Back in December, Patrick Caldwell was locked in a grueling 12-round spell-off with Amelia Ellison.

That was during the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s Spelling Bee for fourth- through- sixth- grade students.

In the end, Caldwell, who is a sixth grader at Ripon Elementary School, prevailed by correctly spelling ‘havoc.’

He and Ellison of Lodi Unified’s Vinewood Elementary – she, too, is in sixth grade – will be back at it today at SJCOE for California State Elementary Spelling Bee.

All told, 56 students from 28 counties will take part in the event at the Wentworth Education Center, 2707 Transworld Dr. Stockton.

The state Spelling Bee is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Tim Daly of News 10 will serve as the spell-master.

For more information, call 209,468.4818 or log on to www.sjcoe.net.