Four students sit in a row en la biblioteca escolar, lined up in front of a bright, bee-adorned banner proclaiming “Happy Bee Day” in honey-drenched letters. Some students jiggle their knees or fiddle with a stretchy string fidget. Some sienten mariposas en el estómago or feel flutters in their stomach. All are waiting for the moment when they will step up to the microphone and receive a word to spell. This is the scene at Vida Charter School’s (Vida) annual bilingual spelling bee.
A public, tuition-free school, Vida teaches grades K–6 in Spanish and English using a dual language model, bridging content learning across all subjects to both languages. Students receive an equal balance of Spanish and English instruction aligned with Pennsylvania State Academic Standards, including instruction in spelling.
Vida organizes the competition by grade level, with teachers providing lists of academic terms in each language. Ms. Anita Alvarez, Vida’s Spanish Specialist, and several of the school’s teachers and instructional assistants were instrumental in developing the competition and incorporating it into the curriculum. “Our goal was to unite the two languages, showing how our learners can operate fluidly between them,” says Ms. Alvarez.
Both students and faculty look forward to the bilingual spelling bee each year. Students practice both inside and outside the classroom to get each letter and accent mark correct. Alexa, the sixth grader who placed second in Spanish, worked diligently on her spelling. “I practiced with my mom every night for about 20 minutes,” she says. “We also practiced in class with Ms. Nieto, our sixth-grade teacher. I liked participating in the spelling bee because it shows confidence, like you can do it.”
Preparations for the bilingual spelling bee often begin several months in advance. Fourth grade Spanish classroom teacher Ms. Maritza Bueno allocates a period of time three to four times a week for group spelling practice. “Since some kids have trouble spelling orally in Spanish, practicing as a group helps them learn from each other,” she says. “Little by little I see them developing more confidence in themselves and in their ability to spell in Spanish.”
She also loves seeing the students’ hard work pay off. “This year, two of my students who are not Hispanic competed in Spanish and won,” she says, beaming proudly.
The annual competition, which occurred between March 18–20, gives Vida students an arena to demonstrate their skills. This year, the English spelling list included terms like “multiplication,” “equivalent,” “solvent,” and “author.” The Spanish spelling list included words like abecedario (alphabet), murciélago (flying bat), desarollo (development), and comunicación (communication).
Students have the option to compete in either English or Spanish. When spelling en español—and many students do—contestants must put each accent mark perfectly in its place for the spelling to count as correct and identify b grande or v chica to distinguish these letters.
Emma, the fifth-grade contestant who placed first in Spanish, felt this challenge as she practiced. “The first time my friend tested me, I got all except two right because of the tildes, which is the accent mark” she says. “When I got them wrong, I studied them again and again until I memorized them and knew all the words perfectly.”
Campbell, one of the fifth grade English spelling contestants, leaned into the opportunity to grow. “I prepared by practicing my words and acting like nobody was watching me,” she says. “And I had support from my friends, which really helped. I liked that I was able to get out there and face my fear of talking in front of the whole school.”
Including the bilingual spelling bee in the curriculum promotes biliteracy, the ability to read and write fluently in two languages, as well as bilingualism. “In many Spanish-speaking households, children learn to converse easily in Spanish, but don’t develop the ability to read or write in their native language. This is why academic instruction in Spanish is so important for those families” says Dr. Miller, Vida’s Executive Director. “At the same time, families want to be sure their children are becoming fluent and confident in English. Vida provides families with an option that supports development of both languages.”
The bilingual spelling bee is only one way Vida spurs their students to excel bilingually. As of 2025, Vida offers their sixth graders the opportunity to pursue the Global Seal of Biliteracy (Global Seal), a lifelong credential. Vida sixth graders can earn the Global Seal by reaching an Intermediate-Mid level of proficiency on the Avant 4S assessment, which measures in the domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, in both English and Spanish. While the assessment is commonly recommended for eighth graders and older, four Vida sixth graders earned the Global Seal in 2025, and even more are expected to receive the Global Seal in 2026.
Vida students and teachers alike are quick to extol the rewards of bilingual education. The students often find that learning both languages opens doors of communication with others, broadens their community, and reiterates their commonalities with each other. Dominick, a sixth grader, says, “What I enjoy most about Vida is how you can meet more people. You can use two languages to interact with more people than you usually can when you only speak one,” he says.
Ms. Alvarez highly encourages families to consider the benefits of studying in two languages. “Bilingual education is an investment in cognitive flexibility and cultural awareness,” she says. “By choosing this path, you not only give your children a second language, but also the tools necessary to navigate and lead in a globalized world.”
Vida is now open for kindergarten enrollment and has recently launched their online enrollment process. To learn more or enroll, visit vidacs.org.
About Vida Charter School
Located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Vida Charter School has served students in kindergarten through sixth grade in a dual-language immersion model for over 15 years. With a commitment to bilingualism, diversity, and holistic child development, Vida provides a nurturing environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and culturally as global citizens.
Featured image caption: Fifth Grade Spellers