Date: Saturday, March 20, 2010
Location: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Address: 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC are proud to present the 60th Annual Western Pennsylvania Spelling Bee. The event will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the new Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC in Lawrenceville. The winner of this event will receive an all-expense paid trip to represent our region at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in June 2010.

How to enroll
In order for a student to participate in the Western Pa. Spelling Bee, his or her school must enroll with the Scripps National Spelling Bee by the deadline on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Schools can enroll by visiting spellingbee.com and paying the $99 entry fee. The fee for an individual home school family that is not part of a home school association is $10. Enrollment at the Scripps Web site will also serve as registration for the Western Pa. Spelling Bee.

School eligibility
To enroll, a school must part of the Post-Gazette’s spelling bee territory, which includes the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer (except the city of Sharon), Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland.

Student eligibility
Each enrolled school can send one (1) representative to the Western Pa. Spelling Bee. Students must be in fourth through eighth grade to participate. Schools are encouraged, but not required, to hold a school-wide Spelling Bee to choose their representative. Please note: Students from a school that is not registered with the Scripps National Spelling Bee organization WILL NOT be permitted to participate in the Western Pa. Spelling Bee. Click for complete student eligibility requirements.

Benefits of enrollment
In addition to satisfying the eligibility requirement to send one student to the Western Pa. Spelling Bee, enrollment earns a school everything needed to conduct a Spelling Bee, such as study materials for students, a Pronouncers Guide for teachers, rules and certificates. Click for a complete list of enrollment benefits.

Important dates
Please keep in mind the following key dates if your school is planning to enroll:
Oct. 16, 2009 – Deadline to enroll with spellingbee.com and pay the $99 fee.
Feb. 15, 2010 – Schools must submit the name of their student representative to the Post-Gazette via spellingbee.com.
March 20, 2010 – Western Pa. Spelling Bee held at the new Children’s Hospital

For more information
To learn more about the Western Pa. Spelling Bee, email pgcharities@post-gazette.com or call the Post-Gazette at 412-263-3534.

2009 Western Pa. Spelling Bee results
Spelling Bee rules
Where did the term “spelling bee” come from?
Past champions

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