The annual District Spelling Bee will be held Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Manteca High School Mulvihill Theatre Building. 

Organized by the Elementary Education Department, the event will began at 6:30 p.m.

Shasta Elementary School Principal Audrey Greene will serve as mistress of ceremonies and Joseph Widmer School Principal Kathy Brown will be the Spelling Master.

The Panel of judges will consist of School Board Trustee Evelyn Moore, Senior Director of Elementary Education Cheryl Meeker, Walter Woodward Vice Principal Rebecca Robinson, Veritas Vice Principal Michael Cowan, Golden West and French Camp Vice Principal Jennifer Taylor, Department Supervisor for Elementary Education Diyan Dringenberg, Department Supervisor for Student Services Sharon Fang, and Spelling Bee Coordinator Tevani Liotard.

The winners at each school site for their division will represent their school at the District Spelling Bee.  The top three spellers in the 4th to 6th division and 7th-9th division will be registered for the San Joaquin County Spelling Bee.  Those winners will represent Manteca Unified School District.  All 4th-6th grade participants must attend a mandatory elimination round on Monday, December 7, in Wentworth Education Center, Burwood Auditorium at the County Office of Education starting at 4 p.m.  The top 15 spellers will be notified by that same afternoon and invited to return for the finals. The county competition finals will take place Wednesday, Dec. 9, in the Wentworth Education Center, Burwood Auditorium at the County Office of Education starting at 3 p.m. 

The top two winners in each division will qualify for the state competition.  The State Spelling Bee Competition will be held in the spring.