Do you consider yourself an expert speller? Do you have a few friends who are, too? The Clinton Education Foundation (CEF) is holding its Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 4, and any group in the community is invited to form a team. Teachers, Rotary members, groups of friends, librarians, PTA members, and other local orthographers will compete in “swarms,” with the winners of each swarm facing off in the final round.

This is the third year for the event, which last year raised more than $5,000 for CEF and Families Helping Families (FHF).

“We started it as an idea to raise some extra money for the Clinton Education Foundation,” said CEF board member Melanie Elliot. “The more money we raise, the more scholarships we can give out to the kids at the schools.”

However, CEF has another major fundraiser: its June golf tournament. That fact—and the enthusiasm of former town children’s librarian Lynn Hidek for FHF—determined that the spelling bee’s proceeds would benefit both organizations.

“Families Helping Families is the organization that really needs the money,” Elliot said. “It’s a combined fundraiser.”

Although the emphasis is on spelling, the teams compete in other ways, too. CEF will also hand out prizes for best team name, best costume, and team with most spirit. Last year’s winners included The Bee’s Knees (Clinton PTA members Erica Gelven, Kim Buckley, and Catherine Staunton)—the trio also took home the award for best team name—and The Eliot Swarmettes (Missy Mitko, Laura Calabrese, and Caitlin Woods), who won for best costume.

“We encourage creative names and we encourage creative costumes,” said Elliot.

To sign up, all that’s needed is a team of three spellers, with an optional fourth for an alternate, and $150.

“We’ve had doctors’ offices form teams, book clubs form teams, teachers form a team, some of the Board of Education members, Little League; it’s a fun mixture. Some people are just friends and form a team,” said Elliot. “The way we make our money is the registration fee for the team. Each person has to put in $50.”

If the cost is a deterrent, never fear.

“Right now we’re trying to get teams—we’re also looking for sponsors,” Elliot noted.

The sponsors pay the cost for a team, and in return get an ad placed in the program.

At the event, MC and speller extraordinaire Bev Bowen reads the words, which start off easy and then get harder and harder. The teams have 30 seconds to spell each word. This year’s judges are Superintendent of Schools Maryann O’Donnell, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Marco Famiglietti, The Morgan School Principal Keri Hagness, and The Morgan School Literacy Coach Jim Messina.

There’s a competition for the audience, too. Halfway through the spelling bee, spectators can purchase an audience participation card for $5. The cards are handed out by the student winners of Pierson School’s spelling bee, dressed in bee costumes.

“It’s [the audience’s] chance to spell five words and win a prize. The prize is half of the amount we collect,” said Elliot. “Last year there was only one person who got all five right.”

In the event of multiple people spelling all the words correctly, a drawing will determine the winner.

Whether you’re a participant, a sponsor, or a spectator, the Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee offers a chance to get out and support the community during what is traditionally a slow month.

“You can literally go and have a fun time and not pay a penny if you don’t have the money to spare,” Elliot said. “It’s just something fun to do.”

The Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee is on Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at Andrews Memorial Town Hall, 54 East Main Street, Clinton. Admission for spectators is free; registration is $150 per team. Light refreshments will be available. For more information, contact 203-533-9623 or clinton.education.foundation@gmail.com. For registration and sponsorship forms, visit https://sites.google.com/site/clintoncef.