Tazewell County Public Schools hosted the 22nd Annual Tom Colley Reading Bee on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Tazewell Middle School in Tazewell Virginia. During the event 4th and 5th-grade student teams from Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School, Cedar Bluff Elementary School, Tazewell Intermediate School, Richlands Elementary School, and Graham Intermediate School competed in spelling, comprehension, vocabulary, editing, and impromptu where they acted out scenes from books they have read.
The overall winners in the event for 4th grade were the students from Cedar Bluff Elementary coached by Dana Smith. The students on that winning team were Trynton Cruey, Adam Gilbert, Aubree Gilbert, and Mariail Hyatt. The runner-up team from 4th grade was Tazewell Intermediate School. The 5th grade overall winners were the team of students from Graham Intermediate School. Sarah Jones was their coach. The team members were Olivia Barnett, Giuliana Protti-Lawrence, Logan Lee, and Kyle Leedy. The runner-up team for 5th grade was Abbs-Valley-Boissevain Elementary.
In the 4th-grade spelling competition, Tazewell Intermediate School placed first, Cedar Bluff Elementary School placed 2nd, and Graham Intermediate School and Richlands Elementary School tied for third place.
In the 4th-grade comprehension competition, Tazewell Intermediate School placed first, Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary and Cedar Bluff Elementary School tied for second place, and Graham Intermediate School placed third.
In the 4th-grade editing competition, Cedar Bluff Elementary and Tazewell Intermediate School placed first, and Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary, Graham Intermediate School, and Richlands Elementary all tied for 2nd place.
In the 4th-grade vocabulary competition, Cedar Bluff Elementary School earned first place, Graham Intermediate School placed second, and Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary and Tazewell Intermediate School placed third.
In the 4th-grade impromptu competition, Cedar Bluff Elementary earned first place, Graham Intermediate School placed second, and Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School placed third.
In the 5th spelling competition, Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School, Cedar Bluff Elementary School, and Graham Intermediate School tied for 1st place. Tazewell Intermediate earned 2nd place and Richlands Elementary School received 3rd place.
In the 5th grade comprehension competition Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School, Cedar Bluff Elementary School, Richlands Elementary School, and Tazewell Intermediate School all tied for first place. Graham Intermediate School earned second place.
In the 5th grade editing competition, Graham Intermediate School and Tazewell Intermediate School tied for first place. Cedar Bluff Elementary School earned 2nd place and Richlands Elementary School received third place.
In the 5th grade vocabulary competition, Graham Intermediate School placed first and Cedar Bluff Elementary School and Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary tied for second. Richlands Elementary School earned third place.
In the 5th grade impromptu competition, Graham Intermediate School earned first place, Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School earned second place, and Tazewell Intermediate School earned third place.
“The Reading Bee is always a great competition and opportunity for our students to shine and this year was no exception. I'm so proud of all of the students,” said Dr. Christopher B. Stacy, Superintendent of Schools.
All team members for each school are listed below:
Abbs Valley-Boissevain Elementary School
5th Grade Coach: Staci Ross
5th Grade Team Members: Zoey Bowling, Lillian Davis, Karalyna Green, and Levi Thompson
4th Grade Coach: Jaime Bowman
4th Grade Team Members: Samuel Ealy, Addyson Mason, Hattie Tabor, and Sophia Hall
Cedar Bluff Elementary
5th Grade Coach: Lakin Croy
5th Grade Team Members: Karen Mullins, Kien Pham, Rand Robinette, and Erin White
4th Grade Coach: Dana Smith
4th Grade Team Members: Trynton Cruey,Adam Gilbert,Aubree Gilbert, and Mariail Hyatt
Graham Intermediate School
5th Grade Coach: Sarah Jones
5th Grade Team members: Olivia Barnett, Giuliani Protti-Lawrence, Logan Lee, and Kyle Leedy
4th Grade Coach: Sarah Jones
4th Grade Team members: Tayah Brown, Jake Gibson, Shanleigh Moten, and Camden Surface
Richlands Elementary School
5th Grade Coach: Tracy Tucker
5th Grade Team Members: Aubree Hughes, Brogan Lee, Finley Riley, and Jace Willis
4th Grade Coach: Lucas Wright
4th Grade Team Members: Caelyn Arms, Sophia Blanton, Alex Dobbs, and Kynlee Brooks
Tazewell Intermediate School
5th Grade Coach: Chyrl Johnson
5th Grade Team Members: Paige Davis, Kylie Harris, Maddox Richardson, and Gaven Vance
4th Grade Coach: Courtney Mullins
4th Grade Team Members: Peyton Bowman, Scarlett Brittain, Harper Cronce, and Madison Montaigne
The Tom Colley Reading Bee used to be called the Tazewell County Reading Bee but was renamed in honor of the late executive editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, who was chairman of the Literacy Committee of what is now the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginia’s. The Reading Bee was created as a way to help children develop a love for reading. Tom had a passion for reading and his dream was to develop a love of reading for a lifetime.
Tazewell County Public Schools would like to thank the following individuals who served as competition coordinators, hospitality coordinators, and judges:
Shanna Plaster, Debbie Bright, Paula Tibbs, Amanda Miller, Eva McGuire, Ashley Meadows, Beth Mullins, Zantara Patrick, Ethan Lewis, Rebecca Ritter, Brooke Mulkey, Amy Lawson, Bethany Smith, Donna Cornett, Deacon Young, and Terisa Corell.
Special thanks and appreciation goes out to the administration, maintenance, and custodial staff of Tazewell Middle School as well as the Tazewell County Technology Department under the supervision of Randy Mullins. Also, we would like to thank Mrs. Melanie Lashinksy, Mrs. Tammy Williams, Mrs. Ashley Brown, Mrs. Amy Lawson who helped organize the Reading Bee, and the Chamber of Commerce representatives who helped with the presentation of awards this year.