Tuesday, November 17, 2009 — Home school students in the 14-county regional area of the Charlotte Observer will compete at the Home Educators’ Spelling Bee on Jan. 23, 2010.

Winners of the first round home school association bees and independent home school family participants will vie to be the region’s home school representative at the Charlotte Observer Regional Scripps Spelling Bee.

Current Home School Associations in the region that will hold qualifying 1st level spelling bees include:

• Graylan Christian Academy (Lincoln County) on Nov. 20. Registration deadline: Nov. 11.

Contact: rebadunkle@gmail.com for more information.

• Enrich Home School Support Group (University City/Cabarrus County) on Dec. 19. Registration deadline: Nov. 7.

Contact: cxdavis@hotmail.com for more information.

• CHEA — Charlotte Home Educators Association (Metro Charlotte) on Jan. 9, 2010. Registration deadline: Jan. 1, 2010.

Contact: ewinchester@goulston. com for more information.

“However, it is not too late for other home school groups to register with Scripps to hold their own qualifying spelling bee, Carolyn Davis, system coordinator for the Home Educators’ Spelling Bee said.

Late registration is available through Dec. 18 at www.spellingbee.com. Home School families who are not a part of a home school group may call Scripps at (513) 977-3040 to register as an independent home school family and compete directly at the Home Educators’ Spelling Bee.”

Enrich Home School Group, besides holding a first level Spelling Bee for its members, will serve as the host organization of the Home Educators’ Spelling Bee.

Carolyn Davis, an Enrich member, was tapped this year by the Charlotte Observer to oversee the home school segment of the Charlotte Observer’s Regional Spelling Bee. The Home Educators’ Spelling Bee serves as the qualifying bee for homeschoolers to the Charlotte Observer Regional Scripps Spelling Bee.

Jammie Lambiotte of The Charlotte Observer has been working closely with Davis and Enrich to establish a quality spelling bee for the region’s home school students.

Doreen Browning of Enrich said, “Enrich is honored to have the opportunity to serve the homeschooling community in this manner and we are excited about the level of support the Bee has received within the Charlotte community. The Charlotte Observer will provide the venue for the event at their corporate offices in Charlotte.”

In addition to winning a trip to the Charlotte Observer Regional Scripps Spelling Bee on March 15, 2010, the winner of the Home Educators’ Spelling Bee and his/her family will win a one night stay in a Family Suite at the new Great Wolf Lodge.

The Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte/Concord is the first and only indoor waterpark of its kind in the entire southeast. The northwoods-themed resort offers an array of family-focused amenities including: 402 all-suite guest rooms; an 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark; multiple food outlets, including two themed family restaurants; confectionary café; Dunkin’ Donuts; spa featuring Aveda products; kid spa; children’s craft and activity room; MagiQuest, a live-action fantasy adventure game; 100-game arcade with ticket redemption center; tech center; interactive 18-hole miniature golf course; fitness center; animated clock tower; gift emporium; an outdoor waterpark; 20,000 square-foot conference center; and more.   

The winner of the Charlotte Observer Regional Scripps Spelling Bee will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held in Washington, D.C. in May 2010.

The national spelling bee began in 1925 with nine contestants. It has been held annually except from 1943-1945 during World War II. The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been coordinated by the E.W. Scripps Company since 1941. It has grown in popularity since the beginning and recent growth has been spurred by televised coverage.

For more information on the Home Educators’ Spelling Bee, contact Carolyn Davis at cxdavis@ hotmail.com. To learn more about Enrich Home School Group, visit www.enrichnc.org.