The preliminary rounds for the annual Countywide Spelling Bee will be held this week at Ladd Lane School for students in grade 4-6 and 6-8. The younger students will compete on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m., while the older group will test their abilities at the same time and location on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
The championship will be held on March 1 for the fourth- through sixth-graders and March 2 for the sixth- through eighth-graders. The Hollister Rotary Club is donating a Kindle Fire for the first-place winner in each grade category.
The San Benito Countywide Science Fair is scheduled for March 21 and 22. Projects must be dropped off at the Veterans' Memorial Building between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday, the 21st. Judging begins at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 22, judging — if needed — will take place at 9 a.m., followed by an open house from 6-8 p.m. The awards assembly will be held from 7:15-7:45 p.m. that evening.
Superintendent of Schools Krystal Lomanto said the county office of education is asking the community for donations "to provide exciting awards for our winners."