West Haven Public Schools hosted its inaugural ‘Districtwide Faculty Spelling Bee’ on Thursday, May 2nd in the West Haven High School Auditorium. Lucille Portley, a speech therapist at Pagels Elementary School, spelled ‘Formaldehyde’ correctly to win the contest. She outlasted Matt Cohen, a math teacher at WHHS.
At the end of the event, WHHS Principal Dana Paredes announced winners from numerous categories as well. Those winners are the following: Biggest Cheering Section (Washington School); Best Theme (Pagels School); Best Costume (WHHS); Most Spirit (Bailey Middle School); Most Sponsors (Erin McCauley and Martha Jacobs, WHHS); and Most Likely to Need a Dictionary (Washington School).
The spelling bee featured six faculty members from six schools. The team names and members are listed below:
The West Haven High School Bee Devils
- Mariam Alajjan
- Matt Cohen
- Erin McCauley
- Richelle Berretta
- Martha Jacobs
- Alissa Ficaro
The Bailey Teenie Weenie Spelling Beenies
- Greg Heudorfer
- Jen Lynch
- Patty Torro
- Pat Toole
- Lars Edeen
- Billijo Brown
Carrigan: Avada Kedavra
- Jackie Cincotta
- Don Funaro
- Eric Glagowski
- Chris Kehoe
- Kelly Marchitto
- Frank Santacroce
Haley: Don't Stop BEEleavin'
- Michelle Lonsdale
- Jacqueline Forchetti
- Jamie Fryer
- Geralyn Thayer
- Lauren Jacobs
- Jackie Morrell
Pagels: The Spell Casters
- Tracey Johnson
- Christina Schoenamn
- Tony Delvechio
- Lisa Alteri
- Lucille Portley
- Joanne Guthrie
The Washington WannaBees
- Michaela Smith
- Allison Wendt
- Weston Thomas
- Lisa Eberle
- Allison Bernard
- Olivia Panetti