Warren: The Southwest Voice

Warren Junior High School bee winner heads to D.C.

I’ve always enjoyed vocabulary and spelling words that adults often don’t know how to spell. I used to love it when someone asked me how to spell a difficult word and I knew how to spell it.
I learned the alphabet at a young age –– only 18 months old. I have always liked reading the dictionary. It is fun to learn new words and their definitions. I felt it was a great way to enhance my vocabulary too. When I would hear a word that I didn’t know the meaning of I had to look it up in the dictionary as soon as I got a chance.
I’ve been in two other spelling bees in addition to this one. I won the school spelling bee in fourth grade when I attended Loudon Elementary School, and also in sixth grade when I attended Van Horn Elementary School. This is my first district win and, of course, my first county win!
I know going to Washington D.C. and being a part of “Bee Week” will be very exciting. I highly anticipate being able to compete there. The competition May 30 and 31 is going to be tough, I know. I have been studying like crazy to try to prepare myself for this incredible competition. I’ve read much of Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and wrote down challenging words so that I might retain them to memory.
I have also had a lot of help from my family. They have read words for me to spell. I have studied anywhere from an hour a day up to eight hours a day. After over two months of studying, I have really expanded my vocabulary and extended my knowledge of the formation of words.
When I become an adult, my dream is to be a successful author. I think maybe an author of fiction. That seems like it would be the most fun. I have always gotten good grades in English class throughout my childhood. I often proofread many things for my friends and even for kids I barely know. It feels good knowing how to spell and help them.
Spelling has always come easily to me and I hope now that I’ve honed those skills enough to do well at the National Finals in Washington, D. C.
I didn’t have any idea what was in store for me upon winning the Kern County Spelling Bee. So far I have received a free subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, a large trophy, a copy of Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, a Russo’s Books gift certificate, a trip to Washington, D. C. and even spending money!
I really appreciate The Bakersfield Californian for their support and sponsorship.
Last week I received in the mail the Scripps National Spelling Bee Commemorative Watch, T-shirts for my entire family and study materials on discs to study on the computer.
Being the winner of the Kern County Spelling Bee gives me great pride. When you receive the support of your friends, family, and even strangers, it feels great! You feel like a celebrity and even more so, you feel like a winner!
— If Johnson makes it to rounds two through four without misspelling a word, he will advance to the May 31 semifinals that will be televised live on ESPN from 7 to 11 a.m. EDT. The championship finals can be seen on ABC (locally on KERO channel 23) from 8 to 10 p.m. the same day.

Mathur wins speech contest

When it comes to public speaking, Alicia Mathur, an eighth-grader at Warren Junior High, proved she has mastered the art very well by winning the Henry Greve Speech Contest for the second consecutive year on March 1 at University Square in Bakersfield.
Mathur’s speech heavily focused on her father’s choice to give up a secure job in his native homeland for the uncertainty of pursuing a master’s degree in America and a shot at bettering his career in engineering.
Her speech was the judges’ choice as the best interpretation of the contest topic, “How will choices you make today shape your future?”
After successfully surviving challenges at school, district, and regional levels, Mathur proved the most persuasive of the 10 Kern County seventh- and eighth-graders who made it to the finals. She received a trophy and the perpetual plaque, which will bear her name and be on display at Warren Junior High for one year.
Though the competition has been around since 1955, it was named the Henry Greve Speech Contest in 1963 by Bakersfield Toastmasters Club No. 270 in memory of county speech therapist Henry Greve. Greve actively supported boys and girls oral language activities.

Warren’s Johnson wins county spelling bee

Elijah Johnson, an eighth-grader at Earl Warren Junior High School, correctly spelled “bibliogony” in the 16th round winning the 29th annual Kern County Spelling Bee held Feb. 8 at University Square.
Johnson outlasted Sophia Valdez, a fifth-grader at Palla Elementary School, to win. After Valdez missed on “aranea,” Johnson correctly spelled “loquacious” to win the round and then “bibliogony” to win the competition.
“I got really nervous when I heard it was the championship round,” Johnson said. “It was a total guess on both words. On loquacious, I almost went with ‘c-q’ before I thought about the word ‘eloquent’ and that helped me work out the correct spelling. I knew other words that ended in ‘g-o-n-y,’ so that helped me spell bibliogony, but I thought I had spelled it incorrectly. I looked around, and everyone was clapping. Then, I started smiling.”
Bibliogony is a noun which means “of or relating to the production of books in all their forms.”
Johnson overcame the challenge of 16 other fourth- through eight-grade spellers, the best from a pool of approximately 50,000 students in Kern County. By winning, Johnson earned a trip to Washington, D.C. where he will represent the county at the 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30 and 31.
“I am really excited to be going to Washington, D.C. where I know I will be up against a lot of students who will really be studying hard to win, just like me,” Johnson said.
Johnson received two round-trip airline tickets to the competition with hotel accommodations and $300 from The Bakersfield Californian.
First- through third-place finalists were awarded trophies, and all received gift certificates from Russo’s Books.
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools, The Bakersfield Californian, Scripps-Howard Newspapers, and the Kern Reading Association sponsored the competition. As it was about to begin, County Superintendent English and Language Arts Coordinator and hostess of the event Teresa Twisselman told the students about her youth experiences as a junior high bee competitor and offered some advice.
“The words you are studying this year were much more difficult than when I competed,” Twisselman said. “Remember only one student can win. Try not to be disappointed if it is not you. We are all so proud of what you have accomplished to be here. I hope you can see the connection between what you have learned and how you can apply it to your future studies. This year the national competition is using the ‘Spell It’ book by Merriam Webster, which is a good learning tool, providing tips on how to spell words based on language of origin.”
Johnson had some winning techniques of his own.
“I studied from a giant dictionary, learning as many words as possible,” Johnson said. “I looked at the words, spelled them in my head and then looked away from the dictionary and tried to spell them. I practiced for two hours a day. For the national competition, I will probably study even longer.”
The order of finish was: first place, Elijah Johnson of Warren Junior High School; second place, Sophia Valdez of Palla Elementary School; third place, Sahar Ali of Washington Middle School; Matthew Buccat of Norris Middle School; Natalie Cone of Jacobsen Middle School; Lawrence Meddela of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School; and Alex Meza of Chipman Junior High School; fourth place, Bernard Jee of Tevis Junior High School; fifth place, Shaquille Foronda of Morningside School; sixth place, Alexis Tolliver of Thomas Jefferson Middle School; seventh place, Shawnee Whitted of Beardsley Junior High School; eighth place, Phillip Anaya of Lincoln Junior High; Dulce Angulo of Frank West Elementary; and Angie Rowe of Wallace Middle School; ninth place, Antonio Ochoa of Mountain View Middle School; 10th place, Sowmya Jothikumar of Murray Middle School; and 11th place, Gabrielle Garcia of Thorner Elementary School.

