SPELLING BEE DETAILS

Schedule and Location

Maryville University is located at 650 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141.

• Division 1 - Registration starts at 8:00 a.m.; Written test starts at 8:30 a.m.
• Division 2 - Registration starts at 9:15 a.m.; Written test starts at 9:45 a.m.
• Division 3 - Registration starts at 10:30 a.m.; Written test starts at 11:00 a.m.
• Division 4 - Registration starts at 12:15 a.m.; Written test starts at 12:45 p.m.

Tours of the campus for spellers' parents and family members may be available during the written test. More information on tours will be available in the registration area.

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More Information

1. Semi-finals are a written test format. Parents, friends, or family members are not invited to watch the written testing, but are required to stay on the Maryville University campus during testing. The semi-final written test will last approximately forty-five minutes to one hour. Please be ready to meet your speller back in the registration area as soon as 30 minutes after testing has begun.
2. Winners from the written semi-final rounds will be announced once the scores are tabulated. Results will be listed on the NIE website by 8pm on Saturday, March 10.
3. A full page ad with the finalists name and school will appear in the Post-Dispatch during the week of March 12-16.
4. These finalists will compete in the Spelling Bee Finals on Saturday, March 17, 2012, in the Maryville University Auditorium. Parents, family members and friends will be allowed to watch the finals. Silence is required during the Spelling Bee finals. Please DO NOT BRING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF THREE into the auditorium. Parents with disruptive children will be asked to leave the auditorium.

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Important things to remember

• In the event of inclement weather, call the Spelling Bee hotline at 314-444-7199 afer 6:00 a.m. on the day of the Bee for updated information.
• Spellers can prepare for the Semi-final and Final rounds of the St. Louis Bee by using the 2012 Spell-It (language of origin) study guide provided to schools by Scripps Howard. Spellers and parents should review the Official Rules for the written, semi-final bee.
• The Final Bee is structured with easier words selected for the first round, gradually progressing to more difficult words. Later rounds will include words not found in Spell-It.
• If for any reason you cannot attend your semi-final bee, call your school immediately so the runner-up may attend.

If you have questions, please call 314-340-8961 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Age and Eligiblity Requirements

Age and eligibility requirements are the same as those set forth by The Scripps Howard National Bee.

For detailed information, please visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Semi-Final official rules.

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Scheduling Your School Spelling Bee

Teachers: Your "School Winner and Registration Form" should be completed online no later than February 1. When scheduling your school bee it is important to keep this date in mind and to plan accordingly for any unforeseen circumstances such as snow days or illness.

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Select Bee Officials

Judges should consist of a pronouncer, proctors, and graders. For detailed information, please see the 2012 Written Semi-Final rules, as approved by Scripps National Spelling Bee.

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Recording Your School Bee

If your school bee is in the written format, you will not need to record your bee. Rather, provide a list of the correctly spelled words to all participants once the bee is over.

If your bee is in an oral format, it is a good idea to record your school bee on audio or videotape. In case of an appeal, you can refer to the tape to make a ruling if necessary.

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Winners

Name ONE WINNER PER SCHOOL and one runner-up. If your winner cannot attend the semi-final, then the runner-up listed on your school winner form may compete instead. The runner-up can only attend the semi-final bee if the school Spelling Bee Coordinator or Principal has contacted Cathy Sewell by noon on Friday, March 9th at 314-340-8961 or cathysewell@post-dispatch.com.

Once you select a school winner, fill in your school's division number on the School Champion Letter found here and forward a copy to the winner's parents. Then complete our Online Registration form by February 1.