On Saturday, March 9, the regional final of Scrabble® school qualifying for the national final in Paris took place at the François-Villon community center in Montpellier. Fifty students aged 8 to 11 bravely faced the weather, coming from Gard, Lozère, and Hérault with their parents or teachers.
Among them, eleven CM2 students represented the elementary school in Montarnaud after qualifying brilliantly in the departmental final. Callista Launay stood out as she finished second after 2 rounds in 10 moves, 8 points behind the winner (653 against 661). On Monday at school, after being congratulated by her classmates and her teacher, Blandine Ménan, she still couldn’t believe it: “I have improved a lot thanks to the training at school. I wasn’t too stressed on Saturday. I managed to find two bingos and words that tripled.” The teacher shared her joy: “My students are very motivated by this activity and they are very proud of the success of their classmate who will represent them.”
Indeed qualified for the final which will take place on May 18 in Paris, she will continue training with her parents who are delighted: “I didn’t think she liked this game so much,” confesses the dad who promised Callista they would go to Eurodisney if she qualified! A motivation that paid off. She will join the other 4 students from Languedoc-Roussillon among the 100 students who will compete in the capital.
Midi Libre Correspondent: 06 22 56 16 51
