Amira Warren: SUPER S-P-E-L-L-E-R Lin Howe student moves on to state spelling bee in May

SPELL CHECK—Amira Warren, 11, captures second place in the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s (LACOE) Spelling Bee on March 28. She will compete next in the state spelling bee competition on May 12.

 

By Joanna Brody

Linguistics… L-I-N-G-U-I-S-T-I-C-S… Linguistics.

It’s no wonder that 11-year-old Amira Warren spelled “linguistics,” the scientific study of language and its structure.  An avid reader and talented creative writer, Amira spelled linguistics successfully en route to second place in the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s (LACOE) Spelling Bee on March 28.

Her runner-up finish qualifies her for the California State Elementary Spelling Bee, which will take place on May 12 in Stockton, Calif.

Amira is a fifth-grader at Linwood E. Howe Elementary School and competed against 24 other students from neighboring school districts last month.

“I watched Amira in awe of her confidence and calm while I did my best to breathe through my nerves,” said Khatija Dabadhoy, Amira’s mother, and a Culver City High School graduate. “When she got to the final rounds and the competition took a turn, I was really on the edge of my seat. This journey has been nothing short of magical for our family.”

“I am so proud of Amira!” said Linwood Howe Principal Dr. Kim Indelicato. “She is a fantastic representative of our Lin Howe and Culver City communities. Amira is a bright, hard-working, and high-achieving student who models good citizenship and is always willing to help others. I wish her the best of luck in the state competition.”

As a result of her LACOE performance, Amira appeared in a comedy sketch about spelling bees on the national late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 2.