Education trends come and go over the decades, but the popularity and enduring legacy of the spelling bee is one constant that has remained. Some Catholic schools bring a faith twist with a “religion bee.”
“Every year during Catholic Schools Week, we set aside time for some fun, spirited competition that celebrates academics in a forum outside of the classrooms,” said Ann Dyke, principal of St. Louis School in Alexandria. “Students love to engage in a competitive battle of skills and knowledge. The idea of winning bragging rights is a fabulous motivator. We truly love to leverage the competitive spirit among our students in order to showcase all the good things happening in their classrooms and the knowledge they have.”
Fourth through eighth graders compete in the spelling bee at St. Louis School, beginning with a competition in each classroom, narrowing it down to one winner and an alternate. Then during Catholic Schools Week, the grade-level winners compete for the top speller. “Last year it was a long battle to crown our winner, and we used almost every word in the bonus list to get to the winner,” said Dyke.
The religion bee is a test of the diocesan religion curriculum and the same format as the spelling bee, but open to kindergarten through eighth grade. It generated so much excitement that teachers developed a new version called “Faith Family Feud” based on the television game show Family Feud. “Our very own King Louis emceed the competition. Each team is composed of one member from grades K-8 and their captain is one of our eighth grade saints,” said Dyke. “Eighth graders come to school that day dressed as their confirmation saint.”
“This is an awesome time, and the teams are loudly cheered on by the rest of our students and teachers,” she said. “It really is a spoof of Family Feud complete with the theme music and the buzzer sound, and it’s guaranteed for some laughs, cheering, and great celebration of our Catholic faith.”
Fond memories and a love for learning is the result. “Whenever you can get kids excited to share what they know in an engaging way where others are cheering them on and supporting and valuing what they have to offer, then we’re doing our job as educators,” said Dyke. “These bees are the ultimate expression of knowledge.”
Hale can be reached at [email protected]om.
