Orange, CA – May 18, 2017 – Orange Unified School District is proud to announce that the District’s First Annual Spanish Spelling Bee will take place this Saturday morning in the District’s Boardrooms.

The idea originated after Villa Park High School’s Spanish Teacher and Department Chair Brenda Ochoa was inspired by her students’ successful participation at the 2016 Inland Empire’s  High School Spanish Spelling Bee, hosted by California Baptist University. She worked alongside Spanish teachers Nora Alvarez from Canyon High School, Enedina Spanner from El Modena High School, and Tracey Awwad from Orange High School to create the District-wide event as an opportunity to broadcast the importance of bilingualism and the lifelong opportunities brought by speaking more than one language. Additional support from Villa Park High School Principal Ken Miller, Ed.D., and El Modena High School Principal Dustin Saxton, D. Div., also helped to make the Spanish Spelling Bee a reality, along with the highly-appreciated sponsorship by parents and community members.

Although this is a pilot event, the goal is to eventually invite more schools from other districts in the following years to come and one day hopefully have Orange Unified School District host a National Spanish Spelling Bee.

Orange Unified School District is a 21st century educational organization that embraces collaboration and student engagement in learning activities that prepares them for a global society.

The public is invited to attend the First Annual Spanish Spelling Bee on May 20, 2017, starting at 9:00 A.M. in the District Office Board Rooms.