Box of crayons

We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors; but they have to live in the same box.
— Anonymous

When I first read this, I thought, “Cool! That sounds like my family!”
Just like the crayons in a box, each member of my family has its color, or attributes. Dad is blue for his stability and wisdom, while my mom is green for her well-being and harmony. My brother is most like purple — a combination of stability and energy. Yellow symbolizes my dog with his joyful spirit. I represent orange because of my creativity and vitality.
My family is like a box of crayons because we need each other to create complete pictures, or memories, and if one of us went missing, we would all feel loose inside our box, or family.
My family teaches me life lessons and values every day, and sets the best examples for my spiritual and moral growth. I can always count on them for support and love whenever I need it most. I treasure my family more than anything and love them with all my heart!

Editor's Note: Alicia is a student at Warren Junior High School. Her award-winning essay was entered in the Creative Expression Contest sponsored by the Kern County Family Week Committee.

Abaca String Band to perform at Earl Warren

The Abaca String Band has played at the White House. Next on their itinerary: a local school house.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, the Abaca String Band will perform for students at Earl Warren Junior High School.

Abaca String Band has been presenting music education programs in the New York City public schools under the auspices of the Carnegie Hall Education Department since 1996.

The group has also conducted music workshops and lecture/demonstrations in many other schools, from the elementary to the university level, during this time.

The instrumentation of the Abaca String Band makes it particularly suitable for demonstrating the repertoire and history of stringed instruments: the guitar; mandolin; violin; viola; and double bass encompass the three basic types of stringed
instruments: plucked (guitar); bowed (violin, viola, double bass); and plectrum (mandolin).

The Abaca String Band was founded by guitarist Andrew Schulman. This unique group, consisting of eight-string guitar, mandolin, violin, viola and double bass, began in 1991 by performing for membership events at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

They have appeared as featured artists on the Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert Series since 1995.

The Abaca String Band tours throughout the United States, and has been presented in concert in Lincoln Center, the Newport Music Festival, Chautauqua Institution, Troy Music Hall and the Levitt Pavilion. They have performed for special events at The White House and the Library of Congress.

Their debut CD, “Live From Chautauqua,” was broadcast nationwide by Public Radio International during July 1999, and “Live From Chautauqua, Vol. II,” was also nationally broadcast by PRI in July 2004.

This school performance is funded by the Student Outreach Program of the Bakersfield Community Concert Association. Abaca String Band will perform a 7:30 p.m. concert at the Rabobank Theater also on Thursday, Oct. 5.

For more information, phone 326-0838.

Walk for One

Relay for Life has been a long-lasting dynasty in the Bakersfield community, having drawn thousands of participants throughout the years.
This event is meant to encourage the discovery of a cure for cancer, help cancer patients deal with everyday life, and educate people about cancer with the help from residents nationwide. In Bakersfield, CSUB has been hosting the event since 2001, succeeding Garces High School.
Earl Warren Junior High has adopted a similar event that calls for students to raise money and walk around the school track during their lunch period. Much excitement can be felt that day, as Alex Medellin, a student, commented, “Everyone was coming together for a good cause, and everyone was working as a whole.”
Indeed, the students’ perseverance paid off as the money collected increased the school record to $11,835. The classes that contributed the most money were Mrs. Anderson’s math class for the seventh grade, having raised $1,378, and Mrs. Hodges’ class for the eighth grade with $885.
In addition to raising money and walking for the cause, students were required to creatively create a common classroom costume that they would wear when walking around the track.
In this area, Mrs. Hallum’s English class shone among the eighth grade and Mrs. Burt’s for the seventh grade. Both won the Most Spirited award.
The students in Mrs. Hallum’s class decided to masquerade as superheroes and chant “ONE! ONE! ONE!” as they walked around the track. Each of their purple capes, representing the color of the fight against cancer, was adorned with the picture of a cancer victim and a pink “1” in order to keep in line with this year’s theme, “Walk for One.”
Some might be astonished at the fact that junior high students were courageous enough to wear capes. However, the theme meant many things for different people, for many know the terrible perils that cancer can inflict upon a person. All of us know someone who has fought cancer.
Warren, as a whole, had its own personal reason to participate in this event, for many of its staff have courageously overcome this disease. Therefore, each student and staff member had their individual motive to walk for the cause.
When asked why he walked on the field, Prescott Leyba answered, “I donated money and walked for the cause because that represented my opinion that anything is possible if we stick together and work together.”
Whether nationwide or schoolwide, Relay for Life will unite all of those who believe in a common cause and will forever leave a mark in the fight against cancer.