Holy Cross eighth grader, Christopher O. took first place at Independence Mission Schools’ first-ever network-wide Spelling Bee, held Thursday, May 22 at the Friends Select School theater.
Christopher secured the win, correctly spelling “equilibrium” in the final round.
Kasai E. of St. Rose of Lima finished second while Penelope H. of Ss. Cyril and Philomena came in third.
Spelling to Support After-School Enrichment
The network-wide Spelling Bee marked a milestone in the inaugural year of Beyond the Bell, IMS’s new after-school enrichment program. Made possible by a generous gift of $1.8 million from the Horner Foundation, Beyond the Bell is designed to ignite young minds, further develop social and academic skills and provide a safe and nourishing environment for IMS students after school days end. The program is live at three IMS schools: St. Rose of Lima, St. Frances Cabrini and St. Thomas Aquinas. By 2027, all 14 schools across the IMS network will offer the program.
Congratulations, again, to Christopher O. — who is headed to LaSalle College High School in the fall — and all of our spellers! And special thanks to Philadelphia-area basketball legend and St. Philomena alumnus, Phil Martelli, for joining us at the Bee!
