices and authentic emotion, they infused the intense spelling competition with a refreshing breeze of literary artistry.
After fierce competition, the medals were awarded to:Team 3 (Gold), Genius Team (Silver), Jet Team (Bronze). All contestants earned resounding applause from judges and spectators alike for their outstanding performances.
The Spelling Bee stage has never been merely about spelling prowess. Those late-night study sessions whispering words, the nervous yet determined gazes on stage, the courage to rebound after mistakes, the tearful embraces in victory—each moment tells a growth story far more valuable than wins or losses.
The resounding success of this inaugural event has infused new vitality into our school’s English teaching innovation. Let us all anticipate more blossoming of youthful brilliance on the 2026 Spelling Bee stage!