Annual speech, spelling and math contest held at Oakesdale

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Mar 26, 20140

Whitman County’s annual Speech, Spelling and Math Contest took place at Oakesdale School March 19 with more than 200 kids participating from grades fifth to eighth.

Each grade school/junior high represented – from Asotin, Colfax, Colton, LaCrosse, Washtucna, Palouse, St. John, Endicott, Rosalia, Oakesdale and Tekoa – sent its top performer in each of three categories in speech, as well as their single top performer for spelling and math.

The two larger schools, Asotin and Colfax, sent their top two performers.

In speech, candidates competed in front of judges in the areas of persuasive speech, interpretive speech and impromptu. Spelling contestants faced off in a written test and an oral spelling bee.

For math, students competed in a test with three timed sections; one made up of 25 problems, one of 100 and another with one big problem for 20 minutes.

Since Oakesdale School was too small to house all of the contestants, the math competition took place at the fire station.

The judges were made up of a head judge from a designated school, then a teacher or staff member of Oakesdale, along with a community member from Oakesdale.

“It’s kind of a neat thing that all the schools in the county join together and take part in,” said Jason Reed, Oakesdale Elementary School principal.

Winners received a large white ribbon.

The event began at 12:30 and concluded with a final awards assembly at 3 p.m.

Rosalia will host the event next year.

For pictures, see the Weekly Pages section for 3/27/14.