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Spellers from grades 5-8 in the Chisago Lakes School District took their places on the stage of the Chisago Lakes High School Performing Arts Center February 8. Stumpers like rotisserie, latitudinarian, and cajolery took their toll on the field until there were five spellers left from a field of 26; Alexandra Smith, Bergen Soland, Heather Kanada, Anders Brown and Cameron Scherlin. At the end of the next round, Alexandra Smith, Bergen Soland, and Heather Kanada all tied for third place while Anders Brown and Cameron Scherlin continued to battle for 1st and 2nd place. The two dueled for two additional rounds until Anders, a fifth grader in Mrs. Klinke's class at Taylors Falls Elementary, won the bee by correctly spelling the word sonata. With the third place tie needing to be determined, another round was started between Alexandra Smith, Bergen Soland, and Heather Kanada. After four rounds, Alexandra Smith was declared the third place winner, earning the right to go to the regional bee.

The Chisago Lakes Community Education office would like to give a special thank you to the judges of the spelling bee Keith Carlson, Mike McLoughlin, Carol Harris, Brenda Palmquist, and Roxanne Carlson. As a result of the bee, Anders Brown, Cameron Scherlin and Alexandra Smith will represent Chisago Lakes School District at the regional bee in St. Cloud, March 2. Good luck to these spellers as they move on to the regional bee, and thank you to all the students who worked hard as they prepared for and competed in this district spelling bee.

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